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

Madison County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 67 counties in 2017, at 47.3%. St. Johns County had the lowest, at 9.1%. The median was 23% and the figure for Florida was 20.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest47.3Madison County
Median2367 counties
Florida20.6History

Map of counties, 2017

Alachua County: 20 %Baker County: 22.6 %Bay County: 21.6 %Bradford County: 26.5 %Brevard County: 18.8 %Broward County: 18 %Calhoun County: 30.2 %Charlotte County: 18.3 %Citrus County: 27.1 %Clay County: 13.2 %Collier County: 21.8 %Columbia County: 24.6 %DeSoto County: 37.2 %Dixie County: 34 %Duval County: 23 %Escambia County: 26.6 %Flagler County: 22.2 %Franklin County: 34 %Gadsden County: 37.6 %Gilchrist County: 24.4 %Glades County: 29.4 %Gulf County: 27.2 %Hamilton County: 39.2 %Hardee County: 32.7 %Hendry County: 34.7 %Hernando County: 20.8 %Highlands County: 34 %Hillsborough County: 21.4 %Holmes County: 30.5 %Indian River County: 18.2 %Jackson County: 24 %Jefferson County: 28.6 %Lafayette County: 29.3 %Lake County: 20.2 %Lee County: 20.4 %Leon County: 18 %Levy County: 28.9 %Liberty County: 28.2 %Madison County: 47.3 %Manatee County: 17 %Marion County: 26.3 %Martin County: 16.7 %Miami-Dade County: 22 %Monroe County: 18 %Nassau County: 12.9 %Okaloosa County: 16.4 %Okeechobee County: 31.3 %Orange County: 21.9 %Osceola County: 21.4 %Palm Beach County: 16.8 %Pasco County: 18.1 %Pinellas County: 17.2 %Polk County: 25.5 %Putnam County: 43 %St. Johns County: 9.1 %St. Lucie County: 19.1 %Santa Rosa County: 14.3 %Sarasota County: 14.8 %Seminole County: 13.9 %Sumter County: 26 %Suwannee County: 30 %Taylor County: 34.5 %Union County: 23 %Volusia County: 24.9 %Wakulla County: 18.1 %Walton County: 27 %Washington County: 28.7 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 to 27
  • 27 to 31
  • 31 and over
%, 2017. 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, 2017

Madison County: 47.3 %Madison County47.3Putnam County: 43 %Putnam County43Hamilton County: 39.2 %Hamilton County39.2Gadsden County: 37.6 %Gadsden County37.6DeSoto County: 37.2 %DeSoto County37.2Hendry County: 34.7 %Hendry County34.7Taylor County: 34.5 %Taylor County34.5Dixie County: 34 %Dixie County34Franklin County: 34 %Franklin County34Highlands County: 34 %Highlands County34Hardee County: 32.7 %Hardee County32.7Okeechobee County: 31.3 %Okeechobee County31.3Holmes County: 30.5 %Holmes County30.5Calhoun County: 30.2 %Calhoun County30.2Suwannee County: 30 %Suwannee County30Glades County: 29.4 %Glades County29.4Lafayette County: 29.3 %Lafayette County29.3Levy County: 28.9 %Levy County28.9Washington County: 28.7 %Washington County28.7Jefferson County: 28.6 %Jefferson County28.6Liberty County: 28.2 %Liberty County28.2Gulf County: 27.2 %Gulf County27.2Citrus County: 27.1 %Citrus County27.1Walton County: 27 %Walton County27Escambia County: 26.6 %Escambia County26.6Bradford County: 26.5 %Bradford County26.5Marion County: 26.3 %Marion County26.3Sumter County: 26 %Sumter County26Polk County: 25.5 %Polk County25.5Volusia County: 24.9 %Volusia County24.9Columbia County: 24.6 %Columbia County24.6Gilchrist County: 24.4 %Gilchrist County24.4Jackson County: 24 %Jackson County24Duval County: 23 %Duval County23Union County: 23 %Union County23Baker County: 22.6 %Baker County22.6Flagler County: 22.2 %Flagler County22.2Miami-Dade County: 22 %Miami-Dade County22Orange County: 21.9 %Orange County21.9Collier County: 21.8 %Collier County21.8Madison County: 47.3 %Madison County47.3Putnam County: 43 %Putnam County43Hamilton County: 39.2 %Hamilton County39.2Gadsden County: 37.6 %Gadsden County37.6DeSoto County: 37.2 %DeSoto County37.2Hendry County: 34.7 %Hendry County34.7Taylor County: 34.5 %Taylor County34.5Dixie County: 34 %Dixie County34Franklin County: 34 %Franklin County34Highlands County: 34 %Highlands County34Hardee County: 32.7 %Hardee County32.7Okeechobee County: 31.3 %Okeechobee County31.3Holmes County: 30.5 %Holmes County30.5Calhoun County: 30.2 %Calhoun County30.2Suwannee County: 30 %Suwannee County30Glades County: 29.4 %Glades County29.4Lafayette County: 29.3 %Lafayette County29.3Levy County: 28.9 %Levy County28.9Washington County: 28.7 %Washington County28.7Jefferson County: 28.6 %Jefferson County28.6Liberty County: 28.2 %Liberty County28.2Gulf County: 27.2 %Gulf County27.2Citrus County: 27.1 %Citrus County27.1Walton County: 27 %Walton County27Escambia County: 26.6 %Escambia County26.6Bradford County: 26.5 %Bradford County26.5Marion County: 26.3 %Marion County26.3Sumter County: 26 %Sumter County26Polk County: 25.5 %Polk County25.5Volusia County: 24.9 %Volusia County24.9Columbia County: 24.6 %Columbia County24.6Gilchrist County: 24.4 %Gilchrist County24.4Jackson County: 24 %Jackson County24Duval County: 23 %Duval County23Union County: 23 %Union County23Baker County: 22.6 %Baker County22.6Flagler County: 22.2 %Flagler County22.2Miami-Dade County: 22 %Miami-Dade County22Orange County: 21.9 %Orange County21.9Collier County: 21.8 %Collier County21.8
%. 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

RankCounties2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Madison County47.3+7.3 pts
2Putnam County43+6.9 pts
3Hamilton County39.2+1.3 pts
4Gadsden County37.6+3.8 pts
5DeSoto County37.2-4.8 pts
6Hendry County34.7-0.5 pts
7Taylor County34.5+4.9 pts
8Dixie County34+0.1 pts
8Franklin County34-1.9 pts
8Highlands County34+1.7 pts
11Hardee County32.7+0.4 pts
12Okeechobee County31.3+1.9 pts
13Holmes County30.5-4 pts
14Calhoun County30.2-0.7 pts
15Suwannee County30-0.1 pts
16Glades County29.4-1.3 pts
17Lafayette County29.3+0.9 pts
18Levy County28.9-3.4 pts
19Washington County28.7-3.2 pts
20Jefferson County28.6+0.1 pts
21Liberty County28.2-1 pts
22Gulf County27.2-2.7 pts
23Citrus County27.1-1.5 pts
24Walton County27+5.7 pts
25Escambia County26.6+0.8 pts
26Bradford County26.5-0.3 pts
27Marion County26.3-1.9 pts
28Sumter County26-3.1 pts
29Polk County25.5+0.1 pts
30Volusia County24.9+5.2 pts
31Columbia County24.6-1.8 pts
32Gilchrist County24.4-0.6 pts
33Jackson County24-6.9 pts
34Duval County23+2.4 pts
34Union County23-2.9 pts
36Baker County22.6-1.3 pts
37Flagler County22.2+2.9 pts
38Miami-Dade County22-2.8 pts
39Orange County21.9-0.3 pts
40Collier County21.8+3.5 pts
41Bay County21.6-1.4 pts
42Hillsborough County21.4+1.4 pts
42Osceola County21.4-1.9 pts
44Hernando County20.8-2 pts
45Lee County20.4-1.6 pts
46Lake County20.2+0.9 pts
47Alachua County20-1.8 pts
48St. Lucie County19.1-7.2 pts
49Brevard County18.8-2.9 pts
50Charlotte County18.3-5.1 pts
51Indian River County18.2-3.3 pts
52Pasco County18.10 pts
52Wakulla County18.1+0.1 pts
54Broward County18-0.3 pts
54Leon County18-0.9 pts
54Monroe County180 pts
57Pinellas County17.2-2.4 pts
58Manatee County17-3.5 pts
59Palm Beach County16.8-2.2 pts
60Martin County16.7-1.2 pts
61Okaloosa County16.40 pts
62Sarasota County14.8-3.1 pts
63Santa Rosa County14.3-0.6 pts
64Seminole County13.9-0.2 pts
65Clay County13.2-0.3 pts
66Nassau County12.9-1.5 pts
67St. Johns County9.1+0.6 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2017. 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), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2017.

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), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_florida_by_2017,
  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), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2017. 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2017.
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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in Florida by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Madison County, with 47.3% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Johns County, with 9.1% in 2017.

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