Study: Growing Up In Paulding Brightens Future of Poor Youngsters

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By JUSTIN OVE (Patch Staff)

Young Paulding County residents living in economically disadvantaged families see better income mobility compared to other poor children across metro Atlanta, according to a new study from the New York Times.

The study, released on Monday, reports that children growing up in 25th percentile income families in the county will have earned around $850 more in income by the age of 26 compared to children living in similar conditions across the country. That’s better that 52 percent of the nation, the survey suggests.

Paulding County scored well compared to 14 other metro counties.

Read more about the study at The New York Times.

Paulding is ranked second among boys in the poorest families, and eighth for girls. Fayette County ranked first in both categories in metro Atlanta.

According to the data, Paulding’s poorest boys would make $1,480 more than their peers by the age of 26, besting 58 percent of the population. The data is based on growing up in a particular area through childhood years.

The study suggests it’s a little worse for low-income girls in the county, who would make $40 more than average, better than 43 percent of the population.

It gets worse for Paulding children as their families’ economic status improves, the study said. Middle-income kids would make only $170 more than their peers nationwide, with boys making $330 less than their peers by the time they’re age 26.

High-income kids would make about $540 less than their colleagues, while “one percent” children will make around $1,080 less than their peers across the country.