Census ACS 5-Year · 500 counties
Oldest US Counties by Median Age
The oldest US counties cluster around retirement destinations and rural areas with persistent outmigration of younger residents. Florida retirement counties like Sumter (home to The Villages) routinely top the list, alongside Appalachian and Plains counties where young workers have left for opportunity elsewhere. An older county population means higher demand for senior services, healthcare, and Medicare-paid care, but smaller workforces, fewer school-age children, and slower economic growth. Counties with rapidly aging populations face fiscal pressure as their tax base shrinks while service demands rise.
Key Findings
- 1Loving County, TX leads with a median age of 68.9, followed by Sumter County, FL (68.4) and Kenedy County, TX (65.5).
- 2Braxton County, WV ranks last at 46.7, while Loving County, TX leads at 68.9.
- 3The national median across all states is 49.5 (Cleburne County, AR at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Loving County, TX, Sumter County, FL, Kenedy County, TX, Catron County, NM, Terrell County, TX, Charlotte County, FL, Meagher County, MT, Wheeler County, NE, La Paz County, AZ, Alcona County, MI.
Full Ranking: Oldest US Counties by Median Age
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Loving County, TX has the highest median age at 68.9, according to latest Census ACS data. Sumter County, FL and Kenedy County, TX round out the top three.
Braxton County, WV has the lowest median age at 46.7. Monroe County, WV is second-lowest at 46.7.
The median across all 500 states is 49.5. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.