Migrants to Oregon in the 1990’s Working Age, Near-Retirees, and Retirees Make Different Destination Choices

Abstract

The rate of inmigration is high in Western States; hence, the characteristics of the inmigrants are of great policy interest for both communities and States. Younger families need different services than older retirees and near-retirees, while middle-aged professional and managerial workers need still different services. Different regions in Oregon attract dramatically different kinds of migrants: metro areas attract young professionals, some retirement/recreation areas attract the often-wealthy “near-retirees,” and still other retirement/recreation areas attract older retirees. Migrants who move primarily for quality-of-life reasons are willing to absorb substantial declines in income to do so, while migrants who move for job-related reasons will accept little or no income decline.