Material Hardship Across Place

Abstract

In this brief, we examine trends in material hardship for families, focusing specifically on geographic variations. Using data from the Census Bureau Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS), we assess how the levels of material hardship among families compare to those in various regions of the country. Are families equally likely to experience material hardship across different types of residences? Additionally, we assess whether there are differences in material hardship between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas within the various regions.