Abstract:

The suburban population in the U.S. has aged more rapidly than the population as a whole. The suburbanization of the elderly during 1960-1980 for a national sample of 810 communities in 54 metropolitan regions is examined. The increasing proportion of residents aged 65+ has been accompanied by declining segregation of the elderly among suburbs in most metropolitan regions. During this period, suburbs with older populations were relatively poor but had higher municipal expenditures. Those in the North also had higher density, higher proportions of rental housing, more local employment, & higher taxes than other suburbs. Increases in proportion elderly are greater in slow-growing inner suburbs, but are linked to lower proportions of black residents, more trade employment, & a stronger tax base.