City And Suburban Poverty Trends, 1999-2005

During the first half of the current decade, the proportion of the U.S. population living below the poverty line rose, albeit with key differences across metropolitan areas.

"In 1999 large cities and their suburbs had nearly equal numbers of poor individuals, but by 2005 the suburban poor outnumbered their city counterparts by at least 1 million."

"Poverty rates rose significantly in Midwestern and Southern metropolitan areas, but remained steady in the West and Northeast."

"Nearly half of large cities nationwide saw a significant rise in their poverty rates, versus about one-third of their suburbs."

"In cities and suburbs where overall poverty rates rose from 1999 to 2005, child poverty rates rose faster."