Abstract

Research on age segregation, defined as the spatial separation between older adults (65+) and younger populations, has lagged behind demographic shifts in the United States (US). Existing studies are often outdated, cross-sectional, and narrowly focused on metropolitan areas, with few examining race-specific patterns or structural drivers over time at the national scale. This exploratory study addresses these gaps by analyzing longitudinal trends and determinants of age segregation in US counties from 2005 to 2024, with attention to racial variation (White, Black, and Other). Using county-level data from the American Community Survey and fixed-effects regression models, we estimate how demographic, socioeconomic, industrial, and housing factors relate to changes in age segregation. Results indicate that overall age segregation declined in the mid-2010s but increased in recent years, which may reflect the responses to the economic recession in the late 2000s and baby boomers’ aging. Race-specific analyses show that age segregation is highest among Black populations, with contributing factors largely similar across groups but more pronounced for Black communities. Racial/ethnic diversity is consistently associated with lower age segregation, suggesting that demographic heterogeneity fosters intergenerational integration. Employment in secondary industries (e.g., construction and manufacturing) is positively associated with age segregation, particularly among Black populations, whereas housing market characteristics emerge as strong predictors of both overall and race-specific age segregation. These findings underscore the importance of considering race-specific and structural factors in understanding age segregation as the US population continues to age.

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