life after 60

Houston relaxes among top 10 on new list of best U.S. cities to retire in

Houston is one of the most appealing places for retirees, the report found.

Retired folks relocate for a variety of reasons, but moving to a place with a lower cost of living (and more relaxed lifestyle) are the best reasons for moving to a place like Houston, which was just named one of the best cities to put away those work boots.

Houston ranked No. 7 in SmartAsset's new national ranking of "Where Retirees Are Moving – 2024 Study," published May 2, with the seventh highest rate of retirees flocking to the city.

To determine where retirement-age Americans are moving, the report relied on Census Bureau data from 182 large U.S. cities and all 50 state populations with people aged 60 and older. Net migration was determined by subtracting the number of retirees who moved out of their cities in 2022, and the number that moved into the respective cities from out-of-state.

The report found Houston's population of retirement-age folks amounted to more than 411,000 people, representing 17.8 percent of the total population. Nearly 4,700 seniors moved into the city from out-of-state, and more than 3,500 moved out, showing a net migration of 1,139 retirees.

Retirement lifestyles don't seem to be as compatible with the status quo in Austin or Dallas, which landed far outside the top 100 cities as No. 133 and No. 157, respectively.

So, why are retirees picking Houston over most other U.S. cities? Besides being home to some of the best medical centers and hospitals, the city is flourishing with diversity, and the (mostly) favorable weather also adds to the city's appeal.

"As people retire, their goals shift, often causing them to reconsider where they’re living and how they spend their money," the report's author wrote. "Places with a high cost of living, high taxes and cold winters, for example, could influence retirees to move to warmer locations where they can stretch their retirement savings further and enjoy their free time."

Other Texas cities that earned spots in the top 10 are San Antonio (No. 2) and Fort Worth (No. 8). San Antonio landed the silver medal as the second most attractive U.S. city for retirees, after more than 4,100 seniors moved into the city in 2022. Fewer than 1,200 made the opposite move, showing a net migration of 2,936 retirees.

Fort Worth had a net migration of 1,130, with 2,119 seniors moving into the city and 989 moving out in 2022.

The top 10 U.S. cities that had the highest inflow of retirement-age folks are:

No. 1 – Mesa, Arizona
No. 2 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 3 – Henderson, Nevada
No. 4 – St. Petersburg, Florida
No. 5 – Murfreesboro, Tennessee
No. 6 – Chattanooga, Tennessee
No. 7 – Houston, Texas
No. 8 – Fort Worth, Texas
No. 9 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 10 – Clearwater, Florida

Texas is an overall top destination for retirees
In a statewide comparison, Texas came out on top as the No. 4 top state for retirees. The Lone Star State's 60-plus demographic adds up to nearly 5.7 million people, making up 19 percent of the total population.

Less than 69,000 seniors moved into Texas in 2022, with a little more than 50,000 making the opposite move, creating a net migration of 18,742 retirement-age residents.

Texans may want to take the city-level findings with a grain of salt, as the report points out that its data doesn't factor in-state migration, only state-to-state migration. Plus, not all retirees are 60 years old, nor do they all live in one singular place.

"For example, if a person moved to Phoenix from Scottsdale, [Arizona,] they would not be factored into our data," the report added. "Some retirees might live in multiple places throughout the year; this is not reflected in our metrics."

The three states that outperformed Texas in the statewide analysis were Florida (No. 1), Arizona (No. 2), and South Carolina (No. 3). North Carolina rounded out the top five.

The full report can be found on smartasset.com.

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Camp Mystic News

Camp Mystic proposes selling property as part of bankruptcy plan

Camp Mystic Files For Bankruptcy As First Anniversary Of Deadly Floods Approaches

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Ribbons honor Camp Mystic flood victims and families.

The owners of Camp Mystic have proposed selling off the riverfront property as part of a bankruptcy plan, with hopes that a buyer will preserve the camp's “historic mission” following the death of 27 campers and counselors swept away by a 2025 flood.

The century-old private Christian girls' camp filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan on September 25 that would auction off the 749 acres (3 square kilometers) it owns and other assets.

The sprawling campus, nestled among rolling wooded hills on the banks of the Guadalupe River, had several single-story cabins that housed some of the youngest campers and a recreation hall near the riverfront. A second campus on elevated ground was not flooded.

The Eastland family has owned the camp for decades and initially sought to reopen this summer. But they faced fierce opposition from victims’ families and some state lawmakers, lawsuits, and legislative investigations into what went wrong.

A buyer would likely get a portion of the camp frozen in time. Families of the victims have fought to stop any demolition of damaged cabins and buildings and stop repairs as part of their lawsuits.

The bankruptcy plan said the owners expect a purchaser would be backed by a group of families that support the camp.

“Nothing in the plan requires any buyer to operate the property as a camp,” the filing said, “but the plan states an express preference, in determining the highest or otherwise best bid, for a buyer that will maintain the historic mission of the camp.”

Twenty-five campers and two counselors were killed when the river surged over its banks in the pre-dawn hours of July 4, 2025. Camp owner and director Richard Eastland was also killed. At least 136 people were killed along a several-mile stretch of the river.

Earlier this month, state police investigators sought search warrants for the electronic communications of the camp's owners, saying they could provide evidence of manslaughter, negligent homicide, child abandonment, or other crimes.

No charges have been brought.

A probe by state lawmakers determined the camp’s young and inexperienced counselors were not trained for floods and other emergencies. It said an earlier decision to evacuate could have saved every life. Most of the victims were under age 10, and some were attending camp for the first time.

The camp's bankruptcy proposal would have to be approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher M. Lopez. Officials with Camp Mystic did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Monday.

All creditors, including the families who have sued Camp Mystic over the deaths, will have a chance to respond to the plan.

“The Eastlands are now attempting to determine the future of the Camp Mystic property, but the victims' families including my clients, will fight to protect their rights and ensure any sale is fair and transparent,” said Tim Ferguson, attorney for the family of 8-year-old Mary Grace Baker, one of the campers who died.

“The Bakers intend to continue fighting for answers, accountability and justice for their daughter,” Ferguson said.

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