Boomers contribute to aging U.S. population and flock to Arizona

PHOENIX — As the baby boomer generation starts to age, the average age in the United States is aging with them.

A recent study from TheConverstation.com shows that the average age in the U.S. in 2016 it was 37.9, compared to 28.1 in 1970.

Many of the aging boomers have targeted Maricopa County as their place of choice to retire. Maricopa County was one of the few counties in the country to experience a 50 percent increase in population from 2000 to 2010. It was the largest county in terms of land to experience that high of an increase.

Maps in the study show that 10 percent of the population in Maricopa County consists of people aged 70 or older.

Boomers have targeted the coasts in the Pacific Northwest, Florida and the Carolinas as popular retirement destinations as well.

The population is also growing. In the U.S. the population has increased by nearly 63 percent over the last 50 years.

However, in 2007, the number of deaths rose as the number of births declined. When the number of deaths exceeds the number of births, a phenomenon known as “natural decrease” occurs.

“Natural decrease” happened in 30 percent of U.S. counties in 2013 and the trend is expected to continue over the coming years.

Maricopa County did not suffer this phenomenon as a map in the study shows that it experienced a natural increase during that time.

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