Life expectancy in the U.S. has been steadily rising for decades, while the birth rate has recently fallen to record lows. Not only is the median age increasing, the percentage of the population that is 85 years and older is also growing. There are roughly six million Americans in this age group, about 1.9% of the U.S. population.
Some areas of the country have larger shares of older people than others, and there is wide variation even within states. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau to identify the county in every state where the largest share of residents are at least 85 years old.
While retirement communities in states like Florida and Arizona might seem likely to be the areas with the largest shares of residents 85 and older, America’s oldest counties are actually clustered in sparsely populated rural areas of the Midwest. In fact, 73 of America’s 100 oldest counties are within just six Midwestern states.
Generally, the oldest counties tend to be in the more sparsely populated rural areas of a state. In most of these regions, it is likely that the young residents have left for urban areas while the older residents have stayed in place. The oldest county in the nation is in Nebraska, where the share of 85 and older residents is almost five times higher than the nationwide level.
Click here to see the oldest county in every state.
Click here to see the detailed findings and methodology.
1. Henry County, Alabama
> County 85+ population: 2.6%
> State 85+ population: 1.7% (tied-15th lowest)
> Median age: 43.0
> Avg. annual retirement income: $22,161
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2. Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska
> County 85+ population: 1.8%
> State 85+ population: 0.7% (the lowest)
> Median age: 50.4
> Avg. annual retirement income: $21,472
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3. La Paz County, Arizona
> County 85+ population: 3.5%
> State 85+ population: 1.8% (tied-20th lowest)
> Median age: 54.8
> Avg. annual retirement income: $21,292
4. Van Buren County, Arkansas
> County 85+ population: 4.0%
> State 85+ population: 1.8% (tied-20th lowest)
> Median age: 47.1
> Avg. annual retirement income: $23,949
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5. Inyo County, California
> County 85+ population: 3.5%
> State 85+ population: 1.7% (tied-15th lowest)
> Median age: 45.7
> Avg. annual retirement income: $26,171
6. Baca County, Colorado
> County 85+ population: 5.2%
> State 85+ population: 1.5% (tied-6th lowest)
> Median age: 47.6
> Avg. annual retirement income: $17,002
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7. Middlesex County, Connecticut
> County 85+ population: 2.9%
> State 85+ population: 2.4% (tied-6th highest)
> Median age: 44.2
> Avg. annual retirement income: $29,868
8. Sussex County, Delaware
> County 85+ population: 2.5%
> State 85+ population: 1.9% (tied-25th highest)
> Median age: 47.0
> Avg. annual retirement income: $27,799
9. Charlotte County, Florida
> County 85+ population: 5.2%
> State 85+ population: 2.5% (tied-3rd highest)
> Median age: 57.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $27,989
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10. Towns County, Georgia
> County 85+ population: 5.3%
> State 85+ population: 1.2% (3rd lowest)
> Median age: 52.4
> Avg. annual retirement income: $24,458
11. Honolulu County, Hawaii
> County 85+ population: 2.7%
> State 85+ population: 2.6% (2nd highest)
> Median age: 36.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $29,547
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12. Lemhi County, Idaho
> County 85+ population: 4.5%
> State 85+ population: 1.6% (tied-8th lowest)
> Median age: 51.2
> Avg. annual retirement income: $18,087
13. Stark County, Illinois
> County 85+ population: 4.4%
> State 85+ population: 1.9% (tied-25th highest)
> Median age: 45.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $16,967
14. Tipton County, Indiana
> County 85+ population: 3.2%
> State 85+ population: 1.9% (tied-25th highest)
> Median age: 43.8
> Avg. annual retirement income: $18,040
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15. Audubon County, Iowa
> County 85+ population: 5.0%
> State 85+ population: 2.5% (tied-3rd highest)
> Median age: 47.8
> Avg. annual retirement income: $14,741
16. Decatur County, Kansas
> County 85+ population: 7.0%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 52.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $30,309
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17. Carlisle County, Kentucky
> County 85+ population: 3.4%
> State 85+ population: 1.7% (tied-15th lowest)
> Median age: 42.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $17,293
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18. Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
> County 85+ population: 2.9%
> State 85+ population: 1.5% (tied-6th lowest)
> Median age: 42.2
> Avg. annual retirement income: $18,610
19. Knox County, Maine
> County 85+ population: 3.0%
> State 85+ population: 2.3% (tied-9th highest)
> Median age: 47.2
> Avg. annual retirement income: $23,366
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20. Kent County, Maryland
> County 85+ population: 3.9%
> State 85+ population: 1.8% (tied-20th lowest)
> Median age: 46.2
> Avg. annual retirement income: $27,520
21. Barnstable County, Massachusetts
> County 85+ population: 3.8%
> State 85+ population: 2.3% (tied-9th highest)
> Median age: 51.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $31,723
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22. Iron County, Michigan
> County 85+ population: 6.0%
> State 85+ population: 2.0% (tied-22nd highest)
> Median age: 53.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $18,628
23. Traverse County, Minnesota
> County 85+ population: 6.1%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 48.4
> Avg. annual retirement income: $19,847
24. Amite County, Mississippi
> County 85+ population: 3.4%
> State 85+ population: 1.6% (tied-8th lowest)
> Median age: 45.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $19,416
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25. Chariton County, Missouri
> County 85+ population: 4.5%
> State 85+ population: 2.0% (tied-22nd highest)
> Median age: 45.5
> Avg. annual retirement income: $17,474
26. Wibaux County, Montana
> County 85+ population: 5.6%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 51.2
> Avg. annual retirement income: $13,666
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27. Hooker County, Nebraska
> County 85+ population: 9.1%
> State 85+ population: 2.2% (tied-11th highest)
> Median age: 57.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $12,678
28. Esmeralda County, Nevada
> County 85+ population: 3.3%
> State 85+ population: 1.3% (tied-4th lowest)
> Median age: 46.5
> Avg. annual retirement income: $22,277
29. Coos County, New Hampshire
> County 85+ population: 3.2%
> State 85+ population: 2.0% (tied-22nd highest)
> Median age: 48.1
> Avg. annual retirement income: $17,879
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30. Ocean County, New Jersey
> County 85+ population: 3.6%
> State 85+ population: 2.2% (tied-11th highest)
> Median age: 42.8
> Avg. annual retirement income: $26,969
31. Harding County, New Mexico
> County 85+ population: 4.6%
> State 85+ population: 1.7% (tied-15th lowest)
> Median age: 56.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $19,126
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32. Hamilton County, New York
> County 85+ population: 3.7%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 51.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $25,441
33. Polk County, North Carolina
> County 85+ population: 4.2%
> State 85+ population: 1.6% (tied-8th lowest)
> Median age: 50.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $25,390
34. McIntosh County, North Dakota
> County 85+ population: 7.7%
> State 85+ population: 2.4% (tied-6th highest)
> Median age: 53.4
> Avg. annual retirement income: $12,776
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35. Mahoning County, Ohio
> County 85+ population: 3.4%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 43.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $20,391
36. Greer County, Oklahoma
> County 85+ population: 3.2%
> State 85+ population: 1.7% (tied-15th lowest)
> Median age: 41.3
> Avg. annual retirement income: $13,498
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37. Gilliam County, Oregon
> County 85+ population: 4.5%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 48.2
> Avg. annual retirement income: $18,075
38. Sullivan County, Pennsylvania
> County 85+ population: 3.9%
> State 85+ population: 2.5% (tied-3rd highest)
> Median age: 51.8
> Avg. annual retirement income: $16,929
39. Bristol County, Rhode Island
> County 85+ population: 3.1%
> State 85+ population: 2.7% (the highest)
> Median age: 43.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $25,763
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40. Greenwood County, South Carolina
> County 85+ population: 2.7%
> State 85+ population: 1.6% (tied-8th lowest)
> Median age: 38.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $18,317
41. McPherson County, South Dakota
> County 85+ population: 8.2%
> State 85+ population: 2.4% (tied-6th highest)
> Median age: 52.1
> Avg. annual retirement income: $12,364
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42. Moore County, Tennessee
> County 85+ population: 3.0%
> State 85+ population: 1.6% (tied-8th lowest)
> Median age: 45.5
> Avg. annual retirement income: $20,218
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43. Kent County, Texas
> County 85+ population: 5.5%
> State 85+ population: 1.3% (tied-4th lowest)
> Median age: 49.1
> Avg. annual retirement income: $20,175
44. Garfield County, Utah
> County 85+ population: 2.6%
> State 85+ population: 1.1% (2nd lowest)
> Median age: 39.6
> Avg. annual retirement income: $21,433
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45. Bennington County, Vermont
> County 85+ population: 3.1%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 46.1
> Avg. annual retirement income: $21,963
46. Lancaster County, Virginia
> County 85+ population: 6.0%
> State 85+ population: 1.6% (tied-8th lowest)
> Median age: 55.6
> Avg. annual retirement income: $33,642
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47. Garfield County, Washington
> County 85+ population: 4.3%
> State 85+ population: 1.8% (tied-20th lowest)
> Median age: 49.8
> Avg. annual retirement income: $19,971
48. Pendleton County, West Virginia
> County 85+ population: 4.3%
> State 85+ population: 2.1% (tied-14th highest)
> Median age: 49.1
> Avg. annual retirement income: $17,645
49. Iron County, Wisconsin
> County 85+ population: 3.8%
> State 85+ population: 2.2% (tied-11th highest)
> Median age: 52.4
> Avg. annual retirement income: $19,597
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50. Goshen County, Wyoming
> County 85+ population: 3.5%
> State 85+ population: 1.6% (tied-8th lowest)
> Median age: 42.9
> Avg. annual retirement income: $19,097
Detailed Findings & Methodology
Like the nation as a whole, within each state, the oldest county tends to be among the state’s more rural areas. In all but five states, the population density in the oldest county is lower than the state as a whole. In 25 of the counties on this list, the entire population lives outside even a modest town.
The majority of the counties on this list have had outward migration over the past several years. Young Americans have been increasingly moving to urban areas, and Americans in retirement are less likely to relocate. In some cases, the oldest counties simply have few young residents living in them, driving up the share of the population that is at least 85 years old.
To determine the oldest county in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the share of the population that is at least 85 years old from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey. Statewide figures, median ages, and average annual retirement income also came from the ACS. 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. All ACS data are five-year averages for 2011-2015.
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