OOMA Blog

Where in the U.S. are small business owners the oldest (and youngest) on average?

Diane Balogh profile image May 22, 2025 | 6 min read

From family-run food trucks to high-tech startups, entrepreneurship takes many forms across the United States. Starting a business can be a response to a lifelong ambition, a desire to fill a local need or a sudden shift in career path. The motivations behind small business ownership are as varied as the people who pursue them, and as it turns out, this entrepreneurial drive isn’t exclusive to one single generation. Age offers important insights into the broader trends shaping today’s business environment. From cities favored by younger business founders to regions where seasoned professionals remain at the helm, clear patterns speak to both local demographics and broader cultural dynamics. In this report from Ooma, we’re looking at which metro areas are home to the nation’s youngest and oldest business owners.

The Ultimate Timeline of Communication Technology - Ooma.com - Infographic

Embed to your site:

Which city has the youngest business owners?

Starting with the youngest, the Provo–Orem–Lehi metropolitan area in Utah leads the list with an average business owner age just shy of 49. This figure is significantly lower than the national average by almost a decade, a trend that continues in other metro areas in the state. Utah makes a strong showing overall, with Logan, Ogden, St. George and Salt Lake City all landing in the top seven. This is largely thanks to historically high birth rates and a culture focusing on family and community. With a younger population, it makes sense that more young people would be available to start businesses. Additionally, Utah has been experiencing an economic boom for many years, providing opportunities to young business owners. This creates a unique environment where younger individuals are not only starting businesses but often doing so with the support of larger family units or communities. When you combine these elements with access to educational institutions and a lower cost of living compared to places like California, Massachusetts and New York, it’s no wonder that Utah cities rise to the top of the list for young entrepreneurs across America.

With cities like Lincoln, Nebraska; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Madison, Wisconsin making the list, it’s clear that the Rockies and Upper Midwest are also hotbeds for ambitious, young entrepreneurs. In places like Fargo, North Dakota, where the average business owner is in their early 50s, the low cost of living appears to be a boon to business owners. Conversely, while the cost of living in Boise, Idaho, at number eight on the list, is more expensive on average, the presence of Boise State University may provide young people more economic opportunities and boost the population of younger people in the area.

Which city has the oldest business owners?

On the other end of the scale, some metro areas are dominated by more seasoned business owners. Santa Fe, New Mexico, leads the pack, with an average business owner age of nearly 59. In second place is Napa, California. Many higher-ranking places are retirement-friendly or have slower population growth, which may lead to older individuals remaining in business longer or even starting ventures later in life. Another factor may be the cost of living. For example, urban Honolulu, Hawaii, lands at number five on the list of places with the oldest business owners in the country. While known for its tourism, Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the nation, which may deter younger entrepreneurs and favor those with more resources and experience.

Why are most business owners older?

According to the numbers, many business owners are in their late 40s or early 50s when they enter entrepreneurship. That might seem older than expected, especially given the media spotlight on young startup founders, but there’s a good reason for it. Starting a business often takes time, resources and connections that are more readily available to those who’ve been in the workforce for a while, and experience can be a powerful asset in navigating the challenges of business ownership. Research suggests that older business owners tend to be more successful: While younger business owners might be bolder and more willing to take risks, older business owners bring stability, deep industry knowledge and strong networks.

Interestingly, the average age of business owners is relatively consistent across the country. The national average age range spans approximately 10 years, from 49 to nearly 59. A 10-year spread across the country isn’t a terribly wide gap, especially considering how much population demographics can vary. For instance, Santa Maria, California, has a relatively young median age of 34.9, but its mean business owner age is nearly 56. Even in Utah, where the population trends younger, business owners are still firmly middle-aged on average.

What does this analysis tell us about business ownership in America? Mostly, entrepreneurship is not confined to a specific demographic but is shaped by a range of regional, cultural and economic factors. Whether in a buzzing college town or a quiet coastal retreat, the drive to build something meaningful is a common thread. Of course, no matter where you live or how old you are, running a business requires support, good communication and the tools to succeed. Ooma provides modern, adaptable communication solutions designed to help small business owners maintain professionalism, stay connected and operate efficiently. Whether you are just beginning your entrepreneurial journey or are continuing to grow an established enterprise, Ooma is here to support your next big move.

The cities with the oldest and youngest business owners

The metropolitan areas with the oldest and youngest business owners were found by analyzing data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 “Characteristics of Business Owners.” The results of this annual business survey are organized into age brackets rather than individual ages. Therefore, the average age of each age bracket was used to determine the overall average age of business owners in each metro area. The analysis includes metro areas with a minimum of 2,500 business owners to ensure a sample size large enough for a more accurate average age calculation.

The average ages used for each age bracket were:

  • Under 25: 21.5
  • 25 to 34: 29.5
  • 35 to 44: 39.5
  • 45 to 54: 49.5
  • 55 to 64: 59.5
  • 65 and older: 69.5

Metro areas with the oldest business owners on average

Metro area Number of business owners Estimated average age of business owners (in years) Median age of metro area population Difference in average age of business owners and median age of metro area population
1 Santa Fe, NM 2,609 58.55 49.3 9.3
2 Napa, CA 2,882 57.17 43.6 13.6
3 Monroe, LA 3,035 56.98 38.1 18.9
4 Kingston, NY 2,560 56.51 44.3 12.2
5 Urban Honolulu, HI 10,108 56.45 40.2 16.3
6 Youngstown–Warren, OH 4,891 56.40 43.3 13.1
7 Bridgeport–Stamford–Danbury, CT 13,833 56.35 41.2 15.2
8 Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA 6,502 56.30 41.9 14.4
9 Hilton Head Island–Bluffton–Port Royal, SC 3,647 56.26 47.6 8.7
10 Trenton–Princeton, NJ 4,659 56.22 40.2 16.0
11 Barnstable Town, MA 5,026 56.18 56.3 -0.1
12 Waterbury–Shelton, CT 4,576 56.18 42.5 13.7
13 Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA 12,617 56.07 39.9 16.2
14 Canton–Massillon, OH 4,883 56.03 42.4 13.6
15 Akron, OH 9,816 56.00 40.8 15.2
16 Binghamton, NY 2,520 56.00 39.7 16.3
17 Cleveland, OH 28,391 55.94 41.9 14.0
18 Tucson, AZ 11,249 55.90 40.1 15.8
19 Salinas, CA 5,138 55.89 35.9 20.0
20 Erie, PA 3,270 55.89 41.3 14.6
21 Topeka, KS 2,842 55.89 41.1 14.8
22 Memphis, TN–MS–AR 10,804 55.87 37.0 18.9
23 Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh, NY 7,561 55.85 39.5 16.4
24 Midland, TX 2,785 55.84 33.0 22.8
25 Albuquerque, NM 9,906 55.81 40.0 15.8
26 Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CA 7,442 55.80 34.9 20.9
27 Providence–Warwick, RI-MA 19,094 55.76 40.8 15.0
28 Toledo, OH 6,698 55.75 38.3 17.5
29 Springfield, MA 4,886 55.74 39.9 15.8
30 Roanoke, VA 4,385 55.74 42.7 13.0

Metro areas with the youngest business owners on average

Metro area Number of business owners Estimated average age of business owners (in years) Median age of metro area population Difference in average age of business owners and median age of metro area population
1 Provo–Orem–Lehi, UT 10,251 48.88 26.3 22.6
2 Bozeman, MT 4,570 50.66 34.6 16.1
3 Fargo, ND-MN 4,969 50.82 32.9 17.9
4 Logan, UT-ID 2,740 50.83 27.4 23.4
5 Ogden, UT 10,330 50.87 33.3 17.6
6 St. George, UT 4,542 50.89 40.1 10.8
7 Salt Lake City–Murray, UT 21,072 51.60 34.2 17.4
8 Boise City, ID 14,667 51.61 38.0 13.6
9 Lancaster, PA 8,533 51.70 39.1 12.6
10 Kennewick–Richland, WA 4,000 51.75 34.7 17.1
11 Greeley, CO 4,494 51.78 35.4 16.4
12 Coeur d’Alene, ID 4,007 51.83 42.2 9.6
13 Gainesville, FL 3,732 51.86 35.0 16.9
14 Sioux Falls, SD–MN 5,327 51.98 37.1 14.9
15 Bend, OR 6,561 52.30 42.8 9.5
16 Ann Arbor, MI 4,797 52.30 35.5 16.8
17 Appleton, WI 3,982 52.30 40.3 12.0
18 Lincoln, NE 6,183 52.43 35.1 17.3
19 Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin, FL 4,877 52.46 40.0 12.5
20 Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TX 32,713 52.48 36.3 16.2
21 Springfield, MO 7,279 52.50 37.4 15.1
22 St. Cloud, MN 3,410 52.58 36.2 16.4
23 Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN 24,658 52.64 37.0 15.6
24 Eau Claire, WI 2,978 52.80 38.4 14.4
25 Madison, WI 11,315 52.82 37.1 15.7
26 Rochester, MN 3,223 52.83 39.0 13.8
27 Denver–Aurora–Centennial, CO 51,026 52.88 37.5 15.4
28 Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA 10,929 52.88 37.3 15.6
29 Grand Junction, CO 2,980 52.89 41.6 11.3
30 Idaho Falls, ID 3,447 52.90 34.1 18.8

Sources

Recent Posts
recent post image:Average U.S. Internet Speeds Over Time
Average U.S. Internet Speeds Over Time
recent post image:How Jenny Mariano went from playing in Ooma’s HQ as a child to working there
How Jenny Mariano went from playing in Ooma’s HQ as a child to working there
recent post image:8 best calls to Dad in the movies to celebrate Father’s Day
8 best calls to Dad in the movies to celebrate Father’s Day
We use cookies and similar technologies to analyze traffic, enhance your experience and allow our partners to serve tailored advertisements. For more information or to opt out, visit our Privacy Policy.
I agree  Learn more