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 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.”
The baby chaser markets tend to combine strong job markets with quality-of-life factors such as educational opportunities, healthcare and recreational options.
Housing affordability also plays a role, providing younger buyers with more accessible homeownership options while allowing older households to manage long-term savings and living costs.
Carolinas and Texas see strong growth
Markets in the Carolinas and Texas continued to perform strongly in this year’s index. Charleston and Charlotte climbed two and three positions, respectively, while Raleigh moved into the top spot.
In Texas, Houston and Dallas moved ahead of Austin, which saw slower demand among older households. Florida markets were absent from this year’s top 10 after Orlando led the index and Jacksonville ranked sixth in the previous year’s report.
“Our consumer research reveals that the number one reason retirees choose to relocate is to be close to family,” said Shaun McCutcheon, a Charlotte-based vice president at Zonda Advisory. “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 Chaser Index evaluates U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of at least 750,000 residents. It analyzes short- and long-term population trends among two age cohorts using U.S. Census Bureau data.
Its methodology considers year-over-year growth to measure recent momentum, along with population growth since 2010 to provide a longer-term view of market trends.
Market data matches index trends
HousingWire Data for the week ending Sept. 4 shows that buyers in these fast-growing metros are encountering more inventory, longer selling times and frequent price reductions.
That could give seniors considering a move closer to children and grandchildren more flexibility than the strong population growth numbers alone might suggest.
Raleigh-Cary had a median list price of $484,069, with 5,134 single-family homes listed for sale. Homes spent an average of 102 days on the market, while 48% of listings had experienced a price cut.
Charlotte showed a similar pattern, with a $479,000 median list price, 5,843 homes available and 54% of properties seeing price cuts. The median time on market was 63 days.
Housing costs varied considerably across the markets. San Antonio had the lowest median list price at $334,599, followed by Houston at $370,000 and Dallas at $440,000.
At the higher end, Boise had a median list price of $594,990, with Nashville at $585,000 and Charleston at $499,000.
Texas also showed substantial variation in inventory and selling times. Houston had 36,718 single-family properties available, the largest inventory among the 10 metros, while Dallas had 30,709.
Homes in Houston averaged 128 days on the market, compared with 108 days in Dallas. Austin had a $450,000 median list price, but 53% of listings had experienced a price reduction.
For older buyers weighing a move to be closer to family, the numbers point to a market where there may be room to shop rather than rush.
Longer marketing times and widespread price reductions could create opportunities to negotiate, while differences in home prices and inventory give relocating households a broad range of choices depending on their budget and desired lifestyle.
