The median age in the U.S. increased to 38.9 years between 2021 and 2022, according to new data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Median age is the age at which half of the population is older and half of the population is younger. 

According to the Census Bureau, 17 states had a median age above 40 in 2022. Maine had the highest at 44.8 followed by New Hampshire at 43.3. Utah at 31.9, the District of Columbia at 34.8 and Texas, at 35.5, had the lowest median ages in the nation. No states experienced a decrease in median age. 

“While natural change nationally has been positive, as there have been more births than deaths, birth rates have gradually declined over the past two decades. Without a rapidly growing young population, the U.S. median age will likely continue its slow but steady rise,” Kristie Wilder, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division, said in a statement. 

In New Jersey, the median age in 2022 was 40.3 — a steady increase from 2020, when it was 40.0, and 2021, when it was 40.2.  

Here are breakdowns of New Jersey’s population by sex and age.

The U.S. population age 65 and over is also growing, according to census data. From 2010 to 2020, this segment of the population experienced its largest-ever 10-year numeric gain — an increase of 15.5 million people. 

–Graphics by Genesis Obando