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

Costilla County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 64 counties in 2021, at 36%. Douglas County had the lowest, at 2.8%. The median was 16.4% and the figure for Colorado was 11.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Median16.464 counties
Colorado11.8History

Map of counties, 2021

Adams County: 12.9 %Alamosa County: 23.4 %Arapahoe County: 11.5 %Archuleta County: 20.3 %Baca County: 27 %Bent County: 28.8 %Boulder County: 8.6 %Broomfield County: 5.3 %Chaffee County: 12.8 %Cheyenne County: 20.2 %Clear Creek County: 12.2 %Conejos County: 22.7 %Costilla County: 36 %Crowley County: 31 %Custer County: 22.4 %Delta County: 21.1 %Denver County: 15.8 %Dolores County: 19.3 %Douglas County: 2.8 %Eagle County: 7.5 %Elbert County: 7.1 %El Paso County: 11.5 %Fremont County: 19.4 %Garfield County: 12.5 %Gilpin County: 10.3 %Grand County: 10.1 %Gunnison County: 12.1 %Hinsdale County: 17.2 %Huerfano County: 31.9 %Jackson County: 26 %Jefferson County: 8 %Kiowa County: 19.5 %Kit Carson County: 17.8 %Lake County: 15.9 %La Plata County: 12.1 %Larimer County: 10.6 %Las Animas County: 29 %Lincoln County: 20.2 %Logan County: 18.1 %Mesa County: 14.4 %Mineral County: 16.2 %Moffat County: 14.4 %Montezuma County: 23.5 %Montrose County: 18.7 %Morgan County: 16.3 %Otero County: 28.7 %Ouray County: 8.5 %Park County: 11.4 %Phillips County: 16.4 %Pitkin County: 6.2 %Prowers County: 25.2 %Pueblo County: 19.4 %Rio Blanco County: 12.8 %Rio Grande County: 21 %Routt County: 6.6 %Saguache County: 34.7 %San Juan County: 26.1 %San Miguel County: 9.5 %Sedgwick County: 21.3 %Summit County: 7.4 %Teller County: 13.6 %Washington County: 16.9 %Weld County: 11.3 %Yuma County: 18.2 %
  • Under 9.8
  • 9.8 to 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 20
  • 20 to 24
  • 24 and over
%, 2021. 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.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Costilla County: 36 %Costilla County36Saguache County: 34.7 %Saguache County34.7Huerfano County: 31.9 %Huerfano County31.9Crowley County: 31 %Crowley County31Las Animas County: 29 %Las Animas County29Bent County: 28.8 %Bent County28.8Otero County: 28.7 %Otero County28.7Baca County: 27 %Baca County27San Juan County: 26.1 %San Juan County26.1Jackson County: 26 %Jackson County26Prowers County: 25.2 %Prowers County25.2Montezuma County: 23.5 %Montezuma County23.5Alamosa County: 23.4 %Alamosa County23.4Conejos County: 22.7 %Conejos County22.7Custer County: 22.4 %Custer County22.4Sedgwick County: 21.3 %Sedgwick County21.3Delta County: 21.1 %Delta County21.1Rio Grande County: 21 %Rio Grande County21Archuleta County: 20.3 %Archuleta County20.3Cheyenne County: 20.2 %Cheyenne County20.2Lincoln County: 20.2 %Lincoln County20.2Kiowa County: 19.5 %Kiowa County19.5Fremont County: 19.4 %Fremont County19.4Pueblo County: 19.4 %Pueblo County19.4Dolores County: 19.3 %Dolores County19.3Montrose County: 18.7 %Montrose County18.7Yuma County: 18.2 %Yuma County18.2Logan County: 18.1 %Logan County18.1Kit Carson County: 17.8 %Kit Carson County17.8Hinsdale County: 17.2 %Hinsdale County17.2Washington County: 16.9 %Washington County16.9Phillips County: 16.4 %Phillips County16.4Morgan County: 16.3 %Morgan County16.3Mineral County: 16.2 %Mineral County16.2Lake County: 15.9 %Lake County15.9Denver County: 15.8 %Denver County15.8Mesa County: 14.4 %Mesa County14.4Moffat County: 14.4 %Moffat County14.4Teller County: 13.6 %Teller County13.6Adams County: 12.9 %Adams County12.9Costilla County: 36 %Costilla County36Saguache County: 34.7 %Saguache County34.7Huerfano County: 31.9 %Huerfano County31.9Crowley County: 31 %Crowley County31Las Animas County: 29 %Las Animas County29Bent County: 28.8 %Bent County28.8Otero County: 28.7 %Otero County28.7Baca County: 27 %Baca County27San Juan County: 26.1 %San Juan County26.1Jackson County: 26 %Jackson County26Prowers County: 25.2 %Prowers County25.2Montezuma County: 23.5 %Montezuma County23.5Alamosa County: 23.4 %Alamosa County23.4Conejos County: 22.7 %Conejos County22.7Custer County: 22.4 %Custer County22.4Sedgwick County: 21.3 %Sedgwick County21.3Delta County: 21.1 %Delta County21.1Rio Grande County: 21 %Rio Grande County21Archuleta County: 20.3 %Archuleta County20.3Cheyenne County: 20.2 %Cheyenne County20.2Lincoln County: 20.2 %Lincoln County20.2Kiowa County: 19.5 %Kiowa County19.5Fremont County: 19.4 %Fremont County19.4Pueblo County: 19.4 %Pueblo County19.4Dolores County: 19.3 %Dolores County19.3Montrose County: 18.7 %Montrose County18.7Yuma County: 18.2 %Yuma County18.2Logan County: 18.1 %Logan County18.1Kit Carson County: 17.8 %Kit Carson County17.8Hinsdale County: 17.2 %Hinsdale County17.2Washington County: 16.9 %Washington County16.9Phillips County: 16.4 %Phillips County16.4Morgan County: 16.3 %Morgan County16.3Mineral County: 16.2 %Mineral County16.2Lake County: 15.9 %Lake County15.9Denver County: 15.8 %Denver County15.8Mesa County: 14.4 %Mesa County14.4Moffat County: 14.4 %Moffat County14.4Teller County: 13.6 %Teller County13.6Adams County: 12.9 %Adams County12.9
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Costilla County36+3.8 pts
2Saguache County34.7+5.6 pts
3Huerfano County31.9-0.4 pts
4Crowley County31+1.5 pts
5Las Animas County29+5.6 pts
6Bent County28.8+1.6 pts
7Otero County28.7+4 pts
8Baca County27+3 pts
9San Juan County26.1+9.1 pts
10Jackson County26+9.3 pts
11Prowers County25.2+3.5 pts
12Montezuma County23.5+3.5 pts
13Alamosa County23.4+2.5 pts
14Conejos County22.7+0.3 pts
15Custer County22.4-0.8 pts
16Sedgwick County21.3-0.8 pts
17Delta County21.1+5.7 pts
18Rio Grande County21+1.3 pts
19Archuleta County20.3+4.1 pts
20Cheyenne County20.2+2.1 pts
20Lincoln County20.2+1.9 pts
22Kiowa County19.5+3.6 pts
23Fremont County19.4+1.7 pts
23Pueblo County19.4+1.5 pts
25Dolores County19.3+4 pts
26Montrose County18.7+3.6 pts
27Yuma County18.2+2.1 pts
28Logan County18.1+3.4 pts
29Kit Carson County17.8+2.3 pts
30Hinsdale County17.2-1.6 pts
31Washington County16.9-0.7 pts
32Phillips County16.4+1.5 pts
33Morgan County16.3+3.9 pts
34Mineral County16.2+1.2 pts
35Lake County15.9+1.8 pts
36Denver County15.8-1.5 pts
37Mesa County14.4+0.8 pts
37Moffat County14.4+2.3 pts
39Teller County13.6+1.9 pts
40Adams County12.9+0.8 pts
41Chaffee County12.8+1.6 pts
41Rio Blanco County12.8+1.9 pts
43Garfield County12.5+3.1 pts
44Clear Creek County12.2+2.9 pts
45Gunnison County12.1+3.3 pts
45La Plata County12.1-0.1 pts
47Arapahoe County11.5+3.1 pts
47El Paso County11.5+0.1 pts
49Park County11.4+0.1 pts
50Weld County11.3+1.5 pts
51Larimer County10.6+3 pts
52Gilpin County10.3+2.5 pts
53Grand County10.1+1.1 pts
54San Miguel County9.5+1.6 pts
55Boulder County8.6+2.3 pts
56Ouray County8.5+0.5 pts
57Jefferson County8+1.4 pts
58Eagle County7.5+0.3 pts
59Summit County7.4+1 pts
60Elbert County7.1+0.3 pts
61Routt County6.6+0.4 pts
62Pitkin County6.2+1 pts
63Broomfield County5.3+1.2 pts
64Douglas County2.8+0.2 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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 Colorado by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Colorado by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/colorado-counties?period=2021. 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 Colorado by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/colorado-counties?period=2021.

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 Colorado by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/colorado-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_colorado_by_2021,
  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 Colorado by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/colorado-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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 Colorado by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/colorado-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/colorado-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Costilla County, with 36% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Douglas County, with 2.8% in 2021.

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 Colorado: more rankings