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)

Jefferson County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 67 counties in 2023, at 43.3%. St. Johns County had the lowest, at 5.8%. The median was 18.8% and the figure for Florida was 16%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest43.3Jefferson County
Lowest5.8St. Johns County
Median18.867 counties
Florida16History

Map of counties, 2023

Alachua County: 17.5 %Baker County: 19.3 %Bay County: 15.6 %Bradford County: 22 %Brevard County: 15 %Broward County: 15.9 %Calhoun County: 26.7 %Charlotte County: 13.5 %Citrus County: 21.3 %Clay County: 10.5 %Collier County: 15.7 %Columbia County: 21.8 %DeSoto County: 26.2 %Dixie County: 32.7 %Duval County: 18.5 %Escambia County: 21 %Flagler County: 14.6 %Franklin County: 27.4 %Gadsden County: 30.2 %Gilchrist County: 19.2 %Glades County: 23.3 %Gulf County: 22.1 %Hamilton County: 32.2 %Hardee County: 23.5 %Hendry County: 25.8 %Hernando County: 15.7 %Highlands County: 27.4 %Hillsborough County: 14.7 %Holmes County: 27.3 %Indian River County: 17.2 %Jackson County: 26.7 %Jefferson County: 43.3 %Lafayette County: 25.9 %Lake County: 12.9 %Lee County: 17.3 %Leon County: 18.8 %Levy County: 24.8 %Liberty County: 26 %Madison County: 27.5 %Manatee County: 13.1 %Marion County: 24.6 %Martin County: 17 %Miami-Dade County: 17.1 %Monroe County: 14.3 %Nassau County: 13.1 %Okaloosa County: 13.6 %Okeechobee County: 24.4 %Orange County: 15.2 %Osceola County: 14.2 %Palm Beach County: 14.6 %Pasco County: 12.3 %Pinellas County: 15.3 %Polk County: 18.1 %Putnam County: 28 %St. Johns County: 5.8 %St. Lucie County: 12.2 %Santa Rosa County: 8.6 %Sarasota County: 13.4 %Seminole County: 10.6 %Sumter County: 25.2 %Suwannee County: 24.7 %Taylor County: 25.3 %Union County: 20.5 %Volusia County: 19.3 %Wakulla County: 14.2 %Walton County: 13.9 %Washington County: 24.7 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 19
  • 19 to 24
  • 24 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Jefferson County: 43.3 %Jefferson County43.3Dixie County: 32.7 %Dixie County32.7Hamilton County: 32.2 %Hamilton County32.2Gadsden County: 30.2 %Gadsden County30.2Putnam County: 28 %Putnam County28Madison County: 27.5 %Madison County27.5Franklin County: 27.4 %Franklin County27.4Highlands County: 27.4 %Highlands County27.4Holmes County: 27.3 %Holmes County27.3Calhoun County: 26.7 %Calhoun County26.7Jackson County: 26.7 %Jackson County26.7DeSoto County: 26.2 %DeSoto County26.2Liberty County: 26 %Liberty County26Lafayette County: 25.9 %Lafayette County25.9Hendry County: 25.8 %Hendry County25.8Taylor County: 25.3 %Taylor County25.3Sumter County: 25.2 %Sumter County25.2Levy County: 24.8 %Levy County24.8Suwannee County: 24.7 %Suwannee County24.7Washington County: 24.7 %Washington County24.7Marion County: 24.6 %Marion County24.6Okeechobee County: 24.4 %Okeechobee County24.4Hardee County: 23.5 %Hardee County23.5Glades County: 23.3 %Glades County23.3Gulf County: 22.1 %Gulf County22.1Bradford County: 22 %Bradford County22Columbia County: 21.8 %Columbia County21.8Citrus County: 21.3 %Citrus County21.3Escambia County: 21 %Escambia County21Union County: 20.5 %Union County20.5Baker County: 19.3 %Baker County19.3Volusia County: 19.3 %Volusia County19.3Gilchrist County: 19.2 %Gilchrist County19.2Leon County: 18.8 %Leon County18.8Duval County: 18.5 %Duval County18.5Polk County: 18.1 %Polk County18.1Alachua County: 17.5 %Alachua County17.5Lee County: 17.3 %Lee County17.3Indian River County: 17.2 %Indian River County17.2Miami-Dade County: 17.1 %Miami-Dade County17.1Jefferson County: 43.3 %Jefferson County43.3Dixie County: 32.7 %Dixie County32.7Hamilton County: 32.2 %Hamilton County32.2Gadsden County: 30.2 %Gadsden County30.2Putnam County: 28 %Putnam County28Madison County: 27.5 %Madison County27.5Franklin County: 27.4 %Franklin County27.4Highlands County: 27.4 %Highlands County27.4Holmes County: 27.3 %Holmes County27.3Calhoun County: 26.7 %Calhoun County26.7Jackson County: 26.7 %Jackson County26.7DeSoto County: 26.2 %DeSoto County26.2Liberty County: 26 %Liberty County26Lafayette County: 25.9 %Lafayette County25.9Hendry County: 25.8 %Hendry County25.8Taylor County: 25.3 %Taylor County25.3Sumter County: 25.2 %Sumter County25.2Levy County: 24.8 %Levy County24.8Suwannee County: 24.7 %Suwannee County24.7Washington County: 24.7 %Washington County24.7Marion County: 24.6 %Marion County24.6Okeechobee County: 24.4 %Okeechobee County24.4Hardee County: 23.5 %Hardee County23.5Glades County: 23.3 %Glades County23.3Gulf County: 22.1 %Gulf County22.1Bradford County: 22 %Bradford County22Columbia County: 21.8 %Columbia County21.8Citrus County: 21.3 %Citrus County21.3Escambia County: 21 %Escambia County21Union County: 20.5 %Union County20.5Baker County: 19.3 %Baker County19.3Volusia County: 19.3 %Volusia County19.3Gilchrist County: 19.2 %Gilchrist County19.2Leon County: 18.8 %Leon County18.8Duval County: 18.5 %Duval County18.5Polk County: 18.1 %Polk County18.1Alachua County: 17.5 %Alachua County17.5Lee County: 17.3 %Lee County17.3Indian River County: 17.2 %Indian River County17.2Miami-Dade County: 17.1 %Miami-Dade County17.1
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Jefferson County43.3+18.8 pts
2Dixie County32.7+2.2 pts
3Hamilton County32.2-2.9 pts
4Gadsden County30.2-4.5 pts
5Putnam County28-9 pts
6Madison County27.5-4.8 pts
7Franklin County27.4+0.1 pts
7Highlands County27.4+3.2 pts
9Holmes County27.3-0.7 pts
10Calhoun County26.7-3.4 pts
10Jackson County26.7+0.2 pts
12DeSoto County26.2-6.4 pts
13Liberty County26-2.4 pts
14Lafayette County25.9-2.9 pts
15Hendry County25.8-1.7 pts
16Taylor County25.3-2.1 pts
17Sumter County25.2-2.3 pts
18Levy County24.8-0.6 pts
19Suwannee County24.7-4.3 pts
19Washington County24.7-2.6 pts
21Marion County24.6+1.4 pts
22Okeechobee County24.4-1.4 pts
23Hardee County23.5-6.4 pts
24Glades County23.3-3.4 pts
25Gulf County22.1-3.6 pts
26Bradford County22-0.8 pts
27Columbia County21.8-4.4 pts
28Citrus County21.3-4.6 pts
29Escambia County21-4 pts
30Union County20.5+1.7 pts
31Baker County19.3+1.4 pts
31Volusia County19.3+1.9 pts
33Gilchrist County19.2-1.2 pts
34Leon County18.8+2.4 pts
35Duval County18.5-1.8 pts
36Polk County18.1-6.1 pts
37Alachua County17.5+2.5 pts
38Lee County17.3+1.3 pts
39Indian River County17.2+0.7 pts
40Miami-Dade County17.1-0.2 pts
41Martin County17+1.6 pts
42Broward County15.9-3 pts
43Collier County15.7-0.9 pts
43Hernando County15.7-0.6 pts
45Bay County15.6-2.2 pts
46Pinellas County15.3-0.6 pts
47Orange County15.2-1.1 pts
48Brevard County15+1.6 pts
49Hillsborough County14.7-1.7 pts
50Flagler County14.6-1.9 pts
50Palm Beach County14.6-1.1 pts
52Monroe County14.3-0.1 pts
53Osceola County14.2-4.2 pts
53Wakulla County14.2-1.4 pts
55Walton County13.9-4 pts
56Okaloosa County13.6+1 pts
57Charlotte County13.5-0.9 pts
58Sarasota County13.4+1.9 pts
59Manatee County13.1-0.9 pts
59Nassau County13.1+2.9 pts
61Lake County12.9-1.3 pts
62Pasco County12.3-1.7 pts
63St. Lucie County12.2-6.9 pts
64Seminole County10.6-1.3 pts
65Clay County10.5-1.3 pts
66Santa Rosa County8.6-3.2 pts
67St. Johns County5.8-0.3 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_florida_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/florida-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Jefferson County, with 43.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

St. Johns County, with 5.8% in 2023.

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