Parents follow their kids to the South in ‘baby chaser’ boom

Raleigh, North Carolina, ranked as the nation’s top market for “baby chasing,” a term that describes the trend of older Americans who are moving to be closer to their children and grandchildren. That’s according to data released Wednesday by NewHomeSource and Zonda via their 2026 Baby Chaser Index. The annual index identifies housing markets that are experiencing growth among both younger Americans and their parents’ generation. The report comes as one in four baby boomers say they plan to retire near their children or grandchildren. Raleigh moved from third to first on this year’s list, supported by household growth among both generations. The region added 24,000 households in 2025, putting it ahead of Nashville, Houston, Dallas and Charlotte. The top 10 baby chaser markets in 2026 are Raleigh; Nashville; Houston; Dallas; Charlotte; Boise, Idaho; Charleston, South Carolina; Austin; San Antonio and 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,” Ali Wolf, chief economist at NewHomeSource and Zonda, said in a statement. “While the life stages driving the...