Life expectancy in the United States has steadily increased over the course of the last century, but most Americans do not live to be 85. Today, there are roughly 6 million Americans 85 and older, just 1.9% of the U.S. population. While octogenarians make up a relatively small share of the total population, some parts of America have significantly higher shares.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to determine the county in every state where the largest share of residents are at least 85 years old.
For both historical and natural reasons, there are not many Americans over the age of 85. The economic stress of the Great Depression — which took place during the 1930s — led to a decline in fertility that only picked up at the conclusion of World War II. A baby boy born in 1930 was expected to live 58 years.
Click here to see the oldest county in every state.
Living more than 85 years is no easy feat. Over the course of such a long life, many of these individuals likely had access to medical care, healthy lifestyles, and were lucky enough to avoid accidents. Environmental conditions and other factors also play some role in an individual’s life span.
It might be expected that the communities with higher shares of older residents are retirement destinations. However, the counties with the highest shares of adults 85 and older are in places like Montana, Nebraska, and Kansas, rather than in states where tens of thousands of retired Americans move each year, such as Florida, Arizona, and California.
Rather than being popular destinations for retirees to move, counties with the highest shares of older residents may simply have few young residents living in them. Young Americans are continually moving to urban areas and likely leaving many of the counties on this list. Older Americans, by contrast, tend to age in place. The outbound immigration of an area’s younger residents may ultimately leave a higher share of adults 85 and over.
While life expectancy tends to be higher in urban areas, many counties with the highest share of residents 85 and over are rural areas. Counties with the highest shares of octogenarians, nonagenarians, centenarians and supercentenarians are clustered in the rural Midwest — many in Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Nationwide, the population density is 87 people per square mile. In the five counties with the largest shares of residents 85 and older, the density is less than four people per square mile. Within each state, counties with lower population densities tend to have larger shares of older Americans. In Treasure County, Montana, where one in 10 residents is 85 years or older, there are just 0.7 residents per square mile.
To determine the oldest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Median age came from the ACS as well. The average annual retirement income was calculated from the aggregate retirement income received in the last 12 months and the number of households receiving retirement income in a given county, also from the ACS.
These are the oldest counties in every state.
1. Choctaw County, Alabama
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.8%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.7%
> Median age: 44.6 years
> Average annual retirement income: $14,879
2. Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.3%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 0.7%
> Median age: 54.4 years
> Average annual retirement income: $21,859
3. La Paz County, Arizona
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.7%
> Median age: 54.6 years
> Average annual retirement income: $23,756
4. Van Buren County, Arkansas
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.7%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.8%
> Median age: 47.0 years
> Average annual retirement income: $27,517
5. Inyo County, California
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.6%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.7%
> Median age: 45.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $26,699
6. Baca County, Colorado
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 5.9%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.4%
> Median age: 48.1 years
> Average annual retirement income: $17,346
7. Middlesex County, Connecticut
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.7%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.4%
> Median age: 39.6 years
> Average annual retirement income: $24,983
8. Sussex County, Delaware
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.9%
> Median age: 46.5 years
> Average annual retirement income: $27,898
9. Sarasota County, Florida
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 5.1%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.5%
> Median age: 53.5 years
> Average annual retirement income: $32,308
10. Towns County, Georgia
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 4.7%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.2%
> Median age: 52.1 years
> Average annual retirement income: $26,662
11. Kauai County, Hawaii
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.8%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.5%
> Median age: 41.5 years
> Average annual retirement income: $24,474
12. Lemhi County, Idaho
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.8%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.6%
> Median age: 50.6 years
> Average annual retirement income: $18,852
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13. Stark County, Illinois
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 4.3%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.9%
> Median age: 45.4 years
> Average annual retirement income: $16,912
14. Wabash County, Indiana
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.9%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.8%
> Median age: 41.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $13,131
15. Audubon County, Iowa
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 5.2%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.5%
> Median age: 47.7 years
> Average annual retirement income: $14,534
16. Decatur County, Kansas
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 7.4%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 51.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $29,269
17. Cumberland County, Kentucky
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.1%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.7%
> Median age: 44.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $12,966
18. Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.7%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.5%
> Median age: 38.6 years
> Average annual retirement income: $18,324
19. Knox County, Maine
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.2%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.2%
> Median age: 47.1 years
> Average annual retirement income: $23,032
20. Kent County, Maryland
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.8%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.8%
> Median age: 46.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $24,270
21. Barnstable County, Massachusetts
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.3%
> Median age: 50.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $31,834
22. Iron County, Michigan
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 5.9%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.0%
> Median age: 52.9 years
> Average annual retirement income: $19,371
23. Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 5.3%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.0%
> Median age: 46.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $18,230
24. Issaquena County, Mississippi
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.5%
> Median age: 38.5 years
> Average annual retirement income: $12,790
25. Scotland County, Missouri
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 4.3%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.0%
> Median age: 39.1 years
> Average annual retirement income: $15,203
26. Treasure County, Montana
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 10.0%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 51.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $11,718
27. Hooker County, Nebraska
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 8.3%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 57.2 years
> Average annual retirement income: $17,931
28. Carson City, Nevada
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.6%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.3%
> Median age: 42.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $31,898
29. Coos County, New Hampshire
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.1%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.9%
> Median age: 47.9 years
> Average annual retirement income: $17,841
30. Ocean County, New Jersey
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 42.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $26,537
31. Harding County, New Mexico
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 6.0%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.6%
> Median age: 56.7 years
> Average annual retirement income: $19,998
32. Montgomery County, New York
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.2%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 41.0 years
> Average annual retirement income: $19,872
33. Polk County, North Carolina
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 4.2%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.6%
> Median age: 50.5 years
> Average annual retirement income: $30,490
34. McIntosh County, North Dakota
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 7.0%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.4%
> Median age: 52.1 years
> Average annual retirement income: $13,605
35. Mahoning County, Ohio
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.4%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 43.2 years
> Average annual retirement income: $19,631
36. Cimarron County, Oklahoma
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.7%
> Median age: 44.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $19,454
37. Gilliam County, Oregon
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 4.6%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 49.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $18,770
38. Sullivan County, Pennsylvania
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 4.0%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.5%
> Median age: 51.4 years
> Average annual retirement income: $17,523
39. Bristol County, Rhode Island
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.4%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.7%
> Median age: 43.6 years
> Average annual retirement income: $25,512
40. Saluda County, South Carolina
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.8%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.6%
> Median age: 41.2 years
> Average annual retirement income: $18,350
41. McPherson County, South Dakota
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 7.1%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.4%
> Median age: 50.4 years
> Average annual retirement income: $12,447
42. Anderson County, Tennessee
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.1%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.6%
> Median age: 43.1 years
> Average annual retirement income: $22,024
43. Foard County, Texas
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 5.9%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.3%
> Median age: 47.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $18,136
44. Washington County, Utah
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.1%
> Median age: 33.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $27,819
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45. Bennington County, Vermont
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 2.9%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 45.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $20,435
46. Lancaster County, Virginia
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 6.9%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.6%
> Median age: 55.3 years
> Average annual retirement income: $35,011
47. Garfield County, Washington
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 5.1%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.8%
> Median age: 50.4 years
> Average annual retirement income: $17,376
48. Pendleton County, West Virginia
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.6%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.0%
> Median age: 48.7 years
> Average annual retirement income: $18,209
49. Iron County, Wisconsin
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 4.0%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 2.1%
> Median age: 52.1 years
> Average annual retirement income: $19,638
50. Goshen County, Wyoming
> Pct. of population 85 and over: 3.5%
> Pct. of state population 85 and over: 1.6%
> Median age: 42.8 years
> Average annual retirement income: $20,260
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