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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
You may also like: Countries from which Tennessee imports the most goods
1 / 50
#50. Lincoln County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 34,158 people
2 / 50
#49. Wayne County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.4%
- Median age: 44 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.9 years old
- Total population: 16,638 people
3 / 50
#48. Humphreys County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 41.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 18,528 people
4 / 50
#47. Marion County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.0%
- Median age: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.3 years old
- Total population: 28,639 people
5 / 50
#46. Claiborne County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.7%
- Median age: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.3 years old
- Total population: 31,827 people
You may also like: See how popular pumpkin spice is in Tennessee
6 / 50
#45. Sevier County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.6%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 41 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 98,007 people
7 / 50
#44. McMinn County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.1%
- Median age: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.8 years old
- Total population: 53,392 people
8 / 50
#43. Stewart County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.2%
- Median age: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.7 years old
- Total population: 13,553 people
9 / 50
#42. Carroll County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.5%
- Median age: 43 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 27,841 people
10 / 50
#41. Anderson County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.1%
- Median age: 43.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 76,513 people
You may also like: Highest-rated IPAs in Tennessee
11 / 50
#40. Jefferson County
- Population aged 65 or older: 19.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.6%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.1 years old
- Total population: 54,162 people
12 / 50
#39. Franklin County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.0%
- Median age: 42 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.8 years old
- Total population: 41,999 people
13 / 50
#38. Giles County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.8%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.4 years old
- Total population: 29,403 people
14 / 50
#37. White County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.9%
- Median age: 43.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.5 years old
- Total population: 27,087 people
15 / 50
#36. Blount County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.2%
- Median age: 43.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 131,641 people
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Tennessee
16 / 50
#35. Obion County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 42 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.9 years old
- Total population: 30,343 people
17 / 50
#34. Overton County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.5%
- Median age: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 45 years old
- Total population: 22,171 people
18 / 50
#33. Perry County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 43.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 41.8 years old
- Total population: 8,020 people
19 / 50
#32. Campbell County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.5%
- Median age: 44.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.1 years old
- Total population: 39,818 people
20 / 50
#31. Houston County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.7%
- Median age: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.4 years old
- Total population: 8,201 people
You may also like: Highest-rated museums in Tennessee by visitors
21 / 50
#30. Sequatchie County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.3%
- Median age: 44.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.6 years old
- Total population: 14,936 people
22 / 50
#29. Grainger County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.9%
- Median age: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.8 years old
- Total population: 23,268 people
23 / 50
#28. Grundy County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.9%
- Median age: 43.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 13,371 people
24 / 50
#27. Hawkins County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.8%
- Median age: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.7 years old
- Total population: 56,735 people
25 / 50
#26. McNairy County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.7%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.1 years old
- Total population: 25,814 people
You may also like: Coldest Novembers in Tennessee since 1895
26 / 50
#25. Polk County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.9%
- Median age: 46.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 47 years old
- Total population: 16,807 people
27 / 50
#24. Lewis County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 42 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.1 years old
- Total population: 12,131 people
28 / 50
#23. Hancock County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.6 years old
- Total population: 6,568 people
29 / 50
#22. Moore County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.3%
- Median age: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.3 years old
- Total population: 6,396 people
30 / 50
#21. Monroe County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 44.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 46,413 people
You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from Tennessee
31 / 50
#20. Cocke County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.4%
- Median age: 45.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.8 years old
- Total population: 35,797 people
32 / 50
#19. Fayette County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.1%
- Median age: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.9 years old
- Total population: 40,612 people
33 / 50
#18. Fentress County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.9%
- Median age: 45.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 44 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.8 years old
- Total population: 18,405 people
34 / 50
#17. Meigs County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.3%
- Median age: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.9 years old
- Total population: 12,237 people
35 / 50
#16. Carter County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.3%
- Median age: 45.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.4 years old
- Total population: 56,452 people
You may also like: The truth about minimum coverage requirements in Tennessee
36 / 50
#15. Greene County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.4%
- Median age: 45 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.4 years old
- Total population: 69,077 people
37 / 50
#14. Sullivan County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.3%
- Median age: 45.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.8 years old
- Total population: 157,707 people
38 / 50
#13. Jackson County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.2%
- Median age: 47.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.1 years old
- Total population: 11,767 people
39 / 50
#12. Hardin County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.2%
- Median age: 45.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.8 years old
- Total population: 25,665 people
40 / 50
#11. Roane County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.7%
- Median age: 47.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.7 years old
- Total population: 53,331 people
You may also like: Best NFL players born in Tennessee
41 / 50
#10. Johnson County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.9%
- Median age: 46.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.8 years old
- Total population: 17,755 people
42 / 50
#9. Henry County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.5%
- Median age: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.5 years old
- Total population: 32,251 people
43 / 50
#8. Van Buren County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.1%
- Median age: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.2 years old
- Total population: 5,813 people
44 / 50
#7. Unicoi County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 16.5%
- Median age: 47.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.8 years old
- Total population: 17,821 people
45 / 50
#6. Benton County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.8%
- Median age: 47.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.4 years old
- Total population: 16,133 people
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Tennessee August 2025
46 / 50
#5. Clay County
- Population aged 65 or older: 24%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.6%
- Median age: 47 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.3 years old
- Total population: 7,640 people
47 / 50
#4. Decatur County
- Population aged 65 or older: 24.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.9%
- Median age: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.3 years old
- Total population: 11,663 people
48 / 50
#3. Loudon County
- Population aged 65 or older: 26.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.4%
- Median age: 47.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 49.3 years old
- Total population: 53,169 people
49 / 50
#2. Pickett County
- Population aged 65 or older: 27.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 18.7%
- Median age: 50.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 49.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 51.3 years old
- Total population: 5,068 people
50 / 50
#1. Cumberland County
- Population aged 65 or older: 30.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 17.5%
- Median age: 51.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 49.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 53.4 years old
- Total population: 60,016 people
You may also like: Highest-rated stouts in Tennessee
