The metropolitanization and suburbanization of the U.S. elderly population: 1970-1988

This paper analyzes U.S. Census, Current Population Survey data from 1970 to 1988. It establishes that the young-old (age 65-74) and old-old (75 plus) populations are now more likely to live in metropolitan areas, especially within suburban areas, and are occupying residential locations that are less segregated from other age groups. As early as 1977 the majority of metropolitan elderly people lived in suburban areas, and by 1988 only just over one-quarter of the U.S. elderly population lived in nonmetropolitan areas.