Percentage of Children Living in Concentrated Poverty in Maine Remains Below National Averages
mainechildrensalliance • September 24, 2019

Children Living in High-Poverty, Low-Opportunity Neighborhoods
Why concentrated poverty is important

The percent in poverty data is 1 year data and the concentrated poverty is 5 year data, so the 19-27% is the range depending on the year.
1
Concentrated poverty exists at a higher rate in Maine’s five largest cities
2008-2012 | 2013-2017 | |||
Living in concentrated poverty | # children | %children | # children | %children |
Maine- principal cities*: Portland, South Portland, Lewiston, Auburn and Bangor | 8,000 | 20 | 7,000 | 19 |
Maine Metro, outside city limits in York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc and Kennebec Counties | 1,000 | <.5% | 1,000 | 1 |
Maine Non-metro (10 rural counties) | 1,000 | 1 | 2,000 | 2 |
*The principal city category includes geographic areas that are the principal city of a metropolitan statistical area (MSA). In Maine, the principal city category includes children living in the cities of Bangor, Auburn, Lewiston, Portland, and South Portland.
There have been no changes in rates by race for concentrated poverty by race
in Maine
Most children living in concentrated poverty neighborhoods in Maine are not
living in immigrant families, but children in
immigrant families were three times more likely to live in concentrated poverty neighborhoods than children living in non-immigrant families
“Solutions to uplift these communities are not far out of reach, and they would have significant positive effects both for children and youth and for our country as a whole,” said Scot Spencer, associate director of advocacy and influence at the Casey Foundation. “Strong neighborhoods foster stable families and healthy children.”
1. Sharkley, P. (2009). Neighborhoods and the Black-White Mobility Gap. Washington, D.C.: The Pew Charitable Trusts

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