Evan Comen

24/7 Wall Street

America’s cities are home to some of the worst pockets of childhood poverty in the country. An estimated 17.7% of American children living in metropolitan areas – a total of 11.1 million – live in poverty.

As can be seen in this in-depth profile on poverty in America, children born into poverty face enormous economic disadvantages and are less likely to have the same educational and professional success as children born into wealthier families. A September 2015 study from the D.C.-based think tank Urban Institute found that just 3.2% of Americans born between 1968 and 1989 who spent at least half their childhoods in poverty graduated from college by age 25, compared to 36.5% of Americans who were never poor.

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The same study found that compared to those who never experienced poverty, children who grew up in persistent poverty were about 50% more likely to experience premarital teen birth and twice as likely to not be consistently employed between the ages of 25 to 30. According to a 2019 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, child poverty costs the United States between $800 billion and $1.1 trillion a year in reduced productivity and other economic costs.

One powerful weapon in the fight against child poverty is high-quality early childhood education. The Perry Preschool Project and The Carolina Abecedarian Project, two of the most widely acclaimed longitudinal studies on the effects of early childhood education, found that children who went to high-quality preschools were nearly three times as likely to attend college as children who did not go to preschool, and by age 40, they had lifetime earnings that were $150,000 greater on average than their non-preschool peers.

The federal Head Start program, as well as various state-funded public programs, aim to provide free preschool to children living in poor households. While 48% of 3- to 4-year-olds nationwide are enrolled in preschool, the figure is lower in two-thirds of cities with above-average child poverty rates.

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Many of the cities with the highest child poverty rates are also the cities where the most people rely on food stamps. They are also among this list of cities with the highest poverty rates overall.

40. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

• Child poverty rate: 28.2% (20,942 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 18.9% (51,571 adults)

• Median household income: $40,646

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 6.2%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 29.8%

39. Fresno, CA

• Child poverty rate: 28.5% (79,027 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 18.2% (126,264 adults)

• Median household income: $51,800

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 41.5%

38. Beckley, WV

• Child poverty rate: 28.6% (6,958 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 17.7% (15,897 adults)

• Median household income: $42,493

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.2%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 27.3%

37. Hinesville, GA

• Child poverty rate: 28.9% (6,616 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 15.1% (8,432 adults)

• Median household income: $49,364

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.4%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 28.3%

36. Florence, SC

• Child poverty rate: 29.1% (13,993 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 16.2% (24,768 adults)

• Median household income: $40,562

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.2%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 38.2%

35. Niles-Benton Harbor, MI

• Child poverty rate: 29.6% (9,659 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 14.4% (17,011 adults)

• Median household income: $48,629

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.9%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 44.7%

34. Sumter, SC

• Child poverty rate: 29.7% (7,299 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 15.4% (12,260 adults)

• Median household income: $45,585

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 6.9%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 68.5%

33. Bakersfield, CA• Child poverty rate: 29.8% (75,599 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 17.9% (109,020 adults)

• Median household income: $49,854

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 31.8%

32. Dothan, AL

• Child poverty rate: 30.1% (9,936 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 13.9% (15,691 adults)

• Median household income: $45,396

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.4%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 50.9%

31. El Paso, TX

• Child poverty rate: 30.1% (69,386 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 17.6% (104,976 adults)

• Median household income: $44,416

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.6%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 42.2%

30. Rome, GA

• Child poverty rate: 30.3% (6,801 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 16.5% (11,801 adults)

• Median household income: $45,854

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 3.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 27.0%

29. Montgomery, AL

• Child poverty rate: 30.4% (26,194 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 15.1% (41,489 adults)

• Median household income: $49,123

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.7%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 30.7%

28. Parkersburg-Vienna, WV

• Child poverty rate: 30.5% (5,703 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 17.3% (12,168 adults)

• Median household income: $43,648

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 9.1%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 50.2%

27. Dalton, GA

• Child poverty rate: 30.8% (11,291 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 14.7% (15,515 adults)

• Median household income: $41,441

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 1.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 24.3%

26. Pine Bluff, AR

• Child poverty rate: 31.5% (6,056 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 16.1% (9,531 adults)

• Median household income: $39,914

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.0%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 67.8%

25. Valdosta, GA

• Child poverty rate: 31.6% (11,129 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 24.1% (25,651 adults)

• Median household income: $40,391

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 13.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 42.8%

24. Madera, CA

• Child poverty rate: 32.0% (13,181 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 19.0% (20,301 adults)

• Median household income: $51,283

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 4.9%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 49.1%

23. Gadsden, AL

• Child poverty rate: 32.0% (7,107 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 14.3% (11,349 adults)

• Median household income: $41,576

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.3%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 35.8%

22. Mobile, AL

• Child poverty rate: 32.1% (31,137 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 15.7% (48,664 adults)

• Median household income: $46,023

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 6.2%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 45.4%

21. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ

• Child poverty rate: 32.5% (11,517 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 14.7% (15,611 adults)

• Median household income: $52,627

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 4.6%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 71.1%

20. Farmington, NM

• Child poverty rate: 32.7% (10,837 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 22.0% (20,092 adults)

• Median household income: $45,942

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.9%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 46.8%

19. Macon-Bibb County, GA

• Child poverty rate: 32.7% (17,812 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 18.3% (30,656 adults)

• Median household income: $41,303

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 49.8%

18. Hammond, LA

• Child poverty rate: 32.8% (10,215 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 16.9% (16,287 adults)

• Median household income: $44,861

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.4%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 74.9%

17. Danville, IL

• Child poverty rate: 33.0% (5,980 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 15.7% (8,864 adults)

• Median household income: $42,345

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 5.1%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 47.5%

16. Greenville, NC

• Child poverty rate: 33.1% (12,590 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 18.9% (25,548 adults)

• Median household income: $45,849

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 8.5%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 38.1%

15. Visalia-Porterville, CA

• Child poverty rate: 33.2% (46,678 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 20.8% (65,846 adults)

• Median household income: $46,266

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 6.7%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 25.9%

14. Fort Smith, AR-OK

• Child poverty rate: 33.7% (22,426 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 16.5% (34,870 adults)

• Median household income: $40,282

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 4.9%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 48.9%

13. Battle Creek, MI

• Child poverty rate: 34.0% (10,257 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 16.7% (16,830 adults)

• Median household income: $45,386

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 6.0%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 51.1%

12. New Bern, NC

• Child poverty rate: 34.1% (8,983 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 14.3% (13,407 adults)

• Median household income: $50,977

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 2.3%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 21.5%

11. Goldsboro, NC

• Child poverty rate: 34.3% (9,836 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 17.1% (15,771 adults)

• Median household income: $44,347

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 7.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 29.8%

10. Columbus, GA-AL

• Child poverty rate: 35.3% (26,253 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 17.6% (38,270 adults)

• Median household income: $43,051

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 8.4%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 51.7%

9. Laredo, TX

• Child poverty rate: 37.0% (33,920 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 23.5% (42,265 adults)

• Median household income: $43,408

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 9.8%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 43.3%

8. Merced, CA

• Child poverty rate: 37.1% (29,183 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 18.2% (34,302 adults)

• Median household income: $47,735

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 8.0%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 57.9%

7. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

• Child poverty rate: 37.2% (39,449 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 19.5% (63,498 adults)

• Median household income: $38,627

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 8.3%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 59.1%

6. Albany, GA

• Child poverty rate: 37.4% (13,261 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 20.6% (22,789 adults)

• Median household income: $43,614

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 9.1%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 60.1%

5. Sebring, FL

• Child poverty rate: 37.6% (6,826 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 16.4% (13,710 adults)

• Median household income: $35,543

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 6.4%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 35.7%

4. Monroe, LA

• Child poverty rate: 38.3% (16,036 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 19.8% (25,470 adults)

• Median household income: $39,610

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 8.6%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 33.8%

3. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

• Child poverty rate: 39.2% (50,832 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 22.9% (66,628 adults)

• Median household income: $36,975

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 8.1%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 45.7%

2. Las Cruces, NM

• Child poverty rate: 42.3% (22,461 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 23.3% (36,350 adults)

• Median household income: $37,144

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 8.7%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 36.7%

1. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

• Child poverty rate: 42.4% (120,020 children)

• Adult poverty rate: 23.8% (135,092 adults)

• Median household income: $37,106

• Families earning $10,000 or less/year: 9.2%

• Pct. 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school: 33.9%

Methodology

To determine the cities where the most children live in poverty, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. Childhood poverty refers to the share of children under the age of 18 living in households with incomes below the poverty threshold. The poverty threshold varies by family size and composition. In 2017, the Census Bureau's poverty threshold for a family of three with one child under 18 years was $19,730. Data on poverty for Americans 18 and over, median household income, the percentage of families earning $10,000 or less a year, and the percentage of 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in school also came from the Census Bureau.

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