Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in Florida

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 2021, at 42.4%. St. Johns County had the lowest, at 6.6%. The median was 20.9% and the figure for Florida was 18.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest42.4Gadsden County
Lowest6.6St. Johns County
Median20.967 counties
Florida18.4History

Map of counties, 2021

Alachua County: 16.2 %Baker County: 22.3 %Bay County: 23.8 %Bradford County: 24.8 %Brevard County: 17.3 %Broward County: 16.5 %Calhoun County: 28.8 %Charlotte County: 19.2 %Citrus County: 24.9 %Clay County: 12.1 %Collier County: 17.3 %Columbia County: 22.7 %DeSoto County: 36.7 %Dixie County: 32.7 %Duval County: 20.9 %Escambia County: 28.1 %Flagler County: 19.2 %Franklin County: 35 %Gadsden County: 42.4 %Gilchrist County: 22.5 %Glades County: 24.7 %Gulf County: 25.2 %Hamilton County: 35.7 %Hardee County: 26.2 %Hendry County: 28.3 %Hernando County: 18 %Highlands County: 22.8 %Hillsborough County: 19.5 %Holmes County: 30.3 %Indian River County: 19.3 %Jackson County: 26.9 %Jefferson County: 25.4 %Lafayette County: 28.2 %Lake County: 15.9 %Lee County: 18.1 %Leon County: 16.1 %Levy County: 32.8 %Liberty County: 27.8 %Madison County: 31.2 %Manatee County: 15.8 %Marion County: 20.7 %Martin County: 16.9 %Miami-Dade County: 18.1 %Monroe County: 17.4 %Nassau County: 14.3 %Okaloosa County: 14.6 %Okeechobee County: 30.4 %Orange County: 20.4 %Osceola County: 20.4 %Palm Beach County: 15.9 %Pasco County: 16.8 %Pinellas County: 15.7 %Polk County: 22.7 %Putnam County: 41.1 %St. Johns County: 6.6 %St. Lucie County: 18.4 %Santa Rosa County: 12 %Sarasota County: 13.3 %Seminole County: 11.2 %Sumter County: 25.6 %Suwannee County: 28.4 %Taylor County: 28.6 %Union County: 24.3 %Volusia County: 19.1 %Wakulla County: 16.8 %Walton County: 18.8 %Washington County: 28.1 %
  • Under 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 to 29
  • 29 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

Gadsden County: 42.4 %Gadsden County42.4Putnam County: 41.1 %Putnam County41.1DeSoto County: 36.7 %DeSoto County36.7Hamilton County: 35.7 %Hamilton County35.7Franklin County: 35 %Franklin County35Levy County: 32.8 %Levy County32.8Dixie County: 32.7 %Dixie County32.7Madison County: 31.2 %Madison County31.2Okeechobee County: 30.4 %Okeechobee County30.4Holmes County: 30.3 %Holmes County30.3Calhoun County: 28.8 %Calhoun County28.8Taylor County: 28.6 %Taylor County28.6Suwannee County: 28.4 %Suwannee County28.4Hendry County: 28.3 %Hendry County28.3Lafayette County: 28.2 %Lafayette County28.2Escambia County: 28.1 %Escambia County28.1Washington County: 28.1 %Washington County28.1Liberty County: 27.8 %Liberty County27.8Jackson County: 26.9 %Jackson County26.9Hardee County: 26.2 %Hardee County26.2Sumter County: 25.6 %Sumter County25.6Jefferson County: 25.4 %Jefferson County25.4Gulf County: 25.2 %Gulf County25.2Citrus County: 24.9 %Citrus County24.9Bradford County: 24.8 %Bradford County24.8Glades County: 24.7 %Glades County24.7Union County: 24.3 %Union County24.3Bay County: 23.8 %Bay County23.8Highlands County: 22.8 %Highlands County22.8Columbia County: 22.7 %Columbia County22.7Polk County: 22.7 %Polk County22.7Gilchrist County: 22.5 %Gilchrist County22.5Baker County: 22.3 %Baker County22.3Duval County: 20.9 %Duval County20.9Marion County: 20.7 %Marion County20.7Orange County: 20.4 %Orange County20.4Osceola County: 20.4 %Osceola County20.4Hillsborough County: 19.5 %Hillsborough County19.5Indian River County: 19.3 %Indian River County19.3Charlotte County: 19.2 %Charlotte County19.2Gadsden County: 42.4 %Gadsden County42.4Putnam County: 41.1 %Putnam County41.1DeSoto County: 36.7 %DeSoto County36.7Hamilton County: 35.7 %Hamilton County35.7Franklin County: 35 %Franklin County35Levy County: 32.8 %Levy County32.8Dixie County: 32.7 %Dixie County32.7Madison County: 31.2 %Madison County31.2Okeechobee County: 30.4 %Okeechobee County30.4Holmes County: 30.3 %Holmes County30.3Calhoun County: 28.8 %Calhoun County28.8Taylor County: 28.6 %Taylor County28.6Suwannee County: 28.4 %Suwannee County28.4Hendry County: 28.3 %Hendry County28.3Lafayette County: 28.2 %Lafayette County28.2Escambia County: 28.1 %Escambia County28.1Washington County: 28.1 %Washington County28.1Liberty County: 27.8 %Liberty County27.8Jackson County: 26.9 %Jackson County26.9Hardee County: 26.2 %Hardee County26.2Sumter County: 25.6 %Sumter County25.6Jefferson County: 25.4 %Jefferson County25.4Gulf County: 25.2 %Gulf County25.2Citrus County: 24.9 %Citrus County24.9Bradford County: 24.8 %Bradford County24.8Glades County: 24.7 %Glades County24.7Union County: 24.3 %Union County24.3Bay County: 23.8 %Bay County23.8Highlands County: 22.8 %Highlands County22.8Columbia County: 22.7 %Columbia County22.7Polk County: 22.7 %Polk County22.7Gilchrist County: 22.5 %Gilchrist County22.5Baker County: 22.3 %Baker County22.3Duval County: 20.9 %Duval County20.9Marion County: 20.7 %Marion County20.7Orange County: 20.4 %Orange County20.4Osceola County: 20.4 %Osceola County20.4Hillsborough County: 19.5 %Hillsborough County19.5Indian River County: 19.3 %Indian River County19.3Charlotte County: 19.2 %Charlotte County19.2
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Gadsden County42.4+7.5 pts
2Putnam County41.1+8.1 pts
3DeSoto County36.7+9.1 pts
4Hamilton County35.7+1.2 pts
5Franklin County35+4.2 pts
6Levy County32.8+5.6 pts
7Dixie County32.7+1.6 pts
8Madison County31.2+1.1 pts
9Okeechobee County30.4+5.7 pts
10Holmes County30.3-0.6 pts
11Calhoun County28.8+0.1 pts
12Taylor County28.6+2.8 pts
13Suwannee County28.4+0.1 pts
14Hendry County28.3-3.1 pts
15Lafayette County28.2+0.5 pts
16Escambia County28.1+7.7 pts
16Washington County28.1-0.6 pts
18Liberty County27.8+3.1 pts
19Jackson County26.9-2.6 pts
20Hardee County26.2-1.8 pts
21Sumter County25.6-9.2 pts
22Jefferson County25.4-1 pts
23Gulf County25.20 pts
24Citrus County24.9+1.8 pts
25Bradford County24.8+2.8 pts
26Glades County24.7+1.2 pts
27Union County24.3+4 pts
28Bay County23.8+3.8 pts
29Highlands County22.8-3.8 pts
30Columbia County22.7-0.1 pts
30Polk County22.7+0.5 pts
32Gilchrist County22.50 pts
33Baker County22.3+5 pts
34Duval County20.9-0.2 pts
35Marion County20.7-1 pts
36Orange County20.4+3.7 pts
36Osceola County20.4+2.8 pts
38Hillsborough County19.5+5.2 pts
39Indian River County19.3+3.3 pts
40Charlotte County19.2+3.4 pts
40Flagler County19.2+2.9 pts
42Volusia County19.1+5.1 pts
43Walton County18.8+0.8 pts
44St. Lucie County18.4-2.8 pts
45Lee County18.1+3.4 pts
45Miami-Dade County18.1-1.8 pts
47Hernando County18-2.1 pts
48Monroe County17.4+2.1 pts
49Brevard County17.3+3.8 pts
49Collier County17.3+2.4 pts
51Martin County16.9-0.4 pts
52Pasco County16.8+0.5 pts
52Wakulla County16.8+1.1 pts
54Broward County16.5+2.4 pts
55Alachua County16.2+1.1 pts
56Leon County16.1-5.9 pts
57Lake County15.9+1.9 pts
57Palm Beach County15.9-0.3 pts
59Manatee County15.8-0.4 pts
60Pinellas County15.7-0.1 pts
61Okaloosa County14.6+0.4 pts
62Nassau County14.3+2.7 pts
63Sarasota County13.3-0.5 pts
64Clay County12.1-0.8 pts
65Santa Rosa County12+0.2 pts
66Seminole County11.2+0.8 pts
67St. Johns County6.6-2.7 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 Florida 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 Florida 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/florida-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 Florida 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/florida-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 Florida 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/florida-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_florida_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 Florida 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/florida-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 Florida 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/florida-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-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)?

Gadsden County, with 42.4% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Johns County, with 6.6% 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 Florida: more rankings