Raleigh, North Carolina, is the nation’s top market for “Baby Chasing,” the trend of older Americans moving closer to their children and grandchildren, according to NewHomeSource and Zonda’s 2026 Baby Chaser Index. With one in four Baby Boomers planning to retire near their children or grandchildren , the annual report identifies the housing markets attracting both younger Americans and their parents’ generation.
Raleigh jumped from third to first on this year’s list, driven by strong, sustained growth among both generations. The region added 24,000 households in 2025, helping it edge out Nashville, Houston, Dallas and Charlotte for the top spot.
The Baby Chaser Index analyzes Census data to identify markets seeing both recent momentum and sustained household growth across generations , offering a look at where young families are putting down roots and their parents are following.
Top 10 Baby Chaser Markets:
- Raleigh, NC
- Nashville, TN
- Houston
- Dallas
- Charlotte, NC
- Boise City, ID
- Charleston, SC
- Austin, TX
- San Antonio
- Atlanta
“Family connections are a powerful driver of where people decide to live, especially for older Americans with more freedom and flexibility to choose their new location,” said Ali Wolf, chief economist at NewHomeSource and Zonda. “While the life stages driving the Baby Chaser phenomenon hold strong, the markets best positioned for continued strength will be those that can meet the needs of young families settling down and the parents who want to spend time with their grandbabies.”
Baby Chaser markets are made up of a strong job market that draws in new residents, and quality of life factors like educational opportunities, healthcare, and recreational options make it an appealing place to establish roots. Affordable housing makes homeownership accessible to younger Americans with less of a financial nest egg as well as older Americans watching their long-term savings and cost of living.
Powerhouse Baby Chaser markets, like the ones in the Carolinas and Texas, have strong fundamentals to support growing families and amenities attractive to older adults. In addition to Raleigh climbing the ranks, Charleston and Charlotte rose two and three positions, respectively. In Texas, Houston and Dallas both overtook Austin as it experienced a slow down in demand from older households. Notably, Florida markets were absent completely after Orlando led the index and Jacksonville, FL ranked sixth last year.
“Our consumer research reveals that the number one reason retirees choose to relocate is to be close to family,” said Shaun McCutcheon, vice president at Zonda Advisory and Carolinas expert. “The Carolinas’ ability to attract young professionals and working families, while offering housing options for older buyers who follow, helps explain why the region continues to dominate the Baby Chaser index.”
The Baby Chasers Index reveals where cross-generational demand is strong, giving builders the opportunity to tailor their housing stock to meet the needs of the generations flooding into the market. NewHomeSource.com is the leading marketplace to find new construction homes with features built for each stage of life.
Methodology
The Baby Chaser Index evaluates U.S. metros with populations of 750K+ and analyzes the short- and long-term population trends of the two age cohorts, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. It considers year-over-year growth to capture more recent momentum, and growth since 2010, which provides a longer-term view.
