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)

Alexander County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 102 counties in 2015, at 52.2%. Monroe County had the lowest, at 5.5%. The median was 19.6% and the figure for Illinois was 19.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest52.2Alexander County
Lowest5.5Monroe County
Median19.6102 counties
Illinois19.1History

Map of counties, 2015

Adams County: 18.9 %Alexander County: 52.2 %Bond County: 19.1 %Boone County: 14.5 %Brown County: 15.8 %Bureau County: 19.3 %Calhoun County: 15.5 %Carroll County: 19.3 %Cass County: 18.1 %Champaign County: 18.3 %Christian County: 19.2 %Clark County: 21.5 %Clay County: 21.1 %Clinton County: 12 %Coles County: 24.5 %Cook County: 23.5 %Crawford County: 20.2 %Cumberland County: 17.5 %DeKalb County: 16.3 %De Witt County: 19.3 %Douglas County: 16.3 %DuPage County: 9.2 %Edgar County: 22.6 %Edwards County: 15.9 %Effingham County: 14.1 %Fayette County: 29.8 %Ford County: 18.1 %Franklin County: 28.2 %Fulton County: 21 %Gallatin County: 27.7 %Greene County: 23.4 %Grundy County: 10.2 %Hamilton County: 22.4 %Hancock County: 19 %Hardin County: 35.6 %Henderson County: 18.8 %Henry County: 14.7 %Iroquois County: 20.1 %Jackson County: 29.7 %Jasper County: 16.7 %Jefferson County: 26.5 %Jersey County: 16.4 %Jo Daviess County: 13.5 %Johnson County: 19.5 %Kane County: 16.1 %Kankakee County: 22.3 %Kendall County: 6.6 %Knox County: 26.8 %Lake County: 12.3 %LaSalle County: 19.6 %Lawrence County: 23.4 %Lee County: 18.1 %Livingston County: 18.2 %Logan County: 20.1 %McDonough County: 26 %McHenry County: 10.7 %McLean County: 11.6 %Macon County: 27.7 %Macoupin County: 21.1 %Madison County: 17.7 %Marion County: 29.5 %Marshall County: 16.3 %Mason County: 23.3 %Massac County: 26.5 %Menard County: 16.6 %Mercer County: 13.8 %Monroe County: 5.5 %Montgomery County: 24.2 %Morgan County: 22.3 %Moultrie County: 15.6 %Ogle County: 14.5 %Peoria County: 23 %Perry County: 23.6 %Piatt County: 9.2 %Pike County: 22.9 %Pope County: 30.6 %Pulaski County: 39.9 %Putnam County: 16 %Randolph County: 19.7 %Richland County: 20.3 %Rock Island County: 20.8 %St. Clair County: 25.6 %Saline County: 35.2 %Sangamon County: 22.8 %Schuyler County: 19.6 %Scott County: 18 %Shelby County: 17.1 %Stark County: 17.7 %Stephenson County: 22.5 %Tazewell County: 12.2 %Union County: 25.6 %Vermilion County: 29.1 %Wabash County: 19.6 %Warren County: 20.8 %Washington County: 13.7 %Wayne County: 21.7 %White County: 23 %Whiteside County: 19.6 %Will County: 11.3 %Williamson County: 25 %Winnebago County: 22.5 %Woodford County: 9 %
  • Under 15
  • 15 to 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 22
  • 22 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2015. 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, 2015

Alexander County: 52.2 %Alexander County52.2Pulaski County: 39.9 %Pulaski County39.9Hardin County: 35.6 %Hardin County35.6Saline County: 35.2 %Saline County35.2Pope County: 30.6 %Pope County30.6Fayette County: 29.8 %Fayette County29.8Jackson County: 29.7 %Jackson County29.7Marion County: 29.5 %Marion County29.5Vermilion County: 29.1 %Vermilion County29.1Franklin County: 28.2 %Franklin County28.2Gallatin County: 27.7 %Gallatin County27.7Macon County: 27.7 %Macon County27.7Knox County: 26.8 %Knox County26.8Jefferson County: 26.5 %Jefferson County26.5Massac County: 26.5 %Massac County26.5McDonough County: 26 %McDonough County26St. Clair County: 25.6 %St. Clair County25.6Union County: 25.6 %Union County25.6Williamson County: 25 %Williamson County25Coles County: 24.5 %Coles County24.5Montgomery County: 24.2 %Montgomery County24.2Perry County: 23.6 %Perry County23.6Cook County: 23.5 %Cook County23.5Greene County: 23.4 %Greene County23.4Lawrence County: 23.4 %Lawrence County23.4Mason County: 23.3 %Mason County23.3Peoria County: 23 %Peoria County23White County: 23 %White County23Pike County: 22.9 %Pike County22.9Sangamon County: 22.8 %Sangamon County22.8Edgar County: 22.6 %Edgar County22.6Stephenson County: 22.5 %Stephenson County22.5Winnebago County: 22.5 %Winnebago County22.5Hamilton County: 22.4 %Hamilton County22.4Kankakee County: 22.3 %Kankakee County22.3Morgan County: 22.3 %Morgan County22.3Wayne County: 21.7 %Wayne County21.7Clark County: 21.5 %Clark County21.5Clay County: 21.1 %Clay County21.1Macoupin County: 21.1 %Macoupin County21.1Alexander County: 52.2 %Alexander County52.2Pulaski County: 39.9 %Pulaski County39.9Hardin County: 35.6 %Hardin County35.6Saline County: 35.2 %Saline County35.2Pope County: 30.6 %Pope County30.6Fayette County: 29.8 %Fayette County29.8Jackson County: 29.7 %Jackson County29.7Marion County: 29.5 %Marion County29.5Vermilion County: 29.1 %Vermilion County29.1Franklin County: 28.2 %Franklin County28.2Gallatin County: 27.7 %Gallatin County27.7Macon County: 27.7 %Macon County27.7Knox County: 26.8 %Knox County26.8Jefferson County: 26.5 %Jefferson County26.5Massac County: 26.5 %Massac County26.5McDonough County: 26 %McDonough County26St. Clair County: 25.6 %St. Clair County25.6Union County: 25.6 %Union County25.6Williamson County: 25 %Williamson County25Coles County: 24.5 %Coles County24.5Montgomery County: 24.2 %Montgomery County24.2Perry County: 23.6 %Perry County23.6Cook County: 23.5 %Cook County23.5Greene County: 23.4 %Greene County23.4Lawrence County: 23.4 %Lawrence County23.4Mason County: 23.3 %Mason County23.3Peoria County: 23 %Peoria County23White County: 23 %White County23Pike County: 22.9 %Pike County22.9Sangamon County: 22.8 %Sangamon County22.8Edgar County: 22.6 %Edgar County22.6Stephenson County: 22.5 %Stephenson County22.5Winnebago County: 22.5 %Winnebago County22.5Hamilton County: 22.4 %Hamilton County22.4Kankakee County: 22.3 %Kankakee County22.3Morgan County: 22.3 %Morgan County22.3Wayne County: 21.7 %Wayne County21.7Clark County: 21.5 %Clark County21.5Clay County: 21.1 %Clay County21.1Macoupin County: 21.1 %Macoupin County21.1
%. 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

RankCounties2015 (%)Change on 2014
1Alexander County52.2+0.2 pts
2Pulaski County39.9+4 pts
3Hardin County35.6+3.1 pts
4Saline County35.2+3.3 pts
5Pope County30.6-0.2 pts
6Fayette County29.8+4.9 pts
7Jackson County29.7-3.2 pts
8Marion County29.5-0.4 pts
9Vermilion County29.1+1.4 pts
10Franklin County28.2-1.5 pts
11Gallatin County27.7-0.2 pts
11Macon County27.7+1.4 pts
13Knox County26.8-0.4 pts
14Jefferson County26.5-1.7 pts
14Massac County26.5-3.5 pts
16McDonough County26+2.8 pts
17St. Clair County25.6-1.8 pts
17Union County25.6+1.1 pts
19Williamson County25+1.8 pts
20Coles County24.5-0.3 pts
21Montgomery County24.2+0.8 pts
22Perry County23.6+1.9 pts
23Cook County23.5-1.8 pts
24Greene County23.4+1.6 pts
24Lawrence County23.4-0.7 pts
26Mason County23.3+3 pts
27Peoria County23-0.8 pts
27White County23+0.9 pts
29Pike County22.9+0.3 pts
30Sangamon County22.8+0.2 pts
31Edgar County22.6-0.6 pts
32Stephenson County22.5+0.3 pts
32Winnebago County22.5-2.7 pts
34Hamilton County22.4+1.9 pts
35Kankakee County22.3+1.3 pts
35Morgan County22.3+0.9 pts
37Wayne County21.7-1.2 pts
38Clark County21.5+1.1 pts
39Clay County21.1+1.4 pts
39Macoupin County21.1+1.4 pts
41Fulton County21-1.1 pts
42Rock Island County20.8-4.3 pts
42Warren County20.8+1.8 pts
44Richland County20.3-1.3 pts
45Crawford County20.2-0.8 pts
46Iroquois County20.1-2.2 pts
46Logan County20.1+2 pts
48Randolph County19.7+0.6 pts
49LaSalle County19.6+0.1 pts
49Schuyler County19.6+2.4 pts
49Wabash County19.6-1.6 pts
49Whiteside County19.6+1.6 pts
53Johnson County19.5-0.2 pts
54Bureau County19.3-0.6 pts
54Carroll County19.3-0.7 pts
54De Witt County19.3+2 pts
57Christian County19.2-1 pts
58Bond County19.1-1.8 pts
59Hancock County19+0.8 pts
60Adams County18.9-1.1 pts
61Henderson County18.8-0.3 pts
62Champaign County18.3-5.2 pts
63Livingston County18.2+1.5 pts
64Cass County18.1-0.5 pts
64Ford County18.1-1.2 pts
64Lee County18.1+1.9 pts
67Scott County180 pts
68Madison County17.7+0.1 pts
68Stark County17.7+1.9 pts
70Cumberland County17.5+1.3 pts
71Shelby County17.1-0.5 pts
72Jasper County16.7-0.8 pts
73Menard County16.6+1.3 pts
74Jersey County16.4-0.1 pts
75DeKalb County16.3+0.6 pts
75Douglas County16.3+1.3 pts
75Marshall County16.3+0.5 pts
78Kane County16.1+0.5 pts
79Putnam County16+1.3 pts
80Edwards County15.9-0.8 pts
81Brown County15.8+0.4 pts
82Moultrie County15.6-2.3 pts
83Calhoun County15.5-0.5 pts
84Henry County14.7-0.1 pts
85Boone County14.5-0.7 pts
85Ogle County14.5-1.2 pts
87Effingham County14.1-3.1 pts
88Mercer County13.8+0.6 pts
89Washington County13.7+0.6 pts
90Jo Daviess County13.5-2.1 pts
91Lake County12.3-0.3 pts
92Tazewell County12.2-0.7 pts
93Clinton County12-1 pts
94McLean County11.6-1 pts
95Will County11.3-0.5 pts
96McHenry County10.7+1.8 pts
97Grundy County10.2-0.3 pts
98DuPage County9.2-1.3 pts
98Piatt County9.2-0.7 pts
100Woodford County9+0.5 pts
101Kendall County6.6-0.8 pts
102Monroe County5.5-0.5 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2015. 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), 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2015.

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), 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_illinois_by_2015,
  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), 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2015. 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2015.
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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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 52.2% in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Monroe County, with 5.5% in 2015.

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