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 2021, at 42%. Monroe County had the lowest, at 4.5%. The median was 17.5% and the figure for Illinois was 15.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest42Alexander County
Lowest4.5Monroe County
Median17.5102 counties
Illinois15.9History

Map of counties, 2021

Adams County: 15.6 %Alexander County: 42 %Bond County: 17.6 %Boone County: 14.3 %Brown County: 13.6 %Bureau County: 17.2 %Calhoun County: 13.2 %Carroll County: 19.1 %Cass County: 15.9 %Champaign County: 13.7 %Christian County: 17.4 %Clark County: 16.5 %Clay County: 18.5 %Clinton County: 11.7 %Coles County: 20.4 %Cook County: 18.9 %Crawford County: 17.1 %Cumberland County: 14.2 %DeKalb County: 16.8 %De Witt County: 15.6 %Douglas County: 12.9 %DuPage County: 7.5 %Edgar County: 20.4 %Edwards County: 16.5 %Effingham County: 12.4 %Fayette County: 21.5 %Ford County: 15.6 %Franklin County: 24 %Fulton County: 21.2 %Gallatin County: 25.2 %Greene County: 19.1 %Grundy County: 8.8 %Hamilton County: 19.9 %Hancock County: 17 %Hardin County: 33.3 %Henderson County: 18.8 %Henry County: 12.7 %Iroquois County: 14.7 %Jackson County: 27.9 %Jasper County: 13.6 %Jefferson County: 19.2 %Jersey County: 13.5 %Jo Daviess County: 12.6 %Johnson County: 17 %Kane County: 12.1 %Kankakee County: 17.5 %Kendall County: 6.1 %Knox County: 20 %Lake County: 10.2 %LaSalle County: 19.4 %Lawrence County: 24.1 %Lee County: 17 %Livingston County: 15.2 %Logan County: 16.5 %McDonough County: 22.1 %McHenry County: 6.4 %McLean County: 11.5 %Macon County: 22.6 %Macoupin County: 19.8 %Madison County: 15.1 %Marion County: 22.8 %Marshall County: 14.3 %Mason County: 20.5 %Massac County: 27.2 %Menard County: 13.2 %Mercer County: 14.6 %Monroe County: 4.5 %Montgomery County: 17.8 %Morgan County: 19.4 %Moultrie County: 12.7 %Ogle County: 11.7 %Peoria County: 22 %Perry County: 20.7 %Piatt County: 7.7 %Pike County: 19.3 %Pope County: 25.7 %Pulaski County: 35.6 %Putnam County: 12.9 %Randolph County: 20.3 %Richland County: 18.2 %Rock Island County: 23.2 %St. Clair County: 20.2 %Saline County: 26.5 %Sangamon County: 20.9 %Schuyler County: 16.6 %Scott County: 18.7 %Shelby County: 14.4 %Stark County: 18.6 %Stephenson County: 19.4 %Tazewell County: 12.4 %Union County: 21.2 %Vermilion County: 27.3 %Wabash County: 19.2 %Warren County: 16.6 %Washington County: 12 %Wayne County: 18.7 %White County: 22 %Whiteside County: 19.5 %Will County: 9.8 %Williamson County: 19.9 %Winnebago County: 20.7 %Woodford County: 8.2 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Alexander County: 42 %Alexander County42Pulaski County: 35.6 %Pulaski County35.6Hardin County: 33.3 %Hardin County33.3Jackson County: 27.9 %Jackson County27.9Vermilion County: 27.3 %Vermilion County27.3Massac County: 27.2 %Massac County27.2Saline County: 26.5 %Saline County26.5Pope County: 25.7 %Pope County25.7Gallatin County: 25.2 %Gallatin County25.2Lawrence County: 24.1 %Lawrence County24.1Franklin County: 24 %Franklin County24Rock Island County: 23.2 %Rock Island County23.2Marion County: 22.8 %Marion County22.8Macon County: 22.6 %Macon County22.6McDonough County: 22.1 %McDonough County22.1Peoria County: 22 %Peoria County22White County: 22 %White County22Fayette County: 21.5 %Fayette County21.5Fulton County: 21.2 %Fulton County21.2Union County: 21.2 %Union County21.2Sangamon County: 20.9 %Sangamon County20.9Perry County: 20.7 %Perry County20.7Winnebago County: 20.7 %Winnebago County20.7Mason County: 20.5 %Mason County20.5Coles County: 20.4 %Coles County20.4Edgar County: 20.4 %Edgar County20.4Randolph County: 20.3 %Randolph County20.3St. Clair County: 20.2 %St. Clair County20.2Knox County: 20 %Knox County20Hamilton County: 19.9 %Hamilton County19.9Williamson County: 19.9 %Williamson County19.9Macoupin County: 19.8 %Macoupin County19.8Whiteside County: 19.5 %Whiteside County19.5LaSalle County: 19.4 %LaSalle County19.4Morgan County: 19.4 %Morgan County19.4Stephenson County: 19.4 %Stephenson County19.4Pike County: 19.3 %Pike County19.3Jefferson County: 19.2 %Jefferson County19.2Wabash County: 19.2 %Wabash County19.2Carroll County: 19.1 %Carroll County19.1Alexander County: 42 %Alexander County42Pulaski County: 35.6 %Pulaski County35.6Hardin County: 33.3 %Hardin County33.3Jackson County: 27.9 %Jackson County27.9Vermilion County: 27.3 %Vermilion County27.3Massac County: 27.2 %Massac County27.2Saline County: 26.5 %Saline County26.5Pope County: 25.7 %Pope County25.7Gallatin County: 25.2 %Gallatin County25.2Lawrence County: 24.1 %Lawrence County24.1Franklin County: 24 %Franklin County24Rock Island County: 23.2 %Rock Island County23.2Marion County: 22.8 %Marion County22.8Macon County: 22.6 %Macon County22.6McDonough County: 22.1 %McDonough County22.1Peoria County: 22 %Peoria County22White County: 22 %White County22Fayette County: 21.5 %Fayette County21.5Fulton County: 21.2 %Fulton County21.2Union County: 21.2 %Union County21.2Sangamon County: 20.9 %Sangamon County20.9Perry County: 20.7 %Perry County20.7Winnebago County: 20.7 %Winnebago County20.7Mason County: 20.5 %Mason County20.5Coles County: 20.4 %Coles County20.4Edgar County: 20.4 %Edgar County20.4Randolph County: 20.3 %Randolph County20.3St. Clair County: 20.2 %St. Clair County20.2Knox County: 20 %Knox County20Hamilton County: 19.9 %Hamilton County19.9Williamson County: 19.9 %Williamson County19.9Macoupin County: 19.8 %Macoupin County19.8Whiteside County: 19.5 %Whiteside County19.5LaSalle County: 19.4 %LaSalle County19.4Morgan County: 19.4 %Morgan County19.4Stephenson County: 19.4 %Stephenson County19.4Pike County: 19.3 %Pike County19.3Jefferson County: 19.2 %Jefferson County19.2Wabash County: 19.2 %Wabash County19.2Carroll County: 19.1 %Carroll County19.1
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Alexander County42+5.5 pts
2Pulaski County35.6+4 pts
3Hardin County33.3+5.5 pts
4Jackson County27.9+3.7 pts
5Vermilion County27.3-1.9 pts
6Massac County27.2+4.3 pts
7Saline County26.5+5.1 pts
8Pope County25.7+2.8 pts
9Gallatin County25.2+4.1 pts
10Lawrence County24.1+6.4 pts
11Franklin County24+3 pts
12Rock Island County23.2+4.4 pts
13Marion County22.8+1.9 pts
14Macon County22.6+4.6 pts
15McDonough County22.1+3.3 pts
16Peoria County22+2.3 pts
16White County22+1.6 pts
18Fayette County21.5+2.9 pts
19Fulton County21.2+4.7 pts
19Union County21.2+2.6 pts
21Sangamon County20.9+4.7 pts
22Perry County20.7+4.2 pts
22Winnebago County20.7+0.6 pts
24Mason County20.5+0.5 pts
25Coles County20.4+2.9 pts
25Edgar County20.4+2.8 pts
27Randolph County20.3+4.8 pts
28St. Clair County20.2+0.9 pts
29Knox County20+1.7 pts
30Hamilton County19.9+0.8 pts
30Williamson County19.9+1.9 pts
32Macoupin County19.8+5.3 pts
33Whiteside County19.5+5.7 pts
34LaSalle County19.4+3.9 pts
34Morgan County19.4+4.3 pts
34Stephenson County19.4+2.2 pts
37Pike County19.3+1.2 pts
38Jefferson County19.2+0.4 pts
38Wabash County19.2+5.3 pts
40Carroll County19.1+4 pts
40Greene County19.1+1.8 pts
42Cook County18.9+2.3 pts
43Henderson County18.8+4.3 pts
44Scott County18.7+1.4 pts
44Wayne County18.7-0.3 pts
46Stark County18.6+3.2 pts
47Clay County18.50 pts
48Richland County18.2+2.5 pts
49Montgomery County17.8+0.7 pts
50Bond County17.6+2.9 pts
51Kankakee County17.5+0.2 pts
52Christian County17.4+2.5 pts
53Bureau County17.2+3.1 pts
54Crawford County17.1+2.5 pts
55Hancock County17+1.4 pts
55Johnson County17+0.5 pts
55Lee County17+4.3 pts
58DeKalb County16.8+5.6 pts
59Schuyler County16.6+2 pts
59Warren County16.6+2.4 pts
61Clark County16.5+1.7 pts
61Edwards County16.5+2.6 pts
61Logan County16.5+1.9 pts
64Cass County15.9+0.4 pts
65Adams County15.6+2.4 pts
65De Witt County15.6+2.4 pts
65Ford County15.6+2.1 pts
68Livingston County15.2+2.3 pts
69Madison County15.1+2.5 pts
70Iroquois County14.7+0.7 pts
71Mercer County14.6+2.5 pts
72Shelby County14.4+2.4 pts
73Boone County14.3+3.7 pts
73Marshall County14.3+2 pts
75Cumberland County14.2+2.9 pts
76Champaign County13.7-1.7 pts
77Brown County13.6+2.3 pts
77Jasper County13.6+0.8 pts
79Jersey County13.5+1.7 pts
80Calhoun County13.2+1.3 pts
80Menard County13.2+2.4 pts
82Douglas County12.9+1.4 pts
82Putnam County12.9+1.4 pts
84Henry County12.7+0.3 pts
84Moultrie County12.7+0.9 pts
86Jo Daviess County12.6+1 pts
87Effingham County12.4+1 pts
87Tazewell County12.4+3.1 pts
89Kane County12.1+3.2 pts
90Washington County12+2.9 pts
91Clinton County11.7+4.2 pts
91Ogle County11.7+0.6 pts
93McLean County11.5+1.7 pts
94Lake County10.2+1.9 pts
95Will County9.8+0.8 pts
96Grundy County8.8+1.4 pts
97Woodford County8.2+1.5 pts
98Piatt County7.7+0.6 pts
99DuPage County7.5+1.2 pts
100McHenry County6.4-0.9 pts
101Kendall County6.1+2.1 pts
102Monroe County4.5+1 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_illinois_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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 42% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Monroe County, with 4.5% in 2021.

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