Discussion Paper
Growing Younger: Are Rural Demographics Shifting?
Abstract: As the Baby Boomer generation ages, America has been "graying." The Census Bureau estimates that within the next decade, there could be more adults over 65 than children under 18. Geographically, rural areas tend to be older than urban areas and median age rose across both rural and urban areas from 2010 to 2020. More recently, however, the story has changed; in the last three years, many rural counties have gotten younger. And about a third of them are getting younger while growing their prime working-age population, a key group needed for economic and employment growth that can help lead to a long-lived rural resurgence.
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https://www.richmondfed.org/region_communities/regional_data_analysis/regional_matters/2025/are_rural_demographics_shifting
Description: Discussion Paper
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Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Part of Series: Regional Matters
Publication Date: 2025-05-22