Seniors will comprise more than 20% of U.S. residents in 2030, up from 15% in 2020. By 2034, older adults will outnumber children, according to Census Bureau projections.
Across the U.S., 52 million Americans are 65 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and a quarter of them live in just three states: California, Florida, and Texas. By comparison, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and Alaska each have fewer than 150,000 senior residents. The size of a state's senior population means a lot in terms of demand for resources like health care, affordable housing, assisted living, in-home and nursing care, and support services, and the quality and availability of those resources help determine where seniors migrate.
With baby boomers moving into old age, fewer babies being born, and longer life expectancies, the senior population of America is on a spectacular rise. The lengthening of the U.S. life expectancy has been particularly dramatic, rising to nearly 79 years from 68 years in 1950.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most seniors in Maryland using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents 65 years or older according to 2020 5-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out which counties have the most seniors in Maryland.
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#24. Charles County
- Population aged 65 or older: 12.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.0%
- Median age: 38.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 36.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.2 years old
- Total population: 161,448 people
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#23. St. Mary's County
- Population aged 65 or older: 12.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.2%
- Median age: 36.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 36 years old
--- Median age of females: 37.5 years old
- Total population: 113,182 people
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#22. Prince George's County
- Population aged 65 or older: 13.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 37.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 35.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 39.2 years old
- Total population: 910,551 people
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#21. Howard County
- Population aged 65 or older: 13.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.4%
- Median age: 38.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 39.9 years old
- Total population: 322,407 people
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#20. Baltimore
- Population aged 65 or older: 14%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.5%
- Median age: 35.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 34.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 36.7 years old
- Total population: 602,274 people
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#19. Frederick County
- Population aged 65 or older: 14.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 39 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 39.9 years old
- Total population: 255,955 people
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#18. Anne Arundel County
- Population aged 65 or older: 14.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 38.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.1 years old
- Total population: 575,421 people
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#17. Calvert County
- Population aged 65 or older: 14.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 40.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 39 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.2 years old
- Total population: 92,094 people
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#16. Montgomery County
- Population aged 65 or older: 15.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 39.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.7 years old
- Total population: 1,047,661 people
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#15. Cecil County
- Population aged 65 or older: 15.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 40.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 40 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.4 years old
- Total population: 102,889 people
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#14. Wicomico County
- Population aged 65 or older: 15.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.9%
- Median age: 36 years old
--- Median age of males: 34.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 37.6 years old
- Total population: 103,222 people
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#13. Harford County
- Population aged 65 or older: 16.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 39 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.2 years old
- Total population: 253,736 people
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#12. Caroline County
- Population aged 65 or older: 16.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.6%
- Median age: 39.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.7 years old
- Total population: 33,260 people
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#11. Somerset County
- Population aged 65 or older: 16.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.1%
- Median age: 36.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 35.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 38.7 years old
- Total population: 25,699 people
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#10. Carroll County
- Population aged 65 or older: 16.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.8 years old
- Total population: 168,233 people
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#9. Baltimore County
- Population aged 65 or older: 17.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 39.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.1 years old
- Total population: 828,193 people
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#8. Washington County
- Population aged 65 or older: 17.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 40.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.5 years old
- Total population: 150,575 people
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#7. Queen Anne's County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 44.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 50,163 people
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#6. Allegany County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.3%
- Median age: 41.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.7 years old
- Total population: 71,002 people
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#5. Dorchester County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.0%
- Median age: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.8 years old
- Total population: 31,994 people
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#4. Garrett County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.6%
- Median age: 46.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 45 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.8 years old
- Total population: 29,155 people
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#3. Kent County
- Population aged 65 or older: 26.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.7%
- Median age: 48 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.3 years old
- Total population: 19,456 people
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#2. Worcester County
- Population aged 65 or older: 27.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.2%
- Median age: 50.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 48.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 52 years old
- Total population: 51,967 people
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#1. Talbot County
- Population aged 65 or older: 29.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.3%
- Median age: 51 years old
--- Median age of males: 49.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 52.3 years old
- Total population: 37,087 people
