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Counties where children have the best opportunity for economic mobility in California

Written by:
January 23, 2024
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This story originally appeared on Wealth Enhancement Group and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Counties where children have the best opportunity for economic mobility in California

Americans have long understood that their birthplace can significantly affect their futures, and academics have increasingly been able to connect tangible early life factors like where they live and the friendships they've cultivated with potential future income.

Among the most recent studies shedding light on what's known as economic mobility—a person's ability to move themselves and their families up the socioeconomic ladder over their lifetime—are a series of papers authored by Harvard University researchers leveraging vast troves of social networking data.

As part of a national analysis, Wealth Enhancement Group used data from Harvard University's Social Capital Atlas project to identify where in California children have the best (and worst) chances at upward economic mobility.

The research draws on a privacy-protected dataset representing 21 billion friendships from Facebook made public through its parent company Meta's Data for Good project. It also uses anonymous tax records, according to the authors. The scholars assigned a score to locales according to how economically connected low- and high-income people living in the area have historically been over at least a decade, per that data. The dataset does not include scores for about 180 of the 3,000 or so counties in the U.S.

The research attempts to fill in the gaps of previous efforts to study American economic mobility that did not consider a person's vast social networks nor their importance in creating better lives for themselves and their children.

It turns out the ability to cultivate friendships linking people of different socioeconomic backgrounds with one another is the strongest factor in determining whether a child can surpass the earning potential of their parents, Harvard researchers found. They call this economic connectedness.

Read on to find out where economic connectedness is strongest in your state.

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#57. Tulare County

- Economic connectedness: 0.54
- Median Income: $57,394
- Population: 470,999
--- 59.3% white
--- 1.7% Black
--- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.7% Asian
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#56. Madera County

- Economic connectedness: 0.56
- Median Income: $66,709
- Population: 156,304
--- 55% white
--- 3% Black
--- 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.3% Asian
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#55. Fresno County

- Economic connectedness: 0.58
- Median Income: $61,276
- Population: 1,003,150
--- 54.3% white
--- 4.5% Black
--- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 10.7% Asian
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#54. Colusa County

- Economic connectedness: 0.58
- Median Income: $61,861
- Population: 21,780
--- 68.8% white
--- 1.7% Black
--- 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.9% Asian
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#53. Monterey County

- Economic connectedness: 0.61
- Median Income: $82,013
- Population: 438,953
--- 43.3% white
--- 2.5% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 5.8% Asian
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#52. Kings County

- Economic connectedness: 0.62
- Median Income: $63,267
- Population: 151,887
--- 56.9% white
--- 6.6% Black
--- 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.9% Asian
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#51. Kern County

- Economic connectedness: 0.62
- Median Income: $58,824
- Population: 905,644
--- 62.3% white
--- 5.4% Black
--- 1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 4.8% Asian
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#50. Merced County

- Economic connectedness: 0.63
- Median Income: $58,861
- Population: 279,150
--- 46.2% white
--- 2.9% Black
--- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 7.5% Asian
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CL Shebley // Shutterstock

#49. Glenn County

- Economic connectedness: 0.63
- Median Income: $56,332
- Population: 28,675
--- 75% white
--- 0.6% Black
--- 2.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.5% Asian
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#48. Del Norte County

- Economic connectedness: 0.64
- Median Income: $53,280
- Population: 27,655
--- 69.4% white
--- 3% Black
--- 6.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3% Asian
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#47. Tehama County

- Economic connectedness: 0.65
- Median Income: $52,901
- Population: 65,345
--- 80.6% white
--- 0.9% Black
--- 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.8% Asian
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#46. Lake County

- Economic connectedness: 0.65
- Median Income: $53,399
- Population: 67,749
--- 73% white
--- 2.4% Black
--- 3.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.4% Asian
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#45. Modoc County

- Economic connectedness: 0.67
- Median Income: $51,090
- Population: 8,723
--- 85% white
--- 2% Black
--- 3.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.8% Asian
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#44. Mendocino County

- Economic connectedness: 0.69
- Median Income: $56,378
- Population: 91,534
--- 77.3% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.2% Asian
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#43. Sutter County

- Economic connectedness: 0.71
- Median Income: $67,003
- Population: 99,080
--- 58.5% white
--- 1.9% Black
--- 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 16.4% Asian
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#42. Santa Barbara County

- Economic connectedness: 0.72
- Median Income: $84,356
- Population: 447,651
--- 65.9% white
--- 1.9% Black
--- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 5.5% Asian
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#41. San Joaquin County

- Economic connectedness: 0.73
- Median Income: $74,962
- Population: 771,406
--- 46.5% white
--- 7% Black
--- 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 16.5% Asian
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#40. Yuba County

- Economic connectedness: 0.73
- Median Income: $62,666
- Population: 80,404
--- 69.2% white
--- 3.6% Black
--- 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 7.2% Asian
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#39. Imperial County

- Economic connectedness: 0.73
- Median Income: $49,078
- Population: 180,051
--- 48% white
--- 2.7% Black
--- 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.4% Asian
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Gibson Outdoor Photo // Shutterstock

#38. Trinity County

- Economic connectedness: 0.74
- Median Income: $42,206
- Population: 15,818
--- 82.4% white
--- 0.6% Black
--- 3.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.1% Asian
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#37. San Bernardino County

- Economic connectedness: 0.74
- Median Income: $70,287
- Population: 2,171,071
--- 50.7% white
--- 8% Black
--- 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 7.5% Asian
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#36. Los Angeles County

- Economic connectedness: 0.74
- Median Income: $76,367
- Population: 10,019,635
--- 43.7% white
--- 7.9% Black
--- 1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 14.8% Asian
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#35. Siskiyou County

- Economic connectedness: 0.74
- Median Income: $49,857
- Population: 44,151
--- 81.8% white
--- 1.7% Black
--- 3.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.5% Asian
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#34. Stanislaus County

- Economic connectedness: 0.75
- Median Income: $68,368
- Population: 550,842
--- 64.8% white
--- 3% Black
--- 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 5.8% Asian
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#33. Riverside County

- Economic connectedness: 0.75
- Median Income: $76,066
- Population: 2,409,331
--- 51.2% white
--- 6.5% Black
--- 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 6.8% Asian
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#32. Ventura County

- Economic connectedness: 0.78
- Median Income: $94,150
- Population: 845,255
--- 70.1% white
--- 1.8% Black
--- 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 7.3% Asian
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#31. Inyo County

- Economic connectedness: 0.79
- Median Income: $60,925
- Population: 18,804
--- 74% white
--- 0.5% Black
--- 11.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.6% Asian
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#30. Shasta County

- Economic connectedness: 0.79
- Median Income: $61,937
- Population: 181,935
--- 83.3% white
--- 1.1% Black
--- 2.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.3% Asian
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#29. Butte County

- Economic connectedness: 0.8
- Median Income: $59,863
- Population: 217,884
--- 77.8% white
--- 1.8% Black
--- 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 5% Asian
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#28. Napa County

- Economic connectedness: 0.8
- Median Income: $97,498
- Population: 138,795
--- 67% white
--- 2.1% Black
--- 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 7.8% Asian
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#27. Lassen County

- Economic connectedness: 0.81
- Median Income: $59,292
- Population: 32,949
--- 75.7% white
--- 8.6% Black
--- 2.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.6% Asian
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#26. Marin County

- Economic connectedness: 0.81
- Median Income: $131,008
- Population: 262,387
--- 75.3% white
--- 2.3% Black
--- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 6.1% Asian
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#25. Sacramento County

- Economic connectedness: 0.82
- Median Income: $76,422
- Population: 1,571,767
--- 52.1% white
--- 9.7% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 16.9% Asian
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#24. Santa Cruz County

- Economic connectedness: 0.82
- Median Income: $96,093
- Population: 272,138
--- 68.5% white
--- 1.1% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 4.9% Asian
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#23. Yolo County

- Economic connectedness: 0.82
- Median Income: $78,386
- Population: 216,703
--- 63.3% white
--- 2.6% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 14.5% Asian
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#22. Humboldt County

- Economic connectedness: 0.82
- Median Income: $53,350
- Population: 137,014
--- 76.3% white
--- 1.3% Black
--- 4.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.2% Asian
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#21. San Benito County

- Economic connectedness: 0.82
- Median Income: $95,606
- Population: 63,329
--- 62.7% white
--- 1% Black
--- 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.1% Asian
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#20. Orange County

- Economic connectedness: 0.86
- Median Income: $100,485
- Population: 3,182,923
--- 53.6% white
--- 1.7% Black
--- 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 21.3% Asian
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#19. Sonoma County

- Economic connectedness: 0.86
- Median Income: $91,607
- Population: 492,498
--- 70.4% white
--- 1.6% Black
--- 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 4.4% Asian
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#18. Solano County

- Economic connectedness: 0.87
- Median Income: $89,648
- Population: 451,432
--- 48.5% white
--- 13.4% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 15.6% Asian
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#17. Contra Costa County

- Economic connectedness: 0.89
- Median Income: $110,455
- Population: 1,161,643
--- 50% white
--- 8.6% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 17.8% Asian
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#16. Plumas County

- Economic connectedness: 0.9
- Median Income: $57,885
- Population: 19,631
--- 88.6% white
--- 1.7% Black
--- 1.9% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.7% Asian
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#15. San Diego County

- Economic connectedness: 0.91
- Median Income: $88,240
- Population: 3,296,317
--- 62% white
--- 4.9% Black
--- 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 12% Asian
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#14. Tuolumne County

- Economic connectedness: 0.91
- Median Income: $66,846
- Population: 55,243
--- 85.4% white
--- 1.7% Black
--- 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.4% Asian
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#13. Alameda County

- Economic connectedness: 0.92
- Median Income: $112,017
- Population: 1,673,133
--- 35.9% white
--- 10.2% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 31.6% Asian
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#12. Calaveras County

- Economic connectedness: 0.92
- Median Income: $70,119
- Population: 45,349
--- 84.6% white
--- 1% Black
--- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.2% Asian
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#11. Amador County

- Economic connectedness: 0.93
- Median Income: $69,955
- Population: 40,095
--- 81.8% white
--- 2.5% Black
--- 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.1% Asian
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#10. San Luis Obispo County

- Economic connectedness: 0.94
- Median Income: $82,514
- Population: 282,771
--- 79.9% white
--- 1.5% Black
--- 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.6% Asian
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#9. Mariposa County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $53,304
- Population: 17,225
--- 85.8% white
--- 0.9% Black
--- 2.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.1% Asian
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#8. Mono County

- Economic connectedness: 0.96
- Median Income: $71,138
- Population: 13,291
--- 80.3% white
--- 0.1% Black
--- 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 4.6% Asian
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#7. Nevada County

- Economic connectedness: 1.01
- Median Income: $74,617
- Population: 102,090
--- 90.5% white
--- 0.4% Black
--- 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.2% Asian
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#6. El Dorado County

- Economic connectedness: 1.02
- Median Income: $88,770
- Population: 190,568
--- 84.7% white
--- 0.9% Black
--- 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 5% Asian
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#5. Sierra County

- Economic connectedness: 1.03
- Median Income: $56,152
- Population: 3,079
--- 90.2% white
--- 0.1% Black
--- 1.9% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0% Asian
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#4. Placer County

- Economic connectedness: 1.07
- Median Income: $99,734
- Population: 400,330
--- 77.8% white
--- 1.6% Black
--- 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 8.5% Asian
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Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock

#3. Santa Clara County

- Economic connectedness: 1.16
- Median Income: $140,258
- Population: 1,932,022
--- 39% white
--- 2.5% Black
--- 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 38.1% Asian
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#2. San Mateo County

- Economic connectedness: 1.16
- Median Income: $136,837
- Population: 762,488
--- 45.9% white
--- 2.4% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 29.9% Asian
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#1. San Francisco

- Economic connectedness: 1.31
- Median Income: $126,187
- Population: 865,933
--- 43.4% white
--- 5.2% Black
--- 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 34.4% Asian

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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