A Geography of Aging in the U.S.

Peter Rogerson crunches the numbers on 50 years of demographic shifts.

1 minute read

May 31, 2018, 9:00 AM PDT

By Elana Eden


Senior Mobility

Toa55 / Shutterstock

For 50 years, the Baby Boomer cohort has largely defined the demographic shape of the United States. As they grew up, the country's median age increased; as they left home, the population spread out. The millennial generation is even bigger, and the two combined have left a "distinctive geographical fingerprint" on the U.S. that geographer Peter Rogerson helpfully unpacks in CityLab.

Planners might be interested to learn that Americans today relocate much less than they did half a century ago, in part because people become less likely to move as they age, according to Rogerson. That makes a compelling reason for cities to adopt planning principles to facilitate aging in place—particularly in states like Maine, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, which all have a median age over 40.

When they do uproot, migrants young and old tend to move to coastal states. Urbanization in the U.S. is still increasing, with smaller cities seeing the most population growth—but many larger cities are actually shrinking, Rogerson reports, as young adults leave in search of economic opportunity and older adults head for retirement regions.

Head to Citylab for a fuller picture and some interesting interactive maps.

Friday, May 25, 2018 in CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

July 11 - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

July 11 - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today