The U.S. is getting older. The percentage of households with at least one person 65 years or older climbed 2.6 percent between 2014 and 2018. There are now 28.7 percent of households with a senior citizen, according to a Social Explorer analysis of American Community Survey.

Almost 10 percent of all U.S. counties registered double-digit gains in the percentage of seniors in a household during the five-year period. Sumter County, Fla., saw the number rise 39.1 percent to 41,183 senior households in 2018; more than 3 of every 4 households now include someone older than 65. Other rapidly aging spots included Custer County, Colo. (53 percent); Forest County, Penn. (62.8 percent); and Noble County, Ohio (47.8 percent).

To see counties with increasing numbers of senior households, go to Social Explorer and use our online mapping tools.

Change of Households with One of More People 65 Years and Over. Click here to explore further.

Author: Frank Bass