Maine Is The ‘Oldest’ State, Utah The ‘Youngest’

VolkAI January 30, 2026 Leave a Comment Imported News, Zerohedge

Across the U.S., age profiles vary widely by region.

This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Niccolo Conte, highlights those differences using the most recent nationwide estimates.

The data for this visualization comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 1-Year Estimates.

It reports the median age for each state and the District of Columbia.

The Oldest States Are Concentrated in the Northeast

The national median age stands at 39.2 as of 2024.

Rank	State	Median age overall
1	Maine	44.9
2	Vermont	43.9
3	New Hampshire	43.6
4	West Virginia	42.9
5	Florida	42.7
6	Delaware	42.1
7	Hawaii	41.5
8	Montana	41.3
9	Connecticut	41.2
10	Pennsylvania	41.2
11	Rhode Island	41.0
12	Oregon	40.8
13	South Carolina	40.7
14	Wisconsin	40.7
15	Michigan	40.4
16	Wyoming	40.2
17	Massachusetts	40.1
18	New Jersey	40.1
19	New York	40.1
20	New Mexico	39.9
21	Maryland	39.8
22	Ohio	39.8
23	Alabama	39.6
24	Nevada	39.5
25	Arizona	39.4
26	Illinois	39.4
27	Missouri	39.4
28	North Carolina	39.4
29	Virginia	39.4
30	Kentucky	39.3
31	Mississippi	39.3
32	Minnesota	39.2
33	Arkansas	39.1
34	Tennessee	39.1
35	Iowa	39.0
36	Louisiana	38.7
37	South Dakota	38.7
38	Washington	38.7
39	California	38.4
40	Indiana	38.3
41	Colorado	38.0
42	Georgia	38.0
43	Kansas	38.0
44	Idaho	37.8
45	Nebraska	37.4
46	Oklahoma	37.4
47	North Dakota	36.7
48	Alaska	36.3
49	Texas	35.9
50	District of Columbia	34.9
51	Utah	32.5
—	U.S. Median Age	39.2

New England and nearby states dominate the top of the ranking. Maine leads the country with a median age of 45, followed by Vermont and New Hampshire at 44. Several other northeastern states—including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island—also exceed 41.

These older age profiles reflect long-term trends such as slower population growth, lower birth rates, and limited in-migration of younger workers.

The Sun Belt Shows a Mixed Demographic Picture

Many Sun Belt states cluster near the national average, but with some exceptions.

Florida stands out with a median age of 43, driven by its large retiree population. In contrast, Texas has a median age of 36, reflecting faster population growth and a younger workforce.

Meanwhile, states like Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina sit close to 39.

Younger Populations Dominate the West and Plains

The youngest states are largely found in the West and Great Plains.

Utah is the clear outlier at 33, supported by higher fertility rates and larger households. The District of Columbia also skews young at 35, due in part to a concentration of working-age adults.

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: Renters vs Homeowners by State on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/29/2026 – 23:00ZeroHedge NewsRead More