The Midwest is historically a place where children have a better opportunity to rise out of poverty. That’s according to the website OpportunityAtlas.org. The website provides an interactive map of the United States showing that location, historically, has been a factor in an individual’s ability to earn more as adults.
According to the site, researchers tracked “the average outcomes in adulthood of people who grew up in each Census tract and were born between 1978 and 1983.” The tool tracks how much an individual earned in their mid thirties based on where they grew up. In dark blue areas, people who grew up in low-income homes tended to make more money as adults, rising out of poverty.
The map indicates North Dakota and Minnesota have some of the best counties to grow up and expect upward mobility.
