Oldest and Youngest States by Median Age
Published April 15, 2026 · Census ACS 2023
Maine is the oldest state in America. Utah is the youngest. The gap between them is nearly a full decade of median age, and it reflects deep differences in birth rates, migration patterns, and regional economic opportunity.
Oldest States by Median Age
| # | State | Median Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 44.8 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 43.2 |
| 3 | Vermont | 43.0 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 42.7 |
| 5 | Florida | 42.6 |
| 6 | Delaware | 41.5 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 41.2 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 40.9 |
| 9 | Hawaii | 40.6 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 40.5 |
| 11 | Montana | 40.2 |
| 12 | Michigan | 40.1 |
Youngest States by Median Age
| # | State | Median Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 31.7 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 34.9 |
| 3 | Texas | 35.5 |
| 4 | Alaska | 35.6 |
| 5 | North Dakota | 35.7 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 36.9 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 37.1 |
| 8 | Idaho | 37.1 |
| 9 | Kansas | 37.2 |
| 10 | Georgia | 37.4 |
| 11 | Colorado | 37.5 |
| 12 | California | 37.6 |
Three Forces That Shape State Age
Fertility. The United States has generally trended toward older populations as birth rates fall, but the decline has been uneven. Utah's fertility rate, while down from historical highs, remains materially above the US average. Alaska, South Dakota, and North Dakota have also kept their median ages low through above-average birth rates.
Out-migration of young adults. Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, and New Hampshire lose working-age residents to higher-opportunity metros. Once a state starts losing young adults, it tends to compound: fewer young people means fewer children, which pulls the median age up further.
In-migration of retirees. Florida has one of the oldest median ages among Sun Belt states precisely because it attracts retirees from cooler-climate states. If Florida had no retirement migration, its median age would look much more like Georgia's or Alabama's.
Why Age Matters for State Finances
A state's median age shapes its tax base, healthcare costs, school enrollment, and workforce. Older states spend more on Medicaid and long-term care while collecting less in income tax from a smaller working-age population. Younger states face the opposite pressures, school funding and youth services, but benefit from a larger tax-paying workforce.
Related
See the full oldest states ranking and youngest states ranking. For state-by-state birth data, read birth rates by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maine has the highest median age of any US state at 44.8 years.
Utah has the lowest median age of any US state at 31.7 years.
Utah has the highest fertility rate of any US state, roughly 2.0 children per woman compared with a national average near 1.6. The Mormon population's historically larger family size continues to pull the state's median age down even as the rest of the country ages.
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and West Virginia have older populations because they combine low birth rates with out-migration of young adults and retention of retirees. Without strong in-migration of younger workers, the median age drifts upward.
Median age figures from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Median age reflects the midpoint of the age distribution; half the population is older, half is younger.