As the baby boomer generation continues to age into retirement and birth rates slow nationwide, the U.S. population is rapidly growing older. The number of Americans older than 55 grew by 27% in the last decade, 20 times faster than the growth rate of the under 55 population, according to census data analysis. Currently, the median age in the United States is about 38. By 2060, the median age is projected to be 43.
Though the United States population as a whole is aging rapidly, there are parts of the country where a large number of young people is a defining demographic characteristic. In nearly every state, there is at least one county where the median age is below the national figure.
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the youngest county or county equivalent in each state. Depending on the state, the median age in the youngest county ranges from about 22 to 41.
Many of the counties on this list are home to large colleges and universities. As the vast majority of the 19.6 million college and university students in the United States are under 25 years old, the presence of a postsecondary institution can lower the median age of any county. In places on this list like Story County, Iowa, home to Iowa State University, and Tompkins County, New York, home to Ithaca College and Cornell University, well over a quarter of the population are enrolled in college or graduate school. Here is a look at the hardest colleges to get into in every state.
A handful of other countries on this list, such as Onslow County, North Carolina, are home to several military bases and installations. Age ceilings for enlistment in the much of the U.S. armed services contributes to lower median age in these areas. Here is a look at America’s military cities.
Click here to see the youngest county in every state.
To determine the youngest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year data on median age in each county from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Counties were ranked based on the median age of all residents. In the case of a tie, the county where the largest share of the population are under age 18 ranked as the youngest.
Supplemental data on the share of the population under 18 years old and total population are five-year estimates and also came from the 2019 ACS. Data on life expectancy by county came from the 2020 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a joint program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Data on population and place boundaries used to determine the largest city in every county came from the Census Bureau.
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Alabama: Pike County
> Median age: 31.2 years (state: 39.0 years)
> Population under 18: 19.4% (state: 22.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.8% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 33,333
> Largest place in county: Troy
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area
> Median age: 24.1 years (state: 34.3 years)
> Population under 18: 40.4% (state: 25.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 5.5% (state: 11.2%)
> Total population: 8,250
> Largest place in county: Hooper Bay
Source: fdastudillo / Getty Images
Arizona: Coconino County
> Median age: 30.7 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 20.7% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.0% (state: 17.1%)
> Total population: 141,274
> Largest place in county: Flagstaff
Arkansas: Washington County
> Median age: 32.0 years (state: 38.1 years)
> Population under 18: 24.5% (state: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.4% (state: 16.6%)
> Total population: 232,289
> Largest place in county: Fayetteville
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Source: tupungato / Getty Images
California: Tulare County
> Median age: 31.0 years (state: 36.5 years)
> Population under 18: 31.0% (state: 23.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.2% (state: 14.0%)
> Total population: 461,898
> Largest place in county: Visalia
Source: Jeffrey Beall / Wikimedia Commons
Colorado: Alamosa County
> Median age: 31.8 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 24.4% (state: 22.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.2% (state: 13.8%)
> Total population: 16,107
> Largest place in county: Alamosa
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Source: jjbers / Flickr
Connecticut: Tolland County
> Median age: 37.7 years (state: 41.0 years)
> Population under 18: 17.6% (state: 20.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.3% (state: 16.8%)
> Total population: 151,063
> Largest place in county: Storrs
Source: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD / Wikimedia Commons
Delaware: Kent County
> Median age: 37.7 years (state: 40.6 years)
> Population under 18: 23.1% (state: 21.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 16.6% (state: 18.2%)
> Total population: 176,699
> Largest place in county: Dover
Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons
Florida: Leon County
> Median age: 31.0 years (state: 42.0 years)
> Population under 18: 18.7% (state: 20.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.9% (state: 20.1%)
> Total population: 289,770
> Largest place in county: Tallahassee
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Georgia: Chattahoochee County
> Median age: 24.5 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 21.3% (state: 24.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 3.2% (state: 13.5%)
> Total population: 10,560
> Largest place in county: Cusseta-Chattahoochee County
Source: segawa7 / Getty Images
Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Median age: 37.9 years (state: 39.1 years)
> Population under 18: 21.2% (state: 21.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 17.3% (state: 17.8%)
> Total population: 984,821
> Largest place in county: Urban Honolulu
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Source: Ken Lund / Flickr
Idaho: Madison County
> Median age: 23.5 years (state: 36.4 years)
> Population under 18: 27.3% (state: 25.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 6.6% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 39,100
> Largest place in county: Rexburg
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Source: Dori / Wikimedia Commons
Illinois: Champaign County
> Median age: 30.1 years (state: 38.1 years)
> Population under 18: 18.9% (state: 22.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.4% (state: 15.2%)
> Total population: 209,922
> Largest place in county: Champaign
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Indiana: Tippecanoe County
> Median age: 28.2 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 20.6% (state: 23.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.1% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 191,553
> Largest place in county: Lafayette
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Source: Larry_Reynolds / Getty Images
Iowa: Story County
> Median age: 26.6 years (state: 38.2 years)
> Population under 18: 16.6% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.8% (state: 16.7%)
> Total population: 96,941
> Largest place in county: Ames
Source: Purestock / Getty Images
Kansas: Riley County
> Median age: 25.1 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 16.6% (state: 24.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 8.9% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 75,056
> Largest place in county: Manhattan
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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
Kentucky: Christian County
> Median age: 28.3 years (state: 38.9 years)
> Population under 18: 27.1% (state: 22.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.1% (state: 16.0%)
> Total population: 71,414
> Largest place in county: Hopkinsville
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Source: C5Media / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Louisiana: Lincoln Parish
> Median age: 28.3 years (state: 36.9 years)
> Population under 18: 20.1% (state: 23.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.4% (state: 15.0%)
> Total population: 47,246
> Largest place in county: Ruston
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Maine: Androscoggin County
> Median age: 41.0 years (state: 44.7 years)
> Population under 18: 21.8% (state: 18.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 17.3% (state: 20.0%)
> Total population: 107,602
> Largest place in county: Lewiston
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Maryland: Baltimore
> Median age: 35.4 years (state: 38.7 years)
> Population under 18: 20.7% (state: 22.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.6% (state: 15.0%)
> Total population: 609,032
> Largest place in county: Baltimore
Source: kickstand / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Suffolk County
> Median age: 32.8 years (state: 39.5 years)
> Population under 18: 16.8% (state: 20.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.8% (state: 16.2%)
> Total population: 796,605
> Largest place in county: Boston
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Source: Rex_Wholster / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Isabella County
> Median age: 28.1 years (state: 39.7 years)
> Population under 18: 17.4% (state: 21.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.2% (state: 16.7%)
> Total population: 70,688
> Largest place in county: Mount Pleasant
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Source: jferrer / Getty Images
Minnesota: Blue Earth County
> Median age: 31.0 years (state: 38.0 years)
> Population under 18: 19.8% (state: 23.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.4% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 66,795
> Largest place in county: Mankato
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Oktibbeha County
> Median age: 26.1 years (state: 37.5 years)
> Population under 18: 17.4% (state: 23.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.0% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 49,512
> Largest place in county: Starkville
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Missouri: Pulaski County
> Median age: 27.6 years (state: 38.6 years)
> Population under 18: 22.0% (state: 22.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 8.3% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 52,425
> Largest place in county: Fort Leonard Wood
Source: Roy Luck / Flickr
Montana: Roosevelt County
> Median age: 30.2 years (state: 39.9 years)
> Population under 18: 33.5% (state: 21.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.1% (state: 18.2%)
> Total population: 11,175
> Largest place in county: Wolf Point
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska: Thurston County
> Median age: 27.5 years (state: 36.5 years)
> Population under 18: 35.9% (state: 24.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.9% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 7,181
> Largest place in county: Pender
Source: jmoor17 / Getty Images
Nevada: Elko County
> Median age: 34.1 years (state: 38.0 years)
> Population under 18: 27.4% (state: 22.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.0% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 52,297
> Largest place in county: Elko
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Strafford County
> Median age: 36.9 years (state: 42.9 years)
> Population under 18: 18.7% (state: 19.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.6% (state: 17.5%)
> Total population: 129,124
> Largest place in county: Dover
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
New Jersey: Hudson County
> Median age: 35.3 years (state: 39.9 years)
> Population under 18: 20.5% (state: 22.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.7% (state: 15.9%)
> Total population: 670,046
> Largest place in county: Jersey City
Source: Wordbuilder / Wikimedia Commons
New Mexico: Roosevelt County
> Median age: 30.0 years (state: 37.8 years)
> Population under 18: 24.4% (state: 23.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.9% (state: 16.9%)
> Total population: 18,888
> Largest place in county: Portales
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Source: aimintang / Getty Images
New York: Tompkins County
> Median age: 31.1 years (state: 38.8 years)
> Population under 18: 14.9% (state: 21.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.9% (state: 16.1%)
> Total population: 102,642
> Largest place in county: Ithaca
Source: jacksonvillenc.gov
North Carolina: Onslow County
> Median age: 26.4 years (state: 38.7 years)
> Population under 18: 24.4% (state: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 8.9% (state: 15.9%)
> Total population: 195,069
> Largest place in county: Jacksonville
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/afiler/
North Dakota: Sioux County
> Median age: 28.2 years (state: 35.1 years)
> Population under 18: 35.9% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 7.8% (state: 14.9%)
> Total population: 4,373
> Largest place in county: Cannon Ball
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Source: Wendy Van / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Ohio: Athens County
> Median age: 29.6 years (state: 39.4 years)
> Population under 18: 14.7% (state: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.6% (state: 16.7%)
> Total population: 65,917
> Largest place in county: Athens
Source: Catlady95 / Wikimedia Commons
Oklahoma: Payne County
> Median age: 27.3 years (state: 36.6 years)
> Population under 18: 19.1% (state: 24.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.3% (state: 15.3%)
> Total population: 81,815
> Largest place in county: Stillwater
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Source: Flutter_97321 / Getty Images
Oregon: Benton County
> Median age: 33.0 years (state: 39.3 years)
> Population under 18: 16.4% (state: 21.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.5% (state: 17.2%)
> Total population: 91,107
> Largest place in county: Corvallis
Source: aimintang / Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Centre County
> Median age: 32.3 years (state: 40.8 years)
> Population under 18: 15.0% (state: 20.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.8% (state: 17.8%)
> Total population: 161,960
> Largest place in county: State College
Source: cmh2315fl / Flickr
Rhode Island: Providence County
> Median age: 37.4 years (state: 39.9 years)
> Population under 18: 20.7% (state: 19.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.0% (state: 16.8%)
> Total population: 635,737
> Largest place in county: Providence
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Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
South Carolina: Richland County
> Median age: 33.4 years (state: 39.4 years)
> Population under 18: 21.5% (state: 22.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.3% (state: 17.2%)
> Total population: 411,357
> Largest place in county: Columbia
Source: Courtesy of Túlio Assis via Flickr
South Dakota: Todd County
> Median age: 23.8 years (state: 37.0 years)
> Population under 18: 41.8% (state: 24.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 7.4% (state: 16.3%)
> Total population: 10,195
> Largest place in county: Rosebud
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Source: Ifistand / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Montgomery County
> Median age: 30.8 years (state: 38.7 years)
> Population under 18: 26.9% (state: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 9.1% (state: 16.0%)
> Total population: 200,180
> Largest place in county: Clarksville
Source: phototram / Wikimedia Commons
Texas: Brazos County
> Median age: 26.5 years (state: 34.6 years)
> Population under 18: 20.6% (state: 26.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 8.9% (state: 12.3%)
> Total population: 222,981
> Largest place in county: College Station
Source: kenlh / Getty Images
Utah: Utah County
> Median age: 24.8 years (state: 30.8 years)
> Population under 18: 33.8% (state: 29.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 7.6% (state: 10.8%)
> Total population: 605,490
> Largest place in county: Provo
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Source: hstiver / Getty Images
Vermont: Chittenden County
> Median age: 36.5 years (state: 42.9 years)
> Population under 18: 17.9% (state: 18.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.6% (state: 18.8%)
> Total population: 162,646
> Largest place in county: Burlington
Source: Joel Carillet / Getty Images
Virginia: Lexington
> Median age: 22.3 years (state: 38.2 years)
> Population under 18: 9.0% (state: 22.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.6% (state: 15.0%)
> Total population: 7,241
> Largest place in county: Lexington
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Source: redfishweb / Getty Images
Washington: Whitman County
> Median age: 24.7 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 15.1% (state: 22.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 10.2% (state: 15.1%)
> Total population: 49,231
> Largest place in county: Pullman
Source: BackyardProduction / iStock via Getty Images
West Virginia: Monongalia County
> Median age: 31.7 years (state: 42.5 years)
> Population under 18: 16.4% (state: 20.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.2% (state: 19.4%)
> Total population: 105,474
> Largest place in county: Morgantown
Source: Michael-Tatman / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Median age: 32.0 years (state: 39.5 years)
> Population under 18: 32.7% (state: 22.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.0% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 4,558
> Largest place in county: Legend Lake
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Source: Jasperdo / Flickr
Wyoming: Albany County
> Median age: 27.6 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 16.2% (state: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.3% (state: 15.7%)
> Total population: 38,390
> Largest place in county: Laramie
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