5. Hawaii
> Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.32%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 21.36%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 18.72%
> Actual Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -2.63%
> Median Age 2001: 36.7
> Median Age 2009: 39.8
Hawaii is a major home to older adults, which may be a reason that the portion of its population that is very young has dropped. The media age in Hawaii is 39.8, the highest among all states. The greatest pressure on young families may be taxes. State taxes per capita were $2,838 when measured in 2006, the highest of any state. Living costs are also relatively high because most goods have to be imported from the mainland U.S. or elsewhere.
4. Rhode Island
> Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.68%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 20.11%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 17.56%
> Actual Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -2.55%
> Median Age 2001: 37.5
> Median Age 2009: 41
Rhode Island as a state is poor and getting poorer. Its old industrial manufacturing base has all but disappeared and has not been replaced by any other industry or industries. Tourism was a major part of the state’s GDP, but that has been hurt by the economic downturn. Real estate prices in the state have dropped sharply because of unemployment and low population growth. One sign that it is not considered an attractive place to live is that its population rose only0.4% in the decade that ended in 2010.
3. California
> Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.68%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 24.25%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 21.18%
> Actual Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -3.08%
> Median Age 2001: 33.0
> Median Age 2009: 36.1
California may have the largest economy among American states with a GDP of $1.8 trillion, but it is also one of the most troubled. The state’s unemployment rate has been high since mid-decade as construction jobs evaporated, followed by state and municipal positions. A number of cities in the state still have unemployment over 10% and in some it is higher than 15%. Several of the state’s largest industries, which include utilities, government services, education and health services, are unlikely to grow in the foreseeable future.
2. Maryland
> Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -12.91%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 22.42%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 19.52%
> Actual Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -2.89%
> Median Age 2001: 36.2
> Median Age 2009: 39.2
Maryland is an anomaly on the list, much like its neighbor, Virginia. Employment opportunities, particularly for high paid jobs, are strong. The state has a large presence of government and technology work. The only real weakness in the employment base may be the farm sector in the southern part of the state. Income taxes in Virginia are extremely high, which may have the effect of pushing lower income families out of the region.
1. Alaska
> Relative Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -15.36%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2001: 25.7%
> Percentage of the Population Under 15 in 2009: 21.75%
> Actual Decrease In Population Under 15 (2001-2009): -3.95%
> Median Age 2001: 32.6
> Median Age 2009: 33.3
It would be easy to suppose that people want to leave Alaska because of the weather, but the state’s population is higher by 13.3% in the last decade. Clearly a very large portion of that increase is among adults. The reason for that is simple. The state’s large energy industry still draws people who want relatively well-paid jobs, even if those jobs are in a remote area with an often hostile climate. The cost of living, however, has remained extremely high. Neither the environment nor the costs of daily life makes it an attractive place to raise children.
Douglas A. McIntyre
