Rural Child and Family Wellbeing Dashboard

Rural child poverty is higher than non-rural

• Nationally, 22.2% rural children are living in poverty – more than 1 in 5 kids – in comparison to 17.7% of children living in non-rural communities.
• Rural child poverty is higher than non-rural in 39 states.
• 6 USP states are among the 10 states with the highest rural child poverty rates.

Rural families have a greater need for public assistance

• 28.5% of rural children live in households received public assistance the past 12 months, in comparison to 24.4% in non-rural communities (***Public assistance includes SNAP, public cash assistance income + Supplemental Security Income)
• 5 USP states are among the 10 states with the highest percentage of rural children in households receiving public assistance in the past 12 months

More rural kids need free and reduced price meals from schools

• 47% of rural children – nearly 1 in 2 kids – are eligible for USDA free and reduced price meals, in comparison to 42.2% of children in non-rural communities
• 5 USP states are among the 10 states with the highest % of kids eligible for free and reduced lunch at school