Percentage of Children Living in Concentrated Poverty in Maine Remains Below National Averages

mainechildrensalliance • September 24, 2019
A woman and two little girls are walking down a sidewalk holding hands.
Children Living in High-Poverty, Low-Opportunity Neighborhoods
Why concentrated poverty is important
A graph showing the number of children living in concentrated poverty in maineWhat does concentrated poverty look like in Maine 
The percent in poverty data is 1 year data and the concentrated poverty is 5 year data, so the 19-27% is the range depending on the year.
1
Concentrated poverty exists at a higher rate in Maine’s five largest cities  
2008-2012 2013-2017
Living in concentrated poverty # children %children # children %children
Maine- principal cities*: Portland, South Portland, Lewiston, Auburn and Bangor 8,000 20 7,000 19
Maine Metro, outside city limits in York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc and Kennebec Counties 1,000 <.5% 1,000 1
Maine Non-metro (10 rural counties) 1,000 1 2,000 2
*The principal city category includes geographic areas that are the principal city of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA). In Maine, the principal city category includes children living in the cities of Bangor, Auburn, Lewiston, Portland, and South Portland.
There have been no changes in rates by race for concentrated poverty by race
in Maine
Most children living in concentrated poverty neighborhoods in Maine are not living in immigrant families, but children in immigrant families were three times more likely to live in concentrated poverty neighborhoods than children living in non-immigrant families
“Solutions to uplift these communities are not far out of reach, and they would have significant positive effects both for children and youth and for our country as a whole,” said Scot Spencer, associate director of advocacy and influence at the Casey Foundation. “Strong neighborhoods foster stable families and healthy children.”
1. Sharkley, P. (2009). Neighborhoods and the Black-White Mobility Gap. Washington, D.C.: The Pew Charitable Trusts

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