Literally every neighboring state is graying faster than Pennsylvania now

[SorryIMovedBack]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

You're right about all of that. I would never live outside of Allegheny County when it comes to the western half of this state. It's just too old and backwards and people are ignorant IMO.

^ There. I'm glad to finally see someone else say it. Western PA is, overall, a lower socioeconomic welfare recipient freak show at the lower end of the age spectrum, and senior citizens of declining health at the other end. I've been back here almost 10 years, and all I have seen happen is increase in poverty and outward migration of anyone who wants to actually make money or accomplish anything in life. As one of my relatives says, "People here are either all-church or all-bar." Church crowd is too wrapped up in taking everyone back to the '50s, with a houseful of kids and a stay-at-homemaker and abortion made illegal again. Bar crowd is too busy drinking and drugging and still rebelling against The Establishment, stuck in 1968 or something. How do people make a living? They steal from each other.

Pittsburgh, I can't speak for.

One of my coworkers says, of Washington and Greene counties: "Half of the population is on public assistance, and the other half is trying to get on."

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by SorryIMovedBack

^ There. I'm glad to finally see someone else say it. Western PA is, overall, a lower socioeconomic welfare recipient freak show at the lower end of the age spectrum, and senior citizens of declining health at the other end. I've been back here almost 10 years, and all I have seen happen is increase in poverty and outward migration of anyone who wants to actually make money or accomplish anything in life. As one of my relatives says, "People here are either all-church or all-bar." Church crowd is too wrapped up in taking everyone back to the '50s, with a houseful of kids and a stay-at-homemaker and abortion made illegal again. Bar crowd is too busy drinking and drugging and still rebelling against The Establishment, stuck in 1968 or something. How do people make a living? They steal from each other.

Pittsburgh, I can't speak for.

One of my coworkers says, of Washington and Greene counties: "Half of the population is on public assistance, and the other half is trying to get on."

While I somewhat agree, the northern half of Washington is booming. Same with southern butler. Western Westmoreland is doing fine. Generally the closer to Pittsburgh the better. Saying Washington is rural and depressed hardly describes the county. Its a portion. Greene Fayette Armstrong etc would fit that category well though.

[trackstar13]

This is interesting, but I can't say I am surprised about New Jersey, because I believe it is still the densest populated state in the U.S. and the overall population increases for New Jersey have been pretty steady. This of course includes older people as well as younger people and the most important numbers in regards to age I believe are the percentage of kids or those under the age of 18. Here is a breakdown for PA and the neighboring states:

2013 US Census Estimates of the Percentage of State Population under the age of 18
National Average 23.3%
OH 22.9%
NJ 22.7%
MD 22.7%
DE 22.0%
NY 21.6%
PA 21.3%
WV 20.6%

While PA and neighboring states are very slightly below the national average for the percentage of those under the age of 18, the concerning number for me is that the 2013 US Census estimate demonstrates a decrease for PA from the 2010 census where 22% of the PA population was below the age of 18. Of course the national average also decreased from 24% to 23.3% so the decrease in PA was basically in line with the national decrease. It is good that some of the statistics show PA growing younger, but I worry about the number of young people in PA and what that means for the future of the state. I hope my post adds to the discussion and I am hoping the entire Northeast turns around someday in regards to population growth and it would be nice to see PA as one of the leaders.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by SorryIMovedBack

^ There. I'm glad to finally see someone else say it. Western PA is, overall, a lower socioeconomic welfare recipient freak show at the lower end of the age spectrum, and senior citizens of declining health at the other end. I've been back here almost 10 years, and all I have seen happen is increase in poverty and outward migration of anyone who wants to actually make money or accomplish anything in life. As one of my relatives says, "People here are either all-church or all-bar." Church crowd is too wrapped up in taking everyone back to the '50s, with a houseful of kids and a stay-at-homemaker and abortion made illegal again. Bar crowd is too busy drinking and drugging and still rebelling against The Establishment, stuck in 1968 or something. How do people make a living? They steal from each other.

Pittsburgh, I can't speak for.

One of my coworkers says, of Washington and Greene counties: "Half of the population is on public assistance, and the other half is trying to get on."

For the record, i love Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and am happy here. While Western PA is very scenic, it will never progress if its residents don't get out of 1960.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

For the record, i love Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and am happy here. While Western PA is very scenic, it will never progress if its residents don't get out of 1960.

Debatable. I believe Allegheny / N Washington / S Butler / Beaver will be a thriving metropolitan area again soon. It only takes a small portion of an area for it be looked at as a thriving area. Look at Georgia (Atlanta).

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by speagles84

Debatable. I believe Allegheny / N Washington / S Butler / Beaver will be a thriving metropolitan area again soon. It only takes a small portion of an area for it be looked at as a thriving area. Look at Georgia (Atlanta).

I should have included nearby areas in surrounding counties such as Cranberry and Murrysville but for counties such as Fayette, Venango, and Jefferson I don't see them progressing much in the near future.

[eschaton]

One thing I really think that hurts outer Western Pennsylvania is the near-total lack of college towns. They generally provide some level of stability in largely stagnant areas. Western Pennsylvania's "college towns" (Slippery Rock, California, Indiana, Edinboro) are mostly a joke - not areas that anyone not in/employed by a college would bother locating in.