An Analysis of the Factors that Influence Choice of Residential Area of the Middle-Aged after Retirement : Focusing on Analysis of Group Difference

This research explores the factors affecting seniors reaching retirement or retirees’ choices of residential areas and analyzes different clusters while aging populations pose a challenge to the stability of many societies. The main findings of this research were as follows; First of all, the research evidence showed that of the four main factors that influenced residential location choice of the elderly, personal, economic and social circumstances were most influential determinants. More concretely, the less people valued personal circumstances, the more likely they were to live in metropolitan area after retirement. Secondly the research that determined whether there were statistically significant differences in the choice of residential areas after retirement revealed that in the non-metropolitan area clusters, the average values of personal factors were relatively high while in the metropolitan area clusters, those of location and economic factors were relatively high. Thirdly, the research that evaluated determinants of residential area choice between high-income, middleincome, and low-income segments found that the mean values of the location and social factors were relatively higher among high-income segment while those of economic factors were relatively higher among middle-income, and lowincome segments. The results of this analysis indicate that the preferred residential areas of the elderly may differ depending on the residence area or the income level.