Distance versus destination: stream selectivity of elderly interstate migrants.

Migration streams of persons age 60 years and older that share a common origin state, but with widely separated county-group destinations, were examined to determine the relative effect of distance upon migration selectivity. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics common to selectivity studies were used for the comparisons. The findings showed that distance made little difference. Controlling for destination, we matched and compared the characteristics of older migrants from states of different distances. We looked at those coming to Arizona from California, Illinois, and Ohio, to the New York City suburbs from Pennsylvania and Florida, and to Chicago from Michigan and California. Repeatedly the story was the same. Distance was not an important factor; significant differences between these streams were rare. This analysis used the 1-in-100 1970 census public use microdata sample and used tests for identifying significant differences between streams.