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 2023, at 38.8%. Monroe County had the lowest, at 4.5%. The median was 16.3% and the figure for Illinois was 14.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest38.8Alexander County
Lowest4.5Monroe County
Median16.3102 counties
Illinois14.7History

Map of counties, 2023

Adams County: 14.1 %Alexander County: 38.8 %Bond County: 14.8 %Boone County: 15.8 %Brown County: 11.8 %Bureau County: 15.4 %Calhoun County: 13.8 %Carroll County: 16.5 %Cass County: 16.7 %Champaign County: 14.4 %Christian County: 16.2 %Clark County: 15.9 %Clay County: 19.1 %Clinton County: 8.8 %Coles County: 18.6 %Cook County: 17.2 %Crawford County: 16.9 %Cumberland County: 12.8 %DeKalb County: 13 %De Witt County: 15.9 %Douglas County: 11.8 %DuPage County: 6.6 %Edgar County: 17.9 %Edwards County: 15.6 %Effingham County: 11.9 %Fayette County: 21 %Ford County: 14.7 %Franklin County: 23 %Fulton County: 16.8 %Gallatin County: 24.3 %Greene County: 18.4 %Grundy County: 8.6 %Hamilton County: 17 %Hancock County: 18 %Hardin County: 28.8 %Henderson County: 15.3 %Henry County: 12.7 %Iroquois County: 16.1 %Jackson County: 22.8 %Jasper County: 12.5 %Jefferson County: 21.1 %Jersey County: 14.2 %Jo Daviess County: 11.1 %Johnson County: 16.5 %Kane County: 11.7 %Kankakee County: 15.8 %Kendall County: 6.5 %Knox County: 21.2 %Lake County: 10.5 %LaSalle County: 15.9 %Lawrence County: 20.9 %Lee County: 13.9 %Livingston County: 13.8 %Logan County: 17.1 %McDonough County: 21.2 %McHenry County: 7.6 %McLean County: 9 %Macon County: 22.6 %Macoupin County: 17 %Madison County: 13.4 %Marion County: 20.6 %Marshall County: 15.8 %Mason County: 21.9 %Massac County: 30.6 %Menard County: 13.4 %Mercer County: 13.5 %Monroe County: 4.5 %Montgomery County: 18.2 %Morgan County: 17.4 %Moultrie County: 13.3 %Ogle County: 12 %Peoria County: 22.1 %Perry County: 24.4 %Piatt County: 8 %Pike County: 21 %Pope County: 26.4 %Pulaski County: 35.4 %Putnam County: 12.7 %Randolph County: 14.9 %Richland County: 17.1 %Rock Island County: 21 %St. Clair County: 17.3 %Saline County: 24.3 %Sangamon County: 16.7 %Schuyler County: 14.2 %Scott County: 17 %Shelby County: 13.1 %Stark County: 16.4 %Stephenson County: 17.5 %Tazewell County: 10.3 %Union County: 19.5 %Vermilion County: 28.7 %Wabash County: 17.7 %Warren County: 16.4 %Washington County: 10.5 %Wayne County: 17.9 %White County: 19.4 %Whiteside County: 15.7 %Will County: 9.3 %Williamson County: 21.9 %Winnebago County: 20.3 %Woodford County: 7.6 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Alexander County: 38.8 %Alexander County38.8Pulaski County: 35.4 %Pulaski County35.4Massac County: 30.6 %Massac County30.6Hardin County: 28.8 %Hardin County28.8Vermilion County: 28.7 %Vermilion County28.7Pope County: 26.4 %Pope County26.4Perry County: 24.4 %Perry County24.4Gallatin County: 24.3 %Gallatin County24.3Saline County: 24.3 %Saline County24.3Franklin County: 23 %Franklin County23Jackson County: 22.8 %Jackson County22.8Macon County: 22.6 %Macon County22.6Peoria County: 22.1 %Peoria County22.1Mason County: 21.9 %Mason County21.9Williamson County: 21.9 %Williamson County21.9Knox County: 21.2 %Knox County21.2McDonough County: 21.2 %McDonough County21.2Jefferson County: 21.1 %Jefferson County21.1Fayette County: 21 %Fayette County21Pike County: 21 %Pike County21Rock Island County: 21 %Rock Island County21Lawrence County: 20.9 %Lawrence County20.9Marion County: 20.6 %Marion County20.6Winnebago County: 20.3 %Winnebago County20.3Union County: 19.5 %Union County19.5White County: 19.4 %White County19.4Clay County: 19.1 %Clay County19.1Coles County: 18.6 %Coles County18.6Greene County: 18.4 %Greene County18.4Montgomery County: 18.2 %Montgomery County18.2Hancock County: 18 %Hancock County18Edgar County: 17.9 %Edgar County17.9Wayne County: 17.9 %Wayne County17.9Wabash County: 17.7 %Wabash County17.7Stephenson County: 17.5 %Stephenson County17.5Morgan County: 17.4 %Morgan County17.4St. Clair County: 17.3 %St. Clair County17.3Cook County: 17.2 %Cook County17.2Logan County: 17.1 %Logan County17.1Richland County: 17.1 %Richland County17.1Alexander County: 38.8 %Alexander County38.8Pulaski County: 35.4 %Pulaski County35.4Massac County: 30.6 %Massac County30.6Hardin County: 28.8 %Hardin County28.8Vermilion County: 28.7 %Vermilion County28.7Pope County: 26.4 %Pope County26.4Perry County: 24.4 %Perry County24.4Gallatin County: 24.3 %Gallatin County24.3Saline County: 24.3 %Saline County24.3Franklin County: 23 %Franklin County23Jackson County: 22.8 %Jackson County22.8Macon County: 22.6 %Macon County22.6Peoria County: 22.1 %Peoria County22.1Mason County: 21.9 %Mason County21.9Williamson County: 21.9 %Williamson County21.9Knox County: 21.2 %Knox County21.2McDonough County: 21.2 %McDonough County21.2Jefferson County: 21.1 %Jefferson County21.1Fayette County: 21 %Fayette County21Pike County: 21 %Pike County21Rock Island County: 21 %Rock Island County21Lawrence County: 20.9 %Lawrence County20.9Marion County: 20.6 %Marion County20.6Winnebago County: 20.3 %Winnebago County20.3Union County: 19.5 %Union County19.5White County: 19.4 %White County19.4Clay County: 19.1 %Clay County19.1Coles County: 18.6 %Coles County18.6Greene County: 18.4 %Greene County18.4Montgomery County: 18.2 %Montgomery County18.2Hancock County: 18 %Hancock County18Edgar County: 17.9 %Edgar County17.9Wayne County: 17.9 %Wayne County17.9Wabash County: 17.7 %Wabash County17.7Stephenson County: 17.5 %Stephenson County17.5Morgan County: 17.4 %Morgan County17.4St. Clair County: 17.3 %St. Clair County17.3Cook County: 17.2 %Cook County17.2Logan County: 17.1 %Logan County17.1Richland County: 17.1 %Richland County17.1
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Alexander County38.8+1.6 pts
2Pulaski County35.4-4.4 pts
3Massac County30.6+6.7 pts
4Hardin County28.8-4.2 pts
5Vermilion County28.7+4.2 pts
6Pope County26.4-3.3 pts
7Perry County24.4+6.2 pts
8Gallatin County24.3-2.1 pts
8Saline County24.3-1.2 pts
10Franklin County23-5.9 pts
11Jackson County22.8-4.9 pts
12Macon County22.6+2.1 pts
13Peoria County22.1+3.7 pts
14Mason County21.9+2.7 pts
14Williamson County21.9+5.3 pts
16Knox County21.2+1.5 pts
16McDonough County21.2-0.2 pts
18Jefferson County21.1+2 pts
19Fayette County21+4.2 pts
19Pike County21+0.8 pts
19Rock Island County21-2.2 pts
22Lawrence County20.9+0.9 pts
23Marion County20.60 pts
24Winnebago County20.3-1.7 pts
25Union County19.5-10.8 pts
26White County19.4-0.1 pts
27Clay County19.1+1.2 pts
28Coles County18.6-0.5 pts
29Greene County18.4+0.9 pts
30Montgomery County18.2-0.5 pts
31Hancock County18+1.1 pts
32Edgar County17.9-2 pts
32Wayne County17.9-2.1 pts
34Wabash County17.7+0.6 pts
35Stephenson County17.5-4.2 pts
36Morgan County17.4+0.5 pts
37St. Clair County17.3-5.5 pts
38Cook County17.2-1.9 pts
39Logan County17.1+0.1 pts
39Richland County17.1-1.4 pts
41Hamilton County17-1.5 pts
41Macoupin County17+2.1 pts
41Scott County17+1.3 pts
44Crawford County16.9+0.4 pts
45Fulton County16.8+0.4 pts
46Cass County16.7+1 pts
46Sangamon County16.7+1.9 pts
48Carroll County16.5-1.5 pts
48Johnson County16.5-0.9 pts
50Stark County16.4+0.2 pts
50Warren County16.4-4.8 pts
52Christian County16.2-5 pts
53Iroquois County16.1-0.6 pts
54Clark County15.9+1 pts
54De Witt County15.9+0.4 pts
54LaSalle County15.9-5.6 pts
57Boone County15.8+3.6 pts
57Kankakee County15.8-4.1 pts
57Marshall County15.8-1.7 pts
60Whiteside County15.7-1.7 pts
61Edwards County15.6+0.1 pts
62Bureau County15.4-2 pts
63Henderson County15.3-0.7 pts
64Randolph County14.9-3.3 pts
65Bond County14.8-1.2 pts
66Ford County14.7-1.9 pts
67Champaign County14.4-2.2 pts
68Jersey County14.2+1.8 pts
68Schuyler County14.2-1.6 pts
70Adams County14.1-3.3 pts
71Lee County13.9+0.4 pts
72Calhoun County13.8+1 pts
72Livingston County13.8-2 pts
74Mercer County13.5+1.4 pts
75Madison County13.4-1.6 pts
75Menard County13.4+1 pts
77Moultrie County13.3+0.5 pts
78Shelby County13.1-0.3 pts
79DeKalb County13-1.6 pts
80Cumberland County12.8+0.2 pts
81Henry County12.7+0.7 pts
81Putnam County12.7+1.1 pts
83Jasper County12.5-0.9 pts
84Ogle County12+0.8 pts
85Effingham County11.9+0.1 pts
86Brown County11.8-0.3 pts
86Douglas County11.8+0.3 pts
88Kane County11.7+0.9 pts
89Jo Daviess County11.1-0.3 pts
90Lake County10.5+0.3 pts
90Washington County10.5+0.3 pts
92Tazewell County10.3-1.4 pts
93Will County9.3+0.1 pts
94McLean County9-0.9 pts
95Clinton County8.8-0.4 pts
96Grundy County8.6-0.8 pts
97Piatt County8+0.2 pts
98McHenry County7.6+0.6 pts
98Woodford County7.6-0.2 pts
100DuPage County6.6-1 pts
101Kendall County6.5-0.6 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_illinois_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/illinois-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 38.8% in 2023, 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 2023.

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