North Carolina
North Carolina aging faster than US, census data shows
RALEIGH, N.C. — America is getting older. The median age has increased – now up to 38.9 years old. Two decades ago, it was 35.4.
While North Carolina had that exact median age in 2000, it is aging quicker than the country now.
“Like all other high income countries in the world, fertility is below replacement,” said Dr. Nathan Dollar, the executive director of NC Demography at the University of North Carolina. “So if you have less people being born, that drives up the the age a structure of the population.”
In addition to that, he says most people who immigrate to the United States are younger and immigration trends have changed over time.
Dollar says looking at the distribution of where the oldest counties are is important as it gives those areas an idea of how to prepare.
The oldest counties are Brunswick (56.6), Clay (55.3), Polk (54.1), Pamlico (54.1) and Cherokee (53.7).
Since many are rural, he says they will need to assess their access to health care and evaluate their Emergency Management plans so people are able to aid older North Carolinians in case of a natural disaster.
“We have to plan and prepare for caring for older North Carolinians’ creating communities where people can age with dignity, where they can live where they desire,” Dollar said. “There’s a whole movement for aging in place and for people to have healthy lives.”
Dollars says what is interesting about North Carolina is just how many of our counties have median ages at or above the state’s. The majority – 81 – are older than the state’s 39.2 years old median.
“That means that there’s fewer young people, fewer working people,” Dollar said.
That begs the question: What will our economy look like?
Dollar said that is what everyone is trying to determine – how an aging population affects the economy and how we address that. Since the majority of our states have median ages above the national and state median ages, Dollars says our leaders need to be considering policies now so w can prepare for the future.
“I think we should be planning yesterday,” he joked. “We should certainly already be planning and putting the pieces in place.”
The United States isn’t the first country to experience an aging population. Dollar says looking at other countries’ policies will be helpful when exploring how to address our needs here. He points out that loneliness is an issue among many older people.
The median means right in the middle. Some counties have fairly young median ages. Those include locations where our military bases are located.
Onslow county – home to Camp Lejune – is one of just seven counties with the resident populations of at least 100,000 had a median age below 30. The median age there is 27.6 years old.
Decatur (Ill.) Mt. Zion four-star tight end JC Anderson remains a prospect on Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels’ radar heading into a busy summer stretch.
Anderson, a Top-10 tight end in America, is coming off of an impressive junior campaign with a myriad of schools entering the mix.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pounder has the Ole Miss Rebels, North Carolina Tar Heels, Illinois Fighting Illini and Auburn Tigers, among several others, battling for his services this offseason.
Kiffin and Co. are set to receive an official visit from Anderson during the weekend of May 30-June 1 as his recruiting process ramps up.
North Carolina and Auburn are also on the official visit schedule for the summer as they turn up the heat for his services.
Ole Miss is in pursuit of multiple top tight ends in the 2026 Recruiting Cycle with both Anderson and five-star Mark Bowman at the top of their list.
Bowman, the No. 1 tight end in America, is currently on an official visit to Ole Miss as Kiffin and Co. role out the red carpet.
Meet the Visitor: Top-Ranked Tight End in America
Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star tight end Mark Bowman has cemented his status as one of the top prospects in America after a dominant sophomore campaign in 2024.
Bowman, the No. 1 rated tight end in America, recently reclassified into the 2026 Recruiting Cycle and will skip junior campaign.
After making the move to reclassify, Bowman remains aa Top-25 prospect in America and the most sought-after tight end on the market.
He’s heard from the top programs in America throughout his process with multiple powerhouse schools turning up the heat.
That includes Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.
Kiffin and Co. were the first program to extend Bowman a scholarship as a freshman and have been on the prowl ever since.
Now, he’s locked in an official visit with the Ole Miss Rebels, according to 247Sports.
Bowman arrived in Oxford on Friday to begin his visit with the program.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder remains one of the top targets on the program’s “Big Board” with the Rebels battling the Georgia Bulldogs, Texas Longhorns and Ohio State, among others.
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs appear to be the frontrunners as it currently stands with the Rebels and other schools looking to make noise this summer.
Bowman’s official visit to Oxford this weekend will be the first official visit of his recruiting process.
What will the California native provide the school of his choice at the next level? On3 Sports National Scout Cody Bellaire chimed in.
“Mark Bowman was the most consistent tight end threat throughout the OT7 Championship. He was constantly moving the chains and made the occasional strong-handed dunk on top of a defender in the end zone that made the highlight reel as well.
“His frame, twitchy movements and route-running are impressive for a 2027 prospect. Bowman’s skill set allowed him to work himself open both underneath and up the seam. If Vance Spafford was covered, Bowman was the next man up. He stepped up his game in a big way this weekend and made his presence felt throughout the OT7 Championship.” – National Scout Cody Bellaire
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It’s May 16th, and that means it’s time to fire up the grill—it’s National BBQ Day! Across the country, pitmasters and backyard chefs alike are serving up smoky, slow-cooked goodness in honor of one of America’s most beloved culinary traditions.
Nowhere does BBQ quite like North Carolina, where vinegar-based sauces and whole-hog smoking define the state’s iconic style. Whether you’re Team Eastern or Team Lexington, there’s no wrong way to enjoy NC ‘cue.
Celebrating is easy: try a new BBQ recipe, support a local smokehouse, or invite friends over for a backyard cookout. Don’t forget to snap a pic of your plate and share it with #NationalBBQDay.
BBQ isn’t just food—it’s history, community, and a whole lot of flavor. Today, we celebrate it all.
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