These Are Florida's Youngest - And Oldest - Areas

Florida golf course.Photo byBrandon WilliamsonUnsplash

Florida is a very diverse state in nearly every sense of the word. Whether it be economically, geographically, demographically, or politically, Florida can differ dramatically from one community to the next. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in looking at the age profiles of many of the state's most popular regions.

One thing is shared between them all, though: they're growing. Whether it be with increasing numbers of young families or more and more retirees from other states, nearly every county and most towns in Florida have experienced tremendous growth in recent years. That's no surprise, given that the state as a whole is the fastest-growing in the nation.

But that growth comes in vastly different forms, as we'll see below by taking a look at the two youngest (and two oldest) counties in Florida. We'll start below:

Youngest, #2: Alachua - median age of 32.1

Up in Alachua, if you're 35 years old, you're in the older half of the population. By a few years, no less. Those who are familiar with this central Florida county will know immediately why it appears on our list - Gainesville, and the University of Florida.

Nearly a fifth of the county's roughly 280,000 residents are UF students. While not the majority by any means, such a large portion of the county being comprised of students does a lot to its demographic data. For the same reason, Alachua is also one of the lowest-earning counties on average, with a poverty rate of nearly 20% according to the Census.

University of Florida.Photo byAntonio LopezonUnsplash

There's more to the county than just Gainesville, though. Between the suburbs surrounding the city, the more rural countryside to the north and northwest, and some scenic views around the lakes and preserve land to the east and southeast, Alachua has a lot to offer its residents. The school also provides a good source of jobs for those who live in the area.

Oldest, #2: Charlotte - median age of 59.7

Way on the other side of the spectrum, we have coastal, southern Charlotte County. Made up largely of vacant preserve lands to the east and its population center of Port Charlotte to the west, Charlotte has long been one of the state's older counties. With a median age of just under 60, Charlotte is nearly 21 years older, on average than the United States as a whole.

As a result, the local economy here is mostly of the service variety. A large demographic of retirees, with varying levels of affluence, needs goods and services from the few local workers in the area. And few is the operative word - just barely over 40% of the county is active in the workforce, meaning labor issues are not unheard of in Charlotte County.

Still, there's a reason people choose to retire to Charlotte County. The coastal property offered in the Port Charlotte area is often much cheaper than the options in say, Lee or Collier counties to the south while offering a little taste of urban living without being a full-blown cityscape like Miami or Tampa. For those reasons, we'd expect Charlotte to continue growing for some time to come.

Youngest, #1: Leon - median age of 31.6

It is hard to believe that any Florida county - considering the state's above-average age - could have such a low median age. After all, a number as low as that in Leon County indicates that nearly half the population is in their 20s.

But, just like Alachua, there's a reason for that. Once again, it's a university, or rather universities: Florida State University and Florida A&M. Together, they make up more than 10% of the county's roughly 292,000 residents.

Florida State UniversityPhoto byKevin DunlaponUnsplash

Of course, one can't mention Leon County and ignore the presence of the state capital Tallahassee. The city isn't one of the state's largest, but its economic attractions do draw some young professionals and families to the area, skewing the age slightly lower. As you go further from the city and its universities in any direction, the county gets gradually more suburban and then rural, with the median age typically rising along the same path.

Oldest, #1: Sumter - median age of 68.1

Florida residents who are familiar with their state's many intricacies could probably have guessed this one, as Sumter County doesn't have just the oldest population in the state but the oldest in the country. It's a title that Sumter has held for years.

Why? One reason only: The Villages. While parts of the extremely large retirement community fall in Marion County, the lion's share of the property lands within Sumter, where its 79,000+ residents make up a disproportionately large chunk of the county. At only 135,000 residents in total, The Villages are a larger portion of the county's population than the surrounding areas combined.

The community is popular with retirees for a reason - activities in the area are numerous and include golf courses, entertainment halls, recreation centers, and more. Homes are not particularly cheap in the area, but they aren't prohibitively expensive, either, meaning this area will continue to attract retirees for many years to come. Those who expect Sumter to give up its top spot on this list may be waiting a long time, indeed.

This concludes our list of Florida's youngest and oldest population centers. Those who would like to read the full county reports and demographic information can click on the links provided above.