Columbus' fastest-growing age group is 65+

Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Chart: Alice Feng/Axios

Growth among the 65-and-up population in Columbus far outpaced that of other age groups from 2020-2023, according to the latest census estimates .

Why it matters: As our city's population surges , much of the focus is on young professionals, but this data is a reminder to be mindful of older residents' needs, like health care, transportation and affordable housing.

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State of play: In 2023, 13.5% of Franklin County's population was over 65, or over 172,000 people, per census data .

• That group made up just 10% of the county's population in 2010.
• It's expected to grow to over 15% by 2040 — and our county would be one of our state's youngest , per the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University .

The big picture: Driven by aging baby boomers, all major U.S. cities are experiencing an increase in their 65-and-older populations, some as much as 20% from 2020-2023.

• That age group grew by 9.4% nationally, or about 59.2 million people, in that time frame.

Explore an interactive map . Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Map: Alice Feng/Axios

Zoom in: Generally, older adults' desires are priorities for people of all ages, Marisa Sheldon, director of the Age-Friendly Innovation Center at Ohio State University, tells Axios.

• The center is working on initiatives to ensure Central Ohio residents can "age with dignity and choice." That includes expanding transportation options, creating support for older LGBTQ+ adults and helping residents burdened by high housing costs.
• It's also preparing OSU students across a variety of fields for the impending demographic shift.

The bottom line: "On the whole, we are all a lot more similar than we are different," Sheldon says.