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 2019, at 38.9%. Monroe County had the lowest, at 3.8%. The median was 17% and the figure for Illinois was 15.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest38.9Alexander County
Lowest3.8Monroe County
Median17102 counties
Illinois15.6History

Map of counties, 2019

Adams County: 18.3 %Alexander County: 38.9 %Bond County: 16.9 %Boone County: 12.2 %Brown County: 13.4 %Bureau County: 14 %Calhoun County: 12.7 %Carroll County: 17 %Cass County: 15.7 %Champaign County: 18.8 %Christian County: 17.2 %Clark County: 15.5 %Clay County: 18.4 %Clinton County: 8.8 %Coles County: 18.4 %Cook County: 18.2 %Crawford County: 15.8 %Cumberland County: 14.4 %DeKalb County: 11.9 %De Witt County: 16.6 %Douglas County: 11.4 %DuPage County: 7.4 %Edgar County: 20.6 %Edwards County: 15.2 %Effingham County: 11.6 %Fayette County: 21.7 %Ford County: 14.3 %Franklin County: 23.4 %Fulton County: 18.1 %Gallatin County: 26.2 %Greene County: 19.1 %Grundy County: 7 %Hamilton County: 17.4 %Hancock County: 18.1 %Hardin County: 28.7 %Henderson County: 16.9 %Henry County: 12.5 %Iroquois County: 15.2 %Jackson County: 28 %Jasper County: 14.3 %Jefferson County: 23.8 %Jersey County: 14.4 %Jo Daviess County: 12.8 %Johnson County: 16.8 %Kane County: 13 %Kankakee County: 18.3 %Kendall County: 5.3 %Knox County: 24.2 %Lake County: 10.3 %LaSalle County: 18.1 %Lawrence County: 25.4 %Lee County: 16.8 %Livingston County: 18 %Logan County: 16.3 %McDonough County: 23 %McHenry County: 6.6 %McLean County: 9.6 %Macon County: 21.5 %Macoupin County: 18.3 %Madison County: 14.9 %Marion County: 22.8 %Marshall County: 13.8 %Mason County: 19.6 %Massac County: 23.9 %Menard County: 12.8 %Mercer County: 12.4 %Monroe County: 3.8 %Montgomery County: 21.6 %Morgan County: 17.3 %Moultrie County: 12.6 %Ogle County: 13 %Peoria County: 21.9 %Perry County: 18.3 %Piatt County: 7.5 %Pike County: 20.5 %Pope County: 23 %Pulaski County: 34 %Putnam County: 13.6 %Randolph County: 16.9 %Richland County: 17.6 %Rock Island County: 21.2 %St. Clair County: 20 %Saline County: 24.6 %Sangamon County: 18 %Schuyler County: 16.5 %Scott County: 16.8 %Shelby County: 12.9 %Stark County: 17.4 %Stephenson County: 18.4 %Tazewell County: 9.9 %Union County: 24.7 %Vermilion County: 27 %Wabash County: 17.7 %Warren County: 14.9 %Washington County: 11.1 %Wayne County: 22.5 %White County: 20.5 %Whiteside County: 16.8 %Will County: 9 %Williamson County: 18.4 %Winnebago County: 26.6 %Woodford County: 6.9 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 18
  • 18 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2019. 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, 2019

Alexander County: 38.9 %Alexander County38.9Pulaski County: 34 %Pulaski County34Hardin County: 28.7 %Hardin County28.7Jackson County: 28 %Jackson County28Vermilion County: 27 %Vermilion County27Winnebago County: 26.6 %Winnebago County26.6Gallatin County: 26.2 %Gallatin County26.2Lawrence County: 25.4 %Lawrence County25.4Union County: 24.7 %Union County24.7Saline County: 24.6 %Saline County24.6Knox County: 24.2 %Knox County24.2Massac County: 23.9 %Massac County23.9Jefferson County: 23.8 %Jefferson County23.8Franklin County: 23.4 %Franklin County23.4McDonough County: 23 %McDonough County23Pope County: 23 %Pope County23Marion County: 22.8 %Marion County22.8Wayne County: 22.5 %Wayne County22.5Peoria County: 21.9 %Peoria County21.9Fayette County: 21.7 %Fayette County21.7Montgomery County: 21.6 %Montgomery County21.6Macon County: 21.5 %Macon County21.5Rock Island County: 21.2 %Rock Island County21.2Edgar County: 20.6 %Edgar County20.6Pike County: 20.5 %Pike County20.5White County: 20.5 %White County20.5St. Clair County: 20 %St. Clair County20Mason County: 19.6 %Mason County19.6Greene County: 19.1 %Greene County19.1Champaign County: 18.8 %Champaign County18.8Clay County: 18.4 %Clay County18.4Coles County: 18.4 %Coles County18.4Stephenson County: 18.4 %Stephenson County18.4Williamson County: 18.4 %Williamson County18.4Adams County: 18.3 %Adams County18.3Kankakee County: 18.3 %Kankakee County18.3Macoupin County: 18.3 %Macoupin County18.3Perry County: 18.3 %Perry County18.3Cook County: 18.2 %Cook County18.2Fulton County: 18.1 %Fulton County18.1Alexander County: 38.9 %Alexander County38.9Pulaski County: 34 %Pulaski County34Hardin County: 28.7 %Hardin County28.7Jackson County: 28 %Jackson County28Vermilion County: 27 %Vermilion County27Winnebago County: 26.6 %Winnebago County26.6Gallatin County: 26.2 %Gallatin County26.2Lawrence County: 25.4 %Lawrence County25.4Union County: 24.7 %Union County24.7Saline County: 24.6 %Saline County24.6Knox County: 24.2 %Knox County24.2Massac County: 23.9 %Massac County23.9Jefferson County: 23.8 %Jefferson County23.8Franklin County: 23.4 %Franklin County23.4McDonough County: 23 %McDonough County23Pope County: 23 %Pope County23Marion County: 22.8 %Marion County22.8Wayne County: 22.5 %Wayne County22.5Peoria County: 21.9 %Peoria County21.9Fayette County: 21.7 %Fayette County21.7Montgomery County: 21.6 %Montgomery County21.6Macon County: 21.5 %Macon County21.5Rock Island County: 21.2 %Rock Island County21.2Edgar County: 20.6 %Edgar County20.6Pike County: 20.5 %Pike County20.5White County: 20.5 %White County20.5St. Clair County: 20 %St. Clair County20Mason County: 19.6 %Mason County19.6Greene County: 19.1 %Greene County19.1Champaign County: 18.8 %Champaign County18.8Clay County: 18.4 %Clay County18.4Coles County: 18.4 %Coles County18.4Stephenson County: 18.4 %Stephenson County18.4Williamson County: 18.4 %Williamson County18.4Adams County: 18.3 %Adams County18.3Kankakee County: 18.3 %Kankakee County18.3Macoupin County: 18.3 %Macoupin County18.3Perry County: 18.3 %Perry County18.3Cook County: 18.2 %Cook County18.2Fulton County: 18.1 %Fulton County18.1
%. 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

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Alexander County38.9-5.6 pts
2Pulaski County34+0.6 pts
3Hardin County28.7-3.3 pts
4Jackson County28-0.9 pts
5Vermilion County27-2.5 pts
6Winnebago County26.6-0.6 pts
7Gallatin County26.2-5.7 pts
8Lawrence County25.4+4.5 pts
9Union County24.7+0.2 pts
10Saline County24.6-5.1 pts
11Knox County24.2+1.5 pts
12Massac County23.9-2.2 pts
13Jefferson County23.8-1.7 pts
14Franklin County23.4-2.6 pts
15McDonough County23+0.1 pts
15Pope County23-4.1 pts
17Marion County22.8-7.4 pts
18Wayne County22.5+1.5 pts
19Peoria County21.9-0.9 pts
20Fayette County21.7+0.8 pts
21Montgomery County21.6+1.5 pts
22Macon County21.5-5.5 pts
23Rock Island County21.2-0.7 pts
24Edgar County20.6+1.1 pts
25Pike County20.5+0.9 pts
25White County20.5+1.2 pts
27St. Clair County20-2 pts
28Mason County19.6-3.8 pts
29Greene County19.1-0.8 pts
30Champaign County18.8+1.3 pts
31Clay County18.4-0.4 pts
31Coles County18.4-3.4 pts
31Stephenson County18.4-2.5 pts
31Williamson County18.4-1.6 pts
35Adams County18.3+2.4 pts
35Kankakee County18.3-1.9 pts
35Macoupin County18.3-1 pts
35Perry County18.3-5.1 pts
39Cook County18.2-0.6 pts
40Fulton County18.1-2.4 pts
40Hancock County18.1+1.3 pts
40LaSalle County18.1-2.1 pts
43Livingston County18+1.7 pts
43Sangamon County18-2 pts
45Wabash County17.7-1.1 pts
46Richland County17.6-3.3 pts
47Hamilton County17.4-2.2 pts
47Stark County17.4+0.2 pts
49Morgan County17.3-5.8 pts
50Christian County17.2-0.7 pts
51Carroll County170 pts
52Bond County16.9-1.4 pts
52Henderson County16.9+0.8 pts
52Randolph County16.9-0.9 pts
55Johnson County16.8+0.4 pts
55Lee County16.8+2.5 pts
55Scott County16.8+1.8 pts
55Whiteside County16.8-0.3 pts
59De Witt County16.6-0.8 pts
60Schuyler County16.5+1.6 pts
61Logan County16.3-0.7 pts
62Crawford County15.8-1.3 pts
63Cass County15.7-0.1 pts
64Clark County15.5-0.7 pts
65Edwards County15.2+0.5 pts
65Iroquois County15.2-1.4 pts
67Madison County14.9-2.4 pts
67Warren County14.9-2.3 pts
69Cumberland County14.4-0.8 pts
69Jersey County14.4+0.8 pts
71Ford County14.3-1.6 pts
71Jasper County14.3-1.1 pts
73Bureau County14-3.1 pts
74Marshall County13.8+0.2 pts
75Putnam County13.6+1.1 pts
76Brown County13.4-1.4 pts
77Kane County13+1.1 pts
77Ogle County13+1.8 pts
79Shelby County12.9-0.4 pts
80Jo Daviess County12.8+0.6 pts
80Menard County12.8-1.7 pts
82Calhoun County12.7-2.6 pts
83Moultrie County12.6-0.8 pts
84Henry County12.5-4.1 pts
85Mercer County12.4-0.2 pts
86Boone County12.2-1.3 pts
87DeKalb County11.9-1.3 pts
88Effingham County11.6-1.1 pts
89Douglas County11.4-1.9 pts
90Washington County11.1+0.6 pts
91Lake County10.30 pts
92Tazewell County9.9-2.3 pts
93McLean County9.6-0.9 pts
94Will County9+0.4 pts
95Clinton County8.8-1.4 pts
96Piatt County7.5-0.7 pts
97DuPage County7.4-0.5 pts
98Grundy County7-1.3 pts
99Woodford County6.9-0.8 pts
100McHenry County6.6-1.2 pts
101Kendall County5.3-0.1 pts
102Monroe County3.8-0.5 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2019. 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), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2019.

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), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_illinois_by_2019,
  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), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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 38.9% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Monroe County, with 3.8% in 2019.

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