Each row shows where Kansas City sits on the national distribution for one economic concept across all three mobility measures.

All income a person receives, including wages and transfers.

α Absolute mobility 49th percentile

this county national median

33.43 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 50th percentile

this county national median

0.32 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 32nd percentile

this county national median

The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

Income earned from work (wages and salaries).

α Absolute mobility 52nd percentile

this county national median

38.08 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 47th percentile

this county national median

0.31 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 83rd percentile

this county national median

11.85 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The probability of owning a home (the extensive margin of housing wealth).

α Absolute mobility 63rd percentile

this county national median

62.38 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 38th percentile

this county national median

0.36 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 13th percentile

this county national median

-14.49 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The value of housing assets a person holds.

α Absolute mobility 59th percentile

this county national median

39.17 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 58th percentile

this county national median

0.32 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 39th percentile

this county national median

-2.01 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

The total value of all assets a person holds.

α Absolute mobility 43rd percentile

this county national median

39.65 — Higher means children who started at the bottom reach a higher rank on average.
β Persistence 74th percentile

this county national median

0.33 — Higher means rank sticks across generations — less mobility.
δ Extensive margin 55th percentile

this county national median

4.97 — The gap for children whose parents had zero of the resource vs. the lowest positive amount.

County	State	α (absolute mobility)	β (persistence)	δ (extensive margin)	n
Bates	MO	38.91	0.292	2.06	450
Caldwell	MO	43.20	0.228	4.08	300
Cass	MO	40.27	0.282	8.79	1400
Clay	MO	39.02	0.343	13.07	2100
Clinton	MO	40.79	0.270	3.74	450
Jackson	MO	35.03	0.381	0.43	6100
Johnson	KS	45.70	0.337	10.96	4400
Lafayette	MO	37.18	0.337	-0.90	750
Leavenworth	KS	44.59	0.230	-2.05	850
Linn	KS	38.74	0.364	2.87	200
Miami	KS	46.56	0.198	-0.18	350
Platte	MO	43.89	0.303	6.80	1000
Ray	MO	46.71	0.137	-1.08	600
Wyandotte	KS	32.39	0.360	2.31	1700

Kansas City

The five lenses at a glance