Nestled in the very hills and hollers celebrated for their natural beauty lies a different, harsher reality, where families earning nearly a fifth less than the national average face unemployment, underemployment, and staggering health disparities that lock generation after generation into a cycle of persistent poverty.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the median household income in Appalachian counties was $52,384, 17% below the national median of $74,580.
- Unemployment rate in Southern Appalachia averaged 4.8% in 2023, compared to 3.7% nationally, with youth unemployment at 12.5%.
- 24.1% of Appalachian workers were employed in low-wage service jobs in 2021, versus 18.2% nationwide.
- 28% of Appalachian adults lacked health insurance in 2021, versus 10% nationally, exacerbating poverty cycles.
- Opioid overdose death rate in Appalachia was 52.3 per 100,000 in 2022, over twice the national 25.1 rate.
- 42% of Appalachian children lived in households with food insecurity in 2023, compared to 18% U.S.-wide.
- High school graduation rate in Appalachian schools was 84.2% in 2022, below national 89.1%.
- 22.3% of Appalachian adults aged 25+ had less than high school diploma in 2021.
- College enrollment rate among Appalachian high school grads was 48.7% in 2023, vs. 62% nationally.
- Severe housing cost burden affected 32.4% of Appalachian renter households in 2022.
- 14.7% of Appalachian homes lacked complete plumbing in 2021.
- Homeownership rate in Appalachia was 73.2% in 2023, but only 52% for low-income households.
- Appalachian population declined by 1.2% from 2010-2020, faster than national 0.5% growth.
- Child poverty rate in Appalachia was 24.8% in 2022, nearly double the U.S. 15.4%.
- 16.3% overall poverty rate in Appalachia in 2021, vs. 11.6% nationally.
Appalachian poverty is a systemic crisis with lower wages, higher unemployment, and widespread poor health.
Demographics and Poverty Rates
- Appalachian population declined by 1.2% from 2010-2020, faster than national 0.5% growth.
- Child poverty rate in Appalachia was 24.8% in 2022, nearly double the U.S. 15.4%.
- 16.3% overall poverty rate in Appalachia in 2021, vs. 11.6% nationally.
- Rural Appalachian counties had 28.4% poverty rate in 2023.
- Female-headed households in Appalachia faced 38.2% poverty in 2022.
- Aging population share in Appalachia reached 21.4% over 65 in 2023.
- Hispanic population growth in Appalachia was 45% from 2010-2020.
- Disability rate among working-age Appalachians was 17.8% in 2021.
- Extreme poverty (under 50% threshold) affected 6.7% of Appalachian population in 2022.
- Appalachian counties with highest poverty: 45 counties over 30% in 2021.
- Black population poverty rate in Appalachia was 27.4% in 2022.
- Net migration loss in Appalachia was 120,000 from 2015-2020.
- Veteran poverty rate in Appalachia was 11.8% in 2023.
- Multigenerational households were 12.5% in Appalachia 2021.
- Youth poverty under 18 was 26.1% in Appalachia 2022.
- Elder poverty rate over 65 was 13.4% in Appalachia 2023.
- Native American poverty in Appalachian areas was 32.1% 2021.
- Urban Appalachian poverty was 14.2% vs. rural 22.5% 2022.
- Fertility rate was 1.78 births per woman in Appalachia 2023.
- Foreign-born residents were 4.1% of Appalachia population 2021.
- Single-parent households were 29% in Appalachia 2022.
Demographics and Poverty Rates Interpretation
Appalachia is quietly hollowing out, as its young people flee a region where being born poor is still, far too often, a life sentence.
Economic Indicators
- In 2022, the median household income in Appalachian counties was $52,384, 17% below the national median of $74,580.
- Unemployment rate in Southern Appalachia averaged 4.8% in 2023, compared to 3.7% nationally, with youth unemployment at 12.5%.
- 24.1% of Appalachian workers were employed in low-wage service jobs in 2021, versus 18.2% nationwide.
- Labor force participation rate in Central Appalachia stood at 54.2% in 2022, 8 points below the U.S. average of 62.3%.
- Average annual wage in Appalachian manufacturing was $48,200 in 2023, 22% less than the national average of $61,800.
- 15.3% of Appalachian households earned below $25,000 in 2021, double the national rate of 7.6%.
- Coal mining employment in Appalachia dropped to 28,500 jobs in 2022, down 45% since 2011.
- Self-employment rate among Appalachian adults was 12.4% in 2023, higher than the 9.8% national figure due to limited opportunities.
- Poverty among working Appalachian families reached 9.2% in 2022, compared to 5.1% nationally.
- Retail trade jobs in Appalachia paid a median $32,100 annually in 2023, 28% below U.S. median.
- In 2020, 18.5% of Appalachian households received SNAP benefits.
- Construction sector wages in Appalachia averaged $45,600 in 2022.
- Food service employment accounted for 11.2% of Appalachian jobs in 2023.
- Per capita income in Northern Appalachia was $48,900 in 2021.
- Gig economy participation in Appalachia was 8.4% of workforce in 2022.
- Healthcare sector grew by 12% in Appalachian employment 2018-2023.
- Minimum wage reliance affected 14% of Appalachian workers in 2023.
- Tourism revenue in Appalachia totaled $47 billion in 2022.
- Retail sales per capita in Appalachia was $11,200 in 2022.
- Agriculture employment was 2.8% of Appalachian workforce 2023.
- Remote work adoption was 18% in Appalachia 2023.
- Small business density was 85 per 1,000 residents in Appalachia 2022.
- Renewable energy jobs grew 25% in Appalachia 2020-2023.
Economic Indicators Interpretation
While Appalachia's workforce is resiliently piecing together survival with lower wages, fewer opportunities, and a heavy reliance on the gig and service economies, the region's economic engine is still running about 17% behind the national average.
Education and Workforce Development
- High school graduation rate in Appalachian schools was 84.2% in 2022, below national 89.1%.
- 22.3% of Appalachian adults aged 25+ had less than high school diploma in 2021.
- College enrollment rate among Appalachian high school grads was 48.7% in 2023, vs. 62% nationally.
- Adult literacy proficiency in Appalachia averaged Level 2 or below for 52% in 2022.
- Vocational training completion rate in Appalachia was 67.4% in 2023.
- Student-teacher ratio in Appalachian public schools was 15.8:1 in 2022, higher than urban 14.2:1.
- 31% of Appalachian youth aged 16-24 were neither in school nor employed in 2021.
- Associate degree attainment in Appalachia was 10.2% for adults 25+ in 2023.
- Chronic absenteeism in Appalachian elementary schools reached 24.5% in 2022.
- STEM course access in rural Appalachian high schools covered only 68% of students in 2023.
- Bachelor's degree attainment was 18.6% in Appalachia 2022.
- Early childhood education enrollment was 42% in Appalachia 2023.
- Teacher vacancy rate in Appalachian districts was 9.2% in 2022.
- Apprenticeship program participation grew 15% in Appalachia 2021-2023.
- GED attainment rate among dropouts was 68% in Appalachia 2022.
- Pell Grant recipients in Appalachian colleges were 52% of students 2023.
- Digital divide affected 22% of Appalachian students in 2022.
- Workforce training funding per capita was $450 in Appalachia 2023.
- Fourth-grade reading proficiency was 28% in Appalachia 2022.
- Community college transfer rate to 4-year was 32% 2023.
- School funding per pupil was $11,200 in Appalachia 2022.
- Cybersecurity training programs enrolled 5,200 Appalachians 2023.
- High school dropout rate was 5.8% in Appalachia 2022.
- Library access per capita was 1.2 branches per 10,000 2023.
- Job placement post-training was 72% in Appalachia 2022.
Education and Workforce Development Interpretation
The statistics paint a picture of an Appalachian education system diligently building a foundation with missing bricks, where hard-won local victories in training and apprenticeships valiantly battle against a tide of underfunding, access gaps, and the sobering reality that nearly a third of its youth are starting life in park.
Health and Social Services
- 28% of Appalachian adults lacked health insurance in 2021, versus 10% nationally, exacerbating poverty cycles.
- Opioid overdose death rate in Appalachia was 52.3 per 100,000 in 2022, over twice the national 25.1 rate.
- 42% of Appalachian children lived in households with food insecurity in 2023, compared to 18% U.S.-wide.
- Life expectancy in Central Appalachia averaged 73.2 years in 2021, 5.3 years below the national 78.5.
- Diabetes prevalence among Appalachian adults was 14.7% in 2022, versus 11.6% nationally.
- Mental health treatment access in rural Appalachia reached only 32% of those needing it in 2023.
- 19.5% of Appalachian seniors reported skipping medications due to cost in 2022.
- Infant mortality rate in Appalachia was 7.2 per 1,000 births in 2021, 25% higher than national 5.6.
- SNAP participation in Appalachian counties averaged 18.4% of population in 2023.
- Cancer mortality rate in Appalachia stood at 186 per 100,000 in 2022, 15% above national average.
- Obesity rate among Appalachian adults was 41.2% in 2023.
- Suicide rate in Appalachia was 22.4 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Medicaid enrollment in Appalachia covered 28% of population in 2023.
- Heart disease death rate in Appalachia was 215 per 100,000 in 2021.
- Child welfare involvement rate was 15.3 per 1,000 in Appalachia 2022.
- Dental care access for low-income Appalachians was 55% in 2023.
- COVID-19 vaccination rate lagged at 62% in rural Appalachia 2023.
- Homelessness rate per 10,000 in Appalachia was 45 in 2022.
- Chronic disease management programs served 35% of Appalachians 2022.
- Substance use disorder treatment capacity was 1 bed per 500 in 2023.
- WIC participation was 65% of eligible Appalachian infants 2022.
- Stroke mortality was 48 per 100,000 in Appalachia 2021.
- Community health center visits totaled 4.2 million in Appalachia 2023.
- Teen birth rate was 28 per 1,000 in Appalachia 2022.
- TANF caseload per 100 poor families was 22 in 2023.
Health and Social Services Interpretation
In Appalachia, the statistics read like a gruesome tally from a war zone—from health crises to shorter lives—where systemic neglect has weaponized poverty against the bodies and spirits of its people.
Housing and Infrastructure
- Severe housing cost burden affected 32.4% of Appalachian renter households in 2022.
- 14.7% of Appalachian homes lacked complete plumbing in 2021.
- Homeownership rate in Appalachia was 73.2% in 2023, but only 52% for low-income households.
- Rural broadband access in Appalachia reached 78.6% of households in 2022.
- Overcrowded housing conditions prevailed in 8.2% of Appalachian homes in 2021.
- Median home value in Central Appalachia was $142,000 in 2023, 40% below national $235,000.
- 22% of Appalachian roads were in poor condition in 2022.
- Public transportation availability served only 15% of Appalachian rural residents in 2023.
- Vacant housing units in Appalachia totaled 9.3% of inventory in 2021.
- Affordable housing units comprised 12% of Appalachian stock in 2022.
- Water system violations occurred in 18% of Appalachian utilities 2023.
- Energy poverty affected 23% of Appalachian households in 2021.
- Mobile home residency was 24% in Appalachia 2022.
- Infrastructure spending gap was $95 billion for Appalachia through 2040.
- Sewer access lagged at 82% in rural Appalachia 2023.
- Foreclosure rate was 1.2% in Appalachian counties 2022.
- Lead paint hazard in pre-1978 Appalachian homes affected 15% 2023.
- EV charging stations numbered 1,200 in Appalachia 2023.
- Flood risk homes totaled 450,000 in Appalachia 2022.
- Rent as % of income exceeded 50% for 28% renters 2023.
- Paved road mileage was 65% of total in rural Appalachia 2022.
- Utility assistance prevented 12,000 shutoffs in 2023.
- Housing vouchers served 45,000 Appalachian families 2022.
Housing and Infrastructure Interpretation
One would think that with statistics revealing a region where nearly a third of renters are severely burdened, a quarter of households live in mobile homes, and a fifth drink questionable water, the phrase "home sweet home" in Appalachia is less a warm sentiment and more a dark, bureaucratic punchline about systemic neglect.
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