WASHINGTON — Where you grow up matters — at least, that’s what a Harvard University study and New York Times article say.
A study from economists at Harvard first looked at the correlation between the county where a child lived and the extra money that child could earn later in life. The analysis takes a look at the opportunities provided for children raised in one county (or county-equivalent, in Virginia’s case) versus another, to see where poor children are more likely to climb the economic ladder.
In the D.C. metro area, poor children living in Fairfax City have the highest earning potential later in life. The analysis finds if a child grows up in Fairfax, he or she would make $5,180, or 20 percent, more at age 26 than if that child grows up in an average American county. Every year that child spends in Fairfax, it adds about $260 to his or her annual income at age 26 compared to each year that child spends in an average American county.
The rest of the metro area follows as such: Manassas Park (+$3,910 or 15%), Fairfax County (+$3,150 or 12%), Arlington County (+$2,930 or 11%), Montgomery County (+$2,740 or 10%), Frederick County [Md.] (+$2,190 or 8%), Stafford County (+$2,060 or 8%), Loudoun County (+$2,020 or 8%), Fauquier County (+$1,480 or 6%), Calvert County (+$1,410 or 5%), Alexandria (+$1,350 or 5%), Manassas (+$1,170 or 4%), St. Mary’s County (+$1,160 or 4%), Spotsylvania County (+$680 or 3%), Prince George’s County (+$530 or 2%), Charles County (+$370 or 1%), Washington DC (+$140 or 1%), and Prince William County (-$90 or -0%). Falls Church and Fredericksburg did not have any available data.
In Washington, poor children, on average, earn about $140 more annually by age 26 than if they were raised in the average American county. In Fairfax County, poor children earn $3,150 more per year and in Montgomery County, poor children earn $2,740 more per year.
In Washington, poor children on average earn about $140 more annually by age 26 than if they were raised in the average American county. Within that measure, boys earn $690 more; girls, $550 less. Average-income children earn $2,440 less per year if they were raised in Washington ($2,830 less for boys, $1,940 less for girls). For “rich kids,” as described by the Times, they earn $4,870 less per year ($6,240 less for boys and $3,230 less for girls). And the children of “one-percenters” earn $6,450 less after being raised in Washington than if they had been raised in the average American county ($8,600 less for boys and $4,100 less for girls).
It’s a different trend in Fairfax County. Poor children earn $3,150 more per year by age 26 if they were raised in the metro area’s largest suburban county than if they were raised in an average county. Poor boys earn $2,260 more; girls, $4,180 more. Average-income children earned $4,150 more if they were raised in Fairfax County ($4,500 more for boys, $3,690 more for girls). The “rich kids” earned $4,800 more when raised in Fairfax County ($6,420 more for boys, $2,840 more for girls). And the children of “one-percenters” earned $4,880 more when raised in Fairfax County than if they were raised in the average county ($7,480 more for boys and $1,850 more for girls).
Montgomery County sees a different blend. Poor children earn $2,740 more per year when they reach the age of 26 if they were raised in Maryland’s largest county than if they were raised in the average county ($1,840 more for boys, $3,770 more for girls). Average-income children earned $1,190 more per year ($700 less for boys, $3,530 more for girls). Rich children earned $510 less per year on average ($3,280 less for boys, $2,970 more for girls). And children in the top 1% earned $1,900 less per year ($5,200 less for boys, $2,220 more for girls).
The analysis found that Baltimore was the worst place for income mobility for poor children. In Charm City, they earned, on average, $4,510 less compared to the average American county.
The New York Times looked at connection between geography and marriage.
On the surface, the analysis showed by the age of 26, people living in more liberal and urban areas are less likely to be married. The Times also found that by the time those people reach the age of 30, there is little change in that pattern.
According to the Times, people raised in Washington, D.C., are least likely to be married by the age of 26. Specifically, the analysis finds children raised in Washington are 12 percent less likely to be married by the age of 26, compared to the average county.
Those percentages conflict drastically from that of, say, Franklin County, Idaho. Children raised there were 27 percent more likely to be married by age 26 than if they were raised in the average county.
On a statewide-level, children raised in Utah are most likely to be married by the age of 26 than any other state in the nation. Children raised in New Jersey are least likely to be married. Maryland ranked 45th in likelihood for children to marry, while Virginia ranked 34th.
