Montgomery County among top in nation for low-income children

According to a study done by Harvard economists, children raised in poor families in Montgomery County are likely to make $3,920 a year more as an adult than 89 percent of counties nationwide. 

Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren released a study that shows a correlation between where a child grows up and how much their income is as an adult. 

The study found that Montgomery County is one of the best in the United States in helping low-income children earn more, ranking 2,214th out of 2,478 total counties. 

The study defined “low-income households” as a household earning less than three-quarters of other households nationally. This would make an average of about $30,000 or less a year for families with children. 

Researchers have found five factors associated with this success: less segregation by income and race, lower levels of income equality, better schools, lower rates of violent crime and a larger share of two-parent households. 

According to the study, in general, the factors affect boy more than girls and lower-income children more than the rich.

The study also suggests that moving can greatly affect children. For instance, if a child from a low-income household is moved from a city where children face the worst odds, such as Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, to a county like Montgomery County, they may have a better chance at climbing the income ladder. 

This theory is based on age, as well. If a family with two children moves, the youngest child is more likely to be successful because they will spend more time in the conducive environment.

Montgomery County ranks 68th in “poor boys” and 32nd in “poor girls” for the state of Iowa. It also ranks as 22nd in “richest boys” and 72nd in “richest girls” in the state. 

Some surrounding counties also have high rankings. Cass County ranks a tad higher, with their average earning amount as $4,000 more. Mills County has an average of $3,820 more, Page County has an average of $3,790 more and Pottawattamie County has an average of $2,160 more than the national average. 

Nationwide, the study suggests some large cities are conducive to earning higher incomes including San Francisco, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Providence. 

The economists attribute this to shared traits of elementary schools with higher test scores, a higher share of two-parent families, greater levels of involvement in civic and religious groups and more residential integration of affluent, middle-class and low-income families. 

To see the map and more about the study, visit nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/03/upshot/the-best-and-worst-places-to-grow-up-how-your-area-compares.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1.