New York was a below-average state for its more than four million kids in 2021, ranking 30th in the union for the well-being of children, a study found.
The Empire State scored high marks in health and education but was weighed down by low rates of financial stability, with about three-quarters of a million kids in the state — or 19% — living in poverty, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Profile released Wednesday.
The state’s child poverty rate rose slightly from 2019 and was two percent above the national average, the study found.
Thirty-four percent of New York children had parents without secure employment, and 38% of them lived in “households with a high housing cost burden.”
However the amount of children in single family households (34%), in households with parents who lack a high school diploma (12%) and children living in high poverty areas (14%) had all decreased since 2019, researchers found.
The state scored relatively high marks in education, where it ranked 16th in the nation, even though 70% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading and 72% of eight graders failed to demonstrate basic math skills.
New York was the ninth best state in the union when it came to child health, as 97% of kids enjoyed health insurance benefits.
While neither Gov. Kathy Hochul or New York City Mayor Eric Adams would provide comment on the report, members of the state legislature weighed in.
“That the #1 wealthiest state in the nation is ranked 45th for children’s economic stability is an appalling economic policy failure,” quipped state senator Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn). “Children are paying the price for New York’s decades of consistently prioritizing tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires over the well-being of families.”
State Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) said he would work to find a bipartisan solution to the pressing needs of kids. “New York’s children should enjoy the highest standard of living in the safest state possible, period.”
Troublingly though, 32% of kids between the ages of 10 and 17 were overweight — a figure that had grown by two percent since 2019 but was still slightly below the national average.
New Yorkers looking for a better place to raise kids in the tri-state area could turn to New Jersey, which ranked seventh in the US, or Connecticut, which ranked ninth.
New Hampshire topped the kids’ well-being list while New Mexico came in dead last
The foundation compiled the rankings by weighing 16 indicators in four categories: economic well-being, education, health and community and family.
Additional reporting by Zach Williams
