Ranked: America’s Largest Senior Populations by State
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Key Takeaways
- California is home to 6.5 million residents aged 65 or older, the largest senior population in America.
- Maine has the nation’s oldest population, with nearly one in four residents aged 65 or older.
- The top nine states account for over half of America’s senior population.
More than 61 million Americans are now aged 65 or older, making seniors one of the country’s fastest-growing demographic groups.
Using the latest Census Bureau data via USAFacts, this ranking compares every state by both the number and share of residents aged 65 or older, showing where America’s seniors live today.
The States With the Most Seniors
California leads with 6.5 million residents aged 65 or older, followed by Florida (5.1 million) and Texas (4.4 million). Together, these three states account for roughly one in four seniors nationwide.
While Florida is widely known as a retirement destination, California’s much larger population gives it the country’s largest senior community by a wide margin.
| Rank | State or District | Total Population (65+) | Share (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 6,524,861 | 16.5% |
| 2 | Florida | 5,094,353 | 21.8% |
| 3 | Texas | 4,365,469 | 14.0% |
| 4 | New York | 3,757,173 | 18.9% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 2,665,974 | 20.4% |
| 6 | Illinois | 2,274,582 | 17.9% |
| 7 | Ohio | 2,271,397 | 19.1% |
| 8 | Michigan | 1,987,859 | 19.6% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 1,980,690 | 17.9% |
| 10 | Georgia | 1,765,603 | 15.8% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 1,706,665 | 18.0% |
| 12 | Virginia | 1,550,385 | 17.6% |
| 13 | Arizona | 1,491,158 | 19.7% |
| 14 | Washington | 1,378,508 | 17.3% |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 1,335,942 | 18.7% |
| 16 | Tennessee | 1,273,979 | 17.6% |
| 17 | Indiana | 1,218,401 | 17.6% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 1,171,042 | 19.6% |
| 19 | Missouri | 1,169,201 | 18.7% |
| 20 | Maryland | 1,099,752 | 17.6% |
| 21 | South Carolina | 1,082,724 | 19.8% |
| 22 | Minnesota | 1,056,273 | 18.2% |
| 23 | Colorado | 980,364 | 16.5% |
| 24 | Alabama | 955,166 | 18.5% |
| 25 | Oregon | 850,217 | 19.9% |
| 26 | Kentucky | 825,850 | 18.0% |
| 27 | Louisiana | 819,864 | 17.8% |
| 28 | Connecticut | 713,337 | 19.4% |
| 29 | Oklahoma | 692,081 | 16.9% |
| 30 | Iowa | 612,603 | 18.9% |
| 31 | Nevada | 575,351 | 17.6% |
| 32 | Arkansas | 562,707 | 18.2% |
| 33 | Kansas | 533,774 | 18.0% |
| 34 | Mississippi | 531,347 | 18.1% |
| 35 | Utah | 434,922 | 12.4% |
| 36 | New Mexico | 429,233 | 20.1% |
| 37 | West Virginia | 386,851 | 21.9% |
| 38 | Idaho | 355,551 | 17.8% |
| 39 | Nebraska | 348,052 | 17.4% |
| 40 | Maine | 329,926 | 23.5% |
| 41 | Hawaii | 311,305 | 21.5% |
| 42 | New Hampshire | 303,232 | 21.5% |
| 43 | Montana | 241,423 | 21.2% |
| 44 | Delaware | 227,824 | 21.7% |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 220,168 | 19.8% |
| 46 | South Dakota | 175,902 | 19.0% |
| 47 | Vermont | 148,485 | 22.9% |
| 48 | North Dakota | 140,295 | 17.6% |
| 49 | Wyoming | 117,373 | 20.0% |
| 50 | Alaska | 109,415 | 14.8% |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 90,674 | 12.9% |
| -- | U.S. Total | 61,245,283 | 18.0% |
Looking at seniors as a share of the population tells a different story. Nearly one in four Maine residents is aged 65 or older, the highest proportion in the country.
Vermont, West Virginia, Delaware, and Florida also rank among the oldest states by age structure, although for different reasons. While Florida attracts retirees, states like Vermont and West Virginia have aged as younger adults leave and birth rates remain low.
Overall, seniors now outnumber children in 11 states, including Maine, Hawaii, and New Hampshire.
America’s Youngest States
At the opposite end of the ranking, Utah has America’s youngest population, with just 12.4% of residents aged 65 or older. The District of Columbia (12.9%), Texas (14.0%), and Alaska (14.8%) also have comparatively young populations.
Utah stands apart because of its consistently high birth rates and relatively young families, while Texas continues to attract working-age adults through domestic and international migration. Both trends help keep the share of older residents below the national average.
Even states with relatively young populations are expected to age over time. Nationwide, nearly 45% of U.S. counties had more adults aged 65 or older than children under 18 in 2024, up from 31% just four years earlier, highlighting how rapidly America’s age profile is changing.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic showing the median age by country around the world.