Toward Spatial Homogeneity of the Elderly Population

The growth of the elderly population is occurring at a much faster rate in suburban areas than in central cities. Using Annual Housing Survey data from both national and individiual SMSA surveys, the authors examine patterns of elderly residential location in forty-four suburban areas. A strong positive relationship is identified between the age of the population and the age of the housing stock. The aging in place of older households contributes significantly to this pattern. The authors argue that growth races among the suburban elderly will exceed central-city elderly growth rates, until a stabilization point is reached, characterized by homogeneous elderly population proportions across central-city and suburban areas.