Seniors on the rise: Raleigh's 65+ population soars

The Triangle has experienced one of the largest surges in retirement-age residents in the country since the pandemic, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Why it matters: The growth in residents aged 65-plus places pressures on services targeted toward seniors, including health care. It's also shaping the real estate market, with some seniors relocating after selling homes in more expensive markets .

• And it's driving more demand for affordable housing for senior residents, with Chapel Hill , Wake County and Durham all adding more affordable units for that demographic.

The big picture: The trend reflects a broader national phenomenon. America's overall 65-plus population rose 9.4% to about 59.2 million people from 2020 to 2023, per the Census Bureau.

Between the lines: Retirees packing up and relocating are likely driving at least some of the change in cities with especially notable 65-plus growth, like Raleigh (+18.3%), Austin (+17.3) and Houston (+15.3%).

• Raleigh has also seen strong growth in its young population , making it one of the overall fastest-growing areas in the country .
• In fact, many retirees move here to be closer to their adult children and grandchildren.

Zoom in: The growth in older residents is leading to a big uptick in the construction of communities targeted to those 55 and up, ABC11 reported .

• Orange County estimates that its population of people 60+ will grow 43% by 2041, and will be 1.76 times larger than the population of people aged 0-17.
• A big draw for many retirees relocating to the area is its relative affordability and access to high quality hospitals, both in the UNC Health system and at Duke University.
• The ratio of doctors to residents in the Triangle is one of the highest in the country .

What they're saying: " While some metro areas saw increases in their youth population and many saw gains in working-age populations, what's particularly remarkable is the near-universal increase in the older population for metro areas across the country," said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Branch, in the agency's analysis .