The U.S. population is older now than it has been since record keeping began. The median age in the United States is 38.2 years, up from 36.9 years a decade ago, and from less than 30 in the 1970s.
This trend is the result of several factors – both long and short term. For one, Americans are now living longer than they have in past decades. Driven in part by improvements in health care, average life expectancy at birth in the U.S. is now about 77 years, five years longer than it was in the mid-1970s. More recently, falling birth rates and tightened restrictions on immigration – particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic – have accelerated the aging of the U.S. population.
In some major metropolitan areas, the median age is far higher than typical. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the metro areas with the oldest population in each state.
It is important to note that in four states – Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont – there is only one metro area with available data. As a result, the lone metro area ranks as having the oldest population by default only.
Among the metro areas on this list, the median age of the population ranges from about 34 years to nearly 70. With only a handful of exceptions, the median age in each state’s oldest metro area is higher than the median age across the state as a whole.
Some of the metro areas on this list with the highest median ages are in Sun Belt states, such as Arizona and Florida. Favorable climates make many communities in these states popular destinations for retirees. (Here is a look at what it costs to retire comfortably in every state.)
In many of the metro areas on this list, residents appear to be less likely to be starting or raising a family – as in most of them, the share of households home to children under the age of 18 is below the comparable statewide share. (Here is a look at the best and worst states to raise a family.)
Click here to see the oldest metro area in each state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Alabama: Daphne-Fairhope-Foley
> Median age (years): 43.2 (Alabama: 39.2)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.9% (Alabama: 6.3%)
> Population 18 and younger: 22.8% (Alabama: 24.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.4% (Alabama: 16.8%)
> Total population: 218,289 (Alabama: 4,893,186)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 12
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Alaska: Anchorage
> Median age (years): 34.3 (Alaska: 34.6)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.3% (Alaska: 5.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 27.0% (Alaska: 27.0%)
> Population 65 and older: 11.4% (Alaska: 12.1%)
> Total population: 399,450 (Alaska: 736,990)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 2
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Arizona: Prescott Valley-Prescott
> Median age (years): 54.1 (Arizona: 37.9)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.9% (Arizona: 6.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 17.6% (Arizona: 24.6%)
> Population 65 and older: 31.6% (Arizona: 17.7%)
> Total population: 232,396 (Arizona: 7,174,064)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 7
Arkansas: Hot Springs
> Median age (years): 45.1 (Arkansas: 38.3)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.3% (Arkansas: 5.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.5% (Arkansas: 25.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 23.5% (Arkansas: 16.7%)
> Total population: 99,043 (Arkansas: 3,011,873)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 6
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California: Santa Rosa-Petaluma
> Median age (years): 42.4 (California: 36.7)
> Population enrolled in college: 7.0% (California: 8.1%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.1% (California: 24.4%)
> Population 65 and older: 19.5% (California: 14.3%)
> Total population: 496,801 (California: 39,346,023)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 26
Colorado: Grand Junction
> Median age (years): 40.0 (Colorado: 36.9)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.2% (Colorado: 6.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 23.1% (Colorado: 23.8%)
> Population 65 and older: 19.0% (Colorado: 14.2%)
> Total population: 152,962 (Colorado: 5,684,926)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 7
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Connecticut: Norwich-New London
> Median age (years): 41.4 (Connecticut: 41.1)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.0% (Connecticut: 7.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.5% (Connecticut: 22.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 18.5% (Connecticut: 16.9%)
> Total population: 266,868 (Connecticut: 3,570,549)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 4
Delaware: Dover*
> Median age (years): 38.1 (Delaware: 41.0)
> Population enrolled in college: 7.8% (Delaware: 6.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 25.0% (Delaware: 22.8%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.1% (Delaware: 18.7%)
> Total population: 179,124 (Delaware: 967,679)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 1
*Because Dover is the only eligible metro in Delaware, it is the metro with the highest median age by default.
Florida: The Villages
> Median age (years): 68.0 (Florida: 42.2)
> Population enrolled in college: 1.5% (Florida: 6.5%)
> Population 18 and younger: 8.3% (Florida: 21.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 61.8% (Florida: 20.5%)
> Total population: 129,938 (Florida: 21,216,924)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 22
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Georgia: Brunswick
> Median age (years): 42.9 (Georgia: 36.9)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.1% (Georgia: 6.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 22.9% (Georgia: 25.8%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.2% (Georgia: 13.8%)
> Total population: 118,149 (Georgia: 10,516,579)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 14
Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
> Median age (years): 41.8 (Hawaii: 39.4)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.7% (Hawaii: 6.5%)
> Population 18 and younger: 23.1% (Hawaii: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and older: 18.2% (Hawaii: 18.8%)
> Total population: 166,657 (Hawaii: 1,420,074)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 2
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Idaho: Lewiston
> Median age (years): 42.1 (Idaho: 36.6)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.5% (Idaho: 6.2%)
> Population 18 and younger: 22.2% (Idaho: 27.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.7% (Idaho: 15.8%)
> Total population: 63,104 (Idaho: 1,754,367)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 6
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Illinois: Decatur
> Median age (years): 41.1 (Illinois: 38.3)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.4% (Illinois: 6.8%)
> Population 18 and younger: 24.0% (Illinois: 24.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 19.5% (Illinois: 15.4%)
> Total population: 104,688 (Illinois: 12,716,164)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 10
Indiana: Kokomo
> Median age (years): 41.4 (Indiana: 37.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.9% (Indiana: 6.2%)
> Population 18 and younger: 24.1% (Indiana: 25.2%)
> Population 65 and older: 19.1% (Indiana: 15.4%)
> Total population: 82,486 (Indiana: 6,696,893)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 12
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Iowa: Davenport-Moline-Rock Island
> Median age (years): 39.9 (Iowa: 38.3)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.1% (Iowa: 6.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 24.4% (Iowa: 24.8%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.8% (Iowa: 16.6%)
> Total population: 380,274 (Iowa: 3,150,011)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 8
Kansas: Topeka
> Median age (years): 40.0 (Kansas: 36.9)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.3% (Kansas: 6.9%)
> Population 18 and younger: 25.1% (Kansas: 26.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.9% (Kansas: 15.5%)
> Total population: 232,248 (Kansas: 2,912,619)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 4
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Kentucky: Owensboro
> Median age (years): 39.4 (Kentucky: 39.0)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.3% (Kentucky: 5.9%)
> Population 18 and younger: 26.0% (Kentucky: 24.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 16.9% (Kentucky: 16.1%)
> Total population: 118,951 (Kentucky: 4,461,952)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 5
Louisiana: New Orleans-Metairie
> Median age (years): 38.6 (Louisiana: 37.2)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.1% (Louisiana: 5.9%)
> Population 18 and younger: 23.6% (Louisiana: 25.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 15.8% (Louisiana: 15.3%)
> Total population: 1,271,651 (Louisiana: 4,664,616)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 9
Maine: Portland-South Portland
> Median age (years): 43.7 (Maine: 44.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.9% (Maine: 5.9%)
> Population 18 and younger: 20.1% (Maine: 20.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 19.2% (Maine: 20.3%)
> Total population: 536,314 (Maine: 1,340,825)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 3
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Maryland: Salisbury
> Median age (years): 46.0 (Maryland: 38.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.4% (Maryland: 7.5%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.0% (Maryland: 23.9%)
> Population 65 and older: 24.1% (Maryland: 15.3%)
> Total population: 411,137 (Maryland: 6,037,624)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 5
Massachusetts: Barnstable Town
> Median age (years): 53.7 (Massachusetts: 39.6)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.7% (Massachusetts: 8.5%)
> Population 18 and younger: 16.3% (Massachusetts: 21.5%)
> Population 65 and older: 30.2% (Massachusetts: 16.2%)
> Total population: 213,505 (Massachusetts: 6,873,003)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 5
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Michigan: Bay City
> Median age (years): 43.6 (Michigan: 39.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.7% (Michigan: 6.8%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.4% (Michigan: 23.2%)
> Population 65 and older: 19.8% (Michigan: 17.0%)
> Total population: 103,506 (Michigan: 9,973,907)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 14
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Minnesota: Duluth
> Median age (years): 41.6 (Minnesota: 38.1)
> Population enrolled in college: 8.0% (Minnesota: 6.4%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.5% (Minnesota: 24.8%)
> Population 65 and older: 18.8% (Minnesota: 15.5%)
> Total population: 289,276 (Minnesota: 5,600,166)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 5
Mississippi: Gulfport-Biloxi
> Median age (years): 38.2 (Mississippi: 37.7)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.4% (Mississippi: 6.3%)
> Population 18 and younger: 25.1% (Mississippi: 25.7%)
> Population 65 and older: 16.2% (Mississippi: 15.8%)
> Total population: 414,662 (Mississippi: 2,981,835)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 3
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Missouri: St. Louis
> Median age (years): 39.5 (Missouri: 38.7)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.1% (Missouri: 6.1%)
> Population 18 and younger: 23.6% (Missouri: 24.2%)
> Population 65 and older: 16.2% (Missouri: 16.6%)
> Total population: 2,806,349 (Missouri: 6,124,160)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 8
Montana: Billings
> Median age (years): 39.8 (Montana: 40.1)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.1% (Montana: 5.8%)
> Population 18 and younger: 24.3% (Montana: 23.0%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.6% (Montana: 18.5%)
> Total population: 180,641 (Montana: 1,061,705)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 3
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Nebraska: Grand Island
> Median age (years): 37.2 (Nebraska: 36.6)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.2% (Nebraska: 7.0%)
> Population 18 and younger: 28.1% (Nebraska: 26.4%)
> Population 65 and older: 15.6% (Nebraska: 15.4%)
> Total population: 75,592 (Nebraska: 1,923,826)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 3
Nevada: Carson City
> Median age (years): 42.2 (Nevada: 38.2)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.8% (Nevada: 5.5%)
> Population 18 and younger: 22.3% (Nevada: 24.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.2% (Nevada: 15.8%)
> Total population: 55,244 (Nevada: 3,030,281)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 3
New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua*
> Median age (years): 40.8 (New Hampshire: 43.0)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.9% (New Hampshire: 6.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.9% (New Hampshire: 20.6%)
> Population 65 and older: 15.2% (New Hampshire: 17.7%)
> Total population: 415,305 (New Hampshire: 1,355,244)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 1
*Because Manchester-Nashua is the only eligible metro in New Hampshire, it is the metro with the highest median age by default.
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New Jersey: Ocean City
> Median age (years): 50.3 (New Jersey: 40.0)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.9% (New Jersey: 6.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 18.9% (New Jersey: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and older: 26.3% (New Jersey: 16.0%)
> Total population: 92,701 (New Jersey: 8,885,418)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 4
New Mexico: Santa Fe
> Median age (years): 46.8 (New Mexico: 38.1)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.0% (New Mexico: 6.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 19.3% (New Mexico: 24.8%)
> Population 65 and older: 24.4% (New Mexico: 17.5%)
> Total population: 150,319 (New Mexico: 2,097,021)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 4
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New York: Glens Falls
> Median age (years): 45.6 (New York: 39.0)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.7% (New York: 7.3%)
> Population 18 and younger: 20.0% (New York: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.9% (New York: 16.2%)
> Total population: 125,491 (New York: 19,514,849)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 13
North Carolina: Asheville
> Median age (years): 44.4 (North Carolina: 38.9)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.2% (North Carolina: 6.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 19.8% (North Carolina: 24.0%)
> Population 65 and older: 21.8% (North Carolina: 16.2%)
> Total population: 459,344 (North Carolina: 10,386,227)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 15
North Dakota: Bismarck
> Median age (years): 37.3 (North Dakota: 35.2)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.4% (North Dakota: 7.4%)
> Population 18 and younger: 24.6% (North Dakota: 25.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 15.9% (North Dakota: 14.8%)
> Total population: 128,589 (North Dakota: 760,394)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 3
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Ohio: Youngstown-Warren-Boardman
> Median age (years): 44.2 (Ohio: 39.5)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.8% (Ohio: 6.2%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.7% (Ohio: 23.9%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.9% (Ohio: 16.7%)
> Total population: 538,115 (Ohio: 11,675,275)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 11
Oklahoma: Tulsa
> Median age (years): 37.2 (Oklahoma: 36.7)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.2% (Oklahoma: 6.0%)
> Population 18 and younger: 26.1% (Oklahoma: 26.1%)
> Population 65 and older: 15.2% (Oklahoma: 15.5%)
> Total population: 996,141 (Oklahoma: 3,949,342)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 4
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Oregon: Grants Pass
> Median age (years): 47.5 (Oregon: 39.5)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.9% (Oregon: 6.3%)
> Population 18 and younger: 20.6% (Oregon: 22.2%)
> Population 65 and older: 25.9% (Oregon: 17.5%)
> Total population: 87,097 (Oregon: 4,176,346)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 8
Pennsylvania: Johnstown
> Median age (years): 45.6 (Pennsylvania: 40.9)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.8% (Pennsylvania: 6.3%)
> Population 18 and younger: 20.8% (Pennsylvania: 22.4%)
> Population 65 and older: 22.4% (Pennsylvania: 17.9%)
> Total population: 131,611 (Pennsylvania: 12,794,885)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 18
Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick*
> Median age (years): 40.4 (Rhode Island: 40.0)
> Population enrolled in college: 7.9% (Rhode Island: 8.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.6% (Rhode Island: 21.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 16.7% (Rhode Island: 16.9%)
> Total population: 1,621,099 (Rhode Island: 1,057,798)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 1
*Because Providence-Warwick is the only eligible metro in Rhode Island, it is the metro with the highest median age by default.
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South Carolina: Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach
> Median age (years): 48.8 (South Carolina: 39.7)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.6% (South Carolina: 6.1%)
> Population 18 and younger: 18.4% (South Carolina: 23.5%)
> Population 65 and older: 26.1% (South Carolina: 17.7%)
> Total population: 481,489 (South Carolina: 5,091,517)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 8
South Dakota: Rapid City
> Median age (years): 38.4 (South Dakota: 37.2)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.6% (South Dakota: 5.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 24.6% (South Dakota: 26.2%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.5% (South Dakota: 16.3%)
> Total population: 140,653 (South Dakota: 879,336)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 2
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Tennessee: Kingsport-Bristol
> Median age (years): 45.5 (Tennessee: 38.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 3.9% (Tennessee: 5.8%)
> Population 18 and younger: 20.6% (Tennessee: 23.9%)
> Population 65 and older: 22.0% (Tennessee: 16.2%)
> Total population: 307,267 (Tennessee: 6,772,268)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 10
Texas: Sherman-Denison
> Median age (years): 39.4 (Texas: 34.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.9% (Texas: 6.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 25.1% (Texas: 27.6%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.5% (Texas: 12.5%)
> Total population: 133,527 (Texas: 28,635,442)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 25
> Median age (years): 39.4 (Texas: 34.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.9% (Texas: 6.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 25.1% (Texas: 27.6%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.5% (Texas: 12.5%)
> Total population: 133,527 (Texas: 28,635,442)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 25
Utah: St. George
> Median age (years): 37.7 (Utah: 31.1)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.0% (Utah: 8.3%)
> Population 18 and younger: 27.7% (Utah: 31.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 21.5% (Utah: 11.0%)
> Total population: 172,127 (Utah: 3,151,239)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 5
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Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington*
> Median age (years): 37.8 (Vermont: 42.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 11.1% (Vermont: 7.7%)
> Population 18 and younger: 20.9% (Vermont: 20.3%)
> Population 65 and older: 15.2% (Vermont: 19.0%)
> Total population: 219,764 (Vermont: 624,340)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 1
*Because Burlington-South Burlington is the only eligible metro in Vermont, it is the metro with the highest median age by default.
Virginia: Staunton
> Median age (years): 43.7 (Virginia: 38.4)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.1% (Virginia: 7.4%)
> Population 18 and younger: 21.7% (Virginia: 24.0%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.7% (Virginia: 15.5%)
> Total population: 122,714 (Virginia: 8,509,358)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 9
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Washington: Mount Vernon-Anacortes
> Median age (years): 41.6 (Washington: 37.8)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.2% (Washington: 6.2%)
> Population 18 and younger: 23.2% (Washington: 23.6%)
> Population 65 and older: 20.8% (Washington: 15.4%)
> Total population: 127,442 (Washington: 7,512,465)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 11
West Virginia: Weirton-Steubenville
> Median age (years): 45.7 (West Virginia: 42.7)
> Population enrolled in college: 5.4% (West Virginia: 5.4%)
> Population 18 and younger: 20.5% (West Virginia: 21.8%)
> Population 65 and older: 21.8% (West Virginia: 19.8%)
> Total population: 117,223 (West Virginia: 1,807,426)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 7
Wisconsin: Wausau-Weston
> Median age (years): 41.9 (Wisconsin: 39.6)
> Population enrolled in college: 4.1% (Wisconsin: 6.4%)
> Population 18 and younger: 23.4% (Wisconsin: 23.6%)
> Population 65 and older: 17.9% (Wisconsin: 16.7%)
> Total population: 163,172 (Wisconsin: 5,806,975)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 12
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Wyoming: Cheyenne
> Median age (years): 37.4 (Wyoming: 38.0)
> Population enrolled in college: 6.6% (Wyoming: 6.6%)
> Population 18 and younger: 25.1% (Wyoming: 24.9%)
> Population 65 and older: 16.2% (Wyoming: 16.3%)
> Total population: 99,272 (Wyoming: 581,348)
> No. of metros considered in ranking: 2
Methodology
To determine the metro area with the oldest population in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median age from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metro areas were ranked based on median age. To break ties, we used the share of the population that is 65 and older.
Additional information on the share of the population that is currently enrolled in college, the share of the population that is 18 and younger, the share of the population that is 65 and older, and total population are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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