The Graying of Central New York

Number of older adults in CNY grows faster than most cities in New York state. In Syracuse, the 65-plus population increased from 15,971 to 22,805 in 10 years

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

CNY is going gray—and faster than the rest of New York, according to a study from the Center for an Urban Future released in January.

The number of people 65-plus increased by 43% in Syracuse in the past 10 years. That’s the third-highest increase of any major city or county in the state. Rochester (64%) and Saratoga County (50%) were in first place for the increase in 65-plussers.

Between 2011 and 2021, Syracuse’s 65-plus population increased from 15,971 to 22,805, a bump of 6,800. The senior population in the city swelled from 11% to 15.6% during that time span. Most of those were people between 65 and 84.

The percentage of people 85 and older declined by 26% during that decade, possibly in part because of COVID-19. The state’s life expectancy declined early in the pandemic, dipping from 80.7 in 2019 to 77.7 in 2020, which indicates it was likely a statistical effect because of coronavirus. Despite this decrease in lifespan, the 85-plus group grew by 3% from 2011 to 2021, fast than the 1.8% growth in population.

Another factor that has skewed the population of Syracuse to an older one is the downturn in younger people. The number of those younger than 65 dropped by 5%, accounting for 6,000 people. Those factors combined mean that the Salt City’s population is older than it used to be.

One reason for fewer younger people in New York is the mass exodus from New York.

In 2021, more people moved out of New York (63.1%) than into it (36.9%), according to a report released by United Van Lines. New York had the third-highest rate of people leaving, surpassed only by New Jersey (70.5%) and Illinois (67.2%). The trend continues from 2020 (66.9%), 2019 (63.1%), 2018 (61.5%), 2017 (60.6%), 2016 (62.8%), 2015 (64.7%), and, the earliest year for which data is available, 2014 (64.1%). This data does not include people using other moving services or moving themselves.

The most recent United Van Lines study stated that the reasons for leaving New York included family (29.4%) and, for those with multiple reasons, reasons included retirement (28.95%); work (25.72%); lifestyle (24.28%); cost (11.69%); and health (7.02%).

The reason affecting older adults the most—retirement—is comparable to the one affecting younger adults, work, indicating that the declining