Children raised in impoverished environments are at higher risk for a wide variety of health and social problems, including poor performance in school. The challenges they face in childhood can diminish their chances for successful adult lives. Studies have found that the stress of living in poverty can cause biological changes in children that can lead to long-term health problems.

In 2016-20, 12% of children in Lancaster County lived below the poverty line. This was lower than the statewide and national rate (both at 17%). The county's rate rose 1 percentage point since 2000 - similar to Pennsylvania and the nation.

In the City of Lancaster in 2016-20, 28% of children lived below the poverty line. This was a decrease of 2 percentage points since 2000.

The percentage of children living below the poverty line in Lancaster County in 2016-20 was higher than in Chester (7%) and Cumberland (9%) counties. Lancaster was most similar to York (12%) and Lebanon (17%) and below Berks (18%) and Dauphin (19%).

The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Poverty status is not reported for people in institutions, including college dormitories and military barracks, and people in living situations without conventional housing. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.