Should you move at all?
Short answer
Moving makes money sense when what you save or free up is bigger than what the move costs. The move costs about 6% of your sale price in selling costs (our standard estimate), plus moving and buying costs. It pays back through cash you keep from selling, lower yearly costs (property tax, insurance, state income tax, upkeep), or both. Many good reasons to move aren't about money: being near family, near the care you need, or in a home with one level. Staying is often the better choice when your home already fits and your costs are low.
Not financial advice. Run your own numbers, and talk to a tax professional about your situation.
At a glance
| The math tends to favor moving when | The math tends to favor staying when |
|---|---|
| Your home is worth much more than the home you'd buy | You'd buy a home that costs about the same |
| Your property tax, insurance or state income tax would fall | Your yearly costs would be similar or higher |
| Your current home needs big repairs or has stairs you'll avoid | Your home already fits for the next twenty years |
| You'd be near family or the hospital you'll use | Your people and doctors are where you are |
| You plan to stay in the new place for years | You might move again within a few years |
Step 1: what moving costs, once
- Selling costs: we use 6% of the sale price (commission and seller closing costs). On a $525,000 sale that is $31,500.
- Moving: get quotes; distance and how much you take matter most.
- Buying: buyer closing costs, inspections, and any work on the new home.
- Taxes on the sale: most long-time owners owe none; see capital gains on your home sale.
Step 2: what the sale leaves you
Sale price, minus 6%, minus what you still owe, minus the price of the home you buy. That is the cash you keep. Our retirement destination pages do this for every neighborhood with enough sales: on a $525,000 sale with nothing owed, $493,500 is left before you buy.
Step 3: what a year costs, here versus there
Add up the costs that change with the move:
| Yearly cost | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Property tax | Each destination page uses the Census ACS effective rate for the town |
| Homeowners insurance | Your insurer's quote for the new address |
| State income tax on your retirement income | The state pages under retirement taxes |
| Upkeep | A smaller or newer home usually costs less to keep up |
If the new place saves, say, $4,000 a year and the move costs $45,000 all in, it takes about eleven years to pay back on yearly savings alone. Cash you free up from the sale shortens that a lot.
Step 4: the parts the math leaves out
Write down what matters most: how far you'd be from family, the drive to the hospital and VA, an airport for visits, and whether you'll want one level. Our destination pages show those drive times once we have checked them against Google Maps.
FAQ
- Is it worth moving when you retire?
- It is when the cash you free up or the yearly costs you save outweigh about 6% selling costs plus moving and buying costs, or when being near family or care matters more than the money.
- How much does it cost to sell a home?
- We estimate 6% of the sale price for commission and seller closing costs. Your actual costs depend on your market and agreement.
- How long does it take for a move to pay off?
- Divide what the move costs by what you save each year. Cash you keep from the sale is an immediate gain on top of that.
- Should I rent first in the new town?
- If you are not sure about the town, renting for a season lets you test it before you buy.
Sources
- NeighborSeek assumptions: 6% selling costs (market-data/assumptions.json), used on every retirement destination page
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates (effective property tax rates by place)
- IRS, Publication 523 (2025)
Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Not financial advice.