It is no great secret that America is getting older. The birth rate in the U.S. has fallen by more than half since the early 1960s. Typical life expectancy in the U.S. has increased by around a decade over the same span. And the last members of the Baby Boomer generation, which totals more than 75 million members, will hit their 60s starting in 2024.
These developments are all pushing older Americans to be an increasingly large share of the population, with far-reaching implications for society and the economy—a decreased labor force, strained government budgets, and an increased need for health and social services.
These are the key takeaways from the report for Joliet, IL:
- In 2012, seniors made up 8.8% of the population in Joliet.
- By 2022, that figure was 9.8%—an increase of 1.0 percentage point.
- Overall, Joliet is not aging as fast as the country as a whole—which saw a 3.6 percentage point increase over the same period.
| Location | Percentage point change in the 65+ population share | 65+ population share (2022) | 65+ population share (2012) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL | +1.0 | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| United States | +3.6 | 17.3% | 13.7% |
Overall, the Northeast Corner of the U.S. Is Aging Most Rapidly
Source: U.S. Money Reserve analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 1- Year Estimates (2012–2022
A link to the complete results of the analysis, with data on more than 300 U.S. cities and all 50 states.