Making KIDS COUNT in Rural Northern New England

Summary

This report pairs focus group feedback and interview answers with quantitative data to tell the story of family economic success in rural Northern New England. It offers recommendations — and a spark for ongoing discussions — aimed at helping families in these rural areas thrive.   

The Annie E. Casey Foundation funded this project — and several other multi-state projects — as part of a larger effort to explore child-well being in rural America. The resulting reports aim to provide useful data to policymakers and encourage smart investments that will strengthen the well-being of rural families. 

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• About the Project
• An Overview of Rural Northern New England
• Economic Challenges
• Education
• Services and Support
• Conclusion
• End Notes

Key Takeaway

Life in rural Northern New England — here’s what the research says

The poverty rate in Northern New England is more than 40% higher in rural areas versus non-rural areas, and rural residents are more likely to lack health benefits and be underemployed, self-employed or unemployed compared to their non-rural peers.