Issue Brief: Southwest Florida Retiree Profile
November 19, 2025 / RERI Research Team
Issue Brief: Southwest Florida Retiree Profile
Understanding the demographic and socioeconomic landscape of a local community is important for effective planning and resource allocation, particularly as populations age and labor market dynamics evolve. For Southwest Florida, it has become increasingly important to understand the growing retirement population. As Southwest Florida continues to attract older adults, the retiree population plays a critical role in shaping the region’s demographics, economy and housing market. By examining key indicators of retirees, we can better understand how the retirees in Southwest Florida compare to those in Florida and the United States overall.
This issue brief constructs a detailed profile of retiree-aged persons in the coastal counties of Southwest Florida, which includes Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties. To perform our analysis, we use American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates microdata from the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) website. Retirees are defined as individuals age 65 and older who are not in the labor force. We compare Southwest Florida’s retiree population to retirees across the state of Florida and the United States. We also compare retirees to the prime-working-age population, which is defined as individuals 25 to 54 years old. Measures assessed include gender, race, educational attainment, income by source, migration patterns, and housing characteristics.
The results highlight unique characteristics among Southwest Florida retirees. Retirees in Southwest Florida are more likely to be white, not Hispanic, and to hold higher levels of educational attainment than their counterparts statewide and nationally. They also have a higher share of income from interest, dividends, or net rental, making them less reliant on Social Security when compared to Florida and the United States. Our region also attracts a number of retirees from the Midwest and Northeast, as well as a decent share of international visitors. Housing data shows higher rates of home ownership in Southwest Florida, but also higher housing costs relative to the state and the nation. Together, these findings suggest that retirees in Southwest Florida are relatively more affluent and likely to be long-term residents, with unique needs compared to other populations.
These findings carry implications for local planning and resource allocation. As Florida continues to be a magnet for retirees, the increasing proportion of older adults has implications for the local labor force, potentially influencing the availability of skilled workers, the demand for specific industries and services, and the overall economic vitality of the community. By analyzing key demographic, economic, and housing characteristics we can gain valuable insights into this population segment. This overview will inform local initiatives and support services, as well as provide a foundation for understanding the evolving workforce needs and opportunities within our community.
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Issue Brief: Southwest Florida Retiree Profile
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