Relocating out of MA at age 62 ?
I’m 62, fully remote, single, live alone, and I’m seriously considering relocating out of Massachusetts within the next 1-2 years. Not impulsively. I’m trying to think this through rationally.
Current situation:
I live in Massachusetts.
My position is fully remote and 100% location independent.
I’m a long-term employee at a large financial institution.
No spouse, no young kids, adult son & fiancé live in RI.
My lifestyle is honestly pretty home-centered now:
remote work, errands, healthcare appointments, occasional travel for hobbies.
I’m not looking for nightlife, dating, or “reinventing myself.”
I’m looking for lower stress, lower monthly burn, quieter living, and more financial breathing room as I age.
What’s making me rethink Massachusetts:
Rent is getting absurd.
I’m no longer using the “big expensive Northeast city” lifestyle enough to justify the cost.
I’m already mostly living apartment-centered / remote-worker life.
I’d like to preserve more money long-term instead of pouring so much into housing.
What I AM looking for:
Quiet and safe
Decent healthcare infrastructure
Central air / modern apartment
Grocery delivery / DoorDash / normal conveniences
Airport access
Not isolated rural living
Lower cost than eastern Massachusetts
Recreational cannabis legal (important for sleep/stress management)
Good environment for a single older remote worker who values calm over excitement
What I’m NOT looking for:
Retirement home / assisted living
Tiny house fantasy
Party scene
“Find myself” relocation
Living in the middle of nowhere
Massive culture-war politics debates
Originally I was heavily considering Greenville, SC because:
cheaper
calmer
easier driving
mild winters
manageable airport
quieter pace
But recreational marijuana legality is a real issue for me there, so now I’m widening the search.
Places I’m now considering:
Raleigh/Cary NC area
Pittsburgh suburbs
Ohio suburbs
Michigan (Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo?)
Possibly Albuquerque
Open to other ideas
My current plan is:
do a 1-2 week “live/work” test trip somewhere this summer,
stay in an extended stay or Airbnb,
work remotely during the trip,
grocery shop, drive around, tour apartments,
and see how my nervous system actually feels there.
Questions:
Has anyone done this kind of relocation in their late 50s/60s while fully remote?
What places surprised you positively or negatively?
Any cities/suburbs I’m overlooking?
Biggest mistakes people make doing this?
If you left a high-cost Northeast state, was it worth it long-term?
Trying to approach this like a controlled experiment instead of a midlife crisis with moving boxes.