Across the map, age is reshaping how states live, work, and spend. The oldest populations reveal where care, housing, and transport face the tightest squeeze. Migration, fewer births, and longer lives shift priorities and tax bases. Small towns feel the strain first; big metros adjust at scale. Leaders balance expanded services with growth and workforce needs. Households adapt, too, as budgets, schools, and clinics respond. The picture that emerges is clear: age now sets the agenda.
Aging map and demographic drivers
Maine — 44.8 years
Maine is the state with the highest median age of 44.8 — it also has an estimated population of 1,405,012 in 2024, a population density around 44 people per square mile, and a share of seniors aged 65 and older that leads the nation (in 2020). During the period from 2021 to 2022, new residents came to the state outnumbering those fleeing the state by a ratio of 1.8 to 1. Jobs in Maine are anchored by tourism, lobstering and shipbuilding. Planners now prioritize accessible housing and health services for older Mainers.
New Hampshire and Vermont — 43.6 years
The median age in both states is 43.6. They lose a lot of young adults because they are small, rural, and distinctly New England. Retirees arrive, so school rolls shrink while care demand rises. New Hampshire counts about 1.41 million residents and keeps broad taxes low. Vermont has about 648,000 people and a tourism base. Labor gaps, senior housing, and transport shape budgets. Together, they anchor New England’s oldest populations cluster.
Mechanisms shaping oldest populations across regions
West Virginia — 43 years
West Virginia ranks third, with a 43.0 median age. Long decline and low immigration weigh on growth. Many young adults leave rural counties for work. Health and income gaps deepen aging and care needs. The labor pool shrinks as demand for services grows. Leaders seek a broader economy and better retention of graduates. Newcomers could stabilize towns and fund schools, infrastructure, and local care.
Florida — 42.6 years
Florida places fourth at 42.6. Sunshine, no state income tax, and planned communities draw retirees. In-migration rose after 2017 storms and the pandemic shift. Seniors cluster along coasts and in Central Florida metros. Health systems and leisure sectors support them. The large older base tightens labor supply and lifts housing needs. As the third most populous state, Florida steers spending and disaster planning nationwide. Migration magnifies oldest populations patterns in both places.
Taxes, life expectancy, and regional contrasts
Delaware — 42 years
Delaware ranks fifth with a 42.0 median age. Tax advantages attract retirees to Rehoboth and Lewes. Proximity to Mid-Atlantic metros helps as well. Growth runs slower downstate, and birth rates are modest. Health care and senior housing needs climb. Buses and roads must adapt for age-friendly travel. Workforce replacement pressures rise, particularly in Sussex and Kent. New Castle County stays somewhat younger.
Hawaii — 41.4 years
Hawaii ranks sixth at 41.4. Life expectancy reaches 80.7 years, which lifts the median. Growth stays modest while costs push some families to the mainland. Two thirds live on Oʻahu, yet neighbor islands skew older. Tourism dominates, and many jobs track that cycle. Hawaii sits above Connecticut at 41.2 and Pennsylvania at 41. It remains among the oldest states despite mobility and isolation. Longevity, costs, and migration increase oldest populations share across islands and coasts.
Education, density, and labor market effects
Connecticut — 41.2 years
Connecticut ranks seventh at 41.2. The state has about 3.6 million people. It trails Delaware and Florida, yet sits above Pennsylvania. The profile follows a New England pattern led by Maine. Dense suburbs fill the New York to Boston corridor. Hartford is the capital, and Bridgeport the largest city. Needs include care, housing, and workforce renewal. Strong schools and hospitals anchor responses.
Pennsylvania — 41 years
Pennsylvania ranks eighth at 41.0. The commonwealth tops 13 million residents. Large metros and wide rural areas both skew older. The 65 plus share runs high as growth slows. Industrial shifts and youth out-migration shape age. Delaware and Florida attract many retirees and movers. The economy remains diverse, with health care, education, and logistics. Services pivot to support oldest populations at scale.
Policy choices to support oldest populations sustainably
Montana — 40.8 years
Montana’s 40.8 puts it in ninth place. In terms of area, it is the fourth largest state. With 1,137,233 residents in 2024, it is ranked 43rd in terms of population. There are just 7.8 people per square mile. The largest city and metro is Billings. Bozeman, Great Falls, and Missoula come next. Tourism grows fast, while farms and mines remain key. The median sits below Pennsylvania and just above Oregon.
Oregon — 40.7 years
At 40.7, Oregon comes in at number ten. Covering 98,381 square miles, the state is home to roughly 4.27 million people. The Willamette Valley to Portland corridor is densely populated. Rural zones remain sparse from coast to high desert. West of the Cascades, winters stay mild. Key cities include Salem, Eugene, Bend, Corvallis, and Medford. Tech, timber, farms, and travel shape households. Planning must balance growth and oldest populations needs.
Why age structure now drives every major local choice
Aging is not a footnote; it rewrites state agendas. Budgets depend on where care, housing, and transit must grow. Leaders can attract families while training caregivers and building accessible homes. The right mix secures labor, keeps schools viable, and protects seniors. Funding models also need steady, fair revenue. When states plan with clear data and practical steps, progress lasts. The map of oldest populations becomes a guide, not a warning.
