Older Veterans — Possible Forerunners of Migration: Migration Patterns of the Elderly Veteran Population Versus the General Elderly Population, 1960-1980

Abstract

We provide a descriptive comparison of the interstate migration patterns between the general elderly population and the elderly veteran subpopulation for the migration periods 1955-60, 1965-70, and 1975-80. National surveys have shown that, in general, veterans have higher income levels than the general population. Given that high socioeconomic status is associated with long-distance migration, we hypothesize that veterans, as a group, are more mobile and move longer distances when compared with the general elderly population. Additionally, new destination sites are usually discovered by those who have relatively higher socioeconomic status. Thus, it may be that elderly veterans are the forerunners to new destinations.