Youngest County in Every State
danlogan / iStock 21. Massachusetts: Suffolk County > Median age: 32.6 years (county), 39.4 years (state) > Pop. under 18: 17.0% (county), 20.4% (state) > Population: 780,685 > Life expectancy: 79.9 years > County seat: Boston Rebecca / Wikimedia Commons…
More than half of all Americans are currently under 38 years of age. By 2060, however, the majority will be at least 43-years-old, according to Census Bureau projections. Though the United States as a whole is aging rapidly, there are parts of the country where the number of young people is a defining demographic characteristic.
The increasingly aging population is largely the product of a falling birth rate and long-term improvements in life expectancy. Despite this trend, almost every state has at least one county where the median age is far lower than typical. 24/7 Tempo reviewed median age by county using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey to identify the youngest county in every state. These counties are often urban and include independent cities in Maryland and Virginia that effectively function as counties.
Many of the counties on this list are home to large colleges and universities. As the vast majority of the 19.9 million college and university students in the United States are under 25 years old, the presence of a post-secondary institution can reduce the median age of any county. Several of the counties on this list are home to large public universities, and in some, more than one in every four residents are enrolled in college or graduate school.
Though school is not the only reason young people relocate. People in their 20s and 30s move for work, friends, family, and a desire to live somewhere they love. These are the 40 cities young people are moving to.
Some counties on this list skew younger due to a growing number of new families. In the youngest counties in Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah, more than one in every 10 residents are under age 5. New families can also drive population growth, and the vast majority of counties on this list are larger now than they were five years ago. Almost every state in the country has at least one county or county equivalent where the population grew at a faster rate than the nation as a whole since 2010. These are each state’s fastest growing county.
Just because a county has the youngest population in the state does not necessarily mean it is younger than the United States as a whole. In both Connecticut and Maine, the median age in the youngest county is higher than the 37.8-year national median. Both Connecticut and Maine rank among the oldest states in the country, with median ages of 40.8 years and 44.3 years respectively. Life expectancy in some states increased by just three years since 1980, and by as much as nine years in others — these are the states where people live the longest.
Click here to see the youngest county in every state.
Click here to see our methodology.
1. Alabama: Lee County
> Median age: 31.0 years (county), 38.7 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 21.6% (county), 22.7% (state)
> Population: 156,597
> Life expectancy: 76.5 years
> County seat: Opelika
[entry-topics ids=”8017″]
2. Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area
> Median age: 24.0 years (borough), 33.9 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 39.7% (borough), 25.2% (state)
> Population: 8,129
> Life expectancy: 70.8 years
> Largest city: Hooper Bay
[entry-topics ids=”176″]
3. Arizona: Coconino County
> Median age: 30.6 years (county), 37.2 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 21.5% (county), 23.8% (state)
> Population: 138,639
> Life expectancy: 79.4 years
> County seat: Flagstaff
[entry-topics ids=”24592″]
4. Arkansas: Washington County
> Median age: 31.5 years (county), 37.9 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 24.9% (county), 23.7% (state)
> Population: 223,683
> Life expectancy: 78.1 years
> County seat: Fayetteville
[entry-topics ids=”50255″]
5. California: Tulare County
> Median age: 30.6 years (county), 36.1 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 31.4% (county), 23.4% (state)
> Population: 458,809
> Life expectancy: 78.3 years
> County seat: Visalia
[entry-topics ids=”1337″]
6. Colorado: Alamosa County
> Median age: 30.3 years (county), 36.5 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 24.3% (county), 23% (state)
> Population: 16,345
> Life expectancy: 77.4 years
> County seat: Alamosa
[entry-topics ids=”180″]
7. Connecticut: Tolland County
> Median age: 37.9 years (county), 40.8 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 18.1% (county), 21.2% (state)
> Population: 151,596
> Life expectancy: 81.6 years
> Largest city: Vernon
[entry-topics ids=”22247″]
8. Delaware: Kent County
> Median age: 37.3 years (county), 39.8 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 23.4% (county), 21.6% (state)
> Population: 173,145
> Life expectancy: 77.5 years
> County seat: Dover
[entry-topics ids=”3426″]
9. Florida: Leon County
> Median age: 30.5 years (county), 41.8 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 18.8% (county), 20.3% (state)
> Population: 285,890
> Life expectancy: 79.4 years
> County seat: Tallahassee
[entry-topics ids=”1657″]
10. Georgia: Chattahoochee County
> Median age: 23.7 years (county), 36.4 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 22.3% (county), 24.5% (state)
> Population: 11,096
> Life expectancy: 77.1 years
> County seat: Cusseta
[entry-topics ids=”22721″]
11. Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Median age: 37.6 years (county), 38.8 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 21.4% (county), 21.6% (state)
> Population: 990,060
> Life expectancy: 81.4 years
> County seat: Honolulu
[entry-topics ids=”14042″]
12. Idaho: Madison County
> Median age: 23.5 years (county), 35.9 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 27.1% (county), 26.2% (state)
> Population: 38,241
> Life expectancy: 81.1 years
> County seat: Rexburg
[entry-topics ids=”59347″]
13. Illinois: Champaign County
> Median age: 29.7 years (county), 37.7 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 19.0% (county), 23% (state)
> Population: 207,946
> Life expectancy: 80.3 years
> County seat: Urbana
[entry-topics ids=”11106″]
14. Indiana: Tippecanoe County
> Median age: 28.1 years (county), 37.5 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 20.7% (county), 23.9% (state)
> Population: 186,081
> Life expectancy: 79.1 years
> County seat: Lafayette
[entry-topics ids=”35717″]
15. Iowa: Story County
> Median age: 25.9 years (county), 38.1 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 16.9% (county), 23.4% (state)
> Population: 95,888
> Life expectancy: 82.1 years
> County seat: Nevada
[entry-topics ids=”59348″]
16. Kansas: Riley County
> Median age: 24.9 years (county), 36.3 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 16.9% (county), 24.7% (state)
> Population: 75,696
> Life expectancy: 81.5 years
> County seat: Manhattan
[entry-topics ids=”14041″]
17. Kentucky: Christian County
> Median age: 28.4 years (county), 38.6 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 27.6% (county), 22.9% (state)
> Population: 72,438
> Life expectancy: 75.6 years
> County seat: Hopkinsville
[entry-topics ids=”59349″]
18. Louisiana: Lincoln Parish
> Median age: 27.6 years (parish), 36.4 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 20.2% (parish), 23.9% (state)
> Population: 47,536
> Life expectancy: 77.4 years
> Parish seat: Ruston
[entry-topics ids=”59350″]
19. Maine: Androscoggin County
> Median age: 40.7 years (county), 44.3 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 21.9% (county), 19.3% (state)
> Population: 107,317
> Life expectancy: 78.3 years
> County seat: Auburn
[entry-topics ids=”36448″]
20. Maryland: Baltimore
> Median age: 35.0 years (county), 38.5 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 21.0% (county), 22.5% (state)
> Population: 619,796
> Life expectancy: 72.1 years
> County seat: N/A
[entry-topics ids=”28049″]
21. Massachusetts: Suffolk County
> Median age: 32.6 years (county), 39.4 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 17.0% (county), 20.4% (state)
> Population: 780,685
> Life expectancy: 79.9 years
> County seat: Boston
[entry-topics ids=”22627″]
22. Michigan: Isabella County
> Median age: 27.4 years (county), 39.6 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 17.4% (county), 22.3% (state)
> Population: 70,572
> Life expectancy: 79.1 years
> County seat: Mount Pleasant
[entry-topics ids=”11110″]
23. Minnesota: Blue Earth County
> Median age: 30.6 years (county), 37.9 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 19.7% (county), 23.4% (state)
> Population: 65,767
> Life expectancy: 81.0 years
> County seat: Mankato
[entry-topics ids=”19886″]
24. Mississippi: Oktibbeha County
> Median age: 25.4 years (county), 36.9 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 17.5% (county), 24.3% (state)
> Population: 49,392
> Life expectancy: 77.9 years
> County seat: Starkville
[entry-topics ids=”59351″]
25. Missouri: Adair County
> Median age: 27.3 years (county), 38.4 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 18.0% (county), 22.9% (state)
> Population: 25,437
> Life expectancy: 78.0 years
> County seat: Kirksville
[entry-topics ids=”28577″]
26. Montana: Big Horn County
> Median age: 29.9 years (county), 39.8 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 33.6% (county), 22% (state)
> Population: 13,290
> Life expectancy: 73.6 years
> County seat: Hardin
[entry-topics ids=”3837″]
27. Nebraska: Thurston County
> Median age: 28.1 years (county), 36.3 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 35.6% (county), 24.8% (state)
> Population: 7,055
> Life expectancy: 73.9 years
> County seat: Pender
[entry-topics ids=”11091″]
28. Nevada: Elko County
> Median age: 34.1 years (county), 37.7 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 27.7% (county), 23.2% (state)
> Population: 52,377
> Life expectancy: 78.3 years
> County seat: Elko
[entry-topics ids=”59354″]
29. New Hampshire: Strafford County
> Median age: 37.0 years (county), 42.7 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 19.3% (county), 19.8% (state)
> Population: 126,552
> Life expectancy: 79.5 years
> County seat: Dover
[entry-topics ids=”22615″]
30. New Jersey: Hudson County
> Median age: 34.9 years (county), 39.6 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 20.4% (county), 22.3% (state)
> Population: 679,756
> Life expectancy: 80.3 years
> County seat: Jersey City
[entry-topics ids=”22720″]
31. New Mexico: Roosevelt County
> Median age: 29.7 years (county), 37.3 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 24.6% (county), 23.9% (state)
> Population: 19,313
> Life expectancy: 77.9 years
> County seat: Portales
[entry-topics ids=”59355″]
32. New York: Tompkins County
> Median age: 30.4 years (county), 38.4 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 15.2% (county), 21.2% (state)
> Population: 104,415
> Life expectancy: 81.2 years
> County seat: Ithaca
[entry-topics ids=”4614″]
33. North Carolina: Onslow County
> Median age: 26.0 years (county), 38.4 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 24.5% (county), 22.8% (state)
> Population: 192,685
> Life expectancy: 77.6 years
> County seat: Jacksonville
[entry-topics ids=”20037″]
34. North Dakota: Sioux County
> Median age: 26.9 years (county), 35.1 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 37.5% (county), 22.9% (state)
> Population: 4,420
> Life expectancy: 68.6 years
> County seat: Fort Yates
[entry-topics ids=”15103″]
35. Ohio: Athens County
> Median age: 28.6 years (county), 39.3 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 15.0% (county), 22.6% (state)
> Population: 65,563
> Life expectancy: 76.9 years
> County seat: Athens
[entry-topics ids=”4458″]
36. Oklahoma: Payne County
> Median age: 27.2 years (county), 36.3 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 19.4% (county), 24.5% (state)
> Population: 80,634
> Life expectancy: 78.4 years
> County seat: Stillwater
[entry-topics ids=”6084″]
37. Oregon: Benton County
> Median age: 32.8 years (county), 39.2 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 16.7% (county), 21.5% (state)
> Population: 88,249
> Life expectancy: 82.1 years
> County seat: Corvallis
[entry-topics ids=”59358″]
38. Pennsylvania: Centre County
> Median age: 31.3 years (county), 40.7 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 15.3% (county), 21% (state)
> Population: 160,646
> Life expectancy: 81.9 years
> County seat: Bellefonte
[entry-topics ids=”11113″]
39. Rhode Island: Providence County
> Median age: 37.3 years (county), 39.9 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 20.9% (county), 19.9% (state)
> Population: 633,704
> Life expectancy: 79.3 years
> Largest city: Providence
[entry-topics ids=”9799″]
40. South Carolina: Richland County
> Median age: 33.0 years (county), 39.0 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 21.8% (county), 22.3% (state)
> Population: 404,869
> Life expectancy: 77.4 years
> County seat: Columbia
[entry-topics ids=”11112″]
41. South Dakota: Todd County
> Median age: 24.4 years (county), 36.8 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 40.1% (county), 24.7% (state)
> Population: 10,016
> Life expectancy: 68.5 years
> County seat: Winner
[entry-topics ids=”14040″]
42. Tennessee: Montgomery County
> Median age: 30.5 years (county), 38.6 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 27.0% (county), 22.7% (state)
> Population: 192,120
> Life expectancy: 76.7 years
> County seat: Clarksville
[entry-topics ids=”59360″]
43. Texas: Brazos County
> Median age: 25.8 years (county), 34.3 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 20.6% (county), 26.3% (state)
> Population: 214,231
> Life expectancy: 79.9 years
> County seat: Bryan
[entry-topics ids=”1575″]
44. Utah: Utah County
> Median age: 24.5 years (county), 30.5 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 34.5% (county), 30.4% (state)
> Population: 576,496
> Life expectancy: 80.8 years
> County seat: Provo
[entry-topics ids=”59361″]
45. Vermont: Chittenden County
> Median age: 36.6 years (county), 42.8 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 18.4% (county), 19.2% (state)
> Population: 160,985
> Life expectancy: 81.4 years
> County seat: Burlington
[entry-topics ids=”1866″]
46. Virginia: Lexington
> Median age: 21.6 years (county), 38.0 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 7.6% (county), 22.3% (state)
> Population: 7,113
> Life expectancy: 80.3 years
> County seat: N/A
[entry-topics ids=”1834″]
47. Washington: Whitman County
> Median age: 24.5 years (county), 37.6 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 15.1% (county), 22.5% (state)
> Population: 47,794
> Life expectancy: 81.4 years
> County seat: Colfax
[entry-topics ids=”8439″]
48. West Virginia: Monongalia County
> Median age: 30.9 years (county), 42.2 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 16.3% (county), 20.5% (state)
> Population: 103,715
> Life expectancy: 79.2 years
> County seat: Morgantown
[entry-topics ids=”38858″]
49. Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Median age: 31.4 years (county), 39.2 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 32.4% (county), 22.5% (state)
> Population: 4,506
> Life expectancy: 72.8 years
> County seat: Keshena
[entry-topics ids=”11108″]
50. Wyoming: Albany County
> Median age: 27.1 years (county), 37.0 years (state)
> Pop. under 18: 16.4% (county), 23.7% (state)
> Population: 37,944
> Life expectancy: 80.5 years
> County seat: Laramie
[entry-topics ids=”19422″]
Methodology:
To identify the youngest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the median age of each U.S. county from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. Data on the share of residents under 18 years, the share under 5 years, and population changes also came from the ACS. In Alaska, county equivalents are referred to as boroughs or census areas, and in Louisiana, parishes are county equivalents. In counties without a county seat, the most populous city is listed. In our analysis, we included independent cities, which the Census categorizes alongside counties. In counties without a county seat, the most populous city is listed. We did not list a county seat of most populous city for independent cities.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Sam Stebbins is a writer at 247WallSt.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.
