Special Report

The Youngest County in Every State

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

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.

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

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

[in-text-ad]

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

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

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

[in-text-ad-2]

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

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.