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Key Findings
The Park Towns’ median age in 2020 was 50.0 years, similar to the median age of 48.6 years of the Low Density Northeast counties, but much higher than New York State’s median age of 38.9 years and the U.S. median age of 38.7 years.
In 2020, even though the Park Towns’ median age of 50.0 years was one of the highest in the U.S., there were 340 counties across the U.S., 11% of all counties, with a population of 11.2 million people, that had a higher median age.
Table 15: Change in Median Age in New York and U.S., 1970–2020
| Area | 1970 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York State | 30.2 | 38.9 | +8.7 |
| Rural NY Towns | 27.8 | 46.4 | +18.6 |
| Park Towns | 30.0 | 50.0 | +20.0 |
| Split Towns | 25.1 | 45.5 | +20.4 |
| United States | 28.0 | 38.7 | +10.7 |
The median age of a region is an important measure because it is informative about the needs and activities of the population. A younger median age shows, potentially, a high number of families with children and young people who can grow the work force. An older median age shows a high number of people at the end of their working careers or in retirement. The needs of younger and older populations are very different.
The Park Towns' 1970 median age of 30.0 years was higher than all other regions studied in this report, except for New York State, which was 30.2 years. In 2020, 50 years later, the Park Towns saw its median age increase to 50.0 years, which was the highest of all areas in this report, though the Low Density Northeast counties were close with 48.6 years. Whereas the Park Towns showed consistent or better economic performances than national averages, its median age is an outlier. In 2020, just 17% of New York State towns, etc., and 11% of U.S. counties had median ages higher than that of the Park Towns.
Figure 59: Comparison of changes in median age from 1970 to 2020 between the Park Towns and New York State towns, cities, and boroughs
From 1970 to 2020, 33% of the towns, etc., in New York State had a higher median age growth than did the Park Towns. These places were home to 1.4 million people, 7% of New York State’s population.
297 New York State towns, etc., with higher growth in median age from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Towns
606 New York State towns, etc., with lower growth in median age from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Towns
Figure 60: Comparison of median age in 2020 between the Park Towns and New York State towns, cities, and boroughs
In 2020, 17% of towns, etc., in New York State had a higher median age than did the Park Towns. These places were home to 447 thousand people, 2% of New York State's population.
158 New York State towns, etc., with higher median age in 2020 than that of the Park Towns
747 New York State towns, etc., with lower median age in 2020 than that of the Park Towns