A recent report by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, The Road to Equity: Child & Family Well-Being in New York State, identifies significant challenges facing youth in Sullivan County. The comprehensive study analyzed well-being across six key areas—Economic Security, Housing, Health, Education, Youth, and Community—and found that the county’s youth experience some of the most acute barriers in the state.
Sullivan County’s youth unemployment rate stands at 12.4% for those aged 20 to 24, with 16.8% of teens aged 16 to 19 neither in school nor working—the highest rate in New York State. Additionally, the county’s teen birth rate is 21 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19, more than double the state average of 9 per 1,000.
Educational outcomes further reflect the challenges faced by young people. Sullivan County’s high school graduation rate is 75.8%, falling significantly below the state average of 85.2%. Furthermore, 13.3% of adults lack a high school diploma, underscoring long-term educational barriers.
Economic struggles are also pronounced. The child poverty rate is 22.6%, and the median income for families with children is $67,064—well below New York State’s median of $97,314. Despite a labor force participation rate of 92.5% among families with children, many families contend with low wages and limited opportunities for advancement.
Housing instability compounds these issues. Nearly 24% of renter households are severely rent-burdened, and 6.1% experience rental overcrowding. Alarmingly, 3.8% of students live in temporary housing conditions.
Health indicators also highlight disparities. Sullivan County reports an infant mortality rate of 6.2 deaths per 1,000 live births—higher than the state average. Additionally, 6.1% of children under 19 are uninsured, compared to 2.5% statewide.
Access to technology and resources remains uneven. Twelve percent of households lack broadband internet, limiting educational and employment opportunities in an increasingly digital world. The county also faces a shortage of large food retailers, with 3,523 residents per store, compared to more favorable ratios elsewhere in the state.
Despite a violent felony rate of 183.8 per 100,000—lower than the statewide average—the systemic barriers confronting Sullivan County youth are stark. The Citizens’ Committee attributes these disparities to historic underinvestment and calls for targeted policy solutions and community-driven interventions to create equitable opportunities for the county’s young residents.
Read full report here: https://cccnewyork.org/data-publications/the-road-to-equity-child-family-well-being-in-new-york-state-2025/