The Counties With The Oldest Populations
A county’s age can say as much about its character as its landscape. Loving County reports a median age estimate in the 80s, but its tiny population leaves that figure highly uncertain. Sumter County sits close to 70 amid sprawling retirement communities. Nationwide, the county figures stretch from the 20s to these striking extremes. The 2020-2024 ACS puts the national median at 38.9. Using those five-year estimates and their margins of error, these are the counties with the highest reported median ages.
Loving County, Texas (estimated median age: 86.2 years)
Loving County is a remarkably unique West Texas county, located along the border with New Mexico. The 2020-2024 ACS gives Loving County the nation's highest median age point estimate at 86.2 years. Its margin of error is unusually large, plus or minus 17.2 years, so the size of that lead is highly uncertain. The estimate is an extreme outlier among county median ages, although median age should not be compared with life expectancy because the two statistics measure different concepts. It is also close to empty, with its 52 residents spread across 669 square miles.
An earlier Mentone served as county seat during Loving County's disputed 1893 organization, while the present Mentone became county seat when the county was reorganized in 1931. Oil and gas drove that second organization, and the industry still dominates the local economy. Loving County sits in the Delaware Basin section of the Permian Basin, and it ranks among the Texas counties behind recent growth in national crude oil production. County Business Patterns counted 663 employees at the county's employer establishments in 2023, more than ten times the July 2025 resident estimate of 52. That gap points to substantial commuting into the county. Loving County's population has fallen sharply since its 1930s oil boom, though its tiny population also makes recent age estimates volatile and unsuitable for claims of a clearly established aging trend.
Sumter County, Florida (estimated median age: 68.5 years)
It should be little surprise that the home of one of the country's best-known retirement communities is also one of the nation's oldest counties. Located in Central Florida, Sumter County is the site of The Villages, a sprawling collection of age-restricted developments described as an "active adult retirement community." The area has grown rapidly this century and now carries the shopping, dining, golf courses, and entertainment needed to support nearly 158,000 residents.
With so much retirement-focused development, it makes sense that the median age sits at 68.5, one of only two county figures above the full Social Security retirement age of 67. Unlike rural first-place Loving County, Sumter County is also relatively convenient to major metro areas like Orlando and Tampa.
Catron County, New Mexico (estimated median age: 63.8 years)
Vast and sparsely populated Catron County covers over 6,900 square miles of western New Mexico, making it the state's largest county by land area. Despite all that room, just 3,827 people lived there in 2025, while its median age reached 63.8. Around 44% of residents are 65 or older, a significant demographic factor in why it ranks among the oldest counties in the country.
Much of Catron County remains strikingly remote, with outdoor recreation among its biggest draws. The Gila National Forest encompasses a variety of trails, ghost towns, and sites for viewing the region's exceptionally dark skies. Less than 20% of Catron County land is privately owned, a sign of just how much public outdoor land is available for retirees to enjoy.
La Paz County, Arizona (estimated median age: 60.2 years)
The final county with a median age over 60 is located west of Phoenix, along the Colorado River and the California border. The most important feature in establishing this elder status is the community of Quartzsite, a retirement and seasonal living destination with a somewhat different flair from The Villages on the other side of the country. The area is filled with mobile homes and RV parks, some offering high-end amenities and services. Snowbird retirees pack them each fall and winter for the warm, dry weather.
Tourism and agriculture lead the La Paz County economy. Winter visitors drive much of that activity, and Quartzsite's shows alone draw more than a million visits a year, according to the county.
Honorable Mentions: Custer County, ID; Alcona County, MI; Kent County, TX (estimated median age: 60 years)
Three other places are also worth mentioning in the conversation about America's oldest counties, all tied with a median age of 60. Unlike Sumter County or La Paz County, all three are small, predominantly rural counties.
Kent County is the smallest, with fewer than 700 residents left in a shrinking corner of West Texas. Custer County is home to more than 4,600 people and sits near Idaho's Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Alcona County, Michigan, has over 10,000 residents and a long stretch of Lake Huron shoreline.
Aging Counties Can Be Found Across America
There is no doubt that the population of the United States is aging, and certain counties are feeling the effects more than others. Census Bureau estimates show the national median age rose from 38.5 in 2020 to a record 39.1 in 2024, while older adults outnumbered children in nearly 45% of US counties. Whether they are deliberate retirement destinations or simply aging due to shifting demographics, these areas stand out as the nation's oldest counties.
