Community Corner

Toms River's Senior Population is Still Growing

Report: younger people moving to more urbanized areas

Toms River's senior citizen population increased between 2000 and 2012 despite the recession that some experts say have pushed more people to urban areas.

The report from the Star-Ledger, released Monday, said Toms River Township's senior citizen population rose from 17,898 in 2000 to 19,181 in 2012.

The Ledger report focused on statewide population trends that show the median age for outer-ring suburbs – towns on the fringe of the Philadelphia or New York metropolitan areas – have increased since many so-called "millennials," people born between the mid-1980s and early 2000s, are moving to more urban-style areas with walkable downtowns and quick access to public transportation.

The story quoted Tim Evans, research director at New Jersey Future, as saying outer-ring suburbs often make their residents car-dependent and may not necessarily meet the needs of an older populace.

The Star-Ledger report can be read in its entirety here.


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