NY Times study of best and worse places to grow up shows dramatic inequality in metro Detroit

In a recent study by the New York Times that analyzes the best and worst places to grow up in the United States, metro Detroit counties exhibit extremely varied outcomes for children.

According to the Times, Wayne County is "among the worst counties in the U.S. in helping poor children up the income ladder. It ranks 112th out of 2,478 counties, better than only about 5 percent of counties. It is relatively worse for poor boys than it is for poor girls."

Macomb County, on the other hand, ranks significantly higher. "It’s one of the better counties in the U.S. in helping poor children up the income ladder," writes the Times. "It ranks 1,561st out of 2,478 counties, better than about 63 percent of counties."

Somewhat surprising is that Oakland County, one of the wealthiest counties in the state, is "below average in helping poor children up the income ladder. It ranks 870th out of 2,478 counties, better than about 35 percent of counties. It is relatively worse for poor boys than it is for poor girls."

Learn more about the best and worst places to grow up in metro Detroit and the rest of the U.S. in the New York Times.
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