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 2017, at 50.5%. Monroe County had the lowest, at 4.8%. The median was 18.6% and the figure for Illinois was 17%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest50.5Alexander County
Lowest4.8Monroe County
Median18.6102 counties
Illinois17History

Map of counties, 2017

Adams County: 17.9 %Alexander County: 50.5 %Bond County: 16.9 %Boone County: 12.7 %Brown County: 15.2 %Bureau County: 18.2 %Calhoun County: 13.8 %Carroll County: 19.2 %Cass County: 18.1 %Champaign County: 17.3 %Christian County: 19.8 %Clark County: 16.8 %Clay County: 19.1 %Clinton County: 10.5 %Coles County: 22.5 %Cook County: 20.5 %Crawford County: 17.5 %Cumberland County: 15.9 %DeKalb County: 13.2 %De Witt County: 18.5 %Douglas County: 14.2 %DuPage County: 7.6 %Edgar County: 20.5 %Edwards County: 17.3 %Effingham County: 13.2 %Fayette County: 23.7 %Ford County: 17.3 %Franklin County: 26.6 %Fulton County: 20.5 %Gallatin County: 30.5 %Greene County: 21 %Grundy County: 8.9 %Hamilton County: 19.9 %Hancock County: 18.8 %Hardin County: 36.2 %Henderson County: 17.1 %Henry County: 16.1 %Iroquois County: 18.4 %Jackson County: 31.8 %Jasper County: 16.6 %Jefferson County: 25.6 %Jersey County: 14.8 %Jo Daviess County: 13.7 %Johnson County: 19.7 %Kane County: 13.6 %Kankakee County: 20.3 %Kendall County: 5.8 %Knox County: 23.4 %Lake County: 10 %LaSalle County: 22 %Lawrence County: 23.4 %Lee County: 15.9 %Livingston County: 17.4 %Logan County: 17.4 %McDonough County: 22 %McHenry County: 7.2 %McLean County: 13.5 %Macon County: 22 %Macoupin County: 20.5 %Madison County: 18.6 %Marion County: 25.7 %Marshall County: 14.9 %Mason County: 21.4 %Massac County: 24.7 %Menard County: 14 %Mercer County: 15.8 %Monroe County: 4.8 %Montgomery County: 22.9 %Morgan County: 20.4 %Moultrie County: 13.8 %Ogle County: 14 %Peoria County: 20.1 %Perry County: 20.5 %Piatt County: 8.2 %Pike County: 22.9 %Pope County: 27.8 %Pulaski County: 36.1 %Putnam County: 14 %Randolph County: 22.3 %Richland County: 20.7 %Rock Island County: 19.7 %St. Clair County: 24.1 %Saline County: 29 %Sangamon County: 22.9 %Schuyler County: 16.3 %Scott County: 17.3 %Shelby County: 13.8 %Stark County: 16.9 %Stephenson County: 25.8 %Tazewell County: 11.4 %Union County: 25.1 %Vermilion County: 31 %Wabash County: 18.7 %Warren County: 17 %Washington County: 12 %Wayne County: 21 %White County: 23.5 %Whiteside County: 19.2 %Will County: 9.1 %Williamson County: 21 %Winnebago County: 21.4 %Woodford County: 7.7 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2017. 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, 2017

Alexander County: 50.5 %Alexander County50.5Hardin County: 36.2 %Hardin County36.2Pulaski County: 36.1 %Pulaski County36.1Jackson County: 31.8 %Jackson County31.8Vermilion County: 31 %Vermilion County31Gallatin County: 30.5 %Gallatin County30.5Saline County: 29 %Saline County29Pope County: 27.8 %Pope County27.8Franklin County: 26.6 %Franklin County26.6Stephenson County: 25.8 %Stephenson County25.8Marion County: 25.7 %Marion County25.7Jefferson County: 25.6 %Jefferson County25.6Union County: 25.1 %Union County25.1Massac County: 24.7 %Massac County24.7St. Clair County: 24.1 %St. Clair County24.1Fayette County: 23.7 %Fayette County23.7White County: 23.5 %White County23.5Knox County: 23.4 %Knox County23.4Lawrence County: 23.4 %Lawrence County23.4Montgomery County: 22.9 %Montgomery County22.9Pike County: 22.9 %Pike County22.9Sangamon County: 22.9 %Sangamon County22.9Coles County: 22.5 %Coles County22.5Randolph County: 22.3 %Randolph County22.3LaSalle County: 22 %LaSalle County22Macon County: 22 %Macon County22McDonough County: 22 %McDonough County22Mason County: 21.4 %Mason County21.4Winnebago County: 21.4 %Winnebago County21.4Greene County: 21 %Greene County21Wayne County: 21 %Wayne County21Williamson County: 21 %Williamson County21Richland County: 20.7 %Richland County20.7Cook County: 20.5 %Cook County20.5Edgar County: 20.5 %Edgar County20.5Fulton County: 20.5 %Fulton County20.5Macoupin County: 20.5 %Macoupin County20.5Perry County: 20.5 %Perry County20.5Morgan County: 20.4 %Morgan County20.4Kankakee County: 20.3 %Kankakee County20.3Alexander County: 50.5 %Alexander County50.5Hardin County: 36.2 %Hardin County36.2Pulaski County: 36.1 %Pulaski County36.1Jackson County: 31.8 %Jackson County31.8Vermilion County: 31 %Vermilion County31Gallatin County: 30.5 %Gallatin County30.5Saline County: 29 %Saline County29Pope County: 27.8 %Pope County27.8Franklin County: 26.6 %Franklin County26.6Stephenson County: 25.8 %Stephenson County25.8Marion County: 25.7 %Marion County25.7Jefferson County: 25.6 %Jefferson County25.6Union County: 25.1 %Union County25.1Massac County: 24.7 %Massac County24.7St. Clair County: 24.1 %St. Clair County24.1Fayette County: 23.7 %Fayette County23.7White County: 23.5 %White County23.5Knox County: 23.4 %Knox County23.4Lawrence County: 23.4 %Lawrence County23.4Montgomery County: 22.9 %Montgomery County22.9Pike County: 22.9 %Pike County22.9Sangamon County: 22.9 %Sangamon County22.9Coles County: 22.5 %Coles County22.5Randolph County: 22.3 %Randolph County22.3LaSalle County: 22 %LaSalle County22Macon County: 22 %Macon County22McDonough County: 22 %McDonough County22Mason County: 21.4 %Mason County21.4Winnebago County: 21.4 %Winnebago County21.4Greene County: 21 %Greene County21Wayne County: 21 %Wayne County21Williamson County: 21 %Williamson County21Richland County: 20.7 %Richland County20.7Cook County: 20.5 %Cook County20.5Edgar County: 20.5 %Edgar County20.5Fulton County: 20.5 %Fulton County20.5Macoupin County: 20.5 %Macoupin County20.5Perry County: 20.5 %Perry County20.5Morgan County: 20.4 %Morgan County20.4Kankakee County: 20.3 %Kankakee County20.3
%. 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

RankCounties2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Alexander County50.5+1.9 pts
2Hardin County36.2+0.7 pts
3Pulaski County36.1+2.6 pts
4Jackson County31.8+4.3 pts
5Vermilion County31+1.1 pts
6Gallatin County30.5-0.5 pts
7Saline County29-1.5 pts
8Pope County27.8-1.5 pts
9Franklin County26.6-0.6 pts
10Stephenson County25.8+1.8 pts
11Marion County25.7+0.6 pts
12Jefferson County25.6+0.2 pts
13Union County25.1+0.4 pts
14Massac County24.7-3.4 pts
15St. Clair County24.1+1.1 pts
16Fayette County23.7+0.8 pts
17White County23.5+0.2 pts
18Knox County23.4-0.7 pts
18Lawrence County23.4-1.4 pts
20Montgomery County22.9+0.2 pts
20Pike County22.9+0.6 pts
20Sangamon County22.9+2.3 pts
23Coles County22.5+1.5 pts
24Randolph County22.3+2.9 pts
25LaSalle County22+2.4 pts
25Macon County22-5.9 pts
25McDonough County22-0.4 pts
28Mason County21.4-2 pts
28Winnebago County21.4-2 pts
30Greene County21-1 pts
30Wayne County21-0.6 pts
30Williamson County21-1.3 pts
33Richland County20.7+1 pts
34Cook County20.5-0.8 pts
34Edgar County20.50 pts
34Fulton County20.5-0.4 pts
34Macoupin County20.5+0.1 pts
34Perry County20.5-1.4 pts
39Morgan County20.4-2.6 pts
40Kankakee County20.3-0.9 pts
41Peoria County20.1-0.9 pts
42Hamilton County19.9-2 pts
43Christian County19.8+1.2 pts
44Johnson County19.7+1.6 pts
44Rock Island County19.7-5.4 pts
46Carroll County19.2+0.9 pts
46Whiteside County19.2+1.4 pts
48Clay County19.1-2 pts
49Hancock County18.8-1.1 pts
50Wabash County18.7+0.1 pts
51Madison County18.6+0.6 pts
52De Witt County18.5+1.4 pts
53Iroquois County18.4+0.6 pts
54Bureau County18.2-0.4 pts
55Cass County18.1-0.9 pts
56Adams County17.9+0.9 pts
57Crawford County17.5-2.6 pts
58Livingston County17.4-0.2 pts
58Logan County17.4-1.3 pts
60Champaign County17.3+1.4 pts
60Edwards County17.3+1.5 pts
60Ford County17.3+0.3 pts
60Scott County17.3+0.3 pts
64Henderson County17.1-1.6 pts
65Warren County17-1.2 pts
66Bond County16.9-1.5 pts
66Stark County16.9-1.6 pts
68Clark County16.8-1.1 pts
69Jasper County16.6+1.6 pts
70Schuyler County16.3-0.4 pts
71Henry County16.1-0.1 pts
72Cumberland County15.9-1.5 pts
72Lee County15.9-1.1 pts
74Mercer County15.8+2.1 pts
75Brown County15.2-1 pts
76Marshall County14.9-0.6 pts
77Jersey County14.8-1 pts
78Douglas County14.2-0.1 pts
79Menard County14-1.4 pts
79Ogle County14-0.6 pts
79Putnam County14-0.4 pts
82Calhoun County13.8-0.1 pts
82Moultrie County13.8+0.2 pts
82Shelby County13.8-2.1 pts
85Jo Daviess County13.7-0.1 pts
86Kane County13.6-1.1 pts
87McLean County13.5+1.7 pts
88DeKalb County13.2-2.1 pts
88Effingham County13.2-1.8 pts
90Boone County12.7-0.5 pts
91Washington County12-1.3 pts
92Tazewell County11.4-0.1 pts
93Clinton County10.5-1.7 pts
94Lake County10-0.9 pts
95Will County9.1-1.1 pts
96Grundy County8.9-0.7 pts
97Piatt County8.2-0.2 pts
98Woodford County7.7-0.5 pts
99DuPage County7.6-1.5 pts
100McHenry County7.2-2 pts
101Kendall County5.8-0.2 pts
102Monroe County4.8-0.5 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2017. 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), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2017.

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), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_illinois_by_2017,
  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), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2017. 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2017.
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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Counties in Illinois by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Alexander County, with 50.5% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Monroe County, with 4.8% in 2017.

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