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

Written by:
January 23, 2024
James Meyer // Shutterstock

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 Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin 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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#50. Manitowoc County

- Economic connectedness: 0.93
- Median Income: $61,454
- Population: 81,103
--- 92% white
--- 1.2% Black
--- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.6% Asian
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#49. Juneau County

- Economic connectedness: 0.93
- Median Income: $58,561
- Population: 26,595
--- 91.5% white
--- 2.4% Black
--- 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.5% Asian
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#48. Washburn County

- Economic connectedness: 0.94
- Median Income: $54,550
- Population: 16,561
--- 94.4% white
--- 0.6% Black
--- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.5% Asian
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#47. Barron County

- Economic connectedness: 0.94
- Median Income: $55,256
- Population: 46,529
--- 93.3% white
--- 1.8% Black
--- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.7% Asian
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#46. Marquette County

- Economic connectedness: 0.94
- Median Income: $55,386
- Population: 15,515
--- 95.4% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.5% Asian
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#45. Bayfield County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $62,859
- Population: 16,031
--- 85% white
--- 1.2% Black
--- 9% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.5% Asian
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Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock

#44. Richland County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $56,089
- Population: 17,353
--- 93.9% white
--- 0.6% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.7% Asian
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#43. Fond du Lac County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $66,390
- Population: 103,890
--- 91.3% white
--- 1.7% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.5% Asian
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#42. Oconto County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $68,426
- Population: 38,691
--- 95.2% white
--- 0.4% Black
--- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.3% Asian
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#41. Sauk County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $67,702
- Population: 65,428
--- 92.6% white
--- 0.8% Black
--- 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.5% Asian
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Maarten Daams // Shutterstock

#40. Green Lake County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $60,597
- Population: 18,990
--- 94.7% white
--- 1% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.3% Asian
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#39. Burnett County

- Economic connectedness: 0.95
- Median Income: $55,890
- Population: 16,356
--- 91.5% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 3.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.4% Asian
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#38. Douglas County

- Economic connectedness: 0.96
- Median Income: $59,688
- Population: 44,034
--- 92% white
--- 1.3% Black
--- 1.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.3% Asian
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Keith Bell // Shutterstock

#37. Oneida County

- Economic connectedness: 0.96
- Median Income: $62,660
- Population: 37,468
--- 95.5% white
--- 0.5% Black
--- 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.4% Asian
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Barbara Smits // Shutterstock

#36. Lafayette County

- Economic connectedness: 0.96
- Median Income: $65,009
- Population: 16,662
--- 95.9% white
--- 0.6% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.6% Asian
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Brent Kelley // Shutterstock

#35. Price County

- Economic connectedness: 0.97
- Median Income: $52,052
- Population: 14,003
--- 94.8% white
--- 0.4% Black
--- 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.6% Asian
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#34. Sheboygan County

- Economic connectedness: 0.97
- Median Income: $65,352
- Population: 117,528
--- 86.3% white
--- 2.1% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 6% Asian
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Suzanne Tucker // Shutterstock

#33. Waupaca County

- Economic connectedness: 0.97
- Median Income: $65,070
- Population: 51,769
--- 94.9% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.5% Asian
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#32. Green County

- Economic connectedness: 0.98
- Median Income: $70,267
- Population: 37,098
--- 95.4% white
--- 0.5% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.3% Asian
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John Touscany // Shutterstock

#31. Wood County

- Economic connectedness: 0.98
- Median Income: $57,996
- Population: 74,107
--- 93% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.1% Asian
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#30. Lincoln County

- Economic connectedness: 0.98
- Median Income: $61,363
- Population: 28,378
--- 95.6% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.3% Asian
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#29. Walworth County

- Economic connectedness: 0.98
- Median Income: $69,382
- Population: 105,945
--- 89.9% white
--- 0.8% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.7% Asian
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#28. Taylor County

- Economic connectedness: 1.
- Median Income: $56,350
- Population: 19,960
--- 96.5% white
--- 0.2% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.4% Asian
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spiritbridge // Shutterstock

#27. Jefferson County

- Economic connectedness: 1.
- Median Income: $71,735
- Population: 84,808
--- 92.3% white
--- 0.9% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.5% Asian
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#26. Marathon County

- Economic connectedness: 1.
- Median Income: $67,940
- Population: 137,597
--- 89.3% white
--- 0.6% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 5.5% Asian
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#25. Crawford County

- Economic connectedness: 1.
- Median Income: $54,526
- Population: 16,167
--- 94.5% white
--- 1.9% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.6% Asian
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#24. Dodge County

- Economic connectedness: 1.
- Median Income: $66,403
- Population: 89,274
--- 91.7% white
--- 2.6% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.7% Asian
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#23. Kewaunee County

- Economic connectedness: 1.01
- Median Income: $72,328
- Population: 20,535
--- 95.2% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.6% Asian
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#22. Winnebago County

- Economic connectedness: 1.02
- Median Income: $63,938
- Population: 171,304
--- 89.8% white
--- 2.6% Black
--- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3% Asian
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#21. Calumet County

- Economic connectedness: 1.02
- Median Income: $78,453
- Population: 52,128
--- 92.3% white
--- 0.9% Black
--- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.4% Asian
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#20. Door County

- Economic connectedness: 1.04
- Median Income: $63,856
- Population: 29,713
--- 94.4% white
--- 0.5% Black
--- 1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.3% Asian
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#19. Columbia County

- Economic connectedness: 1.05
- Median Income: $73,786
- Population: 58,219
--- 93.3% white
--- 1.9% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.9% Asian
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#18. La Crosse County

- Economic connectedness: 1.05
- Median Income: $62,817
- Population: 120,291
--- 89.9% white
--- 1.6% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 4.4% Asian
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#17. Outagamie County

- Economic connectedness: 1.05
- Median Income: $72,695
- Population: 189,620
--- 88.5% white
--- 1.4% Black
--- 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.5% Asian
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#16. Chippewa County

- Economic connectedness: 1.06
- Median Income: $63,172
- Population: 65,877
--- 94% white
--- 1.6% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.4% Asian
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Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

#15. Dane County

- Economic connectedness: 1.06
- Median Income: $78,452
- Population: 555,474
--- 81.6% white
--- 5.1% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 6% Asian
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#14. Portage County

- Economic connectedness: 1.07
- Median Income: $65,550
- Population: 70,378
--- 91.7% white
--- 0.8% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3% Asian
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#13. Grant County

- Economic connectedness: 1.07
- Median Income: $58,289
- Population: 52,210
--- 95.6% white
--- 1.6% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.9% Asian
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Patrick Lansing // Shutterstock

#12. Dunn County

- Economic connectedness: 1.07
- Median Income: $64,420
- Population: 45,254
--- 93% white
--- 0.8% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3% Asian
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Aaron of L.A. Photography // Shutterstock

#11. Vernon County

- Economic connectedness: 1.08
- Median Income: $57,933
- Population: 30,719
--- 96% white
--- 0.2% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.3% Asian
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Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#10. Polk County

- Economic connectedness: 1.08
- Median Income: $67,878
- Population: 44,806
--- 95.4% white
--- 0.4% Black
--- 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.4% Asian
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#9. Eau Claire County

- Economic connectedness: 1.09
- Median Income: $64,777
- Population: 105,206
--- 90% white
--- 1.3% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.7% Asian
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#8. Iowa County

- Economic connectedness: 1.1
- Median Income: $73,716
- Population: 23,715
--- 94.9% white
--- 1% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.7% Asian
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#7. Buffalo County

- Economic connectedness: 1.11
- Median Income: $61,167
- Population: 13,314
--- 96.1% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0% Asian
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#6. Washington County

- Economic connectedness: 1.16
- Median Income: $85,574
- Population: 136,300
--- 93.1% white
--- 1.4% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.4% Asian
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#5. Waukesha County

- Economic connectedness: 1.16
- Median Income: $94,310
- Population: 405,332
--- 89.9% white
--- 1.6% Black
--- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 3.8% Asian
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Maarten Daams // Shutterstock

#4. Pepin County

- Economic connectedness: 1.16
- Median Income: $63,015
- Population: 7,328
--- 97.1% white
--- 0.4% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.4% Asian
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#3. Pierce County

- Economic connectedness: 1.2
- Median Income: $78,341
- Population: 42,204
--- 94.1% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 1.2% Asian
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#2. St. Croix County

- Economic connectedness: 1.22
- Median Income: $91,320
- Population: 92,495
--- 94.2% white
--- 0.7% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 0.9% Asian
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James Meyer // Shutterstock

#1. Ozaukee County

- Economic connectedness: 1.24
- Median Income: $86,915
- Population: 91,029
--- 92% white
--- 1.3% Black
--- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
--- 2.1% 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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