Research focuses on how these are interrelated and their implications for economic development and social service delivery. The number of children living in female-headed families has increased in Washington in both rural and urban areas, challenging the concept that rural families are more stable than urban families. Disturbingly, there also has been a rapid increase in the percent of children living in poverty. This is more notable in the state's rural areas, and is partially tied to the increase in female-headed families. But poor rural children are still more likely to live in families headed by two parents than are poor urban children.
Rural parents are increasingly unable to find adequate employment.
Current research is examining the extent to which retirees are migrating to certain areas in Washington and whether poverty among older adults is greater in rural or urban areas.