Counties where children have the best opportunity for economic mobility in Florida

Americans have long understood that their birthplace can significantly affect their futures, and academics have increasingly been able to connect tangible early life factors like where they live and the friendships they’ve cultivated with potential future income.

Among the most recent studies shedding light on what's known as economic mobility—a person's ability to move themselves and their families up the socioeconomic ladder over their lifetime—are a series of papers authored by Harvard University researchers leveraging vast troves of social networking data.

As part of a national analysis, Wealth Enhancement Group used data from Harvard University's Social Capital Atlas project to identify where in Florida children have the best (and worst) chances at upward economic mobility.

The research draws on a privacy-protected dataset representing 21 billion friendships from Facebook made public through its parent company Meta's Data for Good project. It also uses anonymous tax records, according to the authors. The scholars assigned a score to locales according to how economically connected low- and high-income people living in the area have historically been over at least a decade, per that data. The dataset does not include scores for about 180 of the 3,000 or so counties in the U.S.

The research attempts to fill in the gaps of previous efforts to study American economic mobility that did not consider a person's vast social networks nor their importance in creating better lives for themselves and their children.

It turns out the ability to cultivate friendships linking people of different socioeconomic backgrounds with one another is the strongest factor in determining whether a child can surpass the earning potential of their parents, Harvard researchers found. They call this economic connectedness.

Read on to find out where economic connectedness is strongest in your state.

#50. Miami-Dade County

- Economic connectedness: 0.59 - Median Income: $57,815 - Population: 2,690,113 --- 56.5% white --- 16.3% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.5% Asian

#49. Holmes County

- Economic connectedness: 0.59 - Median Income: $41,809 - Population: 19,622 --- 87.4% white --- 7.1% Black --- 1% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.7% Asian

#48. Highlands County

- Economic connectedness: 0.6 - Median Income: $46,895 - Population: 101,174 --- 77.8% white --- 9% Black --- 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.6% Asian

#47. Washington County

- Economic connectedness: 0.61 - Median Income: $41,806 - Population: 24,906 --- 78.8% white --- 14.9% Black --- 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.8% Asian

#46. Levy County

- Economic connectedness: 0.61 - Median Income: $43,029 - Population: 42,392 --- 85.1% white --- 8.4% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.9% Asian

#45. Polk County

- Economic connectedness: 0.62 - Median Income: $55,099 - Population: 713,148 --- 68.5% white --- 15% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.7% Asian

#44. Bradford County

- Economic connectedness: 0.62 - Median Income: $48,803 - Population: 27,928 --- 75.7% white --- 19.3% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.8% Asian

#43. Jefferson County

- Economic connectedness: 0.62 - Median Income: $53,080 - Population: 14,405 --- 63% white --- 33% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.4% Asian

#42. Liberty County

- Economic connectedness: 0.62 - Median Income: $42,438 - Population: 7,987 --- 78.1% white --- 14.9% Black --- 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.1% Asian

#41. Gilchrist County

- Economic connectedness: 0.62 - Median Income: $50,983 - Population: 17,759 --- 89.1% white --- 4.9% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.3% Asian

#40. Marion County

- Economic connectedness: 0.63 - Median Income: $50,808 - Population: 370,372 --- 77.6% white --- 12.6% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.5% Asian

#39. Union County

- Economic connectedness: 0.64 - Median Income: $55,463 - Population: 16,141 --- 71.9% white --- 18.3% Black --- 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.2% Asian

#38. Collier County

- Economic connectedness: 0.66 - Median Income: $75,543 - Population: 372,797 --- 79.6% white --- 6.6% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.5% Asian

#37. Sumter County

- Economic connectedness: 0.66 - Median Income: $63,323 - Population: 127,335 --- 88% white --- 7.3% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1% Asian

#36. Baker County

- Economic connectedness: 0.67 - Median Income: $63,860 - Population: 28,003 --- 79.1% white --- 12.6% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.3% Asian

#35. Gulf County

- Economic connectedness: 0.67 - Median Income: $53,812 - Population: 15,205 --- 80.4% white --- 14.7% Black --- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.5% Asian

#34. St. Lucie County

- Economic connectedness: 0.67 - Median Income: $59,807 - Population: 324,599 --- 66.5% white --- 20.4% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2% Asian

#33. Manatee County

- Economic connectedness: 0.67 - Median Income: $64,964 - Population: 394,824 --- 80.8% white --- 8.3% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.2% Asian

#32. Lee County

- Economic connectedness: 0.67 - Median Income: $63,235 - Population: 752,251 --- 78% white --- 8.1% Black --- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.7% Asian

#31. Duval County

- Economic connectedness: 0.67 - Median Income: $59,541 - Population: 983,153 --- 56.1% white --- 29.4% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 4.7% Asian

#30. Hillsborough County

- Economic connectedness: 0.68 - Median Income: $64,164 - Population: 1,444,359 --- 63.4% white --- 16.5% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 4.2% Asian

#29. Escambia County

- Economic connectedness: 0.68 - Median Income: $56,605 - Population: 318,828 --- 66.1% white --- 21.8% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 3.1% Asian

#28. Palm Beach County

- Economic connectedness: 0.68 - Median Income: $68,874 - Population: 1,481,233 --- 65.4% white --- 18.6% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.8% Asian

#27. Citrus County

- Economic connectedness: 0.69 - Median Income: $48,664 - Population: 151,888 --- 90.9% white --- 2.5% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.7% Asian

#26. Bay County

- Economic connectedness: 0.7 - Median Income: $60,473 - Population: 181,384 --- 79.1% white --- 10.4% Black --- 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.2% Asian

#25. Indian River County

- Economic connectedness: 0.71 - Median Income: $61,594 - Population: 158,002 --- 81.8% white --- 8.2% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.4% Asian

#24. Volusia County

- Economic connectedness: 0.72 - Median Income: $56,786 - Population: 548,783 --- 76.8% white --- 10.9% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.8% Asian

#23. Osceola County

- Economic connectedness: 0.73 - Median Income: $58,513 - Population: 380,331 --- 57.7% white --- 10.9% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.7% Asian

#22. Hernando County

- Economic connectedness: 0.73 - Median Income: $53,301 - Population: 192,128 --- 83.4% white --- 5.2% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.2% Asian

#21. Lake County

- Economic connectedness: 0.73 - Median Income: $60,013 - Population: 375,059 --- 77.2% white --- 10.5% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.1% Asian

#20. Orange County

- Economic connectedness: 0.75 - Median Income: $65,784 - Population: 1,409,949 --- 55.5% white --- 20.7% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 5.2% Asian

#19. Walton County

- Economic connectedness: 0.75 - Median Income: $68,111 - Population: 73,456 --- 85.8% white --- 4.2% Black --- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.9% Asian

#18. Wakulla County

- Economic connectedness: 0.75 - Median Income: $72,941 - Population: 33,144 --- 80.2% white --- 13.5% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 0.6% Asian

#17. Broward County

- Economic connectedness: 0.75 - Median Income: $64,522 - Population: 1,934,551 --- 52.5% white --- 28.5% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 3.6% Asian

#16. Leon County

- Economic connectedness: 0.76 - Median Income: $57,359 - Population: 290,965 --- 59.1% white --- 31% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 3.6% Asian

#15. Pasco County

- Economic connectedness: 0.76 - Median Income: $58,084 - Population: 551,598 --- 81.3% white --- 5.9% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.7% Asian

#14. Charlotte County

- Economic connectedness: 0.78 - Median Income: $57,887 - Population: 184,837 --- 87% white --- 5.4% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.3% Asian

#13. Pinellas County

- Economic connectedness: 0.78 - Median Income: $60,451 - Population: 957,989 --- 78.5% white --- 10.3% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 3.5% Asian

#12. Monroe County

- Economic connectedness: 0.79 - Median Income: $73,153 - Population: 82,244 --- 79.9% white --- 7.2% Black --- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.3% Asian

#11. Brevard County

- Economic connectedness: 0.79 - Median Income: $63,632 - Population: 601,573 --- 78.8% white --- 9.7% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.4% Asian

#10. Martin County

- Economic connectedness: 0.79 - Median Income: $69,769 - Population: 158,323 --- 85% white --- 5.6% Black --- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.6% Asian

#9. Clay County

- Economic connectedness: 0.8 - Median Income: $74,059 - Population: 216,308 --- 75.2% white --- 11% Black --- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.9% Asian

#8. Alachua County

- Economic connectedness: 0.81 - Median Income: $53,314 - Population: 276,171 --- 65.7% white --- 19.9% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 6% Asian

#7. Sarasota County

- Economic connectedness: 0.82 - Median Income: $69,490 - Population: 429,336 --- 87.9% white --- 4.3% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.8% Asian

#6. Flagler County

- Economic connectedness: 0.83 - Median Income: $62,305 - Population: 113,888 --- 79.1% white --- 9.8% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 2.4% Asian

#5. Okaloosa County

- Economic connectedness: 0.83 - Median Income: $67,390 - Population: 209,230 --- 75.7% white --- 9.6% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 3.4% Asian

#4. Seminole County

- Economic connectedness: 0.84 - Median Income: $73,002 - Population: 467,382 --- 69.4% white --- 11.9% Black --- 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 4.8% Asian

#3. Nassau County

- Economic connectedness: 0.86 - Median Income: $77,504 - Population: 88,492 --- 88.5% white --- 5.5% Black --- 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1% Asian

#2. Santa Rosa County

- Economic connectedness: 0.86 - Median Income: $77,260 - Population: 184,345 --- 83.7% white --- 5.9% Black --- 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 1.8% Asian

#1. St. Johns County

- Economic connectedness: 0.97 - Median Income: $88,794 - Population: 265,724 --- 84.9% white --- 5.3% Black --- 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native --- 3% Asian

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

This story originally appeared on Wealth Enhancement Group and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.