When it comes to the economic well-being of its residents and the overall state of its children, Overton County ranks 22nd out of 95 counties in the state, according to the KIDS Count report released earlier this month by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. The organization ranked each county in Tennessee based on data relative to four factors - economic well-being, family and community, health and education.
In the economic well-being category, Overton County ranked 47th overall in the state. Factors used to determine the ranking in that category include the percentage of children living in poverty as well as cost burdens of families residing in Benton.
With 10 percent of families considered severely housing-cost burdened, Overton County’s rank of 63 led to its low rank in overall economic well-being. The county saw some improvement from last year’s 68th ranking in severe housing-cost burden. In 2023, the TCCY recorded Overton’s percentage of its families burdened by housing costs at 10.4.
Overton County showed a slight increase in the number of families that are reportedly burdened by child-care costs. In 2023, the TCCY ranked the county 31st as a result of 24.4 percent of families burdened by the cost of child care. This year, the county ranked 32nd in the state, although it saw a higher percentage burdened by child-care costs at 26.1.
Childcare cost burden is defined as the average market rate price for full time care of an infant and a two-year-old through school age child, as a percentage of the county’s estimated median household income.
In 2021, Overton County’s percentage of children reportedly living in poverty was recorded at 19.2 percent, which ranked it 25th among other Tennessee counties. This year’s report, which reflects data from 2022, that percentage was up slightly at 19.7, ranking the county at 37th.
The percentage of children living in poverty across the state was recorded at 17.8, down slightly from last year’s report of 18.8 percent. Williamson County shows the lowest number of children living in poverty at 3.6 percent. Lake County is recording the highest number of children living in poverty at 42.9 percent.
Total population measured in 2023 for Overton County was 23,327, with 4,879 of those under 18 years old. Children make up roughly 20.9 percent of Overton’s overall population. Tennessee recorded a population of 7,126,489 in 2023.
The KIDS Count report utilizes data from a handful of categories to determine a county’s overall economic well-being ranking, including household income and the number of children who receive WIC and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) benefits.
Overton County’s median household income reported from 2022 was $52,108. Tennessee’s median household income was listed at $65,231. Overton ranked 65th overall among other counties for its median household income.
In 2022, Overton County’s median home sales price was reported at $239,989, while the state’s average was recorded at $325,000.
There were 976 (20 percent) children in Overton County who received SNAP benefits during fiscal year 2022-23. Across the state, that percentage was recorded at 22.4 percent.
Overton County’s fair-market rent was listed at $1,000 during fiscal year 2022-23.
The percentage of children under five years old in Overton County receiving WIC benefits in fiscal year 2022-23 was recorded at 35.6, with 445 children using the benefit.
According to the KIDS Count report for Overton County, it ranked in the top fourth of counties in Tennessee for overall child well-being.
The county’s strongest area was Health. Overton’s strongest indicator is the percent of babies who were born at a low birthweight, where the county ranks 4th. The county also performs well in the percent of public school kindergarteners with the full immunization series at 27th.
The county’s biggest challenge is the percent of households in the county experiencing a severe housing cost burden, where it ranks 63rd.
There are opportunities for improvement in the percent of chronic absenteeism among public school students as well.
See future editions of this newspaper for a break-down of data relative to how the county ranked in Family and Community, Education and Health.
For more information about the TCCY, visit its website, https://www.tn.gov/tccy.
Sabrina Bates, sabrina@richardsonmediagroup.net
