Census ACS 5-Year · 51 states
Youngest States by Median Age
States with the youngest populations tend to have higher birth rates, significant military installations, or both. Utah consistently has the lowest median age in the nation, driven by the state's larger average family sizes and cultural emphasis on marriage and childbearing. Texas and Alaska also rank young, reflecting a combination of immigration, military presence, and higher fertility rates among diverse populations. A younger population generally means a growing workforce, increasing demand for schools and childcare, and a higher ratio of workers to retirees, all favorable for economic growth. However, younger states also face pressure to invest more heavily in education, affordable family housing, and pediatric healthcare. These demographic differences create starkly different policy priorities compared to the nation's oldest states.
Key Findings
- 1Utah leads with a median age of 31.7, followed by District of Columbia (34.9) and Texas (35.5).
- 2Maine ranks last at 44.8, while Utah leads at 31.7.
- 3The national median across all states is 38.9 (Missouri at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Utah, District of Columbia, Texas, Alaska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Idaho, Kansas, Georgia.
Full Ranking: Youngest States by Median Age
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Median Age | Population | Under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 38.8 | 579,761 | 22.7% |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 40.1 | 5,892,023 | 21.6% |
| 3 | West Virginia | 42.7 | 1,784,462 | 20.2% |
| 4 | Washington | 38.2 | 7,740,984 | 21.6% |
| 5 | Virginia | 38.8 | 8,657,499 | 22.1% |
| 6 | Vermont | 43 | 645,254 | 18.7% |
| 7 | Utah | 31.7 | 3,331,187 | 28.2% |
| 8 | Texas | 35.5 | 29,640,343 | 25.1% |
| 9 | Tennessee | 38.9 | 6,986,082 | 22.2% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 37.7 | 899,194 | 24.5% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 40.1 | 5,212,774 | 21.8% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 40.5 | 1,095,371 | 19.5% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 40.9 | 12,986,518 | 20.8% |
| 14 | Oregon | 40.1 | 4,238,714 | 20.2% |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 36.9 | 3,995,260 | 24.1% |
| 16 | Ohio | 39.6 | 11,780,046 | 22.1% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 35.7 | 779,361 | 24.1% |
| 18 | North Carolina | 39.1 | 10,584,340 | 22.1% |
| 19 | New York | 39.6 | 19,872,319 | 20.9% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 39.2 | 2,114,768 | 22.1% |
| 21 | New Jersey | 40.1 | 9,267,014 | 21.9% |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 43.2 | 1,387,834 | 18.7% |
| 23 | Nevada | 38.9 | 3,141,000 | 21.8% |
| 24 | Nebraska | 37.1 | 1,965,926 | 24.6% |
| 25 | Montana | 40.2 | 1,105,072 | 21.2% |
| 26 | Missouri | 38.9 | 6,168,181 | 22.5% |
| 27 | Mississippi | 38.4 | 2,951,438 | 23.5% |
| 28 | Minnesota | 38.6 | 5,713,716 | 23.0% |
| 29 | Michigan | 40.1 | 10,051,595 | 21.5% |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 40 | 6,992,395 | 19.8% |
| 31 | Maryland | 39.3 | 6,170,738 | 22.2% |
| 32 | Maine | 44.8 | 1,377,400 | 18.5% |
| 33 | Louisiana | 37.8 | 4,621,025 | 23.6% |
| 34 | Kentucky | 39.1 | 4,510,725 | 22.6% |
| 35 | Kansas | 37.2 | 2,937,569 | 24.0% |
| 36 | Iowa | 38.6 | 3,195,937 | 23.1% |
| 37 | Indiana | 38 | 6,811,752 | 23.3% |
| 38 | Illinois | 38.9 | 12,692,653 | 22.2% |
| 39 | Idaho | 37.1 | 1,893,296 | 24.7% |
| 40 | Hawaii | 40.6 | 1,445,635 | 20.8% |
| 41 | Georgia | 37.4 | 10,822,590 | 23.5% |
| 42 | Florida | 42.6 | 21,928,881 | 19.7% |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 34.9 | 672,079 | 19.3% |
| 44 | Delaware | 41.5 | 1,005,872 | 21.0% |
| 45 | Connecticut | 41.2 | 3,598,348 | 20.4% |
| 46 | Colorado | 37.5 | 5,810,774 | 21.2% |
| 47 | California | 37.6 | 39,242,785 | 22.2% |
| 48 | Arkansas | 38.4 | 3,032,651 | 23.3% |
| 49 | Arizona | 38.8 | 7,268,175 | 22.0% |
| 50 | Alaska | 35.6 | 733,971 | 24.2% |
| 51 | Alabama | 39.3 | 5,054,253 | 22.4% |
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.
More Demographics Rankings
Explore Other Rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Utah has the highest median age at 31.7, according to latest Census ACS data. District of Columbia and Texas round out the top three.
Maine has the lowest median age at 44.8. New Hampshire is second-lowest at 43.2.
The median across all 51 states is 38.9. 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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.