Median Age
Definition
The age at which exactly half the population is older and half is younger. It provides a single number that summarizes the age distribution of an entire population.
Why It Matters
Median age reveals whether a population is young (growing workforce, school demand) or aging (healthcare demand, pension pressure). It affects economic growth, housing markets, and political priorities.
How It's Measured
Calculated from self-reported ages of all residents in the Census or ACS survey. The midpoint value is reported as the median age.
Current Value
US median age: approximately 38.9 years
Related Ranking
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Frequently Asked Questions
The age at which exactly half the population is older and half is younger. It provides a single number that summarizes the age distribution of an entire population.
Median age reveals whether a population is young (growing workforce, school demand) or aging (healthcare demand, pension pressure). It affects economic growth, housing markets, and political priorities.
Calculated from self-reported ages of all residents in the Census or ACS survey. The midpoint value is reported as the median age.
Median Age is one of the U.S. population demographics concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.