The Baby Boom generation is largely responsible for boosting the number of Americans who are approaching retirement and is driving the median age in seven states to above 40 years old. With the population bulge quickly reaching retirement age, many businesses are ramping up efforts to cater to this growing population.

Here’s a recap from the U.S. Census on how quickly—and where, exactly—the boomer population is having an impact on the overall age of Americans.

• 81.5 million: Number of Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 in 2010
• 40,300,000: Number of Americans who are 65+ years of age
• 31%: Percent increase in the 45-64 population between 2000 and 2010
• 26.4%: Percent of American population comprising the 46-64 age group
• 13%: Percent of American population comprising the 65+ age group
• 1.9: Increase, in number of years, between the median age in 2000 (35.3) and in 2010 (37.2). The aging of the baby boom population, along with stabilizing birth rates and longer life expectancy, have contributed to this increase in median age.
• 7: The number of states with a median age of more than 40 years
• The oldest state is Maine, with a median age of 42.7. Vermont and West Virginia have the second- and third-highest median ages, and the state with the lowest median age is Utah.
• The Northeast is the region with the highest median age, with the West having the lowest median age.
• 50: Number of states that experienced an increase in median age between 2000 and 2010

View the Census brief.

Written by Elizabeth Ecker