Counties with the most seniors in New York

Written by:
August 30, 2022
Doug Kerr // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most seniors in New York

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 New York 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 New York.

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Richard Cavalleri // Shutterstock

#50. Clinton County

- Population aged 65 or older: 16.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.0%
- Median age: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.4 years old
- Total population: 80,320 people
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Tim Hettler from New York, NY, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Suffolk County

- Population aged 65 or older: 16.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.2%
- Median age: 41.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.3 years old
- Total population: 1,481,364 people
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Matt H. Wade // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Rensselaer County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.5%
- Median age: 39.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.6 years old
- Total population: 159,013 people
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littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock

#47. Onondaga County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 39.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.5 years old
- Total population: 461,591 people
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Mwanner // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Franklin County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.3%
- Median age: 40.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 50,389 people

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Canva

#45. Westchester County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.0%
- Median age: 41.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.8 years old
- Total population: 968,738 people
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UpstateNYer // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Schenectady County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 39.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.8 years old
- Total population: 155,086 people
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Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

#43. Monroe County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.8%
- Median age: 39 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.9 years old
- Total population: 743,084 people
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P199 // Wikimedia Commons

#42. St. Lawrence County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.1%
- Median age: 39 years old
--- Median age of males: 37 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.4 years old
- Total population: 108,352 people
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James Kirkikis // Shutterstock

#41. Putnam County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.8%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.5 years old
- Total population: 98,714 people

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Colin D. Young // Shutterstock

#40. Dutchess County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.9%
- Median age: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.8 years old
- Total population: 293,524 people
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littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock

#39. Nassau County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.5 years old
- Total population: 1,355,683 people
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Jimmy Emerson // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Orleans County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.3%
- Median age: 43.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.6 years old
- Total population: 40,624 people
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Benjamin D. Esham (bdesham) // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Livingston County

- Population aged 65 or older: 17.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.7%
- Median age: 41.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.6 years old
- Total population: 63,218 people
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Canva

#36. Erie County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.3%
- Median age: 40.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 42 years old
- Total population: 918,873 people

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PhotoItaliaStudio // Shutterstock

#35. Saratoga County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.0%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.3 years old
- Total population: 229,313 people
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Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Wyoming County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.0%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.5 years old
- Total population: 40,027 people
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Colgate University // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Madison County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.2%
- Median age: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.3 years old
- Total population: 70,990 people
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Jwilson855 // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Montgomery County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.9%
- Median age: 40.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.6 years old
- Total population: 49,294 people
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Nina Alizada // Shutterstock

#31. Oneida County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.2%
- Median age: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.8 years old
- Total population: 229,074 people

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North woodsman // Shutterstock

#30. Lewis County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.9%
- Median age: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.2 years old
- Total population: 26,456 people
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Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Genesee County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.3%
- Median age: 43 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.7 years old
- Total population: 57,554 people
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Andre Carrotflower // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Allegany County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.9%
- Median age: 39.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 38.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.2 years old
- Total population: 46,304 people
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Andre Carrotflower // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Wayne County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 43.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 45 years old
- Total population: 90,103 people
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Lvklock // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Chemung County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 41.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.3 years old
- Total population: 84,115 people

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Eric Richards // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Sullivan County

- Population aged 65 or older: 18.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 42 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.7 years old
- Total population: 75,329 people
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PQK // Shuterstock

#24. Cayuga County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.7%
- Median age: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 76,958 people
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Canva

#23. Broome County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.4%
- Median age: 39.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 37.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.6 years old
- Total population: 192,042 people
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Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock

#22. Niagara County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.0%
- Median age: 43.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 210,145 people
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marjobani // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Seneca County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.0%
- Median age: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 45 years old
- Total population: 34,295 people

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Pubdog // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Cattaraugus County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.2%
- Median age: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.5 years old
- Total population: 76,750 people
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Marduk // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Steuben County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 95,843 people
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UpstateNYer // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Washington County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.8%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.7 years old
- Total population: 61,304 people
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Beyond My Ken // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Fulton County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.2%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.3 years old
- Total population: 53,452 people
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Fred Hsu // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Ulster County

- Population aged 65 or older: 19.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.7%
- Median age: 44.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.6 years old
- Total population: 178,371 people

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Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Ontario County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.1%
- Median age: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.4 years old
- Total population: 109,774 people
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Andre Carrotflower // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Chautauqua County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.4%
- Median age: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 127,584 people
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WCohen // Shutterstock

#13. Tioga County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.8%
- Median age: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.8 years old
- Total population: 48,431 people
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Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Chenango County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.7%
- Median age: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 46 years old
- Total population: 47,527 people
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Doug Kerr from Upstate New York // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Herkimer County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.6%
- Median age: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.4 years old
- Total population: 61,738 people

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PQK // Shuterstock

#10. Yates County

- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.5%
- Median age: 40.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 40.9 years old
- Total population: 24,981 people
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Kenneth Sponsler // Shutterstock

#9. Otsego County

- Population aged 65 or older: 21.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 15.9%
- Median age: 42 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 43 years old
- Total population: 59,593 people
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Lamar Gore/USFWS // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Schuyler County

- Population aged 65 or older: 21.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.1%
- Median age: 46.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.8 years old
- Total population: 17,845 people
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Reilchey27 // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Schoharie County

- Population aged 65 or older: 21.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.7%
- Median age: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.4 years old
- Total population: 31,189 people
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Felix Lipov // Shutterstock

#6. Greene County

- Population aged 65 or older: 22.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.5%
- Median age: 46.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.2 years old
- Total population: 47,335 people

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Gbklyn // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Warren County

- Population aged 65 or older: 22.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.1%
- Median age: 46.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.4 years old
- Total population: 64,187 people
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tomtsya// Shutterstock

#4. Essex County

- Population aged 65 or older: 23.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.1%
- Median age: 48.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 51 years old
- Total population: 37,281 people
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Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Columbia County

- Population aged 65 or older: 23.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.3%
- Median age: 48.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.4 years old
- Total population: 60,016 people
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Doug Kerr // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Delaware County

- Population aged 65 or older: 24.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.7%
- Median age: 48.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.2 years old
- Total population: 44,676 people
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Mwanner // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Hamilton County

- Population aged 65 or older: 30.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 13.5%
- Median age: 55.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 54.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 57.1 years old
- Total population: 4,454 people

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