2015′s Best and Worst States for Underprivileged Children

From Wallet Hub August 10, 2015

With August being Child Support Awareness Month and the U.S. having the second highest rate of relative child poverty among economically developed nations, the leading personal finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2015’s Best & Worst States for Underprivileged Children.

In order to assess the living and economic conditions of young people across the nation, WalletHub compared the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in terms of 15 key metrics, ranging from infant death rates to child food-insecurity rates to the percentage of maltreated children. By bringing such key issues to the forefront, WalletHub aims to engender change and galvanize groups to act on behalf of society’s future propellers of progress.

Hawaii Ranks 24th Overall

• 19th for Early Foundations & Economic Well-Being
• 13th for Health
• 38th for Education

Key Stats

• The District of Columbia’s child food-insecurity rate is three times as high as North Dakota’s.
• Mississippi’s infant mortality rate per 1,000 births is twice as high as Iowa’s.
• The percentage of children in foster care in the District of Columbia is five times higher than in Virginia.
• The percentage of children in single-parent families in the District of Columbia is three times higher than in Utah.
• The percentage of children in households with income below poverty level in Mississippi is three times higher than in New Hampshire.
• The percentage of children without health insurance in Nevada is 10 times higher than in Massachusetts.
• The percentage of maltreated children in Kentucky is 15 times higher than in Missouri.