Niagara-on-the-Lake is often viewed as an influential, well-to-do community. And in many pockets of town, that is definitely true.

However, a minority of NOTL seniors — 28 per cent — has assets of less than $1 million and are “less confident about satisfying their future housing and assistance needs,” the survey of seniors’ future housing needs finds.

The researchers note it is somewhat significant that the less financially secure cohort is more likely to be a woman, living alone and be age 75 or more.

In many cases, the report finds that a sizable chunk of people’s net worth is tied up in their home.

About three-quarters of NOTL seniors claim to have assets of more than $1 million and 40 per cent say their total is more than $2 million.

Coupled with that, just over half of seniors (56 per cent) say they are financially secure.

“This solid financial underpinning is common across both Old Town and other NOTL communities,” the report says.

What about the rest?

About 39 per cent say their financial situation is under control but they need to be careful.

In addition, few NOTL seniors think they will have any trouble selling their home when the time comes to downsize or move elsewhere.

Another group, those who say they are likely to move elsewhere to be closer to family or other supports, is relatively small, at 25 per cent.

This total is even smaller among rural seniors, where only 13 per cent figures they might have to pull up stakes.

“For many rural seniors, moving to a smaller, more manageable home very near one’s current place of residences is preferable” to a long-term care or retirement home.