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Median Age Trends: Adirondack Park vs Rural Northeast U.S.

Two questions should be asked about median age. First, how fast is a community aging? The 61 Park Towns experienced an increase of +20.0 years from 1970 to 2020, whereas the Split Towns aged by +20.4 years and Rural New York Towns by +18.6 years. The Low Density Northeast counties rose by +19.6 years.

Second, how does the median age compare with that of other places? In 2020, the Park Town median age was 50.0 years. The Rural New York towns was 46.4, and the Low Density Northeast counties had a median age of 48.6 years. The maps on these pages show that the median age of the Park Towns was higher than that of the overwhelming majority of New York State and the U.S. Across the U.S. in 2020, just 340 counties, with 3% of the U.S. population, had a higher median age.

Table 16: Change in Median Age in Rural America, 1970–2020,

Area 1970 2020 Change
Park Towns 30.0 50.0 +20.0
Rural America
USDA Nonmetro U.S. 29.2 42.0 +12.8
Low Density U.S. 30.0 42.3 +12.3
USDA Nonmetro NE 30.0 45.5 +15.5
Low Density NE 29.0 48.6 +19.6

The maps on these pages show that, regarding median age, the Park Towns are part of vast but sparsely populated Rural America. In 2020 across Rural America there were 285 counties with 4.6 million people, 10% of the Rural America population, that had a higher median age than that of the 50.0 years of the Park Towns. In Rural America, 15% of counties had a median age equal to or older than that of the Park Towns.

The Park Towns’ high median age is exacerbated because the Adirondacks exports college-age young people, has a low birth rate, and has a high number of seniors. The Park Towns also recruit retirees, who provide many tangible benefits for Adirondack communities, but also drive up the median age. In the future it will be difficult for the Adirondacks to lower its high median age. ❑

Figure 63: Comparison of changes in median age from 1970 to 2020 between the Park Towns and the Rural Northeast U.S. counties

Comparing with USDA Nonmetro Northeast counties, from 1970 to 2020, there were 10 USDA Nonmetro NE counties out of 80 with a faster increase in median age than the Park. The Park performed better than 13% of the USDA Nonmetro NE counties. There were 308 thousand persons out of 4.2 million (7%) living in these USDA Nonmetro NE counties. Hartford, CT +17.4 year change in median age, Litchfield, CT Fairfield, CT New Haven, CT Middlesex, CT New London, CT Tolland, CT Windham, CT Worcester, MA Middlesex, MA +7.2 year change in median age, Nantucket, MA Barnstable, MA Suffolk, MA Bristol, MA Plymouth, MA Norfolk, MA Essex, MA Hampden, MA Hampshire, MA Berkshire, MA +15.6 year change in median age, Franklin, MA +12.1 year change in median age, Dukes, MA +24.8 year change in median age, Aroostook, ME +18.9 year change in median age, Piscataquis, ME +15.8 year change in median age, Knox, ME +17.8 year change in median age, Lincoln, ME Sagadahoc, ME Cumberland, ME York, ME Androscoggin, ME +17.1 year change in median age, Oxford, ME +15.4 year change in median age, Kennebec, ME +18.6 year change in median age, Waldo, ME +17.1 year change in median age, Hancock, ME +15.9 year change in median age, Washington, ME Penobscot, ME +19.9 year change in median age, Franklin, ME +17.4 year change in median age, Somerset, ME +18.7 year change in median age, Coos, NH +16.7 year change in median age, Grafton, NH Strafford, NH Rockingham, NH +15.2 year change in median age, Cheshire, NH +17.0 year change in median age, Sullivan, NH Hillsborough, NH +17.9 year change in median age, Belknap, NH +13.6 year change in median age, Merrimack, NH +21.3 year change in median age, Carroll, NH Monmouth, NJ Ocean, NJ Richmond, NY Essex, NJ Union, NJ Hudson, NJ Bergen, NJ Middlesex, NJ Somerset, NJ Morris, NJ Passaic, NJ Sussex, NJ Warren, NJ Hunterdon, NJ Mercer, NJ Camden, NJ Gloucester, NJ Salem, NJ Cumberland, NJ Cape May, NJ Atlantic, NJ Burlington, NJ Clinton, NY Essex, NY Orleans, NY +15.5 year change in median age, Genesee, NY +14.7 year change in median age, Wyoming, NY Livingston, NY Schenectady, NY +5.0 year change in median age, Montgomery, NY Fulton, NY +11.1 year change in median age, Seneca, NY Ontario, NY Yates, NY +18.8 year change in median age, Schuyler, NY Tompkins, NY +15.2 year change in median age, Cayuga, NY Onondaga, NY +13.8 year change in median age, Cortland, NY +16.9 year change in median age, Chenango, NY Madison, NY Oneida, NY Lewis, NY Herkimer, NY +14.5 year change in median age, Otsego, NY Schoharie, NY Albany, NY Saratoga, NY Warren, NY Hamilton, NY Franklin, NY St. Lawrence, NY Jefferson, NY Oswego, NY Wayne, NY Monroe, NY Niagara, NY Erie, NY +12.5 year change in median age, Chautauqua, NY +14.5 year change in median age, Cattaraugus, NY +14.4 year change in median age, Allegany, NY +14.5 year change in median age, Steuben, NY Chemung, NY Tioga, NY Broome, NY +17.8 year change in median age, Delaware, NY +9.4 year change in median age, Sullivan, NY +12.3 year change in median age, Greene, NY New York, NY Ulster, NY Bronx, NY Kings, NY Rockland, NY Nassau, NY Orange, NY Queens, NY Suffolk, NY Westchester, NY Putnam, NY Dutchess, NY +16.6 year change in median age, Columbia, NY Rensselaer, NY Washington, NY Philadelphia, PA Bucks, PA +10.9 year change in median age, Greene, PA Fayette, PA Washington, PA Allegheny, PA Beaver, PA +14.4 year change in median age, Lawrence, PA Butler, PA Armstrong, PA +16.0 year change in median age, Clarion, PA +11.6 year change in median age, Forest, PA +16.5 year change in median age, Venango, PA Mercer, PA +15.2 year change in median age, Crawford, PA Erie, PA Westmoreland, PA +15.2 year change in median age, Indiana, PA +10.9 year change in median age, Jefferson, PA +16.3 year change in median age, Warren, PA +12.0 year change in median age, McKean, PA +21.5 year change in median age, Cameron, PA +19.2 year change in median age, Elk, PA +14.6 year change in median age, Clearfield, PA Blair, PA Cambria, PA +14.5 year change in median age, Somerset, PA +17.5 year change in median age, Bedford, PA +16.5 year change in median age, Fulton, PA +14.1 year change in median age, Huntingdon, PA Franklin, PA +14.1 year change in median age, Mifflin, PA +19.4 year change in median age, Potter, PA +12.3 year change in median age, Clinton, PA Centre, PA +11.7 year change in median age, Union, PA Montour, PA +18.4 year change in median age, Tioga, PA Lycoming, PA Wyoming, PA +21.8 year change in median age, Sullivan, PA Columbia, PA +9.4 year change in median age, Northumberland, PA +12.8 year change in median age, Snyder, PA +13.9 year change in median age, Juniata, PA Perry, PA Cumberland, PA Adams, PA York, PA Dauphin, PA Lebanon, PA Lancaster, PA Berks, PA +8.3 year change in median age, Schuylkill, PA Carbon, PA Luzerne, PA Lackawanna, PA +16.7 year change in median age, Bradford, PA +18.8 year change in median age, Susquehanna, PA +15.3 year change in median age, Wayne, PA Pike, PA Monroe, PA Northampton, PA Lehigh, PA Delaware, PA Montgomery, PA Chester, PA Kent, RI Providence, RI Bristol, RI Newport, RI Washington, RI +21.2 year change in median age, Essex, VT +17.8 year change in median age, Orleans, VT +18.8 year change in median age, Bennington, VT Grand Isle, VT +16.6 year change in median age, Washington, VT +15.4 year change in median age, Caledonia, VT +16.5 year change in median age, Lamoille, VT Franklin, VT Chittenden, VT +20.1 year change in median age, Addison, VT +19.7 year change in median age, Rutland, VT +17.9 year change in median age, Windham, VT +17.7 year change in median age, Windsor, VT +17.7 year change in median age, Orange, VT

From 1970 to 2020, 13% of USDA Nonmetro Northeast U.S. counties had higher growth in their median age than did the Park Towns. These counties were home to 308 thousand people, 7% of the population of the Rural Northeast U.S.

Northeast U.S. metropolitan counties

10 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with higher growth in their median age from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Towns

70 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with lower growth in their median age from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Towns

Figure 64: Comparison of median age in 2020 between the Park Towns and the Rural Northeast U.S. counties

Comparing with USDA Nonmetro Northeast counties, in 2020, there were 17 USDA Nonmetro NE counties out of 80 with a higher median age than the Park. The Park performed better than 21% of the USDA Nonmetro NE counties. There were 602 thousand persons out of 4.2 million (14%) living in these USDA Nonmetro NE counties. Hartford, CT 47.8 year median age, Litchfield, CT Fairfield, CT New Haven, CT Middlesex, CT New London, CT Tolland, CT Windham, CT Worcester, MA Middlesex, MA 40.7 year median age, Nantucket, MA Barnstable, MA Suffolk, MA Bristol, MA Plymouth, MA Norfolk, MA Essex, MA Hampden, MA Hampshire, MA Berkshire, MA 46.9 year median age, Franklin, MA 49.2 year median age, Dukes, MA 48.9 year median age, Aroostook, ME 52.0 year median age, Piscataquis, ME 49.5 year median age, Knox, ME 52.1 year median age, Lincoln, ME Sagadahoc, ME Cumberland, ME York, ME Androscoggin, ME 47.5 year median age, Oxford, ME 44.8 year median age, Kennebec, ME 47.3 year median age, Waldo, ME 49.5 year median age, Hancock, ME 49.3 year median age, Washington, ME Penobscot, ME 46.8 year median age, Franklin, ME 46.9 year median age, Somerset, ME 50.4 year median age, Coos, NH 43.6 year median age, Grafton, NH Strafford, NH Rockingham, NH 43.6 year median age, Cheshire, NH 47.1 year median age, Sullivan, NH Hillsborough, NH 49.3 year median age, Belknap, NH 43.4 year median age, Merrimack, NH 54.9 year median age, Carroll, NH Monmouth, NJ Ocean, NJ Richmond, NY Essex, NJ Union, NJ Hudson, NJ Bergen, NJ Middlesex, NJ Somerset, NJ Morris, NJ Passaic, NJ Sussex, NJ Warren, NJ Hunterdon, NJ Mercer, NJ Camden, NJ Gloucester, NJ Salem, NJ Cumberland, NJ Cape May, NJ Atlantic, NJ Burlington, NJ Clinton, NY Essex, NY Orleans, NY 43.5 year median age, Genesee, NY 43.2 year median age, Wyoming, NY Livingston, NY Schenectady, NY 41.2 year median age, Montgomery, NY Fulton, NY 42.4 year median age, Seneca, NY Ontario, NY Yates, NY 46.9 year median age, Schuyler, NY Tompkins, NY 43.7 year median age, Cayuga, NY Onondaga, NY 39.0 year median age, Cortland, NY 45.4 year median age, Chenango, NY Madison, NY Oneida, NY Lewis, NY Herkimer, NY 42.3 year median age, Otsego, NY Schoharie, NY Albany, NY Saratoga, NY Warren, NY Hamilton, NY Franklin, NY St. Lawrence, NY Jefferson, NY Oswego, NY Wayne, NY Monroe, NY Niagara, NY Erie, NY 42.9 year median age, Chautauqua, NY 42.5 year median age, Cattaraugus, NY 39.1 year median age, Allegany, NY 43.3 year median age, Steuben, NY Chemung, NY Tioga, NY Broome, NY 48.5 year median age, Delaware, NY 41.9 year median age, Sullivan, NY 46.6 year median age, Greene, NY New York, NY Ulster, NY Bronx, NY Kings, NY Rockland, NY Nassau, NY Orange, NY Queens, NY Suffolk, NY Westchester, NY Putnam, NY Dutchess, NY 48.8 year median age, Columbia, NY Rensselaer, NY Washington, NY Philadelphia, PA Bucks, PA 43.6 year median age, Greene, PA Fayette, PA Washington, PA Allegheny, PA Beaver, PA 45.5 year median age, Lawrence, PA Butler, PA Armstrong, PA 43.5 year median age, Clarion, PA 45.4 year median age, Forest, PA 47.3 year median age, Venango, PA Mercer, PA 44.1 year median age, Crawford, PA Erie, PA Westmoreland, PA 41.5 year median age, Indiana, PA 44.9 year median age, Jefferson, PA 47.7 year median age, Warren, PA 44.0 year median age, McKean, PA 51.3 year median age, Cameron, PA 48.0 year median age, Elk, PA 45.8 year median age, Clearfield, PA Blair, PA Cambria, PA 46.9 year median age, Somerset, PA 47.5 year median age, Bedford, PA 45.3 year median age, Fulton, PA 44.1 year median age, Huntingdon, PA Franklin, PA 44.0 year median age, Mifflin, PA 48.5 year median age, Potter, PA 41.4 year median age, Clinton, PA Centre, PA 39.5 year median age, Union, PA Montour, PA 44.6 year median age, Tioga, PA Lycoming, PA Wyoming, PA 53.1 year median age, Sullivan, PA Columbia, PA 44.4 year median age, Northumberland, PA 40.3 year median age, Snyder, PA 43.1 year median age, Juniata, PA Perry, PA Cumberland, PA Adams, PA York, PA Dauphin, PA Lebanon, PA Lancaster, PA Berks, PA 45.6 year median age, Schuylkill, PA Carbon, PA Luzerne, PA Lackawanna, PA 44.1 year median age, Bradford, PA 48.2 year median age, Susquehanna, PA 49.1 year median age, Wayne, PA Pike, PA Monroe, PA Northampton, PA Lehigh, PA Delaware, PA Montgomery, PA Chester, PA Kent, RI Providence, RI Bristol, RI Newport, RI Washington, RI 52.1 year median age, Essex, VT 46.3 year median age, Orleans, VT 47.9 year median age, Bennington, VT Grand Isle, VT 44.2 year median age, Washington, VT 45.2 year median age, Caledonia, VT 42.3 year median age, Lamoille, VT Franklin, VT Chittenden, VT 44.1 year median age, Addison, VT 48.1 year median age, Rutland, VT 47.5 year median age, Windham, VT 48.4 year median age, Windsor, VT 46.5 year median age, Orange, VT

In 2020, 21% of USDA Nonmetro Northeast U.S. counties had a higher median age than did the Park Towns. These counties were home to 602 thousand people, 14% of the population of the Rural Northeast U.S.

Northeast U.S. metropolitan counties

17 Rural Northeast U.S. with a higher median age in 2020 than that of the Park Towns

63 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with a lower median age in 2020 than that of the Park Towns

 

The Adirondack Park and Rural America: Enconomic and Population Trends 1970–⁠2020