Counties in Iowa by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Decatur County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 99 counties in 2013, at 29.7%. Bremer County had the lowest, at 6.2%. The median was 16.1% and the figure for Iowa was 16%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest29.7Decatur County
Lowest6.2Bremer County
Median16.199 counties
Iowa16History

Map of counties, 2013

Adair County: 15.6 %Adams County: 20.4 %Allamakee County: 21.2 %Appanoose County: 25.3 %Audubon County: 16 %Benton County: 11.6 %Black Hawk County: 20.3 %Boone County: 15.5 %Bremer County: 6.2 %Buchanan County: 14.4 %Buena Vista County: 17.5 %Butler County: 12.8 %Calhoun County: 16.1 %Carroll County: 11.4 %Cass County: 21.3 %Cedar County: 9 %Cerro Gordo County: 15.8 %Cherokee County: 15.5 %Chickasaw County: 14.6 %Clarke County: 20.5 %Clay County: 16.6 %Clayton County: 17.9 %Clinton County: 19.6 %Crawford County: 18.6 %Dallas County: 6.7 %Davis County: 28.8 %Decatur County: 29.7 %Delaware County: 13.5 %Des Moines County: 22.2 %Dickinson County: 11.7 %Dubuque County: 14.5 %Emmet County: 20.7 %Fayette County: 18.7 %Floyd County: 17.6 %Franklin County: 20.6 %Fremont County: 19.6 %Greene County: 19.5 %Grundy County: 8.5 %Guthrie County: 13.7 %Hamilton County: 15.9 %Hancock County: 13.9 %Hardin County: 18.5 %Harrison County: 14.6 %Henry County: 18.7 %Howard County: 16.7 %Humboldt County: 16.4 %Ida County: 15.9 %Iowa County: 10.5 %Jackson County: 17.1 %Jasper County: 13.5 %Jefferson County: 22 %Johnson County: 12.7 %Jones County: 13.3 %Keokuk County: 17.5 %Kossuth County: 14 %Lee County: 23.2 %Linn County: 12.1 %Louisa County: 15.7 %Lucas County: 23.6 %Lyon County: 10.2 %Madison County: 10.1 %Mahaska County: 17.9 %Marion County: 11 %Marshall County: 19.6 %Mills County: 13.6 %Mitchell County: 15.7 %Monona County: 19.1 %Monroe County: 18.3 %Montgomery County: 22.3 %Muscatine County: 18.5 %O'Brien County: 12.2 %Osceola County: 14.2 %Page County: 24.8 %Palo Alto County: 14.5 %Plymouth County: 10.3 %Pocahontas County: 16.8 %Polk County: 16 %Pottawattamie County: 18.9 %Poweshiek County: 14.2 %Ringgold County: 28.5 %Sac County: 14.3 %Scott County: 19.9 %Shelby County: 12 %Sioux County: 9.7 %Story County: 10.5 %Tama County: 17 %Taylor County: 18 %Union County: 20.1 %Van Buren County: 26.3 %Wapello County: 24.5 %Warren County: 9.1 %Washington County: 14.8 %Wayne County: 26.5 %Webster County: 22.1 %Winnebago County: 15.6 %Winneshiek County: 11.6 %Woodbury County: 22.7 %Worth County: 16.1 %Wright County: 16.8 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 16
  • 16 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 and over
%, 2013. 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, 2013

Decatur County: 29.7 %Decatur County29.7Davis County: 28.8 %Davis County28.8Ringgold County: 28.5 %Ringgold County28.5Wayne County: 26.5 %Wayne County26.5Van Buren County: 26.3 %Van Buren County26.3Appanoose County: 25.3 %Appanoose County25.3Page County: 24.8 %Page County24.8Wapello County: 24.5 %Wapello County24.5Lucas County: 23.6 %Lucas County23.6Lee County: 23.2 %Lee County23.2Woodbury County: 22.7 %Woodbury County22.7Montgomery County: 22.3 %Montgomery County22.3Des Moines County: 22.2 %Des Moines County22.2Webster County: 22.1 %Webster County22.1Jefferson County: 22 %Jefferson County22Cass County: 21.3 %Cass County21.3Allamakee County: 21.2 %Allamakee County21.2Emmet County: 20.7 %Emmet County20.7Franklin County: 20.6 %Franklin County20.6Clarke County: 20.5 %Clarke County20.5Adams County: 20.4 %Adams County20.4Black Hawk County: 20.3 %Black Hawk County20.3Union County: 20.1 %Union County20.1Scott County: 19.9 %Scott County19.9Clinton County: 19.6 %Clinton County19.6Fremont County: 19.6 %Fremont County19.6Marshall County: 19.6 %Marshall County19.6Greene County: 19.5 %Greene County19.5Monona County: 19.1 %Monona County19.1Pottawattamie County: 18.9 %Pottawattamie County18.9Fayette County: 18.7 %Fayette County18.7Henry County: 18.7 %Henry County18.7Crawford County: 18.6 %Crawford County18.6Hardin County: 18.5 %Hardin County18.5Muscatine County: 18.5 %Muscatine County18.5Monroe County: 18.3 %Monroe County18.3Taylor County: 18 %Taylor County18Clayton County: 17.9 %Clayton County17.9Mahaska County: 17.9 %Mahaska County17.9Floyd County: 17.6 %Floyd County17.6Decatur County: 29.7 %Decatur County29.7Davis County: 28.8 %Davis County28.8Ringgold County: 28.5 %Ringgold County28.5Wayne County: 26.5 %Wayne County26.5Van Buren County: 26.3 %Van Buren County26.3Appanoose County: 25.3 %Appanoose County25.3Page County: 24.8 %Page County24.8Wapello County: 24.5 %Wapello County24.5Lucas County: 23.6 %Lucas County23.6Lee County: 23.2 %Lee County23.2Woodbury County: 22.7 %Woodbury County22.7Montgomery County: 22.3 %Montgomery County22.3Des Moines County: 22.2 %Des Moines County22.2Webster County: 22.1 %Webster County22.1Jefferson County: 22 %Jefferson County22Cass County: 21.3 %Cass County21.3Allamakee County: 21.2 %Allamakee County21.2Emmet County: 20.7 %Emmet County20.7Franklin County: 20.6 %Franklin County20.6Clarke County: 20.5 %Clarke County20.5Adams County: 20.4 %Adams County20.4Black Hawk County: 20.3 %Black Hawk County20.3Union County: 20.1 %Union County20.1Scott County: 19.9 %Scott County19.9Clinton County: 19.6 %Clinton County19.6Fremont County: 19.6 %Fremont County19.6Marshall County: 19.6 %Marshall County19.6Greene County: 19.5 %Greene County19.5Monona County: 19.1 %Monona County19.1Pottawattamie County: 18.9 %Pottawattamie County18.9Fayette County: 18.7 %Fayette County18.7Henry County: 18.7 %Henry County18.7Crawford County: 18.6 %Crawford County18.6Hardin County: 18.5 %Hardin County18.5Muscatine County: 18.5 %Muscatine County18.5Monroe County: 18.3 %Monroe County18.3Taylor County: 18 %Taylor County18Clayton County: 17.9 %Clayton County17.9Mahaska County: 17.9 %Mahaska County17.9Floyd County: 17.6 %Floyd County17.6
%. 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

RankCounties2013 (%)Change on 2012
1Decatur County29.7-0.4 pts
2Davis County28.8-4.8 pts
3Ringgold County28.5+1.4 pts
4Wayne County26.5-0.7 pts
5Van Buren County26.3-0.3 pts
6Appanoose County25.3+1.3 pts
7Page County24.8+3 pts
8Wapello County24.5+2.7 pts
9Lucas County23.6-1.7 pts
10Lee County23.2+0.8 pts
11Woodbury County22.7+0.8 pts
12Montgomery County22.3+1.9 pts
13Des Moines County22.2-5.3 pts
14Webster County22.1+1.6 pts
15Jefferson County22-0.4 pts
16Cass County21.3+0.9 pts
17Allamakee County21.2+2 pts
18Emmet County20.7+2 pts
19Franklin County20.6+3 pts
20Clarke County20.5+0.9 pts
21Adams County20.4-0.3 pts
22Black Hawk County20.3+3.7 pts
23Union County20.1-0.8 pts
24Scott County19.9+2.6 pts
25Clinton County19.6-0.7 pts
25Fremont County19.6+2.3 pts
25Marshall County19.6+1 pts
28Greene County19.5+0.5 pts
29Monona County19.1-1.2 pts
30Pottawattamie County18.9+1.4 pts
31Fayette County18.7-0.3 pts
31Henry County18.7-1.9 pts
33Crawford County18.6-4.9 pts
34Hardin County18.5-0.2 pts
34Muscatine County18.5+0.5 pts
36Monroe County18.3-0.8 pts
37Taylor County18-1 pts
38Clayton County17.90 pts
38Mahaska County17.9-0.2 pts
40Floyd County17.6+0.2 pts
41Buena Vista County17.5-1.7 pts
41Keokuk County17.5-1.8 pts
43Jackson County17.1-4 pts
44Tama County17-1.6 pts
45Pocahontas County16.8-2 pts
45Wright County16.8-0.8 pts
47Howard County16.7-1.7 pts
48Clay County16.6+0.8 pts
49Humboldt County16.4-0.1 pts
50Calhoun County16.1-0.6 pts
50Worth County16.1+2.2 pts
52Audubon County16-1.9 pts
52Polk County16-0.9 pts
54Hamilton County15.9-0.9 pts
54Ida County15.9+0.7 pts
56Cerro Gordo County15.8-3 pts
57Louisa County15.7-0.7 pts
57Mitchell County15.7-0.6 pts
59Adair County15.6+0.7 pts
59Winnebago County15.6-0.7 pts
61Boone County15.5+3.1 pts
61Cherokee County15.5+1 pts
63Washington County14.8-0.5 pts
64Chickasaw County14.6+0.5 pts
64Harrison County14.6-1.4 pts
66Dubuque County14.5-0.7 pts
66Palo Alto County14.5-0.5 pts
68Buchanan County14.4-2.6 pts
69Sac County14.3-0.4 pts
70Osceola County14.2+0.4 pts
70Poweshiek County14.2-0.1 pts
72Kossuth County140 pts
73Hancock County13.9+0.1 pts
74Guthrie County13.7-0.9 pts
75Mills County13.6-0.5 pts
76Delaware County13.5+0.9 pts
76Jasper County13.5-0.1 pts
78Jones County13.3-1.1 pts
79Butler County12.8-0.1 pts
80Johnson County12.7+0.1 pts
81O'Brien County12.2-0.3 pts
82Linn County12.1+0.9 pts
83Shelby County12-0.2 pts
84Dickinson County11.7-0.4 pts
85Benton County11.6-0.6 pts
85Winneshiek County11.6+0.9 pts
87Carroll County11.4-0.3 pts
88Marion County11-1.2 pts
89Iowa County10.5-0.1 pts
89Story County10.5-1.1 pts
91Plymouth County10.3+0.1 pts
92Lyon County10.2-1.4 pts
93Madison County10.1-0.4 pts
94Sioux County9.7+0.3 pts
95Warren County9.1-2.4 pts
96Cedar County9-1.7 pts
97Grundy County8.5+0.5 pts
98Dallas County6.7-0.6 pts
99Bremer County6.2-1.2 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/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.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 Iowa by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2013) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Iowa by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2013. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2013. 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 Iowa by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2013. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2013.

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 Iowa by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2013 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2013 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_iowa_by_2013,
  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 Iowa by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2013}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2013. 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/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.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 Iowa by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2013
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2013
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2013.
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/2013/2013-state-and-county/est13all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Decatur County, with 29.7% in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Bremer County, with 6.2% in 2013.

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 Iowa: more rankings