Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Fresno County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 58 counties in 2014, at 38%. Santa Clara County had the lowest, at 9.3%. The median was 21.2% and the figure for California was 22.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest38Fresno County
Median21.258 counties
California22.6History

Map of counties, 2014

Alameda County: 14.3 %Alpine County: 28.2 %Amador County: 18.6 %Butte County: 24.3 %Calaveras County: 20.6 %Colusa County: 19.9 %Contra Costa County: 13.8 %Del Norte County: 31 %El Dorado County: 13.1 %Fresno County: 38 %Glenn County: 23.7 %Humboldt County: 23.9 %Imperial County: 31.3 %Inyo County: 20.2 %Kern County: 32.9 %Kings County: 33.8 %Lake County: 32.3 %Lassen County: 20.3 %Los Angeles County: 26.7 %Madera County: 30.7 %Marin County: 10.1 %Mariposa County: 25 %Mendocino County: 26.2 %Merced County: 35.9 %Modoc County: 31.3 %Mono County: 16.2 %Monterey County: 25.2 %Napa County: 12 %Nevada County: 17.6 %Orange County: 17.9 %Placer County: 9.7 %Plumas County: 21.6 %Riverside County: 23.5 %Sacramento County: 23.8 %San Benito County: 19.8 %San Bernardino County: 28.2 %San Diego County: 18.9 %San Francisco County: 13.6 %San Joaquin County: 27.5 %San Luis Obispo County: 15.6 %San Mateo County: 9.8 %Santa Barbara County: 22.6 %Santa Clara County: 9.3 %Santa Cruz County: 19.1 %Shasta County: 20.3 %Sierra County: 19 %Siskiyou County: 30.3 %Solano County: 16.5 %Sonoma County: 13.6 %Stanislaus County: 23.8 %Sutter County: 20.8 %Tehama County: 26.7 %Trinity County: 31.7 %Tulare County: 36.7 %Tuolumne County: 20.5 %Ventura County: 15.8 %Yolo County: 17.5 %Yuba County: 28.6 %
  • Under 15
  • 15 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 to 31
  • 31 and over
%, 2014. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2014

Fresno County: 38 %Fresno County38Tulare County: 36.7 %Tulare County36.7Merced County: 35.9 %Merced County35.9Kings County: 33.8 %Kings County33.8Kern County: 32.9 %Kern County32.9Lake County: 32.3 %Lake County32.3Trinity County: 31.7 %Trinity County31.7Imperial County: 31.3 %Imperial County31.3Modoc County: 31.3 %Modoc County31.3Del Norte County: 31 %Del Norte County31Madera County: 30.7 %Madera County30.7Siskiyou County: 30.3 %Siskiyou County30.3Yuba County: 28.6 %Yuba County28.6Alpine County: 28.2 %Alpine County28.2San Bernardino County: 28.2 %San Bernardino County28.2San Joaquin County: 27.5 %San Joaquin County27.5Los Angeles County: 26.7 %Los Angeles County26.7Tehama County: 26.7 %Tehama County26.7Mendocino County: 26.2 %Mendocino County26.2Monterey County: 25.2 %Monterey County25.2Mariposa County: 25 %Mariposa County25Butte County: 24.3 %Butte County24.3Humboldt County: 23.9 %Humboldt County23.9Sacramento County: 23.8 %Sacramento County23.8Stanislaus County: 23.8 %Stanislaus County23.8Glenn County: 23.7 %Glenn County23.7Riverside County: 23.5 %Riverside County23.5Santa Barbara County: 22.6 %Santa Barbara County22.6Plumas County: 21.6 %Plumas County21.6Sutter County: 20.8 %Sutter County20.8Calaveras County: 20.6 %Calaveras County20.6Tuolumne County: 20.5 %Tuolumne County20.5Lassen County: 20.3 %Lassen County20.3Shasta County: 20.3 %Shasta County20.3Inyo County: 20.2 %Inyo County20.2Colusa County: 19.9 %Colusa County19.9San Benito County: 19.8 %San Benito County19.8Santa Cruz County: 19.1 %Santa Cruz County19.1Sierra County: 19 %Sierra County19San Diego County: 18.9 %San Diego County18.9Amador County: 18.6 %Amador County18.6Orange County: 17.9 %Orange County17.9Nevada County: 17.6 %Nevada County17.6Yolo County: 17.5 %Yolo County17.5Solano County: 16.5 %Solano County16.5Mono County: 16.2 %Mono County16.2Ventura County: 15.8 %Ventura County15.8San Luis Obispo County: 15.6 %San Luis Obispo County15.6Alameda County: 14.3 %Alameda County14.3Contra Costa County: 13.8 %Contra Costa County13.8San Francisco County: 13.6 %San Francisco County13.6Sonoma County: 13.6 %Sonoma County13.6El Dorado County: 13.1 %El Dorado County13.1Napa County: 12 %Napa County12Marin County: 10.1 %Marin County10.1San Mateo County: 9.8 %San Mateo County9.8Placer County: 9.7 %Placer County9.7Santa Clara County: 9.3 %Santa Clara County9.3Fresno County: 38 %Fresno County38Tulare County: 36.7 %Tulare County36.7Merced County: 35.9 %Merced County35.9Kings County: 33.8 %Kings County33.8Kern County: 32.9 %Kern County32.9Lake County: 32.3 %Lake County32.3Trinity County: 31.7 %Trinity County31.7Imperial County: 31.3 %Imperial County31.3Modoc County: 31.3 %Modoc County31.3Del Norte County: 31 %Del Norte County31Madera County: 30.7 %Madera County30.7Siskiyou County: 30.3 %Siskiyou County30.3Yuba County: 28.6 %Yuba County28.6Alpine County: 28.2 %Alpine County28.2San Bernardino County: 28.2 %San Bernardino County28.2San Joaquin County: 27.5 %San Joaquin County27.5Los Angeles County: 26.7 %Los Angeles County26.7Tehama County: 26.7 %Tehama County26.7Mendocino County: 26.2 %Mendocino County26.2Monterey County: 25.2 %Monterey County25.2Mariposa County: 25 %Mariposa County25Butte County: 24.3 %Butte County24.3Humboldt County: 23.9 %Humboldt County23.9Sacramento County: 23.8 %Sacramento County23.8Stanislaus County: 23.8 %Stanislaus County23.8Glenn County: 23.7 %Glenn County23.7Riverside County: 23.5 %Riverside County23.5Santa Barbara County: 22.6 %Santa Barbara County22.6Plumas County: 21.6 %Plumas County21.6Sutter County: 20.8 %Sutter County20.8Calaveras County: 20.6 %Calaveras County20.6Tuolumne County: 20.5 %Tuolumne County20.5Lassen County: 20.3 %Lassen County20.3Shasta County: 20.3 %Shasta County20.3Inyo County: 20.2 %Inyo County20.2Colusa County: 19.9 %Colusa County19.9San Benito County: 19.8 %San Benito County19.8Santa Cruz County: 19.1 %Santa Cruz County19.1Sierra County: 19 %Sierra County19San Diego County: 18.9 %San Diego County18.9Amador County: 18.6 %Amador County18.6Orange County: 17.9 %Orange County17.9Nevada County: 17.6 %Nevada County17.6Yolo County: 17.5 %Yolo County17.5Solano County: 16.5 %Solano County16.5Mono County: 16.2 %Mono County16.2Ventura County: 15.8 %Ventura County15.8San Luis Obispo County: 15.6 %San Luis Obispo County15.6Alameda County: 14.3 %Alameda County14.3Contra Costa County: 13.8 %Contra Costa County13.8San Francisco County: 13.6 %San Francisco County13.6Sonoma County: 13.6 %Sonoma County13.6El Dorado County: 13.1 %El Dorado County13.1Napa County: 12 %Napa County12Marin County: 10.1 %Marin County10.1San Mateo County: 9.8 %San Mateo County9.8Placer County: 9.7 %Placer County9.7Santa Clara County: 9.3 %Santa Clara County9.3
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2014 (%)Change on 2013
1Fresno County38-4 pts
2Tulare County36.7-3.1 pts
3Merced County35.9+1.8 pts
4Kings County33.8+5.8 pts
5Kern County32.9+2.4 pts
6Lake County32.3-1.4 pts
7Trinity County31.7-2.9 pts
8Imperial County31.3+0.4 pts
8Modoc County31.3-2.1 pts
10Del Norte County31-1.6 pts
11Madera County30.7-1.5 pts
12Siskiyou County30.3+2.3 pts
13Yuba County28.6+0.6 pts
14Alpine County28.2-3.7 pts
14San Bernardino County28.2+1.5 pts
16San Joaquin County27.5+1.1 pts
17Los Angeles County26.7-0.7 pts
17Tehama County26.7-2 pts
19Mendocino County26.2-2.7 pts
20Monterey County25.2+0.8 pts
21Mariposa County25-0.5 pts
22Butte County24.3-0.7 pts
23Humboldt County23.9-1.7 pts
24Sacramento County23.8-2.1 pts
24Stanislaus County23.8-6.7 pts
26Glenn County23.7-4.8 pts
27Riverside County23.5-0.7 pts
28Santa Barbara County22.6+1.7 pts
29Plumas County21.6-3.3 pts
30Sutter County20.8-4.6 pts
31Calaveras County20.6-1.2 pts
32Tuolumne County20.5-1.1 pts
33Lassen County20.3+0.4 pts
33Shasta County20.3-8 pts
35Inyo County20.2-2.9 pts
36Colusa County19.9-0.1 pts
37San Benito County19.8+1.2 pts
38Santa Cruz County19.1+0.2 pts
39Sierra County19-1.4 pts
40San Diego County18.9-0.5 pts
41Amador County18.6-3.5 pts
42Orange County17.9-0.9 pts
43Nevada County17.6-0.2 pts
44Yolo County17.5-0.4 pts
45Solano County16.5-1.3 pts
46Mono County16.2-2.5 pts
47Ventura County15.8-2.2 pts
48San Luis Obispo County15.6-0.5 pts
49Alameda County14.3-1.1 pts
50Contra Costa County13.8+0.4 pts
51San Francisco County13.6-0.8 pts
51Sonoma County13.6-2.4 pts
53El Dorado County13.1-0.7 pts
54Napa County12-1.7 pts
55Marin County10.1-0.2 pts
56San Mateo County9.8-0.2 pts
57Placer County9.7+0.2 pts
58Santa Clara County9.3-3.6 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People under 18 in families or living alone with income below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people under 18 whose poverty status can be determined. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for the nation, states and counties.

A model-based single-year estimate; the national figure is the one-year American Community Survey estimate. The Census Bureau advises comparing years from 2006 on only. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate. The rate for all ages is poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties (Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/california-counties?period=2014. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/california-counties?period=2014.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/california-counties?period=2014 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2014,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties: Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/california-counties?period=2014. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties: Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2014
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/california-counties?period=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/california-counties?period=2014.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2014/2014-state-and-county/est14all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in California by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"child_poverty_rate","level":"province","within":"California","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=child_poverty_rate&level=province&within=California&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)?

Fresno County, with 38% in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)?

Santa Clara County, with 9.3% in 2014.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure): other rankings

Counties in California: more rankings