Even as the U.S. population ages and the birth rate declines, there are counties in each state where the median age is lower than the national median of 38.
To determine the county with the youngest population in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed five-year data on median age in each county or county equivalent from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. Counties were ranked based on the median age of all residents. In the case of a tie, the county with the largest share of population 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 2020 ACS. Data on population and place boundaries used to determine the largest city, town, or census designated place in every county came from the Census Bureau.
Among the reasons why certain areas have younger demographics than others are the presence of large universities, military bases, and dynamic economic sectors.
The vast majority of the 19.6 million college and university students in the United States are under 25 years old, and the presence of a postsecondary institution can lower the median age of any county. That is the case in places such as Tolland County in Connecticut, home to the University of Connecticut; Centre County in Pennsylvania, where Penn State University is located; and Leon County, Florida, home to Florida State University and Florida A&M. (These are the 30 best college towns in America.)
Some counties on this list are home to military bases and installations. These include Christian County in Kentucky, home of the massive Fort Campbell; Onslow County, North Carolina, site of the storied Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base; and Riley County, Kansas, where Fort Riley is located. Age ceilings for enlistment in the U.S. armed services contribute to lower median age in these areas. (These are America’s 25 military cities.)
Click here to see the county with the youngest population in every state
Another reason certain areas have younger demographics is the presence of robust economic sectors. The biggest city in New Jersey’s Hudson County is Jersey City, across the Hudson River from New York City. In recent years, Jersey City has become a financial industry powerhouse. This has led to an upsurge in housing redevelopment, a vibrant nightlife, and a surge in younger residents.
Many of the counties that are the youngest in their respective states are also the most populous, among them Utah County in Utah; Chittenden in Vermont; and Providence in Rhode Island. Twenty-two of the counties on the list have a median age under 30 years old.
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Alabama: Pike County
> Median Age: 30.8 years (state: 39.2 years)
> Population under 18: 18.9% (state: 22.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.4% (state: 16.9%)
> Total population: 33,274
> Largest city or town in county : Troy
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Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area
> Median Age: 24.1 years (state: 34.6 years)
> Population under 18: 40.5% (state: 24.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 5.8% (state: 11.9%)
> Total population: 8,298
> Largest city or town in county : Hooper Bay
24/7 Wall St.
Source: fdastudillo / Getty Images
Arizona: Coconino County
> Median Age: 31.0 years (state: 37.9 years)
> Population under 18: 20.4% (state: 22.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.6% (state: 17.6%)
> Total population: 142,254
> Largest city or town in county : Flagstaff
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas: Washington County
> Median Age: 32.2 years (state: 38.3 years)
> Population under 18: 24.3% (state: 23.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.7% (state: 16.9%)
> Total population: 236,198
> Largest city or town in county : Fayetteville
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
California: Yolo County
> Median Age: 31.1 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 21.0% (state: 22.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.5% (state: 14.3%)
> Total population: 218,774
> Largest city or town in county : Davis
Source: MizC / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Alamosa County
> Median Age: 32.3 years (state: 36.9 years)
> Population under 18: 24.2% (state: 22.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.9% (state: 14.2%)
> Total population: 16,153
> Largest city or town in county : Alamosa
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Connecticut: Tolland County
> Median Age: 37.6 years (state: 41.1 years)
> Population under 18: 17.3% (state: 20.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.8% (state: 17.2%)
> Total population: 150,947
> Largest city or town in county : Storrs
Source: Kptan123 / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware: Kent County
> Median Age: 38.1 years (state: 41.0 years)
> Population under 18: 23.0% (state: 21.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 17.1% (state: 18.8%)
> Total population: 179,124
> Largest city or town in county : Dover
Florida: Leon County
> Median Age: 31.3 years (state: 42.2 years)
> Population under 18: 18.6% (state: 19.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.4% (state: 20.5%)
> Total population: 291,863
> Largest city or town in county : Tallahassee
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Georgia: Chattahoochee County
> Median Age: 24.0 years (state: 36.9 years)
> Population under 18: 20.9% (state: 23.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 3.0% (state: 13.9%)
> Total population: 10,470
> Largest city or town in county : Cusseta-Chattahoochee County
Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images
Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Median Age: 38.2 years (state: 39.4 years)
> Population under 18: 21.1% (state: 21.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 17.8% (state: 18.4%)
> Total population: 979,682
> Largest city or town in county : Urban Honolulu
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Idaho: Madison County
> Median Age: 23.5 years (state: 36.6 years)
> Population under 18: 26.9% (state: 25.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 6.7% (state: 15.8%)
> Total population: 39,725
> Largest city or town in county : Rexburg
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Illinois: Champaign County
> Median Age: 30.4 years (state: 38.3 years)
> Population under 18: 18.9% (state: 22.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.8% (state: 15.7%)
> Total population: 210,006
> Largest city or town in county : Champaign
Source: Geoff Eccles / iStock via Getty Images
Indiana: Tippecanoe County
> Median Age: 28.4 years (state: 37.8 years)
> Population under 18: 20.5% (state: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.4% (state: 15.7%)
> Total population: 193,302
> Largest city or town in county : Lafayette
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Iowa: Story County
> Median Age: 26.8 years (state: 38.3 years)
> Population under 18: 16.5% (state: 23.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.2% (state: 17.1%)
> Total population: 97,355
> Largest city or town in county : Ames
Source: Purestock / Getty Images
Kansas: Riley County
> Median Age: 25.4 years (state: 36.9 years)
> Population under 18: 16.5% (state: 24.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 9.2% (state: 15.8%)
> Total population: 74,059
> Largest city or town in county : Manhattan
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Source: BOB WESTON / Getty Images
Kentucky: Christian County
> Median Age: 28.3 years (state: 39.0 years)
> Population under 18: 27.1% (state: 22.6%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.3% (state: 16.4%)
> Total population: 71,470
> Largest city or town in county : Hopkinsville
Source: Brad Dison / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Lincoln Parish
> Median Age: 28.1 years (state: 37.2 years)
> Population under 18: 20.0% (state: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.6% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 47,118
> Largest city or town in county : Ruston
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Maine: Androscoggin County
> Median Age: 40.7 years (state: 44.8 years)
> Population under 18: 21.7% (state: 18.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 17.6% (state: 20.6%)
> Total population: 107,958
> Largest city or town in county : Lewiston
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Baltimore County
> Median Age: 35.5 years (state: 38.8 years)
> Population under 18: 20.5% (state: 22.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.0% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 602,274
> Largest city or town in county : Baltimore
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Suffolk County
> Median Age: 33.0 years (state: 39.6 years)
> Population under 18: 16.6% (state: 19.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.0% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 801,162
> Largest city or town in county : Boston
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Source: Rex_Wholster / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Isabella County
> Median Age: 28.7 years (state: 39.8 years)
> Population under 18: 17.4% (state: 21.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.7% (state: 17.2%)
> Total population: 70,363
> Largest city or town in county : Mount Pleasant
24/7 Wall St.
Source: jferrer / Getty Images
Minnesota: Blue Earth County
> Median Age: 31.3 years (state: 38.1 years)
> Population under 18: 19.7% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.7% (state: 15.8%)
> Total population: 67,368
> Largest city or town in county : Mankato
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Oktibbeha County
> Median Age: 26.1 years (state: 37.7 years)
> Population under 18: 17.5% (state: 23.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.4% (state: 15.9%)
> Total population: 49,593
> Largest city or town in county : Starkville
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri: Pulaski County
> Median Age: 27.8 years (state: 38.7 years)
> Population under 18: 21.9% (state: 22.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 8.6% (state: 16.9%)
> Total population: 52,359
> Largest city or town in county : Fort Leonard Wood
Montana: Roosevelt County
> Median Age: 30.4 years (state: 40.1 years)
> Population under 18: 33.6% (state: 21.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.5% (state: 18.7%)
> Total population: 11,091
> Largest city or town in county : Wolf Point
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska: Thurston County
> Median Age: 28.0 years (state: 36.6 years)
> Population under 18: 35.8% (state: 24.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.1% (state: 15.7%)
> Total population: 7,218
> Largest city or town in county : Pender
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Nevada: Elko County
> Median Age: 34.7 years (state: 38.2 years)
> Population under 18: 26.9% (state: 22.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.7% (state: 15.8%)
> Total population: 52,537
> Largest city or town in county : Elko
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
New Hampshire: Strafford County
> Median Age: 36.8 years (state: 43.0 years)
> Population under 18: 18.4% (state: 19.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.1% (state: 18.1%)
> Total population: 130,161
> Largest city or town in county : Dover
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
New Jersey: Hudson County
> Median Age: 35.3 years (state: 40.0 years)
> Population under 18: 20.4% (state: 22.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.0% (state: 16.2%)
> Total population: 671,923
> Largest city or town in county : Jersey City
New Mexico: De Baca County
> Median Age: 22.2 years (state: 38.1 years)
> Population under 18: 42.7% (state: 23.1%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.5% (state: 17.4%)
> Total population: 1,995
> Largest city or town in county : Fort Sumner
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Source: deberarr / iStock via Getty Images
New York: Tompkins County
> Median Age: 31.3 years (state: 39.0 years)
> Population under 18: 14.7% (state: 20.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.3% (state: 16.5%)
> Total population: 102,237
> Largest city or town in county : Ithaca
Source: Eifel Kreutz / iStock via Getty Images
North Carolina: Onslow County
> Median Age: 26.5 years (state: 38.9 years)
> Population under 18: 24.3% (state: 22.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 9.2% (state: 16.3%)
> Total population: 198,377
> Largest city or town in county : Jacksonville
North Dakota: Sioux County
> Median Age: 28.6 years (state: 35.2 years)
> Population under 18: 34.9% (state: 23.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 8.6% (state: 15.3%)
> Total population: 4,339
> Largest city or town in county : Cannon Ball
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Source: Wendy Van / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Ohio: Athens County
> Median Age: 30.0 years (state: 39.5 years)
> Population under 18: 14.5% (state: 22.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.9% (state: 17.0%)
> Total population: 65,945
> Largest city or town in county : Athens
Oklahoma: Payne County
> Median Age: 27.3 years (state: 36.7 years)
> Population under 18: 19.1% (state: 24.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.6% (state: 15.7%)
> Total population: 81,912
> Largest city or town in county : Stillwater
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Source: Flutter_97321 / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: Benton County
> Median Age: 33.2 years (state: 39.5 years)
> Population under 18: 16.2% (state: 20.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 16.0% (state: 17.6%)
> Total population: 92,168
> Largest city or town in county : Corvallis
Source: aimintang / Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Centre County
> Median Age: 32.9 years (state: 40.9 years)
> Population under 18: 15.0% (state: 20.7%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.2% (state: 18.3%)
> Total population: 162,264
> Largest city or town in county : State College
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Providence County
> Median Age: 37.4 years (state: 40.0 years)
> Population under 18: 20.6% (state: 19.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.3% (state: 17.3%)
> Total population: 636,161
> Largest city or town in county : Providence
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Source: KudzuVine / Wikimedia Commons
South Carolina: Richland County
> Median Age: 33.7 years (state: 39.7 years)
> Population under 18: 21.5% (state: 21.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.7% (state: 17.7%)
> Total population: 414,660
> Largest city or town in county : Columbia
South Dakota: Todd County
> Median Age: 23.6 years (state: 37.2 years)
> Population under 18: 41.9% (state: 24.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 7.4% (state: 16.7%)
> Total population: 10,308
> Largest city or town in county : Rosebud
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Montgomery County
> Median Age: 31.0 years (state: 38.8 years)
> Population under 18: 26.8% (state: 22.3%)
> Population 65 and over: 9.3% (state: 16.4%)
> Total population: 204,992
> Largest city or town in county : Clarksville
Texas: Brazos County
> Median Age: 26.8 years (state: 34.8 years)
> Population under 18: 20.6% (state: 25.8%)
> Population 65 and over: 9.2% (state: 12.5%)
> Total population: 226,370
> Largest city or town in county : College Station
Source: Fotoneurotic / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: Utah County
> Median Age: 25.0 years (state: 31.1 years)
> Population under 18: 33.3% (state: 29.4%)
> Population 65 and over: 7.7% (state: 11.1%)
> Total population: 621,506
> Largest city or town in county : Provo
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Vermont: Chittenden County
> Median Age: 36.5 years (state: 42.8 years)
> Population under 18: 17.8% (state: 18.5%)
> Population 65 and over: 15.1% (state: 19.4%)
> Total population: 163,414
> Largest city or town in county : Burlington
Source: traveler1116 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Virginia: Lexington city
> Median Age: 22.2 years (state: 38.4 years)
> Population under 18: 8.1% (state: 22.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 14.3% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 7,205
> Largest city or town in county : Lexington
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Source: redfishweb / Getty Images
Washington: Whitman County
> Median Age: 25.2 years (state: 37.8 years)
> Population under 18: 15.0% (state: 22.0%)
> Population 65 and over: 10.7% (state: 15.4%)
> Total population: 49,577
> Largest city or town in county : Pullman
Source: BackyardProduction / iStock via Getty Images
West Virginia: Monongalia County
> Median Age: 32.2 years (state: 42.7 years)
> Population under 18: 16.3% (state: 20.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 12.7% (state: 19.9%)
> Total population: 106,196
> Largest city or town in county : Morgantown
Source: Michael-Tatman / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Menominee County
> Median Age: 31.0 years (state: 39.6 years)
> Population under 18: 32.6% (state: 21.9%)
> Population 65 and over: 13.2% (state: 16.9%)
> Total population: 4,566
> Largest city or town in county : Legend Lake
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Wyoming: Albany County
> Median Age: 28.2 years (state: 38.0 years)
> Population under 18: 16.0% (state: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and over: 11.9% (state: 16.4%)
> Total population: 38,664
> Largest city or town in county : Laramie
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