Introduction: Historic-center regeneration can generate uneven demographic outcomes. While these dynamics have been widely documented in major Southern European cities, less attention has been paid to medium-sized urban contexts. In Logroño (Spain), the Casco Antiguo combines heritage-led investment and a growing visitor economy with concerns about habitability, housing access, and intergenerational decline. This study examines selective aging—the concentration of older residents, often living alone, alongside the outward movement of younger households—within the context of touristification and local urban governance.
Methods: A mixed-method documentary case study (2010–2025) was conducted. Quantitative trends were analyzed using municipal register data and official statistics on population structure. Qualitative analysis examined planning and regeneration instruments (e.g., URBAN, EDUSI, PERI), policy frameworks, and civil-society and media discourses. A triangulation strategy linked demographic change with policy priorities and contested narratives of urban transformation.
Results: The Casco Antiguo has experienced marked demographic contraction, declining from 3,978 residents in 2019 to approximately 3,000–3,100 in 2023. The area displays a pronounced aging profile, with nearly 40% of residents aged 60+. At the same time, registered tourist apartments more than doubled between 2018 and 2023. These patterns are consistent with broader processes of touristification observed in other European urban contexts. Qualitative evidence frames these dynamics as “expulsive”, linking short-term accommodation growth to housing pressure, reduced residential stability, and the displacement of younger households.
Conclusions: Touristification in Logroño’s historic center is associated with selective aging and growing intergenerational imbalance. The case highlights how dynamics commonly identified in larger cities are also reshaping demographic structures in medium-sized urban contexts. A right-to-the-city perspective underscores the need for policies that prioritize housing rights and liveability, protecting vulnerable older residents while supporting the retention of younger populations.
