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Rhode Island Value:
Percentage of households (with children) that are located in census tracts for which the averaged z-score of the following factors is above the 75th percentile: family households below the poverty line, individuals receiving public assistance, female-headed households, unemployment ages 16 and older and population younger than 18
Rhode Island Rank:
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Percentage of households (with children) that are located in census tracts for which the averaged z-score of the following factors is above the 75th percentile: family households below the poverty line, individuals receiving public assistance, female-headed households, unemployment ages 16 and older and population younger than 18
Percentage of households (with children) that are located in census tracts for which the averaged z-score of the following factors is above the 75th percentile: family households below the poverty line, individuals receiving public assistance, female-headed households, unemployment ages 16 and older and population younger than 18
US Value: 25.9%
Top State(s): New Hampshire: 3.1%
Bottom State(s): New Mexico: 48.1%
Definition: Percentage of households (with children) that are located in census tracts for which the averaged z-score of the following factors is above the 75th percentile: family households below the poverty line, individuals receiving public assistance, female-headed households, unemployment ages 16 and older and population younger than 18
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2017-2021
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Concentrated disadvantage is an indicator used to measure community well-being. It involves examining multiple aspects of geographically concentrated poverty, economic segregation and other population characteristics. Concentrated disadvantage considers poverty, unemployment, use of public assistance programs and density of female-headed households and households with children. Studies have found that living in areas of higher community socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with:
One study found that areas of concentrated disadvantage experienced higher levels of COVID-19 fatalities.
Historical housing policies and other factors related to residential segregation have led to more children of color living in areas of concentrated disadvantaged. Across all income levels, Black families live in poorer neighborhoods, one factor considered in concentrated disadvantage, than their white counterparts.
To make impactful changes at the community level in areas of high concentrated disadvantage, multifactor approaches must be taken to foster economic opportunity, increase educational attainment, improve workplace conditions and expand access to quality nutrition, health care and housing. Solutions to address concentrated disadvantage and its repercussions fall into two categories:
Healthy People 2030 has several objectives related to the components of concentrated disadvantage, including:
Chetty, Raj, Nathaniel Hendren, and Lawrence F. Katz. 2016. “The Effects of Exposure to Better Neighborhoods on Children: New Evidence from the Moving to Opportunity Experiment.” American Economic Review 106 (4): 855–902. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20150572.
Jeon, Lieny, Cynthia K. Buettner, and Eunhye Hur. 2014. “Family and Neighborhood Disadvantage, Home Environment, and Children’s School Readiness.” Journal of Family Psychology 28 (5): 718–27. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000022.
Jing, Fengrui, Zhenlong Li, Shan Qiao, Jiajia Zhang, Bankole Olatosi, and Xiaoming Li. 2022. “Investigating the Relationships between Concentrated Disadvantage, Place Connectivity, and COVID-19 Fatality in the United States over Time.” BMC Public Health 22 (1): 2346. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14779-1.
Leventhal, Tama, and Véronique Dupéré. 2011. “Moving to Opportunity: Does Long-Term Exposure to ‘Low-Poverty’ Neighborhoods Make a Difference for Adolescents?” Social Science & Medicine 73 (5): 737–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.06.042.
O’Campo, Patricia, Jessica G. Burke, Jennifer Culhane, Irma T. Elo, Janet Eyster, Claudia Holzman, Lynne C. Messer, Jay S. Kaufman, and Barbara A. Laraia. 2008. “Neighborhood Deprivation and Preterm Birth among Non-Hispanic Black and White Women in Eight Geographic Areas in the United States.” American Journal of Epidemiology 167 (2): 155–63. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwm277.
Penman-Aguilar, Ana, Marion Carter, M. Christine Snead, and Athena P. Kourtis. 2013. “Socioeconomic Disadvantage as a Social Determinant of Teen Childbearing in the U.S.” Public Health Reports 128 (Supplement 1): 5–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/00333549131282S102.
Pies, Cheri, Monica Barr, Carly Strouse, and Milton Kotelchuck. 2016. “Growing a Best Babies Zone: Lessons Learned from the Pilot Phase of a Multi-Sector, Place-Based Initiative to Reduce Infant Mortality.” Maternal and Child Health Journal 20 (5): 968–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-1969-1.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.