As the baby boomer generation continues to age, and as 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.
While there are still decades to go before the median age in the U.S. exceeds 40, there are already counties that are ahead of this trend. Every state has at least one county or county equivalent where the median age is over half a decade above the national median.
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 oldest county ranges from about 44 to 67.
An aging population can carry significant economic implications. In places with large retirement-age populations, working-age residents often shoulder a greater burden in supporting non-working older residents who tend to rely more on social and health services. In nearly every county on this list, the ratio of residents 65 and older to working-age residents is far higher than it is across the state as a whole. Here is a look at the best (and worst) states for a healthy retirement.
A given area can have a higher than average median age for any number of reasons. It can be a retirement destination or simply lack institutions that tend to host large numbers of young people, like a college or university or a military base. Often, however, areas where the median age is higher than average are not drawing in new residents and young families, which is also often evidenced by net population decline. Most of the counties on this list are home to fewer people now than they were half a decade ago. Here is a look at the fastest shrinking place in every state.
Click here for the oldest county in every state
Click here for our detailed methodology
Alabama: Coosa County
> Median age: 48.4 years (state: 39.0 years)
> Population under 18: 16.7% (state: 22.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 22.6% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 10,757
> Largest place in county: Stewartville
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Alaska: Hoonah-Angoon Census Area
> Median age: 49.6 years (state: 34.3 years)
> Population under 18: 15.1% (state: 25.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 20.5% (state: 11.2%)
> Total population: 2,139
> Largest place in Census area: Hoonah
Source: MCCAIG / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: La Paz County
> Median age: 56.5 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 16.3% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 38.6% (state: 17.1%)
> Total population: 20,793
> Largest place in county: Quartzsite
Arkansas: Baxter County
> Median age: 52.2 years (state: 38.1 years)
> Population under 18: 17.5% (state: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 30.8% (state: 16.6%)
> Total population: 41,427
> Largest place in county: Mountain Home
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California: Sierra County
> Median age: 54.8 years (state: 36.5 years)
> Population under 18: 15.9% (state: 23.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 29.3% (state: 14.0%)
> Total population: 3,040
> Largest place in county: Loyalton
Colorado: Custer County
> Median age: 59.7 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 15.0% (state: 22.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 36.0% (state: 13.8%)
> Total population: 4,776
> Largest place in county: Silver Cliff
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Connecticut: Litchfield County
> Median age: 47.3 years (state: 41.0 years)
> Population under 18: 18.5% (state: 20.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 20.6% (state: 16.8%)
> Total population: 182,002
> Largest place in county: Torrington
Source: aimintang / Getty Images
Delaware: Sussex County
> Median age: 49.6 years (state: 40.6 years)
> Population under 18: 18.8% (state: 21.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 27.0% (state: 18.2%)
> Total population: 224,384
> Largest place in county: Milford
Source: Ken Badgley / Getty Images
Florida: Sumter County
> Median age: 67.4 years (state: 42.0 years)
> Population under 18: 7.3% (state: 20.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 56.7% (state: 20.1%)
> Total population: 125,044
> Largest place in county: The Villages
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Source: Wilsilver77 / Getty Images
Georgia: Union County
> Median age: 54.3 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 16.3% (state: 24.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 32.5% (state: 13.5%)
> Total population: 23,288
> Largest place in county: Blairsville
Hawaii: Kalawao County
> Median age: 57.4 years (state: 39.1 years)
> Population under 18: 1.5% (state: 21.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 16.7% (state: 17.8%)
> Total population: 66
> Largest place in county: N/A
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Idaho: Adams County
> Median age: 55.2 years (state: 36.4 years)
> Population under 18: 17.1% (state: 25.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 29.5% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 4,097
> Largest place in county: Council
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Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Illinois: Pope County
> Median age: 52.5 years (state: 38.1 years)
> Population under 18: 14.9% (state: 22.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 27.4% (state: 15.2%)
> Total population: 4,203
> Largest place in county: Golconda
Source: Kenneth_Keifer / Getty Images
Indiana: Brown County
> Median age: 50.0 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 17.8% (state: 23.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 24.3% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 15,064
> Largest place in county: Nashville
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Source: dosecreative / iStock
Iowa: Dickinson County
> Median age: 48.4 years (state: 38.2 years)
> Population under 18: 18.9% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 25.5% (state: 16.7%)
> Total population: 17,127
> Largest place in county: Spirit Lake
Kansas: Jewell County
> Median age: 52.8 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 19.2% (state: 24.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 29.6% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 2,885
> Largest place in county: Mankato
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Kentucky: Lyon County
> Median age: 50.6 years (state: 38.9 years)
> Population under 18: 13.9% (state: 22.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 26.7% (state: 16.0%)
> Total population: 8,271
> Largest place in county: Eddyville
Source: Judy Darby / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Cameron Parish
> Median age: 44.1 years (state: 36.9 years)
> Population under 18: 22.6% (state: 23.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 16.0% (state: 15.0%)
> Total population: 6,930
> Largest place in parish: Hackberry
Source: EJJohnsonPhotography / Getty Images
Maine: Piscataquis County
> Median age: 51.5 years (state: 44.7 years)
> Population under 18: 17.3% (state: 18.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 25.9% (state: 20.0%)
> Total population: 16,836
> Largest place in county: Dover-Foxcroft
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Source: Joesboy / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Talbot County
> Median age: 50.5 years (state: 38.7 years)
> Population under 18: 18.4% (state: 22.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 28.5% (state: 15.0%)
> Total population: 37,167
> Largest place in county: Easton
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Barnstable County
> Median age: 53.3 years (state: 39.5 years)
> Population under 18: 15.3% (state: 20.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 29.8% (state: 16.2%)
> Total population: 213,496
> Largest place in county: Barnstable Town
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Source: jimfeng / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Ontonagon County
> Median age: 58.6 years (state: 39.7 years)
> Population under 18: 12.4% (state: 21.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 35.4% (state: 16.7%)
> Total population: 5,877
> Largest place in county: Ontonagon
Minnesota: Aitkin County
> Median age: 55.5 years (state: 38.0 years)
> Population under 18: 16.7% (state: 23.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 32.5% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 15,834
> Largest place in county: Aitkin
Mississippi: Carroll County
> Median age: 47.6 years (state: 37.5 years)
> Population under 18: 19.2% (state: 23.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 22.9% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 10,070
> Largest place in county: Vaiden
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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
Missouri: Hickory County
> Median age: 55.0 years (state: 38.6 years)
> Population under 18: 17.0% (state: 22.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 33.5% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 9,404
> Largest place in county: Hermitage
Montana: Golden Valley County
> Median age: 56.9 years (state: 39.9 years)
> Population under 18: 14.4% (state: 21.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 25.4% (state: 18.2%)
> Total population: 728
> Largest place in county: Ryegate
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Nebraska: McPherson County
> Median age: 54.8 years (state: 36.5 years)
> Population under 18: 15.4% (state: 24.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 29.9% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 395
> Largest place in county: Tryon
Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
Nevada: Esmeralda County
> Median age: 55.4 years (state: 38.0 years)
> Population under 18: 16.6% (state: 22.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 28.5% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 969
> Largest place in county: Dyer
New Hampshire: Carroll County
> Median age: 52.3 years (state: 42.9 years)
> Population under 18: 16.1% (state: 19.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 27.0% (state: 17.5%)
> Total population: 48,138
> Largest place in county: Conway
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Source: sparhawk4242 / Getty Images
New Jersey: Cape May County
> Median age: 49.6 years (state: 39.9 years)
> Population under 18: 17.6% (state: 22.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 25.8% (state: 15.9%)
> Total population: 93,086
> Largest place in county: Ocean City
New Mexico: Harding County
> Median age: 58.5 years (state: 37.8 years)
> Population under 18: 13.8% (state: 23.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 39.0% (state: 16.9%)
> Total population: 441
> Largest place in county: Roy
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Source: DebraMillet / Getty Images
New York: Hamilton County
> Median age: 55.3 years (state: 38.8 years)
> Population under 18: 13.8% (state: 21.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 30.3% (state: 16.1%)
> Total population: 4,515
> Largest place in county: Wells
Source: paulync / Getty Images
North Carolina: Brunswick County
> Median age: 53.8 years (state: 38.7 years)
> Population under 18: 15.6% (state: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 30.5% (state: 15.9%)
> Total population: 131,815
> Largest place in county: Leland
North Dakota: McIntosh County
> Median age: 53.5 years (state: 35.1 years)
> Population under 18: 17.4% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 31.2% (state: 14.9%)
> Total population: 2,597
> Largest place in county: Wishek
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Ohio: Noble County
> Median age: 50.4 years (state: 39.4 years)
> Population under 18: 18.5% (state: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 26.7% (state: 16.7%)
> Total population: 14,416
> Largest place in county: Caldwell
Source: raksybH / iStock via Getty Images
Oklahoma: McIntosh County
> Median age: 47.8 years (state: 36.6 years)
> Population under 18: 20.1% (state: 24.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 25.2% (state: 15.3%)
> Total population: 19,725
> Largest place in county: Central
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Source: Esteban Martinena Guerrero / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: Wheeler County
> Median age: 59.0 years (state: 39.3 years)
> Population under 18: 17.0% (state: 21.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 35.8% (state: 17.2%)
> Total population: 1,415
> Largest place in county: Fossil
Pennsylvania: Sullivan County
> Median age: 53.7 years (state: 40.8 years)
> Population under 18: 11.7% (state: 20.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 27.6% (state: 17.8%)
> Total population: 6,135
> Largest place in county: Dushore
Source: Image Source / Getty Images
Rhode Island: Newport County
> Median age: 45.2 years (state: 39.9 years)
> Population under 18: 17.1% (state: 19.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 21.7% (state: 16.8%)
> Total population: 82,801
> Largest place in county: Newport
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South Carolina: McCormick County
> Median age: 55.2 years (state: 39.4 years)
> Population under 18: 12.2% (state: 22.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 33.4% (state: 17.2%)
> Total population: 9,531
> Largest place in county: McCormick
Source: chapin31 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
South Dakota: Custer County
> Median age: 54.8 years (state: 37.0 years)
> Population under 18: 15.9% (state: 24.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 29.0% (state: 16.3%)
> Total population: 8,719
> Largest place in county: Custer
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Source: joebelanger / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Cumberland County
> Median age: 51.0 years (state: 38.7 years)
> Population under 18: 17.8% (state: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 30.2% (state: 16.0%)
> Total population: 59,216
> Largest place in county: Crossville
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/0ccam/
Texas: Llano County
> Median age: 57.4 years (state: 34.6 years)
> Population under 18: 15.0% (state: 26.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 36.4% (state: 12.3%)
> Total population: 21,047
> Largest place in county: Kingsland
Utah: Piute County
> Median age: 44.5 years (state: 30.8 years)
> Population under 18: 24.3% (state: 29.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 24.6% (state: 10.8%)
> Total population: 1,866
> Largest place in county: Marysvale
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Vermont: Essex County
> Median age: 50.9 years (state: 42.9 years)
> Population under 18: 17.6% (state: 18.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 25.3% (state: 18.8%)
> Total population: 6,200
> Largest place in county: Island Pond
Source: Joe_Potato / Getty Images
Virginia: Highland County
> Median age: 60.9 years (state: 38.2 years)
> Population under 18: 11.7% (state: 22.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 38.9% (state: 15.0%)
> Total population: 2,204
> Largest place in county: Monterey
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Source: JeffGoulden / E+ via Getty Images
Washington: Jefferson County
> Median age: 58.3 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 12.5% (state: 22.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 35.3% (state: 15.1%)
> Total population: 31,285
> Largest place in county: Port Townsend
West Virginia: Pendleton County
> Median age: 50.8 years (state: 42.5 years)
> Population under 18: 18.3% (state: 20.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 26.5% (state: 19.4%)
> Total population: 7,001
> Largest place in county: Franklin
Wisconsin: Iron County
> Median age: 54.9 years (state: 39.5 years)
> Population under 18: 14.0% (state: 22.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 30.1% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 5,687
> Largest place in county: Hurley
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Wyoming: Platte County
> Median age: 49.2 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 18.1% (state: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 23.9% (state: 15.7%)
> Total population: 8,582
> Largest place in county: Wheatland
Methodology
To determine the oldest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year data on median age from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Counties were ranked based on the median age for all residents. In the case of a tie, the county where the largest share of the population are 65 or older ranked as the oldest.
Supplemental data on the share of the population under 18 years old and total population also came from the 2019 ACS and are five-year estimates. 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.
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