Idaho more youthful, Oregon grayer than national median age

The American West is home to more young people than any other region of the country according to new data from the U.S. Census. Still there are differences in the age demographics within our region.

Nationally, there’s an over-arching trend here: the population is aging. The trend is more noticeable in New England and the Midwest. But no state bucks the trend entirely, says Census Bureau statistician Lindsay Howden. She spoke on a teleconference briefing:

“The population aged 65 and over grew at a faster rate than the youngest ages. The growth in this age group was fueled by the aging of the baby boom population.”

Howden says places with more youthful demographics correlate with the size of the local Hispanic population. She says Latino families tend to be larger with more children.

If you want to be around young people, you could also look to Idaho, Utah or Alaska. Those states have three of the top four youngest populations. Washington hews closer to the national median age of 37 years old. Oregon is showing gray around the temples with a median age more than a year older than the nation as a whole.

Washington
The median age in 2010 was 37.3 (12.3% of pop. was 65 years old or older). In 2000, median age was 35.4 (11.2% of pop was 65 years old or older).
The average household size in 2010 was 2.51 people per household.

Idaho
The median age in 2010 was 34.6 (12.4% of pop. was 65 years old or older). In 2000, median age was 33.3 (11.3% of pop. was 65 years old or older).
The average household size in 2010 was 2.66 people per household.

Oregon
The median age in 2010 was 38.4 (13.9% of pop. was 65 years old or older). In 2000, median age was 36.4 (12.8% of pop. was 65 years old or older).
The average household size in 2010 was 2.47 people per household.

United States
The median age in 2010 was 37.2
The average household size was 2.58 people per household.

Source: 2010 Census

2010 Census:
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

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