• There are nearly 145,000 seniors in St. Louis County or 14.1 percent of total population - a larger proportion than the nation (13 percent) or the state (13.5 percent).
• St. Louis County's senior population is growing four times faster than the county population overall and twice as fast as the senior population in Missouri.
• Different parts of St. Louis County are growing at different rates and influencing the characteristics of the senior population in different areas of the county. Clearly, growth is fastest in the southwest areas of the county. These patterns are evident in maps of the county's Census Tract Neighborhood Areas included in this application.
• About half the senior population is 75 and older, and 12 percent are 85 and older. The oldest seniors have been growing more rapidly than younger seniors.
• The older population is predominantly female. Women account for 74 percent of St. Louis County's nearly 18,000 seniors age 85 and older.
• St. Louis County is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. While the total population increased 2.3 percent during the last decade, the African American population increased 38.8 percent and the Hispanic population increased 48.6 percent.
• The senior population in St. Louis County is about 90 percent White and 9 percent African American. The Hispanic population, which is not considered a racial category by the Census, accounts for 5 percent of the 2000 senior population.
• About one percent of St. Louis County seniors are unable to speak English-these older limited English populations are heavily concentrated in the Parkway North and University City/South Olivette Areas.
• Overall, the martial status of St. Louis County's senior population mirrors the state with a little over 50 percent married, 33 percent widowed and about 7 percent divorced. Those in the North Ballwin/Manchester Area are the most married (70 percent) and those in the Jennings Areas the least married (37 percent).
• Over 41,000 seniors in St. Louis County were living alone in 2000-about 29 percent of the 65 and older population. Maplewood/Richmond Heights had the largest proportion living alone (43 percent) and Town and Country the smallest proportion (16 percent).
• Among St. Louis County households headed by a person age 65 and older, more than 28,000 (30.8 percent) had an annual household income in excess of $50,000 and 33,500 (36.3 percent) had an annual income of less than $25,000. Comparatively, only 19.3 per of the Missouri senior population of had an annual household income of greater than $50,000 but 50.3 percent had an annual income of less than $25,000. St. Louis County has a much higher percentage of households in the upper income categories and a much lower percentage in the lower income categories. However, there is much variation among the St. Louis County neighborhood areas. Even though only 8 percent of St. Louis senior households had an income of less than $10,000, there were 15 areas in which more than 10 percent of senior households had an income of less than $10,000, and household income was below that level in 18 percent of the households in two areas, Jennings and Wellston/Pagedale.
• The poverty rate among seniors in St. Louis County (5.3 percent) is about half the state rate (9.9 percent). Nonetheless, in 2000, over 7,200 St. Louis County seniors were living in poverty. Wellston/Pagedale, University City/Olivette, Normandy, Maplewood/Richmond Heights and Jennings all had senior poverty rates exceeding the state rate - 10 percent.
• More than 20,000 (14.3 percent) St. Louis County seniors are employed, which is a slightly rate of senior employment than Missouri statewide (13.2 percent). The four areas with the highest percent senior employment (more than 22 percent) are: Ladue/Clayton, Creve Coeur, University City/Olivette South and Des Peres/Valley Park. These four areas have by far the highest rate of employment among seniors age 75 and older and are areas having the highest percent of seniors having earned a graduate or professional degree.
• The educational attainment of St. Louis County seniors is higher than Missouri overall with more than a quarter of the senior population completing a Bachelor's degree (26.7 percent) compared with 16.7 percent statewide. At the same time, there are very great differences in educational attainment within the county. There are nine areas in which more than 40 percent of seniors have not graduated from high school while there are 11 areas in which fewer than 20 percent of seniors have failed to complete high school.
• The home ownership rates in St. Louis County are only slightly higher than rates for the state. The proportion of seniors renting their housing increases with age and rental rates may reflect different living arrangements. For example, one of the areas with highest rates of rental housing for seniors is in West Chesterfield - a relatively affluent area.
• Two-thirds of the St. Louis County senior population reports having at least one disability - nearly 95,000 persons. While the county rate of disability is lower than the state rate (78. 5 percent), there are some areas of the county where more than 90 percent of the seniors report having a disability.