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Counties with the most seniors in Iowa
Seniors will comprise more than 20% of U.S. residents in 2030, up from 15% in 2020. By 2034, older adults will outnumber children, according to Census Bureau projections.
Across the U.S., 52 million Americans are 65 years or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and a quarter of them live in just three states: California, Florida, and Texas. By comparison, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and Alaska each have fewer than 150,000 senior residents. The size of a state's senior population means a lot in terms of demand for resources like health care, affordable housing, assisted living, in-home and nursing care, and support services, and the quality and availability of those resources help determine where seniors migrate.
With baby boomers moving into old age, fewer babies being born, and longer life expectancies, the senior population of America is on a spectacular rise. The lengthening of the U.S. life expectancy has been particularly dramatic, rising to nearly 79 years from 68 years in 1950.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most seniors in Iowa using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents 65 years or older according to 2020 5-year estimates.
Keep reading to find out which counties have the most seniors in Iowa.
#50. Chickasaw County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 11,970 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.1 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 11,970 people
#49. Humboldt County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.6%
- Median age: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.1 years old
- Total population: 9,518 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.6%
- Median age: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.1 years old
- Total population: 9,518 people
#48. Des Moines County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.7%
- Median age: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.8 years old
- Total population: 39,227 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.7%
- Median age: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.8 years old
- Total population: 39,227 people
#47. Jones County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 20,575 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.8 years old
- Total population: 20,575 people
#46. O'Brien County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.6%
- Median age: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.5 years old
- Total population: 13,796 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.6%
- Median age: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.5 years old
- Total population: 13,796 people
#45. Grundy County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.0%
- Median age: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.6 years old
- Total population: 12,262 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.0%
- Median age: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.6 years old
- Total population: 12,262 people
#44. Jackson County
- Population aged 65 or older: 20.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.1%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.1 years old
- Total population: 19,348 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.1%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.1 years old
- Total population: 19,348 people
#43. Clay County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.5%
- Median age: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.2 years old
- Total population: 16,138 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.5%
- Median age: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.2 years old
- Total population: 16,138 people
#42. Worth County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.5%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.2 years old
- Total population: 7,422 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.5%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.2 years old
- Total population: 7,422 people
#41. Emmet County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.7%
- Median age: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.2 years old
- Total population: 9,322 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.7%
- Median age: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.2 years old
- Total population: 9,322 people
#40. Winnebago County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.1 years old
- Total population: 10,474 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.8%
- Median age: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.1 years old
- Total population: 10,474 people
#39. Montgomery County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 44.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 10,016 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 44.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 10,016 people
#38. Fayette County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 19,604 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 19,604 people
#37. Mitchell County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.6%
- Median age: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.6 years old
- Total population: 10,588 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.6%
- Median age: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.6 years old
- Total population: 10,588 people
#36. Cerro Gordo County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.7%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.2 years old
- Total population: 42,672 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.7%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.2 years old
- Total population: 42,672 people
#35. Lucas County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.8%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.5 years old
- Total population: 8,556 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.8%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.5 years old
- Total population: 8,556 people
#34. Osceola County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.5%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.1 years old
- Total population: 6,016 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.5%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.1 years old
- Total population: 6,016 people
#33. Wayne County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 25.5%
- Median age: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.1 years old
- Total population: 6,426 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 25.5%
- Median age: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.1 years old
- Total population: 6,426 people
#32. Franklin County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 43.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 43 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.3 years old
- Total population: 10,091 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 43.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 43 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.3 years old
- Total population: 10,091 people
#31. Palo Alto County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.6 years old
- Total population: 8,941 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.6 years old
- Total population: 8,941 people
#30. Ida County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.1%
- Median age: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.7 years old
- Total population: 6,862 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.1%
- Median age: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of males: 39.9 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.7 years old
- Total population: 6,862 people
#29. Keokuk County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.8%
- Median age: 43.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 10,163 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.8%
- Median age: 43.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 40.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.2 years old
- Total population: 10,163 people
#28. Hardin County
- Population aged 65 or older: 21.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.6 years old
- Total population: 16,924 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.6 years old
- Total population: 16,924 people
#27. Floyd County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.5%
- Median age: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.4 years old
- Total population: 15,713 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.5%
- Median age: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.4 years old
- Total population: 15,713 people
#26. Wright County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.1%
- Median age: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.4 years old
- Total population: 12,644 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.1%
- Median age: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 42.4 years old
- Total population: 12,644 people
#25. Jefferson County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.7%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.2 years old
- Total population: 18,153 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.7%
- Median age: 42.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 43.2 years old
- Total population: 18,153 people
#24. Fremont County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 46.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.1 years old
- Total population: 6,895 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 46.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.1 years old
- Total population: 6,895 people
#23. Page County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.5%
- Median age: 44.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.3 years old
- Total population: 15,205 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.5%
- Median age: 44.4 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.3 years old
- Total population: 15,205 people
#22. Hancock County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.3%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.6 years old
- Total population: 10,709 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.6 years old
- Total population: 10,709 people
#21. Adair County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.2 years old
- Total population: 7,048 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.4%
- Median age: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.2 years old
- Total population: 7,048 people
#20. Butler County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 43.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.8 years old
- Total population: 14,508 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 43.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.7 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.8 years old
- Total population: 14,508 people
#19. Greene County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.2%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 8,923 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.2%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42 years old
--- Median age of females: 45.9 years old
- Total population: 8,923 people
#18. Van Buren County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.0%
- Median age: 45.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.7 years old
- Total population: 7,104 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.0%
- Median age: 45.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.7 years old
- Total population: 7,104 people
#17. Allamakee County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.6%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.4 years old
- Total population: 13,761 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.1%
- Median age: 44.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.4 years old
- Total population: 13,761 people
#16. Taylor County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 6,160 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 23.2%
- Median age: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of males: 42.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 44.2 years old
- Total population: 6,160 people
#15. Guthrie County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.9 years old
- Total population: 10,702 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.6%
- Median age: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.9 years old
- Total population: 10,702 people
#14. Calhoun County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.6 years old
- Total population: 9,656 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.3%
- Median age: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.6 years old
- Total population: 9,656 people
#13. Pocahontas County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.7%
- Median age: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.8 years old
- Total population: 6,725 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.7%
- Median age: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.8 years old
- Total population: 6,725 people
#12. Cass County
- Population aged 65 or older: 22.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.0%
- Median age: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.2 years old
- Total population: 12,990 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.0%
- Median age: 45.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.8 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.2 years old
- Total population: 12,990 people
#11. Adams County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.6%
- Median age: 47.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 48 years old
- Total population: 3,633 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.6%
- Median age: 47.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 48 years old
- Total population: 3,633 people
#10. Shelby County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.0%
- Median age: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.5 years old
- Total population: 11,544 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.0%
- Median age: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.5 years old
- Total population: 11,544 people
#9. Appanoose County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.2%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.6 years old
- Total population: 12,462 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 45.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.6 years old
- Total population: 12,462 people
#8. Kossuth County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.3 years old
- Total population: 14,864 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 44.8 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.3 years old
- Total population: 14,864 people
#7. Clayton County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.4%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.2%
- Median age: 48.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.7 years old
- Total population: 17,527 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.2%
- Median age: 48.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.5 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.7 years old
- Total population: 17,527 people
#6. Sac County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.5%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.3 years old
- Total population: 9,711 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 22.3%
- Median age: 46.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 43.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.3 years old
- Total population: 9,711 people
#5. Ringgold County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.8%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.4%
- Median age: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.3 years old
- Total population: 4,922 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 24.4%
- Median age: 44.3 years old
--- Median age of males: 41.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 46.3 years old
- Total population: 4,922 people
#4. Cherokee County
- Population aged 65 or older: 23.9%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 43 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.4 years old
- Total population: 11,281 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 21.6%
- Median age: 45.9 years old
--- Median age of males: 43 years old
--- Median age of females: 47.4 years old
- Total population: 11,281 people
#3. Audubon County
- Population aged 65 or older: 24.7%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.8%
- Median age: 48.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.4 years old
- Total population: 5,528 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.8%
- Median age: 48.5 years old
--- Median age of males: 47.2 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.4 years old
- Total population: 5,528 people
#2. Monona County
- Population aged 65 or older: 25.1%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.8%
- Median age: 47.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.6 years old
- Total population: 8,675 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 20.8%
- Median age: 47.1 years old
--- Median age of males: 45.4 years old
--- Median age of females: 48.6 years old
- Total population: 8,675 people
#1. Dickinson County
- Population aged 65 or older: 26%
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.0%
- Median age: 48.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.3 years old
- Total population: 17,260 people
- Population aged 18 and younger: 19.0%
- Median age: 48.2 years old
--- Median age of males: 46.6 years old
--- Median age of females: 50.3 years old
- Total population: 17,260 people
