Over the past decade, growth among this age group has outpaced overall population growth by a wide margin. Local governments and service providers may also need to rethink how resources are allocated, particularly in rural areas, where population aging can occur alongside population decline. Urban and rural experiences are not the sameThe pace and impact of population aging can look very different depending on where someone lives. What these patterns suggest going forwardThe states aging fastest today offer an early look at changes that many other communities are likely to face in the coming years. While population aging is often discussed in broad national terms, its real impact is shaped locally, by geography, migration patterns, and long-standing demographic trends.