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Economic well-being scores and rankings in United States

Economic well-being scores and rankings

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Definition and Source

PROVIDER

Definition

The KIDS COUNT index is organized into four key domains: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. The Economic Well-Being domain reflects key indicators of children's economic resources and circumstances, including factors such as poverty, parental employment, and housing costs. The indicators are consistently and regularly measured, which allows for legitimate comparisons across states and over time.

The Economic Well-Being Domain score is a score computed for each state, based on the indicators within the domain. The score ranges from 0 to 1,000 and is calculated using this formula: 1,000 – [(Value – Minimum Value) / (Maximum Value – Minimum Value)]*1,000. The minimum value is set as the best state value for each indicator based on data from 2019 and the maximum value is set as the worst state value for each indicator based on data from 2019. The indicator scores are averaged to produce a single domain score for each state, with all measures equally weighted.

A score of 1,000 represents the best economic well-being outcomes observed for each indicator in 2019, rather than a finish line. A state with a score of 1,000 still has room for improvement. Likewise, a score of 500 does not mean a state is doing half as well as one scoring 1,000, but it does indicate substantial room for improvement. Changes in scores over time — up to the latest available data, largely 2024 — reflect real changes in children's economic outcomes, not shifts in how states compare to one another. The new scores allow states to see their own progress or decline, in addition to how they compare to others. The rankings are based on the scores. Learn more about the new methodology at https://www.aecf.org/resources/the-new-kids-count-index-methodology.

Data Source

Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data gathered for the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book.

The 4 indicators of child economic well-being are derived from the following government statistical agencies:

  • Children in poverty U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
  • Children whose parents lack secure employment U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
  • Children living in households with a high housing cost burden U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
  • Teens not in school and not working U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Notes

The year represents the target reference year — the most recent year for which estimates were available for most indicators — though some indicators may reflect prior (or more recent) years based on source availability.

For the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, all estimates for the Economic Well-being domain are from 2024.

N.R. Not ranked.

Last Updated

May 2026