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Which States Most Popular with Senior Citizens
Senior Journal
May 31, 2005
The charts below, based on U.S. Bureau of the Census
estimates, show the states ranked by percent of their population that is
65+, states with the most senior citizens, states ranked by growth in
senior population and an alphabetical list so you can check your state.
The 65+ Population by State 2003
|
Ranked by % of Seniors
|
|
Numbers
|
Number
|
% 65+
|
Ch.
93 - 03
|
|
US (50 States + DC)
|
35,919,174
|
12.4%
|
9.50%
|
|
Florida
|
2,897,383
|
17.0%
|
14.30%
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
1,901,764
|
15.4%
|
0.40%
|
|
West Virginia
|
277,220
|
15.3%
|
0.40%
|
|
North Dakota
|
93,837
|
14.8%
|
0.80%
|
|
Iowa
|
433,618
|
14.7%
|
0.10%
|
|
Maine
|
188,385
|
14.4%
|
10.60%
|
|
South Dakota
|
109,040
|
14.3%
|
4.30%
|
|
Rhode Island
|
150,797
|
14.0%
|
-2.30%
|
|
Arkansas
|
377,682
|
13.9%
|
5.40%
|
|
Montana
|
125,160
|
13.6%
|
12.20%
|
|
Connecticut
|
470,689
|
13.5%
|
2.20%
|
|
Hawaii
|
169,346
|
13.5%
|
20.90%
|
|
Nebraska
|
232,387
|
13.4%
|
2.30%
|
|
Massachusetts
|
856,982
|
13.3%
|
0.90%
|
|
Missouri
|
759,980
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Ohio
|
1,516,771
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Alabama
|
592,181
|
13.2%
|
8.60%
|
|
Delaware
|
106,896
|
13.1%
|
22.40%
|
|
Oklahoma
|
461,133
|
13.1%
|
5.30%
|
|
Kansas
|
353,585
|
13.0%
|
0.50%
|
|
New Jersey
|
1,123,842
|
13.0%
|
4.80%
|
|
New York
|
2,488,959
|
13.0%
|
3.90%
|
|
Wisconsin
|
711,987
|
13.0%
|
5.50%
|
|
Vermont
|
80,132
|
12.9%
|
16.10%
|
|
Arizona
|
714,467
|
12.8%
|
32.40%
|
|
Oregon
|
453,568
|
12.7%
|
9.00%
|
|
Kentucky
|
512,381
|
12.4%
|
6.40%
|
|
Tennessee
|
726,683
|
12.4%
|
12.30%
|
|
Indiana
|
763,059
|
12.3%
|
5.30%
|
|
Michigan
|
1,236,501
|
12.3%
|
5.40%
|
|
South Carolina
|
511,732
|
12.3%
|
19.90%
|
|
Mississippi
|
349,407
|
12.1%
|
6.10%
|
|
North Carolina
|
1,016,214
|
12.1%
|
17.00%
|
|
District of Columbia
|
67,845
|
12.0%
|
-11.90%
|
|
Minnesota
|
609,396
|
12.0%
|
7.60%
|
|
New Hampshire
|
154,174
|
12.0%
|
15.90%
|
|
New Mexico
|
225,266
|
12.0%
|
27.10%
|
|
Wyoming
|
59,963
|
12.0%
|
17.70%
|
|
Illinois
|
1,507,377
|
11.9%
|
1.80%
|
|
Louisiana
|
524,348
|
11.7%
|
7.80%
|
|
Idaho
|
155,652
|
11.4%
|
20.60%
|
|
Maryland
|
624,980
|
11.3%
|
13.20%
|
|
Virginia
|
833,427
|
11.3%
|
17.20%
|
|
Washington
|
690,583
|
11.3%
|
13.30%
|
|
Nevada
|
250,787
|
11.2%
|
60.50%
|
|
California
|
3,764,870
|
10.6%
|
12.80%
|
|
Texas
|
2,175,256
|
9.8%
|
18.30%
|
|
Colorado
|
441,371
|
9.7%
|
22.80%
|
|
Georgia
|
826,506
|
9.5%
|
18.70%
|
|
Utah
|
203,007
|
8.6%
|
22.50%
|
|
Alaska
|
40,598
|
6.3%
|
50.30%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ranked by number of Seniors
|
|
Numbers
|
Number
|
% 65+
|
Ch.
93 - 03
|
|
US (50 States + DC)
|
35,919,174
|
12.4%
|
9.50%
|
|
California
|
3,764,870
|
10.6%
|
12.80%
|
|
Florida
|
2,897,383
|
17.0%
|
14.30%
|
|
New York
|
2,488,959
|
13.0%
|
3.90%
|
|
Texas
|
2,175,256
|
9.8%
|
18.30%
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
1,901,764
|
15.4%
|
0.40%
|
|
Ohio
|
1,516,771
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Illinois
|
1,507,377
|
11.9%
|
1.80%
|
|
Michigan
|
1,236,501
|
12.3%
|
5.40%
|
|
New Jersey
|
1,123,842
|
13.0%
|
4.80%
|
|
North Carolina
|
1,016,214
|
12.1%
|
17.00%
|
|
Massachusetts
|
856,982
|
13.3%
|
0.90%
|
|
Virginia
|
833,427
|
11.3%
|
17.20%
|
|
Georgia
|
826,506
|
9.5%
|
18.70%
|
|
Indiana
|
763,059
|
12.3%
|
5.30%
|
|
Missouri
|
759,980
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Tennessee
|
726,683
|
12.4%
|
12.30%
|
|
Arizona
|
714,467
|
12.8%
|
32.40%
|
|
Wisconsin
|
711,987
|
13.0%
|
5.50%
|
|
Washington
|
690,583
|
11.3%
|
13.30%
|
|
Maryland
|
624,980
|
11.3%
|
13.20%
|
|
Minnesota
|
609,396
|
12.0%
|
7.60%
|
|
Alabama
|
592,181
|
13.2%
|
8.60%
|
|
Louisiana
|
524,348
|
11.7%
|
7.80%
|
|
Kentucky
|
512,381
|
12.4%
|
6.40%
|
|
South Carolina
|
511,732
|
12.3%
|
19.90%
|
|
Connecticut
|
470,689
|
13.5%
|
2.20%
|
|
Oklahoma
|
461,133
|
13.1%
|
5.30%
|
|
Oregon
|
453,568
|
12.7%
|
9.00%
|
|
Colorado
|
441,371
|
9.7%
|
22.80%
|
|
Iowa
|
433,618
|
14.7%
|
0.10%
|
|
Arkansas
|
377,682
|
13.9%
|
5.40%
|
|
Kansas
|
353,585
|
13.0%
|
0.50%
|
|
Mississippi
|
349,407
|
12.1%
|
6.10%
|
|
West Virginia
|
277,220
|
15.3%
|
0.40%
|
|
Nevada
|
250,787
|
11.2%
|
60.50%
|
|
Nebraska
|
232,387
|
13.4%
|
2.30%
|
|
New Mexico
|
225,266
|
12.0%
|
27.10%
|
|
Utah
|
203,007
|
8.6%
|
22.50%
|
|
Maine
|
188,385
|
14.4%
|
10.60%
|
|
Hawaii
|
169,346
|
13.5%
|
20.90%
|
|
Idaho
|
155,652
|
11.4%
|
20.60%
|
|
New Hampshire
|
154,174
|
12.0%
|
15.90%
|
|
Rhode Island
|
150,797
|
14.0%
|
-2.30%
|
|
Montana
|
125,160
|
13.6%
|
12.20%
|
|
South Dakota
|
109,040
|
14.3%
|
4.30%
|
|
Delaware
|
106,896
|
13.1%
|
22.40%
|
|
North Dakota
|
93,837
|
14.8%
|
0.80%
|
|
Vermont
|
80,132
|
12.9%
|
16.10%
|
|
District of Columbia
|
67,845
|
12.0%
|
-11.90%
|
|
Wyoming
|
59,963
|
12.0%
|
17.70%
|
|
Alaska
|
40,598
|
6.3%
|
50.30%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ranked by % Gain of Seniors 93-03
|
|
Numbers
|
Number
|
% 65+
|
Ch.
93 - 03
|
|
US (50 States + DC)
|
35,919,174
|
12.4%
|
9.50%
|
|
Nevada
|
250,787
|
11.2%
|
60.50%
|
|
Alaska
|
40,598
|
6.3%
|
50.30%
|
|
Arizona
|
714,467
|
12.8%
|
32.40%
|
|
New Mexico
|
225,266
|
12.0%
|
27.10%
|
|
Colorado
|
441,371
|
9.7%
|
22.80%
|
|
Utah
|
203,007
|
8.6%
|
22.50%
|
|
Delaware
|
106,896
|
13.1%
|
22.40%
|
|
Hawaii
|
169,346
|
13.5%
|
20.90%
|
|
Idaho
|
155,652
|
11.4%
|
20.60%
|
|
South Carolina
|
511,732
|
12.3%
|
19.90%
|
|
Georgia
|
826,506
|
9.5%
|
18.70%
|
|
Texas
|
2,175,256
|
9.8%
|
18.30%
|
|
Wyoming
|
59,963
|
12.0%
|
17.70%
|
|
Virginia
|
833,427
|
11.3%
|
17.20%
|
|
North Carolina
|
1,016,214
|
12.1%
|
17.00%
|
|
Vermont
|
80,132
|
12.9%
|
16.10%
|
|
New Hampshire
|
154,174
|
12.0%
|
15.90%
|
|
Florida
|
2,897,383
|
17.0%
|
14.30%
|
|
Washington
|
690,583
|
11.3%
|
13.30%
|
|
Maryland
|
624,980
|
11.3%
|
13.20%
|
|
California
|
3,764,870
|
10.6%
|
12.80%
|
|
Tennessee
|
726,683
|
12.4%
|
12.30%
|
|
Montana
|
125,160
|
13.6%
|
12.20%
|
|
Maine
|
188,385
|
14.4%
|
10.60%
|
|
Oregon
|
453,568
|
12.7%
|
9.00%
|
|
Alabama
|
592,181
|
13.2%
|
8.60%
|
|
Louisiana
|
524,348
|
11.7%
|
7.80%
|
|
Minnesota
|
609,396
|
12.0%
|
7.60%
|
|
Kentucky
|
512,381
|
12.4%
|
6.40%
|
|
Mississippi
|
349,407
|
12.1%
|
6.10%
|
|
Wisconsin
|
711,987
|
13.0%
|
5.50%
|
|
Michigan
|
1,236,501
|
12.3%
|
5.40%
|
|
Arkansas
|
377,682
|
13.9%
|
5.40%
|
|
Indiana
|
763,059
|
12.3%
|
5.30%
|
|
Oklahoma
|
461,133
|
13.1%
|
5.30%
|
|
New Jersey
|
1,123,842
|
13.0%
|
4.80%
|
|
South Dakota
|
109,040
|
14.3%
|
4.30%
|
|
New York
|
2,488,959
|
13.0%
|
3.90%
|
|
Ohio
|
1,516,771
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Missouri
|
759,980
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Nebraska
|
232,387
|
13.4%
|
2.30%
|
|
Connecticut
|
470,689
|
13.5%
|
2.20%
|
|
Illinois
|
1,507,377
|
11.9%
|
1.80%
|
|
Massachusetts
|
856,982
|
13.3%
|
0.90%
|
|
North Dakota
|
93,837
|
14.8%
|
0.80%
|
|
Kansas
|
353,585
|
13.0%
|
0.50%
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
1,901,764
|
15.4%
|
0.40%
|
|
West Virginia
|
277,220
|
15.3%
|
0.40%
|
|
Iowa
|
433,618
|
14.7%
|
0.10%
|
|
Rhode Island
|
150,797
|
14.0%
|
-2.30%
|
|
District of Columbia
|
67,845
|
12.0%
|
-11.90%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stats in Alpha Order
|
|
Numbers
|
Number
|
% 65+
|
Ch.
93 - 03
|
|
US (50 States + DC)
|
35,919,174
|
12.4%
|
9.50%
|
|
Alabama
|
592,181
|
13.2%
|
8.60%
|
|
Alaska
|
40,598
|
6.3%
|
50.30%
|
|
Arizona
|
714,467
|
12.8%
|
32.40%
|
|
Arkansas
|
377,682
|
13.9%
|
5.40%
|
|
California
|
3,764,870
|
10.6%
|
12.80%
|
|
Colorado
|
441,371
|
9.7%
|
22.80%
|
|
Connecticut
|
470,689
|
13.5%
|
2.20%
|
|
Delaware
|
106,896
|
13.1%
|
22.40%
|
|
District of Columbia
|
67,845
|
12.0%
|
-11.90%
|
|
Florida
|
2,897,383
|
17.0%
|
14.30%
|
|
Georgia
|
826,506
|
9.5%
|
18.70%
|
|
Hawaii
|
169,346
|
13.5%
|
20.90%
|
|
Idaho
|
155,652
|
11.4%
|
20.60%
|
|
Illinois
|
1,507,377
|
11.9%
|
1.80%
|
|
Indiana
|
763,059
|
12.3%
|
5.30%
|
|
Iowa
|
433,618
|
14.7%
|
0.10%
|
|
Kansas
|
353,585
|
13.0%
|
0.50%
|
|
Kentucky
|
512,381
|
12.4%
|
6.40%
|
|
Louisiana
|
524,348
|
11.7%
|
7.80%
|
|
Maine
|
188,385
|
14.4%
|
10.60%
|
|
Maryland
|
624,980
|
11.3%
|
13.20%
|
|
Massachusetts
|
856,982
|
13.3%
|
0.90%
|
|
Michigan
|
1,236,501
|
12.3%
|
5.40%
|
|
Minnesota
|
609,396
|
12.0%
|
7.60%
|
|
Mississippi
|
349,407
|
12.1%
|
6.10%
|
|
Missouri
|
759,980
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Montana
|
125,160
|
13.6%
|
12.20%
|
|
Nebraska
|
232,387
|
13.4%
|
2.30%
|
|
Nevada
|
250,787
|
11.2%
|
60.50%
|
|
New Hampshire
|
154,174
|
12.0%
|
15.90%
|
|
New Jersey
|
1,123,842
|
13.0%
|
4.80%
|
|
New Mexico
|
225,266
|
12.0%
|
27.10%
|
|
New York
|
2,488,959
|
13.0%
|
3.90%
|
|
North Carolina
|
1,016,214
|
12.1%
|
17.00%
|
|
North Dakota
|
93,837
|
14.8%
|
0.80%
|
|
Ohio
|
1,516,771
|
13.3%
|
3.00%
|
|
Oklahoma
|
461,133
|
13.1%
|
5.30%
|
|
Oregon
|
453,568
|
12.7%
|
9.00%
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
1,901,764
|
15.4%
|
0.40%
|
|
Rhode Island
|
150,797
|
14.0%
|
-2.30%
|
|
South Carolina
|
511,732
|
12.3%
|
19.90%
|
|
South Dakota
|
109,040
|
14.3%
|
4.30%
|
|
Tennessee
|
726,683
|
12.4%
|
12.30%
|
|
Texas
|
2,175,256
|
9.8%
|
18.30%
|
|
Utah
|
203,007
|
8.6%
|
22.50%
|
|
Vermont
|
80,132
|
12.9%
|
16.10%
|
|
Virginia
|
833,427
|
11.3%
|
17.20%
|
|
Washington
|
690,583
|
11.3%
|
13.30%
|
|
West Virginia
|
277,220
|
15.3%
|
0.40%
|
|
Wisconsin
|
711,987
|
13.0%
|
5.50%
|
|
Wyoming
|
59,963
|
12.0%
|
17.70%
|
|
|
