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)

Lucas County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 99 counties in 2022, at 23.2%. Dallas County had the lowest, at 4.9%. The median was 12.9% and the figure for Iowa was 12.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest23.2Lucas County
Lowest4.9Dallas County
Median12.999 counties
Iowa12.3History

Map of counties, 2022

Adair County: 11.4 %Adams County: 15.1 %Allamakee County: 15 %Appanoose County: 20.3 %Audubon County: 15 %Benton County: 9 %Black Hawk County: 19.8 %Boone County: 9.5 %Bremer County: 6.1 %Buchanan County: 11.5 %Buena Vista County: 11.6 %Butler County: 11.6 %Calhoun County: 12.3 %Carroll County: 9.6 %Cass County: 19.2 %Cedar County: 8.5 %Cerro Gordo County: 14.7 %Cherokee County: 12.4 %Chickasaw County: 9.8 %Clarke County: 15.3 %Clay County: 12.4 %Clayton County: 12.6 %Clinton County: 17.9 %Crawford County: 15.1 %Dallas County: 4.9 %Davis County: 14 %Decatur County: 21.8 %Delaware County: 9.4 %Des Moines County: 19.3 %Dickinson County: 7.6 %Dubuque County: 11.3 %Emmet County: 13.3 %Fayette County: 16 %Floyd County: 14.9 %Franklin County: 16.9 %Fremont County: 13.5 %Greene County: 13.7 %Grundy County: 6.9 %Guthrie County: 12.7 %Hamilton County: 10.5 %Hancock County: 10.6 %Hardin County: 14.3 %Harrison County: 11.5 %Henry County: 14.7 %Howard County: 11.1 %Humboldt County: 11.4 %Ida County: 11.3 %Iowa County: 7.6 %Jackson County: 13.4 %Jasper County: 10.2 %Jefferson County: 17.9 %Johnson County: 10.2 %Jones County: 11.7 %Keokuk County: 16.2 %Kossuth County: 11.9 %Lee County: 18.7 %Linn County: 9.6 %Louisa County: 14.9 %Lucas County: 23.2 %Lyon County: 7.6 %Madison County: 7.1 %Mahaska County: 12.5 %Marion County: 8.5 %Marshall County: 13.6 %Mills County: 11 %Mitchell County: 11.4 %Monona County: 14.3 %Monroe County: 14.3 %Montgomery County: 17 %Muscatine County: 15.7 %O'Brien County: 9.9 %Osceola County: 14.8 %Page County: 18.6 %Palo Alto County: 13.6 %Plymouth County: 7.6 %Pocahontas County: 15.1 %Polk County: 12 %Pottawattamie County: 15.2 %Poweshiek County: 11.7 %Ringgold County: 18.8 %Sac County: 12.9 %Scott County: 12.7 %Shelby County: 9.6 %Sioux County: 7.6 %Story County: 8.5 %Tama County: 18.3 %Taylor County: 13.5 %Union County: 16.9 %Van Buren County: 17.7 %Wapello County: 20.5 %Warren County: 6.4 %Washington County: 13.2 %Wayne County: 20.4 %Webster County: 14.7 %Winnebago County: 12.1 %Winneshiek County: 8.6 %Woodbury County: 15.5 %Worth County: 13.6 %Wright County: 15.3 %
  • Under 9.5
  • 9.5 to 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 and over
%, 2022. 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, 2022

Lucas County: 23.2 %Lucas County23.2Decatur County: 21.8 %Decatur County21.8Wapello County: 20.5 %Wapello County20.5Wayne County: 20.4 %Wayne County20.4Appanoose County: 20.3 %Appanoose County20.3Black Hawk County: 19.8 %Black Hawk County19.8Des Moines County: 19.3 %Des Moines County19.3Cass County: 19.2 %Cass County19.2Ringgold County: 18.8 %Ringgold County18.8Lee County: 18.7 %Lee County18.7Page County: 18.6 %Page County18.6Tama County: 18.3 %Tama County18.3Clinton County: 17.9 %Clinton County17.9Jefferson County: 17.9 %Jefferson County17.9Van Buren County: 17.7 %Van Buren County17.7Montgomery County: 17 %Montgomery County17Franklin County: 16.9 %Franklin County16.9Union County: 16.9 %Union County16.9Keokuk County: 16.2 %Keokuk County16.2Fayette County: 16 %Fayette County16Muscatine County: 15.7 %Muscatine County15.7Woodbury County: 15.5 %Woodbury County15.5Clarke County: 15.3 %Clarke County15.3Wright County: 15.3 %Wright County15.3Pottawattamie County: 15.2 %Pottawattamie County15.2Adams County: 15.1 %Adams County15.1Crawford County: 15.1 %Crawford County15.1Pocahontas County: 15.1 %Pocahontas County15.1Allamakee County: 15 %Allamakee County15Audubon County: 15 %Audubon County15Floyd County: 14.9 %Floyd County14.9Louisa County: 14.9 %Louisa County14.9Osceola County: 14.8 %Osceola County14.8Cerro Gordo County: 14.7 %Cerro Gordo County14.7Henry County: 14.7 %Henry County14.7Webster County: 14.7 %Webster County14.7Hardin County: 14.3 %Hardin County14.3Monona County: 14.3 %Monona County14.3Monroe County: 14.3 %Monroe County14.3Davis County: 14 %Davis County14Lucas County: 23.2 %Lucas County23.2Decatur County: 21.8 %Decatur County21.8Wapello County: 20.5 %Wapello County20.5Wayne County: 20.4 %Wayne County20.4Appanoose County: 20.3 %Appanoose County20.3Black Hawk County: 19.8 %Black Hawk County19.8Des Moines County: 19.3 %Des Moines County19.3Cass County: 19.2 %Cass County19.2Ringgold County: 18.8 %Ringgold County18.8Lee County: 18.7 %Lee County18.7Page County: 18.6 %Page County18.6Tama County: 18.3 %Tama County18.3Clinton County: 17.9 %Clinton County17.9Jefferson County: 17.9 %Jefferson County17.9Van Buren County: 17.7 %Van Buren County17.7Montgomery County: 17 %Montgomery County17Franklin County: 16.9 %Franklin County16.9Union County: 16.9 %Union County16.9Keokuk County: 16.2 %Keokuk County16.2Fayette County: 16 %Fayette County16Muscatine County: 15.7 %Muscatine County15.7Woodbury County: 15.5 %Woodbury County15.5Clarke County: 15.3 %Clarke County15.3Wright County: 15.3 %Wright County15.3Pottawattamie County: 15.2 %Pottawattamie County15.2Adams County: 15.1 %Adams County15.1Crawford County: 15.1 %Crawford County15.1Pocahontas County: 15.1 %Pocahontas County15.1Allamakee County: 15 %Allamakee County15Audubon County: 15 %Audubon County15Floyd County: 14.9 %Floyd County14.9Louisa County: 14.9 %Louisa County14.9Osceola County: 14.8 %Osceola County14.8Cerro Gordo County: 14.7 %Cerro Gordo County14.7Henry County: 14.7 %Henry County14.7Webster County: 14.7 %Webster County14.7Hardin County: 14.3 %Hardin County14.3Monona County: 14.3 %Monona County14.3Monroe County: 14.3 %Monroe County14.3Davis County: 14 %Davis County14
%. 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

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Lucas County23.2+3.4 pts
2Decatur County21.8-0.9 pts
3Wapello County20.5+2.2 pts
4Wayne County20.4-0.4 pts
5Appanoose County20.3-0.4 pts
6Black Hawk County19.8+6.3 pts
7Des Moines County19.3+0.8 pts
8Cass County19.2+0.1 pts
9Ringgold County18.8-0.6 pts
10Lee County18.7+0.5 pts
11Page County18.6-1.1 pts
12Tama County18.3+1.9 pts
13Clinton County17.9+2.4 pts
13Jefferson County17.90 pts
15Van Buren County17.7-2.9 pts
16Montgomery County170 pts
17Franklin County16.9+1.5 pts
17Union County16.9+0.8 pts
19Keokuk County16.2-0.1 pts
20Fayette County16+1.3 pts
21Muscatine County15.7+2.4 pts
22Woodbury County15.5-4.6 pts
23Clarke County15.30 pts
23Wright County15.3-0.1 pts
25Pottawattamie County15.2+0.1 pts
26Adams County15.1-0.2 pts
26Crawford County15.1+1.4 pts
26Pocahontas County15.1-0.2 pts
29Allamakee County15-0.2 pts
29Audubon County15+0.5 pts
31Floyd County14.9-0.7 pts
31Louisa County14.9+0.3 pts
33Osceola County14.8+2 pts
34Cerro Gordo County14.7+0.9 pts
34Henry County14.7-0.5 pts
34Webster County14.7-1.9 pts
37Hardin County14.3+0.6 pts
37Monona County14.3-1.6 pts
37Monroe County14.30 pts
40Davis County14-0.5 pts
41Greene County13.7-1.1 pts
42Marshall County13.6-0.4 pts
42Palo Alto County13.6-0.1 pts
42Worth County13.6+0.8 pts
45Fremont County13.5-0.9 pts
45Taylor County13.5-2.6 pts
47Jackson County13.4-1.6 pts
48Emmet County13.3-2.3 pts
49Washington County13.2+1.9 pts
50Sac County12.9+0.1 pts
51Guthrie County12.7+1.3 pts
51Scott County12.7-3.3 pts
53Clayton County12.6+0.9 pts
54Mahaska County12.5-1.9 pts
55Cherokee County12.4+0.5 pts
55Clay County12.4+0.2 pts
57Calhoun County12.3-1.1 pts
58Winnebago County12.1-2.2 pts
59Polk County12+0.4 pts
60Kossuth County11.9-0.3 pts
61Jones County11.70 pts
61Poweshiek County11.7+0.1 pts
63Buena Vista County11.6-1.1 pts
63Butler County11.6+1.8 pts
65Buchanan County11.5-1.7 pts
65Harrison County11.5-1.9 pts
67Adair County11.4-2.4 pts
67Humboldt County11.4-0.6 pts
67Mitchell County11.4-1.6 pts
70Dubuque County11.3+1.9 pts
70Ida County11.3+0.4 pts
72Howard County11.1-2 pts
73Mills County11+1.5 pts
74Hancock County10.60 pts
75Hamilton County10.5-0.9 pts
76Jasper County10.2-0.4 pts
76Johnson County10.2-0.2 pts
78O'Brien County9.9-3.7 pts
79Chickasaw County9.8+1.1 pts
80Carroll County9.6-0.1 pts
80Linn County9.6-1.2 pts
80Shelby County9.6-0.2 pts
83Boone County9.5+0.3 pts
84Delaware County9.4-0.9 pts
85Benton County9+0.1 pts
86Winneshiek County8.6+0.4 pts
87Cedar County8.5+0.3 pts
87Marion County8.5-0.2 pts
87Story County8.5+0.3 pts
90Dickinson County7.6-1.1 pts
90Iowa County7.6-0.1 pts
90Lyon County7.6+0.4 pts
90Plymouth County7.6-0.8 pts
90Sioux County7.6+1.8 pts
95Madison County7.1-0.6 pts
96Grundy County6.9-0.1 pts
97Warren County6.4+0.7 pts
98Bremer County6.1-0.4 pts
99Dallas County4.9-0.4 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2022. 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), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2022.

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), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_iowa_by_2022,
  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), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2022. 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/iowa-counties?period=2022.
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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Counties in Iowa 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)?

Lucas County, with 23.2% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Dallas County, with 4.9% in 2022.

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