Census shows age gap widening among US regions

Lots of interesting information from the census at the link:


http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2011/05/12/1121725/census-shows-age-gap-widening.html


Census shows age gap widening among US regions
By HOPE YEN - Associated Press

WASHINGTON --

Driven by immigrants and young people moving to the South and West and older Americans who stay put elsewhere, the age gap between regions in the U.S. has grown to its widest level in decades, sharpening the divides on hot-button issues such as immigration and changes to Medicare.

The information from the Census Bureau highlights the impact of recent waves of young Mexican immigrants and their children, who are helping to slow the aging of the population in many parts of the United States. It is reinforced by fresh data released Thursday that show a median-age jump of 2.5 years or more over the last decade for states including New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio and Connecticut where there are fewer immigrants.

"The census numbers show that we are really splitting apart between regions that are gaining younger people and families with children and those that are getting older and where traditional families are becoming scarce," said William H. Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institution.

http://www.census.gov

He cited several factors leading to the growing divide, including aging of the nation's 78 million mostly white baby boomers, who are now between the ages of 46 and 65 and past their prime childbearing years. Their demographic impact is being keenly felt in the Northeast and Midwest, especially in the current economic slump, as many young adults and immigrants seek better job opportunities in the Sun Belt.

"The age divide has a race-ethnic dimension, and it will certainly play a role in politics that pits benefits for seniors with those for younger adults and their children," Frey said.


(much more info. at link)