PF 3.1

RESIDENTIAL STABILITY: PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18 WHO HAVE MOVED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR
 

Recent research has demonstrated a strong relationship between residential stability and child well-being, with frequent moves associated with such negative outcomes as dropping out of high school, delinquency, depression, and nonmarital teen births. Some researchers theorize that these negative associations may result from a lack of rootedness in a local community and its institutions on the part of frequent movers.⁸

The United States has long been a highly mobile society. In 1960, 21 percent of children under the age of 18 had moved to a new residence during the previous year. The general trend since that time has been toward somewhat lower rates of mobility, to a low of 17 percent in 1994 (see Table PF 3.1.A).

Differences by Age. Young children were the most mobile of any child age group (see Table PF 3.1.B). In 1994, 22 percent of children under the age of five had changed residences in the previous year, compared to
17 percent among children ages 5-9, 13 percent for ages 10-14, and 15 percent for youth ages 15-17.

Differences by Race and Ethnicity. For all children under age 18 in 1994, 16 percent of white children moved during the previous year compared to 20 percent of black children and 21 percent of Hispanic children. For each group, the youngest children were the most likely to move, and children ages 10-14 were the least likely to move.

 

Table PF 3.1.A  Percentage of Children Under Age 18 Who Have Moved Within the Last Year: 1960–1994
	1960	1970	1981	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
	———	———	———	———	———	———	———	———
Totala	21	19	18	18	17	18	17	17
Note: aTotal children refers to all children between the ages of 1 and 17.  Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Reports, Series P-20, Geographical Mobility, various years.

 

Table PF 3.1.B  Percentage of Children Under Age 18 Who Have Moved Within the Last Year, by Age and Race/Ethnicity: 1990–1994
					1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
					———	———	———	———	———
All Children
	Totala				18	17	18	17	17
		1-4 Years			24	23	22	23	22
		5-9 Years			19	18	18	17	17
		10-14 Years			15	14	15	14	13
		15-17 Years			15	15	14	14	15
White
	Totala				18	17	17	16	16
		1-4 Years			23	22	21	22	21
		5-9 Years			18	17	17	16	16
		10-14 Years			14	13	15	13	12
		15-17 Years			14	14	14	14	13
BLACK
	Totala				21	21	21	20	20
		1-4 Years			26	26	27	26	25
		5-9 Years			22	22	22	20	22
		10-14 Years			19	17	18	17	16
		15-17 Years			18	16	16	14	18
Hispinic
	Totala				25	21	24	23	21
		1-4 Years			32	27	27	28	26
		5-9 Years			28	20	25	24	20
		10-14 Years			18	19	21	19	15
		15-17 Years			21	19	19	20	21
Note: aTotal children refers to all children between the ages of one and 17.  Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March Current Population Reports, Series P-20, Geographical Mobility, various years.