Study: Douglas County Hinders Future of Poor Youngsters

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By JUSTIN OVE

Young Douglas County residents living in economically disadvantaged families will see less income mobility compared to other poor children across the country, 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 $1,250 less in income by the age of 26 compared to children living in similar conditions across the country.

This puts Douglas in the bottom 20 percent of counties nationally, according to the study.

Read more about the study at The New York Times

The county is in the middle of the pack compared to other metro Atlanta counties, the report said

Douglas is ranked 10th among 15 metro counties for boys in the poorest families, and eighth for girls.

Fayette County ranked first in both categories in metro Atlanta.

According to the data, Douglas’ poorest boys would make $1,730 less than their peers by the age of 26, besting only 14 percent of the population.

The study suggests it’s a little better for low-income girls, who would make $610 less than average, better than 31 percent of the population.

It gets worse for Douglas children as their families’ economic status improves, the study said. Middle-income kids would make $2,220 less than their peers nationwide, with boys making $3,300 less than their peers by the time they’re age 26.

High-income kids would make about $3,020 less than their colleagues, while “one percent” children will make around $3,400 less than their peers across the country.