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

Gadsden County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 67 counties in 2020, at 34.9%. St. Johns County had the lowest, at 9.3%. The median was 20.4% and the figure for Florida was 17.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest34.9Gadsden County
Median20.467 counties
Florida17.2History

Map of counties, 2020

Alachua County: 15.1 %Baker County: 17.3 %Bay County: 20 %Bradford County: 22 %Brevard County: 13.5 %Broward County: 14.1 %Calhoun County: 28.7 %Charlotte County: 15.8 %Citrus County: 23.1 %Clay County: 12.9 %Collier County: 14.9 %Columbia County: 22.8 %DeSoto County: 27.6 %Dixie County: 31.1 %Duval County: 21.1 %Escambia County: 20.4 %Flagler County: 16.3 %Franklin County: 30.8 %Gadsden County: 34.9 %Gilchrist County: 22.5 %Glades County: 23.5 %Gulf County: 25.2 %Hamilton County: 34.5 %Hardee County: 28 %Hendry County: 31.4 %Hernando County: 20.1 %Highlands County: 26.6 %Hillsborough County: 14.3 %Holmes County: 30.9 %Indian River County: 16 %Jackson County: 29.5 %Jefferson County: 26.4 %Lafayette County: 27.7 %Lake County: 14 %Lee County: 14.7 %Leon County: 22 %Levy County: 27.2 %Liberty County: 24.7 %Madison County: 30.1 %Manatee County: 16.2 %Marion County: 21.7 %Martin County: 17.3 %Miami-Dade County: 19.9 %Monroe County: 15.3 %Nassau County: 11.6 %Okaloosa County: 14.2 %Okeechobee County: 24.7 %Orange County: 16.7 %Osceola County: 17.6 %Palm Beach County: 16.2 %Pasco County: 16.3 %Pinellas County: 15.8 %Polk County: 22.2 %Putnam County: 33 %St. Johns County: 9.3 %St. Lucie County: 21.2 %Santa Rosa County: 11.8 %Sarasota County: 13.8 %Seminole County: 10.4 %Sumter County: 34.8 %Suwannee County: 28.3 %Taylor County: 25.8 %Union County: 20.3 %Volusia County: 14 %Wakulla County: 15.7 %Walton County: 18 %Washington County: 28.7 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 20
  • 20 to 25
  • 25 to 29
  • 29 and over
%, 2020. 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, 2020

Gadsden County: 34.9 %Gadsden County34.9Sumter County: 34.8 %Sumter County34.8Hamilton County: 34.5 %Hamilton County34.5Putnam County: 33 %Putnam County33Hendry County: 31.4 %Hendry County31.4Dixie County: 31.1 %Dixie County31.1Holmes County: 30.9 %Holmes County30.9Franklin County: 30.8 %Franklin County30.8Madison County: 30.1 %Madison County30.1Jackson County: 29.5 %Jackson County29.5Calhoun County: 28.7 %Calhoun County28.7Washington County: 28.7 %Washington County28.7Suwannee County: 28.3 %Suwannee County28.3Hardee County: 28 %Hardee County28Lafayette County: 27.7 %Lafayette County27.7DeSoto County: 27.6 %DeSoto County27.6Levy County: 27.2 %Levy County27.2Highlands County: 26.6 %Highlands County26.6Jefferson County: 26.4 %Jefferson County26.4Taylor County: 25.8 %Taylor County25.8Gulf County: 25.2 %Gulf County25.2Liberty County: 24.7 %Liberty County24.7Okeechobee County: 24.7 %Okeechobee County24.7Glades County: 23.5 %Glades County23.5Citrus County: 23.1 %Citrus County23.1Columbia County: 22.8 %Columbia County22.8Gilchrist County: 22.5 %Gilchrist County22.5Polk County: 22.2 %Polk County22.2Bradford County: 22 %Bradford County22Leon County: 22 %Leon County22Marion County: 21.7 %Marion County21.7St. Lucie County: 21.2 %St. Lucie County21.2Duval County: 21.1 %Duval County21.1Escambia County: 20.4 %Escambia County20.4Union County: 20.3 %Union County20.3Hernando County: 20.1 %Hernando County20.1Bay County: 20 %Bay County20Miami-Dade County: 19.9 %Miami-Dade County19.9Walton County: 18 %Walton County18Osceola County: 17.6 %Osceola County17.6Gadsden County: 34.9 %Gadsden County34.9Sumter County: 34.8 %Sumter County34.8Hamilton County: 34.5 %Hamilton County34.5Putnam County: 33 %Putnam County33Hendry County: 31.4 %Hendry County31.4Dixie County: 31.1 %Dixie County31.1Holmes County: 30.9 %Holmes County30.9Franklin County: 30.8 %Franklin County30.8Madison County: 30.1 %Madison County30.1Jackson County: 29.5 %Jackson County29.5Calhoun County: 28.7 %Calhoun County28.7Washington County: 28.7 %Washington County28.7Suwannee County: 28.3 %Suwannee County28.3Hardee County: 28 %Hardee County28Lafayette County: 27.7 %Lafayette County27.7DeSoto County: 27.6 %DeSoto County27.6Levy County: 27.2 %Levy County27.2Highlands County: 26.6 %Highlands County26.6Jefferson County: 26.4 %Jefferson County26.4Taylor County: 25.8 %Taylor County25.8Gulf County: 25.2 %Gulf County25.2Liberty County: 24.7 %Liberty County24.7Okeechobee County: 24.7 %Okeechobee County24.7Glades County: 23.5 %Glades County23.5Citrus County: 23.1 %Citrus County23.1Columbia County: 22.8 %Columbia County22.8Gilchrist County: 22.5 %Gilchrist County22.5Polk County: 22.2 %Polk County22.2Bradford County: 22 %Bradford County22Leon County: 22 %Leon County22Marion County: 21.7 %Marion County21.7St. Lucie County: 21.2 %St. Lucie County21.2Duval County: 21.1 %Duval County21.1Escambia County: 20.4 %Escambia County20.4Union County: 20.3 %Union County20.3Hernando County: 20.1 %Hernando County20.1Bay County: 20 %Bay County20Miami-Dade County: 19.9 %Miami-Dade County19.9Walton County: 18 %Walton County18Osceola County: 17.6 %Osceola County17.6
%. 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

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Gadsden County34.9+3.7 pts
2Sumter County34.8+12.7 pts
3Hamilton County34.5-17 pts
4Putnam County33-2 pts
5Hendry County31.4+3.1 pts
6Dixie County31.1+0.6 pts
7Holmes County30.9+2.5 pts
8Franklin County30.8+0.7 pts
9Madison County30.1-2.5 pts
10Jackson County29.5+2.6 pts
11Calhoun County28.7+0.4 pts
11Washington County28.7-0.7 pts
13Suwannee County28.3+2 pts
14Hardee County28-0.3 pts
15Lafayette County27.7+0.5 pts
16DeSoto County27.6-2.9 pts
17Levy County27.2-1.7 pts
18Highlands County26.6+0.4 pts
19Jefferson County26.4+0.8 pts
20Taylor County25.8-1.3 pts
21Gulf County25.2+2.1 pts
22Liberty County24.7-2.1 pts
22Okeechobee County24.7-3 pts
24Glades County23.5-2.2 pts
25Citrus County23.1-1.4 pts
26Columbia County22.8+1.1 pts
27Gilchrist County22.5+1.7 pts
28Polk County22.2+1.1 pts
29Bradford County22-5.2 pts
29Leon County220 pts
31Marion County21.7-3.7 pts
32St. Lucie County21.2+5.5 pts
33Duval County21.1+1.6 pts
34Escambia County20.4-4.2 pts
35Union County20.3+0.1 pts
36Hernando County20.1+1 pts
37Bay County20+1.8 pts
38Miami-Dade County19.9-0.9 pts
39Walton County18+0.4 pts
40Osceola County17.6-1.5 pts
41Baker County17.3-3.7 pts
41Martin County17.3+3.7 pts
43Orange County16.7-1.2 pts
44Flagler County16.3-0.2 pts
44Pasco County16.30 pts
46Manatee County16.2-3.2 pts
46Palm Beach County16.2+0.2 pts
48Indian River County16-4.1 pts
49Charlotte County15.8-4.1 pts
49Pinellas County15.8+0.9 pts
51Wakulla County15.7-0.9 pts
52Monroe County15.3+0.5 pts
53Alachua County15.1-2.6 pts
54Collier County14.9+0.9 pts
55Lee County14.7-3.9 pts
56Hillsborough County14.3-4.1 pts
57Okaloosa County14.2-2.2 pts
58Broward County14.1-2.3 pts
59Lake County14-4.4 pts
59Volusia County14-6 pts
61Sarasota County13.8+1.8 pts
62Brevard County13.5+0.8 pts
63Clay County12.9+0.8 pts
64Santa Rosa County11.8-0.4 pts
65Nassau County11.6-1 pts
66Seminole County10.4-1.4 pts
67St. Johns County9.3+2.5 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_florida_by_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Gadsden County, with 34.9% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Johns County, with 9.3% in 2020.

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