This story by Tim Henderson was originally published in Washington Standard.
The ratio of people over 65 to children under 18 measured age changes compared to previous years, according to statorin analysis of estimates measured age changes in mid-2024.
Other states already with older adults exceeding children in 2023: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. It grew from just four in 2020: Florida, Maine, Vermont, West Virginia.
This trend is insufficient in the number of future young adults who can help care for older relatives, according to a report released last year by the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
Florida has many counties with the highest elderly to child ratio, according to census estimates.
The median national level reached a new historic high of 39.1 from 38.9 in 2023, the census found. Median age was under 30 years old from 1980 and under 20 years old from 1870.
Maine’s population in 2024 was the oldest in any state, with a median age of 44.8. Utah was the youngest in 2024 with 32.4.
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