Child Opportunity Index
The Child Opportunity Index (COI) 3.0 measures and maps the quality of resources and conditions that support children’s healthy development in the neighborhoods where they live. Based on 44 component indicators spanning 3 domains (education, health and environment, and social and economic conditions) it also considers child population counts by race and Hispanic ethnicity. COI 3.0 provides a comprehensive view using 14 subdomains that capture various factors influencing well-being. Data is available for almost all U.S. census tracts, ZIP codes, and counties from 2012 to 2023, and the index values range from 1 (no opportunity) to 100 (maximum opportunity), helping to identify areas where children have fewer resources and where improvement is needed.
This indicator in COI 3.0 includes measures of social capital, wealth, broadband access, and density of local nonprofits. Please see a full table of COI 3.0 indicators and their definitions on the link here.
Source
Source Description
DiversityDataKids is an organization dedicated to improving child wellbeing and promoting racial and ethnic equity in opportunities for all children. Established in 2014 with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, produces research and data to help communities, policymakers, and advocates make informed decisions.
These resources empower individuals and groups to drive positive change by fostering conversations about equity, influencing policy, and guiding the allocation of resources to ensure that every child has equal access to the opportunities they need to thrive.
For further details, you can visit their official website: DiversityDataKids.
Methodology
The Child Opportunity Index (COI) 3.0-2023 measures neighborhood resources and conditions essential for children’s healthy development, building on previous versions with improved data, updated methods and extended time coverage. COI 3.0-2023 includes 44 component indicators across three domains (education; health & environment; social & economic) and 14 subdomains, enabling more detailed and fine-grained analysis.
Index values range from 1 (least opportunity) to 100 (most opportunity). Neighborhoods (census tracts) are ranked both within states and nationally, with scores representing relative levels of child opportunity in those areas.
ZCTA-level index scores are derived from COI ZIP Code–level data and converted to ZCTAs using the 2022 crosswalk table from the Uniform Data System (UDS) maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
County, state, and custom-area index scores are calculated as population-weighted averages of tract-level COI scores using the 2020 Decennial Census total population as weights.
Note that CARES’ estimated county-level national scores may differ slightly from those in the County COI dataset but are closely aligned with the County-Average Child Opportunity Scores dataset.
Please check out the methodology for more information on the difference between the two county datasets and other related updates.
Data Breakouts Available
- Number of Children Living in Low Opportunity Areas by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity
- % Children Living in Low Opportunity Areas by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity
- County-Average Child Opportunity Scores by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity
- Child Opportunity Index Score – Trend
This indicator is available at the following subscription levels:
- Premium (currently viewing this indicator and report combination)