About 42% of all U.S. households, or about 48 million households, are headed by someone aged 55 or more years, according to data from the American Community Survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau at the end of 2015. In fact, in every state, the 55+ category accounts for more than 34% of all households.

The seven states with the highest percentage of their households — rental and owned properties — headed by someone aged 55 or more years, according to a National Association of Home Builders tabulation of the data:

  1. West Virginia (48.3%)
  2. Florida (47.7%), 
  3. Maine (47.1%), 
  4. Hawaii (46.2%), 
  5. Vermont (46.1%), 
  6. Montana (46.0%) 
  7. Pennsylvania (45.7%)