New census data shows Oregon getting older
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The median age of people living in Oregon rose from 37 years old in 2005 to 40.5 in 2022, according to new census data.
Why it matters: We're trending older than the rest of the country, and aging populations can affect everything from public services to taxable income.
By the numbers: Over the same period, the national median age rose from 36.4 to 40 years old.
- Utah stayed the state with the youngest median age over that time, rising from 28.5 years in 2005 to 32.1 last year.
Context: The latest census figures align with numbers out earlier this year that showed Oregon is now the oldest state west of the Mississippi River, tied with Hawaii.
Details: Senior state economist Josh Lehner, who writes frequently on this topic, has argued that Oregon's population skews older due to a low birth rate and low share of people under 17 years old, rather than an outsized elderly cohort.
- His breakdown of the new figures suggests families have been leaving the state, a trend that appears to be affecting metro areas nationwide.
- Also, deaths are outpacing births, a trend Lehner's office expects to continue.
What's next: Demographics change as people move, and Lehner advises to keep watching the numbers.
- Right now, Oregon has a higher share of millennials, compared to other states, than baby boomers.