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

DeSoto County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 67 counties in 2016, at 42%. St. Johns County had the lowest, at 8.5%. The median was 24.8% and the figure for Florida was 21.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest42DeSoto County
Median24.867 counties
Florida21.3History

Map of counties, 2016

Alachua County: 21.8 %Baker County: 23.9 %Bay County: 23 %Bradford County: 26.8 %Brevard County: 21.7 %Broward County: 18.3 %Calhoun County: 30.9 %Charlotte County: 23.4 %Citrus County: 28.6 %Clay County: 13.5 %Collier County: 18.3 %Columbia County: 26.4 %DeSoto County: 42 %Dixie County: 33.9 %Duval County: 20.6 %Escambia County: 25.8 %Flagler County: 19.3 %Franklin County: 35.9 %Gadsden County: 33.8 %Gilchrist County: 25 %Glades County: 30.7 %Gulf County: 29.9 %Hamilton County: 37.9 %Hardee County: 32.3 %Hendry County: 35.2 %Hernando County: 22.8 %Highlands County: 32.3 %Hillsborough County: 20 %Holmes County: 34.5 %Indian River County: 21.5 %Jackson County: 30.9 %Jefferson County: 28.5 %Lafayette County: 28.4 %Lake County: 19.3 %Lee County: 22 %Leon County: 18.9 %Levy County: 32.3 %Liberty County: 29.2 %Madison County: 40 %Manatee County: 20.5 %Marion County: 28.2 %Martin County: 17.9 %Miami-Dade County: 24.8 %Monroe County: 18 %Nassau County: 14.4 %Okaloosa County: 16.4 %Okeechobee County: 29.4 %Orange County: 22.2 %Osceola County: 23.3 %Palm Beach County: 19 %Pasco County: 18.1 %Pinellas County: 19.6 %Polk County: 25.4 %Putnam County: 36.1 %St. Johns County: 8.5 %St. Lucie County: 26.3 %Santa Rosa County: 14.9 %Sarasota County: 17.9 %Seminole County: 14.1 %Sumter County: 29.1 %Suwannee County: 30.1 %Taylor County: 29.6 %Union County: 25.9 %Volusia County: 19.7 %Wakulla County: 18 %Walton County: 21.3 %Washington County: 31.9 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 to 29
  • 29 to 32
  • 32 and over
%, 2016. 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, 2016

DeSoto County: 42 %DeSoto County42Madison County: 40 %Madison County40Hamilton County: 37.9 %Hamilton County37.9Putnam County: 36.1 %Putnam County36.1Franklin County: 35.9 %Franklin County35.9Hendry County: 35.2 %Hendry County35.2Holmes County: 34.5 %Holmes County34.5Dixie County: 33.9 %Dixie County33.9Gadsden County: 33.8 %Gadsden County33.8Hardee County: 32.3 %Hardee County32.3Highlands County: 32.3 %Highlands County32.3Levy County: 32.3 %Levy County32.3Washington County: 31.9 %Washington County31.9Calhoun County: 30.9 %Calhoun County30.9Jackson County: 30.9 %Jackson County30.9Glades County: 30.7 %Glades County30.7Suwannee County: 30.1 %Suwannee County30.1Gulf County: 29.9 %Gulf County29.9Taylor County: 29.6 %Taylor County29.6Okeechobee County: 29.4 %Okeechobee County29.4Liberty County: 29.2 %Liberty County29.2Sumter County: 29.1 %Sumter County29.1Citrus County: 28.6 %Citrus County28.6Jefferson County: 28.5 %Jefferson County28.5Lafayette County: 28.4 %Lafayette County28.4Marion County: 28.2 %Marion County28.2Bradford County: 26.8 %Bradford County26.8Columbia County: 26.4 %Columbia County26.4St. Lucie County: 26.3 %St. Lucie County26.3Union County: 25.9 %Union County25.9Escambia County: 25.8 %Escambia County25.8Polk County: 25.4 %Polk County25.4Gilchrist County: 25 %Gilchrist County25Miami-Dade County: 24.8 %Miami-Dade County24.8Baker County: 23.9 %Baker County23.9Charlotte County: 23.4 %Charlotte County23.4Osceola County: 23.3 %Osceola County23.3Bay County: 23 %Bay County23Hernando County: 22.8 %Hernando County22.8Orange County: 22.2 %Orange County22.2DeSoto County: 42 %DeSoto County42Madison County: 40 %Madison County40Hamilton County: 37.9 %Hamilton County37.9Putnam County: 36.1 %Putnam County36.1Franklin County: 35.9 %Franklin County35.9Hendry County: 35.2 %Hendry County35.2Holmes County: 34.5 %Holmes County34.5Dixie County: 33.9 %Dixie County33.9Gadsden County: 33.8 %Gadsden County33.8Hardee County: 32.3 %Hardee County32.3Highlands County: 32.3 %Highlands County32.3Levy County: 32.3 %Levy County32.3Washington County: 31.9 %Washington County31.9Calhoun County: 30.9 %Calhoun County30.9Jackson County: 30.9 %Jackson County30.9Glades County: 30.7 %Glades County30.7Suwannee County: 30.1 %Suwannee County30.1Gulf County: 29.9 %Gulf County29.9Taylor County: 29.6 %Taylor County29.6Okeechobee County: 29.4 %Okeechobee County29.4Liberty County: 29.2 %Liberty County29.2Sumter County: 29.1 %Sumter County29.1Citrus County: 28.6 %Citrus County28.6Jefferson County: 28.5 %Jefferson County28.5Lafayette County: 28.4 %Lafayette County28.4Marion County: 28.2 %Marion County28.2Bradford County: 26.8 %Bradford County26.8Columbia County: 26.4 %Columbia County26.4St. Lucie County: 26.3 %St. Lucie County26.3Union County: 25.9 %Union County25.9Escambia County: 25.8 %Escambia County25.8Polk County: 25.4 %Polk County25.4Gilchrist County: 25 %Gilchrist County25Miami-Dade County: 24.8 %Miami-Dade County24.8Baker County: 23.9 %Baker County23.9Charlotte County: 23.4 %Charlotte County23.4Osceola County: 23.3 %Osceola County23.3Bay County: 23 %Bay County23Hernando County: 22.8 %Hernando County22.8Orange County: 22.2 %Orange County22.2
%. 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

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1DeSoto County42+0.7 pts
2Madison County40+3.1 pts
3Hamilton County37.9-6.7 pts
4Putnam County36.1-5 pts
5Franklin County35.9-2.6 pts
6Hendry County35.2-1.2 pts
7Holmes County34.5-0.4 pts
8Dixie County33.9-4.3 pts
9Gadsden County33.8-4.6 pts
10Hardee County32.3-4.2 pts
10Highlands County32.3-5.8 pts
10Levy County32.3-3 pts
13Washington County31.9-2.3 pts
14Calhoun County30.9-1.9 pts
14Jackson County30.9-0.9 pts
16Glades County30.7-2.4 pts
17Suwannee County30.1-5.1 pts
18Gulf County29.9+0.7 pts
19Taylor County29.6-0.4 pts
20Okeechobee County29.4-5.2 pts
21Liberty County29.2-0.7 pts
22Sumter County29.1-1.5 pts
23Citrus County28.6-2.8 pts
24Jefferson County28.5-2.4 pts
25Lafayette County28.4-1.1 pts
26Marion County28.2-3.7 pts
27Bradford County26.8-4.2 pts
28Columbia County26.4-4 pts
29St. Lucie County26.3+1 pts
30Union County25.9-0.5 pts
31Escambia County25.8-1.6 pts
32Polk County25.4-1.3 pts
33Gilchrist County25-4.5 pts
34Miami-Dade County24.8-2.5 pts
35Baker County23.9-0.3 pts
36Charlotte County23.4+0.1 pts
37Osceola County23.3-4.2 pts
38Bay County23-2.8 pts
39Hernando County22.8-1.7 pts
40Orange County22.2-0.4 pts
41Lee County22-3.2 pts
42Alachua County21.8+0.2 pts
43Brevard County21.7+0.4 pts
44Indian River County21.5-1 pts
45Walton County21.3-4.8 pts
46Duval County20.6-4.8 pts
47Manatee County20.5-3.7 pts
48Hillsborough County20-1.4 pts
49Volusia County19.7-5.4 pts
50Pinellas County19.6-1 pts
51Flagler County19.3-1.6 pts
51Lake County19.3-1.6 pts
53Palm Beach County19-1.8 pts
54Leon County18.9-3.4 pts
55Broward County18.3-2 pts
55Collier County18.3-4.6 pts
57Pasco County18.1-1.4 pts
58Monroe County18-0.8 pts
58Wakulla County18-3.3 pts
60Martin County17.9-0.2 pts
60Sarasota County17.9+0.3 pts
62Okaloosa County16.4-2.3 pts
63Santa Rosa County14.9-2 pts
64Nassau County14.4-1.6 pts
65Seminole County14.1-2 pts
66Clay County13.5-2.2 pts
67St. Johns County8.5-1.6 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Florida by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Florida by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2016. 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 Florida by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2016.

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 Florida by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_florida_by_2016,
  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 Florida by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2016. 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Florida by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2016.
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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

DeSoto County, with 42% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Johns County, with 8.5% in 2016.

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 Florida: more rankings