Where NJ Ranks Among States With The Most Underprivileged Kids

Children who live in New Jersey are healthier and have more advantages than kids in most other U.S. states, according to a new ranking.

In the United States, 1 in 7 children live in poverty, according to the Children’s Defense Fund, and a child is abused or neglected every 54 seconds. Additionally, one year of all confirmed cases of child maltreatment leads to $592 billion in costs over those children’s lifetimes.

However, some states address the issues faced by underprivileged children more effectively than others.

To determine where children are most disadvantaged, finance website WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 key indicators of neediness. Indicators ranged from the share of children in households with below-poverty income to the child food-insecurity rate to the high school graduation rate of economically disadvantaged children.

New Jersey ranked No. 50 in WalletHub's analysis with a total score of 25.73, meaning only one other state better meets the basic needs of children.

The state was also ranked in three subcategories, including socioeconomic welfare (No. 43), health (No. 49) and education (No. 50).

"Tackling the problem of underprivileged children in America requires a multifaceted approach," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "On top of lifting children out of poverty and making sure they have access to adequate nutrition and medical care, we also need to look after their mental health, protect them from abuse and ensure they receive quality education."

He continued, "Failing to address even one of these issues can lead to worse outcomes during adulthood."

These are the top 10 states with the most underprivileged children, according to WalletHub:

1. New Mexico
2. Alaska
3. Louisiana
4. Oklahoma
5. Mississippi
6. West Virginia
7. District of Columbia
8. Arkansas
9. Nevada
10. Kentucky

These are the 10 states with the fewest underprivileged children:

1. Connecticut
2. New Jersey
3. New Hampshire
4. Maryland
5. Utah
6. Virginia
7. Minnesota
8. Wisconsin
9. Massachusetts
10. Delaware

See the full ranking at WalletHub.com.

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