DURHAM, N.H. – National data released this morning show that child poverty rates declined across the United States, from 21.7 percent in 2014 to 20.7 percent in 2015, but still remain higher than at the end of the Great Recession in 2009. Researchers at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire report that child poverty rates have returned to 2009 levels in rural areas only; cities have the highest child poverty while suburbs have the lowest.

The researchers also noted that child poverty declined in 13 states and rose in just one, Mississippi. New Hampshire child poverty remains among the lowest at 10.7 percent while Mississippi is the only state with a rate above 30 percent. View the full report here: https://carsey.unh.edu/publication/overall-child-poverty-decline

“While these child poverty declines are promising, it is important to keep in mind that most states experienced no change between 2014 and 2015,” the researchers said. “Lower child poverty rates appear to be driven by higher median incomes over the past year.”

The research was conducted by Andrew Schaefer, a doctoral student in sociology and a vulnerable families research scientist at the Carsey School; Jessica Carson, vulnerable families research scientist at the Carsey School; and Beth Mattingly, director of research on vulnerable families at the Carsey School and research assistant professor of sociology at UNH.

The Carsey School of Public Policy conducts research, leadership development, and engaged scholarship relevant to public policy. They address pressing challenges, striving for innovative, responsive, and equitable solutions at all levels of government and in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.