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 2018, at 44.5%. Monroe County had the lowest, at 4.3%. The median was 17.2% and the figure for Illinois was 16.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest44.5Alexander County
Lowest4.3Monroe County
Median17.2102 counties
Illinois16.2History

Map of counties, 2018

Adams County: 15.9 %Alexander County: 44.5 %Bond County: 18.3 %Boone County: 13.5 %Brown County: 14.8 %Bureau County: 17.1 %Calhoun County: 15.3 %Carroll County: 17 %Cass County: 15.8 %Champaign County: 17.5 %Christian County: 17.9 %Clark County: 16.2 %Clay County: 18.8 %Clinton County: 10.2 %Coles County: 21.8 %Cook County: 18.8 %Crawford County: 17.1 %Cumberland County: 15.2 %DeKalb County: 13.2 %De Witt County: 17.4 %Douglas County: 13.3 %DuPage County: 7.9 %Edgar County: 19.5 %Edwards County: 14.7 %Effingham County: 12.7 %Fayette County: 20.9 %Ford County: 15.9 %Franklin County: 26 %Fulton County: 20.5 %Gallatin County: 31.9 %Greene County: 19.9 %Grundy County: 8.3 %Hamilton County: 19.6 %Hancock County: 16.8 %Hardin County: 32 %Henderson County: 16.1 %Henry County: 16.6 %Iroquois County: 16.6 %Jackson County: 28.9 %Jasper County: 15.4 %Jefferson County: 25.5 %Jersey County: 13.6 %Jo Daviess County: 12.2 %Johnson County: 16.4 %Kane County: 11.9 %Kankakee County: 20.2 %Kendall County: 5.4 %Knox County: 22.7 %Lake County: 10.3 %LaSalle County: 20.2 %Lawrence County: 20.9 %Lee County: 14.3 %Livingston County: 16.3 %Logan County: 17 %McDonough County: 22.9 %McHenry County: 7.8 %McLean County: 10.5 %Macon County: 27 %Macoupin County: 19.3 %Madison County: 17.3 %Marion County: 30.2 %Marshall County: 13.6 %Mason County: 23.4 %Massac County: 26.1 %Menard County: 14.5 %Mercer County: 12.6 %Monroe County: 4.3 %Montgomery County: 20.1 %Morgan County: 23.1 %Moultrie County: 13.4 %Ogle County: 11.2 %Peoria County: 22.8 %Perry County: 23.4 %Piatt County: 8.2 %Pike County: 19.6 %Pope County: 27.1 %Pulaski County: 33.4 %Putnam County: 12.5 %Randolph County: 17.8 %Richland County: 20.9 %Rock Island County: 21.9 %St. Clair County: 22 %Saline County: 29.7 %Sangamon County: 20 %Schuyler County: 14.9 %Scott County: 15 %Shelby County: 13.3 %Stark County: 17.2 %Stephenson County: 20.9 %Tazewell County: 12.2 %Union County: 24.5 %Vermilion County: 29.5 %Wabash County: 18.8 %Warren County: 17.2 %Washington County: 10.5 %Wayne County: 21 %White County: 19.3 %Whiteside County: 17.1 %Will County: 8.6 %Williamson County: 20 %Winnebago County: 27.2 %Woodford County: 7.7 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2018. 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, 2018

Alexander County: 44.5 %Alexander County44.5Pulaski County: 33.4 %Pulaski County33.4Hardin County: 32 %Hardin County32Gallatin County: 31.9 %Gallatin County31.9Marion County: 30.2 %Marion County30.2Saline County: 29.7 %Saline County29.7Vermilion County: 29.5 %Vermilion County29.5Jackson County: 28.9 %Jackson County28.9Winnebago County: 27.2 %Winnebago County27.2Pope County: 27.1 %Pope County27.1Macon County: 27 %Macon County27Massac County: 26.1 %Massac County26.1Franklin County: 26 %Franklin County26Jefferson County: 25.5 %Jefferson County25.5Union County: 24.5 %Union County24.5Mason County: 23.4 %Mason County23.4Perry County: 23.4 %Perry County23.4Morgan County: 23.1 %Morgan County23.1McDonough County: 22.9 %McDonough County22.9Peoria County: 22.8 %Peoria County22.8Knox County: 22.7 %Knox County22.7St. Clair County: 22 %St. Clair County22Rock Island County: 21.9 %Rock Island County21.9Coles County: 21.8 %Coles County21.8Wayne County: 21 %Wayne County21Fayette County: 20.9 %Fayette County20.9Lawrence County: 20.9 %Lawrence County20.9Richland County: 20.9 %Richland County20.9Stephenson County: 20.9 %Stephenson County20.9Fulton County: 20.5 %Fulton County20.5Kankakee County: 20.2 %Kankakee County20.2LaSalle County: 20.2 %LaSalle County20.2Montgomery County: 20.1 %Montgomery County20.1Sangamon County: 20 %Sangamon County20Williamson County: 20 %Williamson County20Greene County: 19.9 %Greene County19.9Hamilton County: 19.6 %Hamilton County19.6Pike County: 19.6 %Pike County19.6Edgar County: 19.5 %Edgar County19.5Macoupin County: 19.3 %Macoupin County19.3Alexander County: 44.5 %Alexander County44.5Pulaski County: 33.4 %Pulaski County33.4Hardin County: 32 %Hardin County32Gallatin County: 31.9 %Gallatin County31.9Marion County: 30.2 %Marion County30.2Saline County: 29.7 %Saline County29.7Vermilion County: 29.5 %Vermilion County29.5Jackson County: 28.9 %Jackson County28.9Winnebago County: 27.2 %Winnebago County27.2Pope County: 27.1 %Pope County27.1Macon County: 27 %Macon County27Massac County: 26.1 %Massac County26.1Franklin County: 26 %Franklin County26Jefferson County: 25.5 %Jefferson County25.5Union County: 24.5 %Union County24.5Mason County: 23.4 %Mason County23.4Perry County: 23.4 %Perry County23.4Morgan County: 23.1 %Morgan County23.1McDonough County: 22.9 %McDonough County22.9Peoria County: 22.8 %Peoria County22.8Knox County: 22.7 %Knox County22.7St. Clair County: 22 %St. Clair County22Rock Island County: 21.9 %Rock Island County21.9Coles County: 21.8 %Coles County21.8Wayne County: 21 %Wayne County21Fayette County: 20.9 %Fayette County20.9Lawrence County: 20.9 %Lawrence County20.9Richland County: 20.9 %Richland County20.9Stephenson County: 20.9 %Stephenson County20.9Fulton County: 20.5 %Fulton County20.5Kankakee County: 20.2 %Kankakee County20.2LaSalle County: 20.2 %LaSalle County20.2Montgomery County: 20.1 %Montgomery County20.1Sangamon County: 20 %Sangamon County20Williamson County: 20 %Williamson County20Greene County: 19.9 %Greene County19.9Hamilton County: 19.6 %Hamilton County19.6Pike County: 19.6 %Pike County19.6Edgar County: 19.5 %Edgar County19.5Macoupin County: 19.3 %Macoupin County19.3
%. 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

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Alexander County44.5-6 pts
2Pulaski County33.4-2.7 pts
3Hardin County32-4.2 pts
4Gallatin County31.9+1.4 pts
5Marion County30.2+4.5 pts
6Saline County29.7+0.7 pts
7Vermilion County29.5-1.5 pts
8Jackson County28.9-2.9 pts
9Winnebago County27.2+5.8 pts
10Pope County27.1-0.7 pts
11Macon County27+5 pts
12Massac County26.1+1.4 pts
13Franklin County26-0.6 pts
14Jefferson County25.5-0.1 pts
15Union County24.5-0.6 pts
16Mason County23.4+2 pts
16Perry County23.4+2.9 pts
18Morgan County23.1+2.7 pts
19McDonough County22.9+0.9 pts
20Peoria County22.8+2.7 pts
21Knox County22.7-0.7 pts
22St. Clair County22-2.1 pts
23Rock Island County21.9+2.2 pts
24Coles County21.8-0.7 pts
25Wayne County210 pts
26Fayette County20.9-2.8 pts
26Lawrence County20.9-2.5 pts
26Richland County20.9+0.2 pts
26Stephenson County20.9-4.9 pts
30Fulton County20.50 pts
31Kankakee County20.2-0.1 pts
31LaSalle County20.2-1.8 pts
33Montgomery County20.1-2.8 pts
34Sangamon County20-2.9 pts
34Williamson County20-1 pts
36Greene County19.9-1.1 pts
37Hamilton County19.6-0.3 pts
37Pike County19.6-3.3 pts
39Edgar County19.5-1 pts
40Macoupin County19.3-1.2 pts
40White County19.3-4.2 pts
42Clay County18.8-0.3 pts
42Cook County18.8-1.7 pts
42Wabash County18.8+0.1 pts
45Bond County18.3+1.4 pts
46Christian County17.9-1.9 pts
47Randolph County17.8-4.5 pts
48Champaign County17.5+0.2 pts
49De Witt County17.4-1.1 pts
50Madison County17.3-1.3 pts
51Stark County17.2+0.3 pts
51Warren County17.2+0.2 pts
53Bureau County17.1-1.1 pts
53Crawford County17.1-0.4 pts
53Whiteside County17.1-2.1 pts
56Carroll County17-2.2 pts
56Logan County17-0.4 pts
58Hancock County16.8-2 pts
59Henry County16.6+0.5 pts
59Iroquois County16.6-1.8 pts
61Johnson County16.4-3.3 pts
62Livingston County16.3-1.1 pts
63Clark County16.2-0.6 pts
64Henderson County16.1-1 pts
65Adams County15.9-2 pts
65Ford County15.9-1.4 pts
67Cass County15.8-2.3 pts
68Jasper County15.4-1.2 pts
69Calhoun County15.3+1.5 pts
70Cumberland County15.2-0.7 pts
71Scott County15-2.3 pts
72Schuyler County14.9-1.4 pts
73Brown County14.8-0.4 pts
74Edwards County14.7-2.6 pts
75Menard County14.5+0.5 pts
76Lee County14.3-1.6 pts
77Jersey County13.6-1.2 pts
77Marshall County13.6-1.3 pts
79Boone County13.5+0.8 pts
80Moultrie County13.4-0.4 pts
81Douglas County13.3-0.9 pts
81Shelby County13.3-0.5 pts
83DeKalb County13.20 pts
84Effingham County12.7-0.5 pts
85Mercer County12.6-3.2 pts
86Putnam County12.5-1.5 pts
87Jo Daviess County12.2-1.5 pts
87Tazewell County12.2+0.8 pts
89Kane County11.9-1.7 pts
90Ogle County11.2-2.8 pts
91McLean County10.5-3 pts
91Washington County10.5-1.5 pts
93Lake County10.3+0.3 pts
94Clinton County10.2-0.3 pts
95Will County8.6-0.5 pts
96Grundy County8.3-0.6 pts
97Piatt County8.20 pts
98DuPage County7.9+0.3 pts
99McHenry County7.8+0.6 pts
100Woodford County7.70 pts
101Kendall County5.4-0.4 pts
102Monroe County4.3-0.5 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2018. 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), 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2018.

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), 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_illinois_by_2018,
  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), 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2018. 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2018.
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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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 44.5% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Monroe County, with 4.3% in 2018.

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