Census 2000: Minnesota Age Profile

The information in this fact sheet is from the DP-1 Profile of General Demographic Characteristics.

Minnesota`s population is aging. The median age - the midpoint of the age distribution - increased 3 years between 1990 and 2000, from 32.4 to 35.4. The major factor pulling up the average was the continued aging of the large baby boom generation. The 45- to 54-year-old age group, which includes the oldest boomers, grew by 55 percent between 1990 and 2000. The 35- to 44-year old group, the younger boomers, gained 24.7 percent during the past ten years.

Mixed trends among different age groups

The rising median age conceals as well as reveals some significant age trends. Not all older groups grew, for example. The 65 plus population grew 9 percent, lower than the rate for the younger population. This overall number reflects very low growth among younger elderly, ages 65 to 74, combined with more rapid growth for those over age 75. There was a 24 percent increase in the extremely old population- 85 and older. The low growth for the younger elderly is attributable in large part to low birth rates during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Younger age groups, like the elderly, exhibited a pattern of mixed growth and decline. There was substantial growth among 15-to-19-year-olds (26 percent) and 10-to-14-year-olds (20 percent), combined with a slight decline among children under age 5.

Overall, the youth population grew 10 percent, lower than the 13 percent increase among those 18 or older.

The baby bust of the late 1960s and the 1970s is reflected in the age trends among young adults. The 25-to-34-year-old age group plummeted 14 percent, and the number of 20- to 24-year-olds barely changed.

Minnesota compared to United States

The median age is almost exactly the same in the United States, 35.3 as in Minnesota, 35.4. Overall, Minnesota`s age distribution is similar to the national average, but there were some marked differences in age group trends between Minnesota and the U.S. between 1990 and 2000. The very old population grew much slower in Minnesota than nationally. The number of residents ages 85 and older increased 38 percent in the nation, substantially above the 24 percent gain in Minnesota. The 75-to-84-year-old age group also grew more slowly in Minnesota.

The under 10 population also grew less in Minnesota than in the nation. The under-5 population showed a 7 percent gain in the U.S., while falling 2 percent in Minnesota. The 5-to-9 group went up 14 percent nationally but only rose 3 percent in Minnesota.

In contrast, Minnesota had stronger than average growth in almost every age group from 15 to 64. The biggest difference was among 15 to 19-year-olds. This population went up 26 percent in Minnesota, much higher than the 14 percent gain nationally.

The median age rose more in Minnesota (3.0 years) than in the nation as a whole (2.4 years). This is probably attributable to Minnesota`’s more rapid growth in the large middle-age groups.

Oldest and youngest counties

Aitkin County in north central Minnesota retained its rank as the state`s oldest county, with a median age of 46.5 years. Other counties ranking high on the venerability index included Cook (44.0), Big Stone (43.6), Lac Qui Parle (43.4) and Lincoln (43.0). Aitkin and Cook counties attract retirees, while the other three are agricultural counties along the western border of the state.

The counties with the youngest median age were Blue Earth (29.9), Sherburne (31.4), Beltrami (31.5), Stearns (31.6) and Benton (31.9). Blue Earth, Beltrami and Stearns counties all have university campuses, and their large student populations help pull down the median age. Sherburne and Benton counties have attracted families with children.

County age changes

Median age showed the most dramatic gains in some of the northern Minnesota counties known for lakes and other recreational amenities. The largest increase was in Lake of the Woods County, 6.1 years, followed by Koochiching (5.0), Cook (5.7), and Itasca (5.2) counties. The smallest increases were in Swift (1.3 years), Mower (1.5), Traverse (1.6), Lincoln (1.6) and Ramsey (1.7) counties.

Oldest and youngest cities

Longville in Cass County had the highest median age of any Minnesota city, 64.4 years. Lilydale (62.3), Leonard (61.5) and Tenney (61.0) were the other cities with a median age of 60 or older. The youngest communities were Ponemah (18.2 years) in Beltrami County, Little Rock (20.5), Pine Point (20.6) and Redby (20.8).

Age estimates vs. census 2000 counts

In most states, including Minnesota, the 2000 census found a larger population than was expected based on Census Bureau annual population estimates. A comparison of the 1999 age estimates to the 2000 age profile provides clues about which age groups were responsible for the low total population estimates in Minnesota. It appears the largest underestimates were for children under age 10, adults 20 to 34, and adults 45 to 59. These discrepancies suggest the estimates did not pick up all the in-migration of working-age adults and their children.

More females than males

Females continue to outnumber males in Minnesota, 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent. The male population grew slightly faster than the female population, 13.5 percent compared to 11.4 percent. The profiles do not provide age breakdowns by gender.

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Median age by county for Minnesota from Census 2000:  Excel format
Median age by county for Minnesota from Census 1990:  Excel format