N.H. ranked first in nation for overall child well-being, per new report
'This critical data shows us that there is more that policymakers can do to better support the whole family, to help children thrive and grow up to contribute to our state,' said Rebecca Woitkowski, Child and Family Policy Director at New Futures. 'By ensuring that New Hampshire's children continue to have access to affordable health care, we can ensure that all children have the tools they need to start healthy and stay healthy.'
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This is New Hampshire's third year in a row at the top of the Kids Count list.
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After New Hampshire, Vermont came in second, followed by Massachusetts, Utah, and Minnesota.
Here's how New Hampshire and Massachusetts ranked in the report's four categories.
N.H. #2 in Economic well-being
20,000 children (8 percent) were in poverty
49,000 children (20 percent) whose parents lacked secure employment
66,000 children (26 percent) living in household with high housing cost burden
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2,000 children (3 percent) teens not in school and not working
Mass. #25 in Economic well-being
167,000 children (13 percent) were in poverty
330,000 children (25 percent) whose parents lacked secure employment
455,000 children (34 percent) living in household with high housing cost burden
19,000 children (5 percent) teens not in school and not working
N.H. #4 in Education
13,000 children age 3-4 not in school (48 percent)
64 percent of fourth graders not proficient in reading
68 percent of eighth graders not proficient in math
12 percent of high school students not graduating on time
Mass. #1 in Education
64,000 children age 3-4 not in school (44 percent)
60 percent of fourth graders not proficient in reading
63 percent of eighth graders not proficient in math
10 percent of high school students not graduating on time
N.H. #1 in Health
809 low birth-weight babies (6.8 percent)
9,000 children without health insurance (3 percent)
55 child and teen deaths (20 per 100,000)
22 percent children age 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese
Mass. #2 in Health
5,081 low birth-weight babies (7.6 percent)
21,000 children without health insurance (1 percent)
245 child and teen deaths (17 per 100,000)
26 percent children age 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese
N.H. #1 in Family and Community
64,000 children (27 percent) in single-parent families
9,000 children (4 percent) in families where household head lacks high school diploma
2,000 children (1 percent) living in high-poverty areas
186 teen births (5 per 1,000)
Mass #13 in Family and Community
419,000 children (33 percent) in single-parent families
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116,000 children (9 percent) in families where household head lacks high school diploma
66,000 children (5 percent) living in high-poverty areas
1,311 teen births (6 per 1,000)
Here's how the report ranked all of the states in the nation:
New Hampshire
Vermont
Massachusetts
Utah
Minnesota
North Dakota
New Jersey
Connecticut
Iowa
Nebraska
Wisconsin
Colorado
Virginia
Kansas
Idaho
Washington
Maine
Illinois
Rhode Island
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Montana
Wyoming
Hawaii
Indiana
South Dakota
Missouri
Oregon
New York
Delaware
Ohio
California
Michigan
North Carolina
Florida
Kentucky
Tennessee
South Carolina
Georgia
Alaska
West Virginia
Arizona
Alabama
Texas
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Nevada
Mississippi
Louisiana
New Mexico
The report did not rank Puerto Rico or Washington, D.C.
This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday,
Amanda Gokee can be reached at
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