Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in Iowa

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 2018, at 25.6%. Dallas County had the lowest, at 5.4%. The median was 14% and the figure for Iowa was 13.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest25.6Decatur County
Lowest5.4Dallas County
Median1499 counties
Iowa13.5History

Map of counties, 2018

Adair County: 13 %Adams County: 20.3 %Allamakee County: 18.1 %Appanoose County: 22.5 %Audubon County: 18.1 %Benton County: 9 %Black Hawk County: 18.8 %Boone County: 9.8 %Bremer County: 6.4 %Buchanan County: 15 %Buena Vista County: 13.6 %Butler County: 11.4 %Calhoun County: 14.7 %Carroll County: 9.4 %Cass County: 17.6 %Cedar County: 9.5 %Cerro Gordo County: 13.3 %Cherokee County: 11.4 %Chickasaw County: 11.9 %Clarke County: 16.1 %Clay County: 12.6 %Clayton County: 13.2 %Clinton County: 16.8 %Crawford County: 16.4 %Dallas County: 5.4 %Davis County: 18.9 %Decatur County: 25.6 %Delaware County: 11.9 %Des Moines County: 19.8 %Dickinson County: 9.3 %Dubuque County: 12.1 %Emmet County: 16.6 %Fayette County: 16.4 %Floyd County: 17 %Franklin County: 16 %Fremont County: 16.4 %Greene County: 17.2 %Grundy County: 8.9 %Guthrie County: 14 %Hamilton County: 11.8 %Hancock County: 11.2 %Hardin County: 14.9 %Harrison County: 12.8 %Henry County: 13.9 %Howard County: 13.8 %Humboldt County: 12.7 %Ida County: 12.6 %Iowa County: 8.1 %Jackson County: 15.1 %Jasper County: 11.2 %Jefferson County: 19.9 %Johnson County: 13.7 %Jones County: 13.3 %Keokuk County: 18.1 %Kossuth County: 12.1 %Lee County: 21.5 %Linn County: 11.4 %Louisa County: 13.8 %Lucas County: 24.1 %Lyon County: 9.5 %Madison County: 7.8 %Mahaska County: 15.5 %Marion County: 9.8 %Marshall County: 14.6 %Mills County: 10.5 %Mitchell County: 12.3 %Monona County: 18.5 %Monroe County: 16.6 %Montgomery County: 21.9 %Muscatine County: 16 %O'Brien County: 10.5 %Osceola County: 13.3 %Page County: 19.5 %Palo Alto County: 14.1 %Plymouth County: 9.4 %Pocahontas County: 17.5 %Polk County: 11.7 %Pottawattamie County: 15.1 %Poweshiek County: 12.3 %Ringgold County: 23.1 %Sac County: 14.6 %Scott County: 17.8 %Shelby County: 9.9 %Sioux County: 7.2 %Story County: 8.3 %Tama County: 15.2 %Taylor County: 15.6 %Union County: 17.7 %Van Buren County: 20.9 %Wapello County: 19.8 %Warren County: 7.2 %Washington County: 11.6 %Wayne County: 22.2 %Webster County: 18.5 %Winnebago County: 13.5 %Winneshiek County: 9.9 %Woodbury County: 19.8 %Worth County: 15.4 %Wright County: 17 %
  • Under 9.9
  • 9.9 to 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 19
  • 19 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

Decatur County: 25.6 %Decatur County25.6Lucas County: 24.1 %Lucas County24.1Ringgold County: 23.1 %Ringgold County23.1Appanoose County: 22.5 %Appanoose County22.5Wayne County: 22.2 %Wayne County22.2Montgomery County: 21.9 %Montgomery County21.9Lee County: 21.5 %Lee County21.5Van Buren County: 20.9 %Van Buren County20.9Adams County: 20.3 %Adams County20.3Jefferson County: 19.9 %Jefferson County19.9Des Moines County: 19.8 %Des Moines County19.8Wapello County: 19.8 %Wapello County19.8Woodbury County: 19.8 %Woodbury County19.8Page County: 19.5 %Page County19.5Davis County: 18.9 %Davis County18.9Black Hawk County: 18.8 %Black Hawk County18.8Monona County: 18.5 %Monona County18.5Webster County: 18.5 %Webster County18.5Allamakee County: 18.1 %Allamakee County18.1Audubon County: 18.1 %Audubon County18.1Keokuk County: 18.1 %Keokuk County18.1Scott County: 17.8 %Scott County17.8Union County: 17.7 %Union County17.7Cass County: 17.6 %Cass County17.6Pocahontas County: 17.5 %Pocahontas County17.5Greene County: 17.2 %Greene County17.2Floyd County: 17 %Floyd County17Wright County: 17 %Wright County17Clinton County: 16.8 %Clinton County16.8Emmet County: 16.6 %Emmet County16.6Monroe County: 16.6 %Monroe County16.6Crawford County: 16.4 %Crawford County16.4Fayette County: 16.4 %Fayette County16.4Fremont County: 16.4 %Fremont County16.4Clarke County: 16.1 %Clarke County16.1Franklin County: 16 %Franklin County16Muscatine County: 16 %Muscatine County16Taylor County: 15.6 %Taylor County15.6Mahaska County: 15.5 %Mahaska County15.5Worth County: 15.4 %Worth County15.4Decatur County: 25.6 %Decatur County25.6Lucas County: 24.1 %Lucas County24.1Ringgold County: 23.1 %Ringgold County23.1Appanoose County: 22.5 %Appanoose County22.5Wayne County: 22.2 %Wayne County22.2Montgomery County: 21.9 %Montgomery County21.9Lee County: 21.5 %Lee County21.5Van Buren County: 20.9 %Van Buren County20.9Adams County: 20.3 %Adams County20.3Jefferson County: 19.9 %Jefferson County19.9Des Moines County: 19.8 %Des Moines County19.8Wapello County: 19.8 %Wapello County19.8Woodbury County: 19.8 %Woodbury County19.8Page County: 19.5 %Page County19.5Davis County: 18.9 %Davis County18.9Black Hawk County: 18.8 %Black Hawk County18.8Monona County: 18.5 %Monona County18.5Webster County: 18.5 %Webster County18.5Allamakee County: 18.1 %Allamakee County18.1Audubon County: 18.1 %Audubon County18.1Keokuk County: 18.1 %Keokuk County18.1Scott County: 17.8 %Scott County17.8Union County: 17.7 %Union County17.7Cass County: 17.6 %Cass County17.6Pocahontas County: 17.5 %Pocahontas County17.5Greene County: 17.2 %Greene County17.2Floyd County: 17 %Floyd County17Wright County: 17 %Wright County17Clinton County: 16.8 %Clinton County16.8Emmet County: 16.6 %Emmet County16.6Monroe County: 16.6 %Monroe County16.6Crawford County: 16.4 %Crawford County16.4Fayette County: 16.4 %Fayette County16.4Fremont County: 16.4 %Fremont County16.4Clarke County: 16.1 %Clarke County16.1Franklin County: 16 %Franklin County16Muscatine County: 16 %Muscatine County16Taylor County: 15.6 %Taylor County15.6Mahaska County: 15.5 %Mahaska County15.5Worth County: 15.4 %Worth County15.4
%. 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
1Decatur County25.6+3.3 pts
2Lucas County24.1+0.4 pts
3Ringgold County23.1+0.9 pts
4Appanoose County22.5-0.9 pts
5Wayne County22.2-2.5 pts
6Montgomery County21.9+4.2 pts
7Lee County21.5+1.7 pts
8Van Buren County20.9+0.2 pts
9Adams County20.3+1.6 pts
10Jefferson County19.9+1.9 pts
11Des Moines County19.8-0.2 pts
11Wapello County19.8+2.1 pts
11Woodbury County19.8+3.7 pts
14Page County19.5-1.3 pts
15Davis County18.9+2.2 pts
16Black Hawk County18.8+2.3 pts
17Monona County18.5+3.1 pts
17Webster County18.5+2 pts
19Allamakee County18.1+2.3 pts
19Audubon County18.1+2.7 pts
19Keokuk County18.1+2.3 pts
22Scott County17.8+3.6 pts
23Union County17.7-0.2 pts
24Cass County17.6+1.1 pts
25Pocahontas County17.5-0.6 pts
26Greene County17.2+2.3 pts
27Floyd County17+0.5 pts
27Wright County17+2.5 pts
29Clinton County16.8+0.4 pts
30Emmet County16.6+2.7 pts
30Monroe County16.6+0.5 pts
32Crawford County16.4+2.1 pts
32Fayette County16.4-1.1 pts
32Fremont County16.4+0.5 pts
35Clarke County16.1+0.7 pts
36Franklin County16+0.5 pts
36Muscatine County16+2.1 pts
38Taylor County15.6+0.1 pts
39Mahaska County15.5+0.3 pts
40Worth County15.4+2 pts
41Tama County15.2+1.8 pts
42Jackson County15.1-1.1 pts
42Pottawattamie County15.1+1.2 pts
44Buchanan County15+2.4 pts
45Hardin County14.9-1.2 pts
46Calhoun County14.7-0.8 pts
47Marshall County14.6-0.9 pts
47Sac County14.6+0.6 pts
49Palo Alto County14.1+0.6 pts
50Guthrie County14+2.8 pts
51Henry County13.9-0.9 pts
52Howard County13.8+0.3 pts
52Louisa County13.8+1 pts
54Johnson County13.7+3.9 pts
55Buena Vista County13.6-2.7 pts
56Winnebago County13.5+0.5 pts
57Cerro Gordo County13.3+0.2 pts
57Jones County13.3+1.8 pts
57Osceola County13.3-1.5 pts
60Clayton County13.2-0.2 pts
61Adair County13-0.3 pts
62Harrison County12.8+0.9 pts
63Humboldt County12.7+0.9 pts
64Clay County12.6+1 pts
64Ida County12.6+2 pts
66Mitchell County12.3-1.6 pts
66Poweshiek County12.3+0.4 pts
68Dubuque County12.1+1.4 pts
68Kossuth County12.1+0.6 pts
70Chickasaw County11.9-1.4 pts
70Delaware County11.9-0.3 pts
72Hamilton County11.8+0.2 pts
73Polk County11.7-0.2 pts
74Washington County11.6-0.2 pts
75Butler County11.4+0.8 pts
75Cherokee County11.4-0.1 pts
75Linn County11.4+0.3 pts
78Hancock County11.2+0.3 pts
78Jasper County11.2+0.4 pts
80Mills County10.5-0.1 pts
80O'Brien County10.5+0.5 pts
82Shelby County9.9-0.7 pts
82Winneshiek County9.9+1.2 pts
84Boone County9.8-0.5 pts
84Marion County9.8+1.2 pts
86Cedar County9.5+2 pts
86Lyon County9.5+0.5 pts
88Carroll County9.4-1.1 pts
88Plymouth County9.4+0.8 pts
90Dickinson County9.3-0.3 pts
91Benton County90 pts
92Grundy County8.9+2.1 pts
93Story County8.3+0.7 pts
94Iowa County8.1+0.4 pts
95Madison County7.8-0.6 pts
96Sioux County7.20 pts
96Warren County7.2+1 pts
98Bremer County6.4+0.2 pts
99Dallas County5.4+0.6 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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/iowa-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 Iowa 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/iowa-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 Iowa 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/iowa-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_iowa_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 Iowa 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/iowa-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 Iowa 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/iowa-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-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)?

Decatur County, with 25.6% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Dallas County, with 5.4% 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 Iowa: more rankings