Sumter County, Fla., is Nation’s Oldest, With Majority of Population Age 65 or Older
The nation’s only county with a majority of the population age 65 or older remains Sumter, Florida, where 54.8 percent had reached retirement age in 2015, up from 53.0 percent in 2014.
Part of the nation’s fastest growing metro area (The Villages), Sumter County had a median age of 66.6 years on July 1, 2015, according to new U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today.
Older Population Growing
The new detailed estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin show the nation’s 65-and-older population grew from 46.2 million in 2014 to 47.8 million in 2015. This group continues to show rapid percentage growth, even as baby boomers and previous generation groups that make up this age group decline in population.
“Sumter County is unique as the only county with a majority age 65-and-older population,” said Jason Devine, assistant division chief for Population Estimates and Projections, “As the nation’s 65-and-over population grows, other counties with retirement communities like The Villages will get closer to this threshold.”
The Aging Of America
Among counties with a population of 1,000 or more, only two nationwide had a median age of 60 or older. In addition to Sumter County, the other was Catron, N.M. (60.1 years). In all, there were 160 counties that had a median age of 50 or older.
Rounding out the top five oldest were Charlotte, Fla. (58.4 years); Alcona, Mich. (57.9 years); and Ontonagon, Mich. (57.3 years), tied with Jefferson, Wash. (57.3 years). At the other end of the spectrum, 66 counties had a median age of 30 or less, with Lexington, Va. (22.4 years) being the youngest, followed by Madison, Idaho (23.2 years), and Kusilvak Census Area, AK (23.3 years).
Other Age Groups
Nationwide, America’s youngest generation, or those born since 2000, saw its population rise 7.3 percent between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, to 61.0 million.
This group was the most diverse generation. Nearly half (49.0 percent) belong to a race or ethnic minority group other than non-Hispanic, white alone. In contrast, 44.5 percent of our nation’s 83.7 million millennials ─ those born between 1982 and 2000 ─ were of a group other than non-Hispanic, white alone.
These latest population estimates examine changes among groups by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin at the nation, state and county levels, between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2015. In addition, estimates for Puerto Ricoand its municipios are available by age and sex.
The 65-and-Older Population
Florida had the highest percentage of its population age 65 and over among states in 2015 (19.4 percent), followed by Maine (18.8 percent) and West Virginia (18.2 percent). Alaska had the lowest percentage (9.9 percent), followed by Utah (10.3 percent).
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
