Nation's Poor Reside in Suburbs

Suburban growth has coincided with the increase in immigrant population. Yet, while immigrants account for 30 percent suburban population growth, they account for only a fifth of the increase in the poor population, a recent Brookings study showed.

1 minute read

August 9, 2011, 11:00 AM PDT

By Kristopher Fortin


U.S. born had more poor in the suburbs after the Great Recession.

"The suburbanization of poverty accelerated most among the U.S. born who accounted for 83 percent of the growth in suburban poverty."

The study shows immigrants destination trends:

"Between 2000 and 2009 immigrants contributed more to the growth of the suburban poor population in the South than in other regions. In Washington, D.C., 40 percent of the growth in the suburban poor was due to immigrants, while they contributed just 11 percent in Detroit. In 2009, immigrants made up the highest share of suburban poor in the West (27 percent) and the lowest in the Midwest (10 percent). In Miami, Los Angeles, McAllen, and Fresno, immigrants made up more than one third of the poor population living in suburbs."

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