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

Counties in Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024

Alexander County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 102 counties in 2024, at 37.1%. Monroe County had the lowest, at 4.1%. The median was 14.3% and the figure for Illinois was 14.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest37.1Alexander County
Lowest4.1Monroe County
Median14.3102 counties
Illinois14.1History

Map of counties, 2024

Adams County: 13.7 %Alexander County: 37.1 %Bond County: 13.7 %Boone County: 10.6 %Brown County: 10.7 %Bureau County: 13.6 %Calhoun County: 10.5 %Carroll County: 17.9 %Cass County: 15.3 %Champaign County: 14.4 %Christian County: 15.2 %Clark County: 14.1 %Clay County: 15.6 %Clinton County: 8.4 %Coles County: 14.2 %Cook County: 17.6 %Crawford County: 17.9 %Cumberland County: 11.9 %DeKalb County: 11.5 %De Witt County: 13.5 %Douglas County: 10.6 %DuPage County: 5.5 %Edgar County: 16.5 %Edwards County: 13.2 %Effingham County: 8.9 %Fayette County: 17 %Ford County: 12.7 %Franklin County: 22.1 %Fulton County: 16.9 %Gallatin County: 22.2 %Greene County: 16.1 %Grundy County: 7.5 %Hamilton County: 15.1 %Hancock County: 14.1 %Hardin County: 25.8 %Henderson County: 17.6 %Henry County: 10.8 %Iroquois County: 13.2 %Jackson County: 23.7 %Jasper County: 14.1 %Jefferson County: 17.7 %Jersey County: 10.9 %Jo Daviess County: 11.3 %Johnson County: 13.3 %Kane County: 9 %Kankakee County: 16.1 %Kendall County: 5.2 %Knox County: 20.7 %Lake County: 9.5 %LaSalle County: 16.7 %Lawrence County: 17.1 %Lee County: 12.4 %Livingston County: 13.9 %Logan County: 12.1 %McDonough County: 20.8 %McHenry County: 6.9 %McLean County: 9.3 %Macon County: 23.4 %Macoupin County: 13.7 %Madison County: 12.5 %Marion County: 20.2 %Marshall County: 12.1 %Mason County: 19.6 %Massac County: 21.6 %Menard County: 11.2 %Mercer County: 11 %Monroe County: 4.1 %Montgomery County: 17.7 %Morgan County: 14.9 %Moultrie County: 11.9 %Ogle County: 12.4 %Peoria County: 20.5 %Perry County: 17.3 %Piatt County: 7.6 %Pike County: 15.9 %Pope County: 19.4 %Pulaski County: 34.9 %Putnam County: 11.2 %Randolph County: 17.5 %Richland County: 14.7 %Rock Island County: 18.2 %St. Clair County: 16.8 %Saline County: 28 %Sangamon County: 12.4 %Schuyler County: 12.7 %Scott County: 16.5 %Shelby County: 11 %Stark County: 13.7 %Stephenson County: 20.4 %Tazewell County: 9.3 %Union County: 20 %Vermilion County: 26.8 %Wabash County: 16.3 %Warren County: 17.9 %Washington County: 7.8 %Wayne County: 18.2 %White County: 18 %Whiteside County: 14.5 %Will County: 8.9 %Williamson County: 14.8 %Winnebago County: 20.3 %Woodford County: 5.8 %
  • Under 11
  • 11 to 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 17
  • 17 to 20
  • 20 and over
%, 2024. 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, 2024

Alexander County: 37.1 %Alexander County37.1Pulaski County: 34.9 %Pulaski County34.9Saline County: 28 %Saline County28Vermilion County: 26.8 %Vermilion County26.8Hardin County: 25.8 %Hardin County25.8Jackson County: 23.7 %Jackson County23.7Macon County: 23.4 %Macon County23.4Gallatin County: 22.2 %Gallatin County22.2Franklin County: 22.1 %Franklin County22.1Massac County: 21.6 %Massac County21.6McDonough County: 20.8 %McDonough County20.8Knox County: 20.7 %Knox County20.7Peoria County: 20.5 %Peoria County20.5Stephenson County: 20.4 %Stephenson County20.4Winnebago County: 20.3 %Winnebago County20.3Marion County: 20.2 %Marion County20.2Union County: 20 %Union County20Mason County: 19.6 %Mason County19.6Pope County: 19.4 %Pope County19.4Rock Island County: 18.2 %Rock Island County18.2Wayne County: 18.2 %Wayne County18.2White County: 18 %White County18Carroll County: 17.9 %Carroll County17.9Crawford County: 17.9 %Crawford County17.9Warren County: 17.9 %Warren County17.9Jefferson County: 17.7 %Jefferson County17.7Montgomery County: 17.7 %Montgomery County17.7Cook County: 17.6 %Cook County17.6Henderson County: 17.6 %Henderson County17.6Randolph County: 17.5 %Randolph County17.5Perry County: 17.3 %Perry County17.3Lawrence County: 17.1 %Lawrence County17.1Fayette County: 17 %Fayette County17Fulton County: 16.9 %Fulton County16.9St. Clair County: 16.8 %St. Clair County16.8LaSalle County: 16.7 %LaSalle County16.7Edgar County: 16.5 %Edgar County16.5Scott County: 16.5 %Scott County16.5Wabash County: 16.3 %Wabash County16.3Greene County: 16.1 %Greene County16.1Alexander County: 37.1 %Alexander County37.1Pulaski County: 34.9 %Pulaski County34.9Saline County: 28 %Saline County28Vermilion County: 26.8 %Vermilion County26.8Hardin County: 25.8 %Hardin County25.8Jackson County: 23.7 %Jackson County23.7Macon County: 23.4 %Macon County23.4Gallatin County: 22.2 %Gallatin County22.2Franklin County: 22.1 %Franklin County22.1Massac County: 21.6 %Massac County21.6McDonough County: 20.8 %McDonough County20.8Knox County: 20.7 %Knox County20.7Peoria County: 20.5 %Peoria County20.5Stephenson County: 20.4 %Stephenson County20.4Winnebago County: 20.3 %Winnebago County20.3Marion County: 20.2 %Marion County20.2Union County: 20 %Union County20Mason County: 19.6 %Mason County19.6Pope County: 19.4 %Pope County19.4Rock Island County: 18.2 %Rock Island County18.2Wayne County: 18.2 %Wayne County18.2White County: 18 %White County18Carroll County: 17.9 %Carroll County17.9Crawford County: 17.9 %Crawford County17.9Warren County: 17.9 %Warren County17.9Jefferson County: 17.7 %Jefferson County17.7Montgomery County: 17.7 %Montgomery County17.7Cook County: 17.6 %Cook County17.6Henderson County: 17.6 %Henderson County17.6Randolph County: 17.5 %Randolph County17.5Perry County: 17.3 %Perry County17.3Lawrence County: 17.1 %Lawrence County17.1Fayette County: 17 %Fayette County17Fulton County: 16.9 %Fulton County16.9St. Clair County: 16.8 %St. Clair County16.8LaSalle County: 16.7 %LaSalle County16.7Edgar County: 16.5 %Edgar County16.5Scott County: 16.5 %Scott County16.5Wabash County: 16.3 %Wabash County16.3Greene County: 16.1 %Greene County16.1
%. 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

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Alexander County37.1-1.7 pts
2Pulaski County34.9-0.5 pts
3Saline County28+3.7 pts
4Vermilion County26.8-1.9 pts
5Hardin County25.8-3 pts
6Jackson County23.7+0.9 pts
7Macon County23.4+0.8 pts
8Gallatin County22.2-2.1 pts
9Franklin County22.1-0.9 pts
10Massac County21.6-9 pts
11McDonough County20.8-0.4 pts
12Knox County20.7-0.5 pts
13Peoria County20.5-1.6 pts
14Stephenson County20.4+2.9 pts
15Winnebago County20.30 pts
16Marion County20.2-0.4 pts
17Union County20+0.5 pts
18Mason County19.6-2.3 pts
19Pope County19.4-7 pts
20Rock Island County18.2-2.8 pts
20Wayne County18.2+0.3 pts
22White County18-1.4 pts
23Carroll County17.9+1.4 pts
23Crawford County17.9+1 pts
23Warren County17.9+1.5 pts
26Jefferson County17.7-3.4 pts
26Montgomery County17.7-0.5 pts
28Cook County17.6+0.4 pts
28Henderson County17.6+2.3 pts
30Randolph County17.5+2.6 pts
31Perry County17.3-7.1 pts
32Lawrence County17.1-3.8 pts
33Fayette County17-4 pts
34Fulton County16.9+0.1 pts
35St. Clair County16.8-0.5 pts
36LaSalle County16.7+0.8 pts
37Edgar County16.5-1.4 pts
37Scott County16.5-0.5 pts
39Wabash County16.3-1.4 pts
40Greene County16.1-2.3 pts
40Kankakee County16.1+0.3 pts
42Pike County15.9-5.1 pts
43Clay County15.6-3.5 pts
44Cass County15.3-1.4 pts
45Christian County15.2-1 pts
46Hamilton County15.1-1.9 pts
47Morgan County14.9-2.5 pts
48Williamson County14.8-7.1 pts
49Richland County14.7-2.4 pts
50Whiteside County14.5-1.2 pts
51Champaign County14.40 pts
52Coles County14.2-4.4 pts
53Clark County14.1-1.8 pts
53Hancock County14.1-3.9 pts
53Jasper County14.1+1.6 pts
56Livingston County13.9+0.1 pts
57Adams County13.7-0.4 pts
57Bond County13.7-1.1 pts
57Macoupin County13.7-3.3 pts
57Stark County13.7-2.7 pts
61Bureau County13.6-1.8 pts
62De Witt County13.5-2.4 pts
63Johnson County13.3-3.2 pts
64Edwards County13.2-2.4 pts
64Iroquois County13.2-2.9 pts
66Ford County12.7-2 pts
66Schuyler County12.7-1.5 pts
68Madison County12.5-0.9 pts
69Lee County12.4-1.5 pts
69Ogle County12.4+0.4 pts
69Sangamon County12.4-4.3 pts
72Logan County12.1-5 pts
72Marshall County12.1-3.7 pts
74Cumberland County11.9-0.9 pts
74Moultrie County11.9-1.4 pts
76DeKalb County11.5-1.5 pts
77Jo Daviess County11.3+0.2 pts
78Menard County11.2-2.2 pts
78Putnam County11.2-1.5 pts
80Mercer County11-2.5 pts
80Shelby County11-2.1 pts
82Jersey County10.9-3.3 pts
83Henry County10.8-1.9 pts
84Brown County10.7-1.1 pts
85Boone County10.6-5.2 pts
85Douglas County10.6-1.2 pts
87Calhoun County10.5-3.3 pts
88Lake County9.5-1 pts
89McLean County9.3+0.3 pts
89Tazewell County9.3-1 pts
91Kane County9-2.7 pts
92Effingham County8.9-3 pts
92Will County8.9-0.4 pts
94Clinton County8.4-0.4 pts
95Washington County7.8-2.7 pts
96Piatt County7.6-0.4 pts
97Grundy County7.5-1.1 pts
98McHenry County6.9-0.7 pts
99Woodford County5.8-1.8 pts
100DuPage County5.5-1.1 pts
101Kendall County5.2-1.3 pts
102Monroe County4.1-0.4 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties. 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 Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties.

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 Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_illinois_by_2024,
  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 Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties. 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties.
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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Alexander County, with 37.1% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Monroe County, with 4.1% in 2024.

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 Illinois: more rankings