To better understand migration by the aged to non‐metropolitan destinations this article compares both the household characteristics and the migration behaviour of aged inland movers with aged coastal movers. Inland movers are significantly different to coastal movers in socioeconomic and demographic respects, such as age, mobility, the location of the nearest child and previous occupation. Similarly, there are behavioural differences. Inland households often leave their previous location for reasons internal to the household, such as failing health. In contrast, aged people moving to the coast are more likely to be ‘pushed’ from their origin by such factors as cold climate or the ‘rat race’ nature of urban living. The role of children is critical for inland movers. The converse is the case for those choosing the coast. Furthermore, different coastal locations tend to attract elderly exhibiting different behaviour patterns. Inland centres tend to attract very similar aged movers. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

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