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

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

Clay County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 120 counties in 2017, at 55.7%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 4.8%. The median was 25% and the figure for Kentucky was 22.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest55.7Clay County
Lowest4.8Oldham County
Median25120 counties
Kentucky22.1History

Map of counties, 2017

Adair County: 33.5 %Allen County: 30.2 %Anderson County: 14.1 %Ballard County: 23.7 %Barren County: 32.8 %Bath County: 34 %Bell County: 45.5 %Boone County: 8.7 %Bourbon County: 23 %Boyd County: 28.5 %Boyle County: 19.5 %Bracken County: 20.7 %Breathitt County: 44.5 %Breckinridge County: 25.5 %Bullitt County: 12.2 %Butler County: 23 %Caldwell County: 24.6 %Calloway County: 20.6 %Campbell County: 11.7 %Carlisle County: 22.4 %Carroll County: 31.3 %Carter County: 33.9 %Casey County: 33.2 %Christian County: 27.4 %Clark County: 20 %Clay County: 55.7 %Clinton County: 35.4 %Crittenden County: 28.6 %Cumberland County: 33 %Daviess County: 21.7 %Edmonson County: 24.5 %Elliott County: 35 %Estill County: 29.8 %Fayette County: 17.1 %Fleming County: 25.4 %Floyd County: 39 %Franklin County: 19.2 %Fulton County: 42.8 %Gallatin County: 21.8 %Garrard County: 23.8 %Grant County: 20.7 %Graves County: 24.9 %Grayson County: 29.6 %Green County: 26.2 %Greenup County: 22.2 %Hancock County: 17.2 %Hardin County: 16.8 %Harlan County: 49.2 %Harrison County: 21.1 %Hart County: 26.2 %Henderson County: 20.6 %Henry County: 20.3 %Hickman County: 27.6 %Hopkins County: 25.2 %Jackson County: 38.9 %Jefferson County: 19.8 %Jessamine County: 20.3 %Johnson County: 29.7 %Kenton County: 14.3 %Knott County: 42 %Knox County: 37.4 %Larue County: 21.4 %Laurel County: 30.4 %Lawrence County: 38.9 %Lee County: 48 %Leslie County: 37.3 %Letcher County: 38.3 %Lewis County: 35.3 %Lincoln County: 28.2 %Livingston County: 23.4 %Logan County: 24.4 %Lyon County: 20.2 %McCracken County: 21.2 %McCreary County: 45.6 %McLean County: 21.3 %Madison County: 17.6 %Magoffin County: 39.3 %Marion County: 19.9 %Marshall County: 16.9 %Martin County: 45.9 %Mason County: 26.3 %Meade County: 15.1 %Menifee County: 39.1 %Mercer County: 19.3 %Metcalfe County: 34.7 %Monroe County: 33.1 %Montgomery County: 22.3 %Morgan County: 34.4 %Muhlenberg County: 24.9 %Nelson County: 15.1 %Nicholas County: 27.6 %Ohio County: 23.7 %Oldham County: 4.8 %Owen County: 20.9 %Owsley County: 49.2 %Pendleton County: 21.7 %Perry County: 33.4 %Pike County: 35.8 %Powell County: 35 %Pulaski County: 29.4 %Robertson County: 29.2 %Rockcastle County: 28.5 %Rowan County: 26.7 %Russell County: 32.1 %Scott County: 12.7 %Shelby County: 13.6 %Simpson County: 21.3 %Spencer County: 9.2 %Taylor County: 25.6 %Todd County: 24.6 %Trigg County: 22.6 %Trimble County: 19.1 %Union County: 21.9 %Warren County: 19.4 %Washington County: 20.4 %Wayne County: 35.4 %Webster County: 20 %Whitley County: 36.2 %Wolfe County: 43.3 %Woodford County: 13.2 %
  • Under 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 25
  • 25 to 30
  • 30 to 36
  • 36 and over
%, 2017. 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, 2017

Clay County: 55.7 %Clay County55.7Harlan County: 49.2 %Harlan County49.2Owsley County: 49.2 %Owsley County49.2Lee County: 48 %Lee County48Martin County: 45.9 %Martin County45.9McCreary County: 45.6 %McCreary County45.6Bell County: 45.5 %Bell County45.5Breathitt County: 44.5 %Breathitt County44.5Wolfe County: 43.3 %Wolfe County43.3Fulton County: 42.8 %Fulton County42.8Knott County: 42 %Knott County42Magoffin County: 39.3 %Magoffin County39.3Menifee County: 39.1 %Menifee County39.1Floyd County: 39 %Floyd County39Jackson County: 38.9 %Jackson County38.9Lawrence County: 38.9 %Lawrence County38.9Letcher County: 38.3 %Letcher County38.3Knox County: 37.4 %Knox County37.4Leslie County: 37.3 %Leslie County37.3Whitley County: 36.2 %Whitley County36.2Pike County: 35.8 %Pike County35.8Clinton County: 35.4 %Clinton County35.4Wayne County: 35.4 %Wayne County35.4Lewis County: 35.3 %Lewis County35.3Elliott County: 35 %Elliott County35Powell County: 35 %Powell County35Metcalfe County: 34.7 %Metcalfe County34.7Morgan County: 34.4 %Morgan County34.4Bath County: 34 %Bath County34Carter County: 33.9 %Carter County33.9Adair County: 33.5 %Adair County33.5Perry County: 33.4 %Perry County33.4Casey County: 33.2 %Casey County33.2Monroe County: 33.1 %Monroe County33.1Cumberland County: 33 %Cumberland County33Barren County: 32.8 %Barren County32.8Russell County: 32.1 %Russell County32.1Carroll County: 31.3 %Carroll County31.3Laurel County: 30.4 %Laurel County30.4Allen County: 30.2 %Allen County30.2Clay County: 55.7 %Clay County55.7Harlan County: 49.2 %Harlan County49.2Owsley County: 49.2 %Owsley County49.2Lee County: 48 %Lee County48Martin County: 45.9 %Martin County45.9McCreary County: 45.6 %McCreary County45.6Bell County: 45.5 %Bell County45.5Breathitt County: 44.5 %Breathitt County44.5Wolfe County: 43.3 %Wolfe County43.3Fulton County: 42.8 %Fulton County42.8Knott County: 42 %Knott County42Magoffin County: 39.3 %Magoffin County39.3Menifee County: 39.1 %Menifee County39.1Floyd County: 39 %Floyd County39Jackson County: 38.9 %Jackson County38.9Lawrence County: 38.9 %Lawrence County38.9Letcher County: 38.3 %Letcher County38.3Knox County: 37.4 %Knox County37.4Leslie County: 37.3 %Leslie County37.3Whitley County: 36.2 %Whitley County36.2Pike County: 35.8 %Pike County35.8Clinton County: 35.4 %Clinton County35.4Wayne County: 35.4 %Wayne County35.4Lewis County: 35.3 %Lewis County35.3Elliott County: 35 %Elliott County35Powell County: 35 %Powell County35Metcalfe County: 34.7 %Metcalfe County34.7Morgan County: 34.4 %Morgan County34.4Bath County: 34 %Bath County34Carter County: 33.9 %Carter County33.9Adair County: 33.5 %Adair County33.5Perry County: 33.4 %Perry County33.4Casey County: 33.2 %Casey County33.2Monroe County: 33.1 %Monroe County33.1Cumberland County: 33 %Cumberland County33Barren County: 32.8 %Barren County32.8Russell County: 32.1 %Russell County32.1Carroll County: 31.3 %Carroll County31.3Laurel County: 30.4 %Laurel County30.4Allen County: 30.2 %Allen County30.2
%. 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

RankCounties2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Clay County55.7+3.3 pts
2Harlan County49.2+5.1 pts
2Owsley County49.2-6.7 pts
4Lee County48-4.6 pts
5Martin County45.9+1.9 pts
6McCreary County45.6-1.8 pts
7Bell County45.5-1.9 pts
8Breathitt County44.5+0.3 pts
9Wolfe County43.3-0.1 pts
10Fulton County42.8-3.9 pts
11Knott County42-5 pts
12Magoffin County39.3-3.3 pts
13Menifee County39.1-3.3 pts
14Floyd County39+0.6 pts
15Jackson County38.9-1.6 pts
15Lawrence County38.9+5.2 pts
17Letcher County38.3-6.4 pts
18Knox County37.4-9.1 pts
19Leslie County37.3-1.6 pts
20Whitley County36.2-1.9 pts
21Pike County35.8-5.8 pts
22Clinton County35.4-1.3 pts
22Wayne County35.4-2.3 pts
24Lewis County35.3-2.2 pts
25Elliott County35-2 pts
25Powell County35-5.7 pts
27Metcalfe County34.7-2.7 pts
28Morgan County34.4-1.8 pts
29Bath County34-0.4 pts
30Carter County33.9+2.3 pts
31Adair County33.5-3.2 pts
32Perry County33.4-5.4 pts
33Casey County33.2-3.4 pts
34Monroe County33.1-1.9 pts
35Cumberland County33-5.1 pts
36Barren County32.8+2.4 pts
37Russell County32.1-4.9 pts
38Carroll County31.3-1 pts
39Laurel County30.4-1.2 pts
40Allen County30.2+2.2 pts
41Estill County29.8-9.3 pts
42Johnson County29.7-2.2 pts
43Grayson County29.6-2.6 pts
44Pulaski County29.4+2.1 pts
45Robertson County29.2-4.5 pts
46Crittenden County28.6-0.6 pts
47Boyd County28.5+2.4 pts
47Rockcastle County28.5-4.3 pts
49Lincoln County28.2-3.4 pts
50Hickman County27.6-5.3 pts
50Nicholas County27.6-2.7 pts
52Christian County27.4+0.4 pts
53Rowan County26.7-1.8 pts
54Mason County26.3-1.5 pts
55Green County26.2-2.5 pts
55Hart County26.2-3.9 pts
57Taylor County25.6-3.3 pts
58Breckinridge County25.5-0.7 pts
59Fleming County25.4-8.4 pts
60Hopkins County25.2+0.9 pts
61Graves County24.9-5.1 pts
61Muhlenberg County24.9-1.5 pts
63Caldwell County24.6-9 pts
63Todd County24.6-3.2 pts
65Edmonson County24.5-6.2 pts
66Logan County24.4-1.8 pts
67Garrard County23.8-0.6 pts
68Ballard County23.7-0.6 pts
68Ohio County23.7-5.5 pts
70Livingston County23.4-0.7 pts
71Bourbon County23-4.3 pts
71Butler County23-4.4 pts
73Trigg County22.6-2.2 pts
74Carlisle County22.4-2.9 pts
75Montgomery County22.3-3.2 pts
76Greenup County22.2-2.2 pts
77Union County21.9-1.2 pts
78Gallatin County21.8-2.1 pts
79Daviess County21.7+1.8 pts
79Pendleton County21.7+0.6 pts
81Larue County21.4-6.4 pts
82McLean County21.3-2.1 pts
82Simpson County21.3-3.3 pts
84McCracken County21.2-4.4 pts
85Harrison County21.1-2.3 pts
86Owen County20.9-4.1 pts
87Bracken County20.7-3.1 pts
87Grant County20.7-1.3 pts
89Calloway County20.6-4.3 pts
89Henderson County20.6-4.3 pts
91Washington County20.4-2.2 pts
92Henry County20.3-10.4 pts
92Jessamine County20.3-0.9 pts
94Lyon County20.2-2.6 pts
95Clark County20-4.8 pts
95Webster County20-3.7 pts
97Marion County19.9-6.7 pts
98Jefferson County19.8-1.1 pts
99Boyle County19.5-3.7 pts
100Warren County19.4-3.3 pts
101Mercer County19.3-1.3 pts
102Franklin County19.2-1.7 pts
103Trimble County19.1-2.1 pts
104Madison County17.6-5.6 pts
105Hancock County17.2-0.2 pts
106Fayette County17.1-5.2 pts
107Marshall County16.9-2.3 pts
108Hardin County16.8-1.7 pts
109Meade County15.1-2.9 pts
109Nelson County15.1-1.3 pts
111Kenton County14.3-3.9 pts
112Anderson County14.1-1.2 pts
113Shelby County13.6-2.1 pts
114Woodford County13.2-3.8 pts
115Scott County12.7-1.1 pts
116Bullitt County12.2-2.2 pts
117Campbell County11.7-5 pts
118Spencer County9.2-1.5 pts
119Boone County8.7-1.6 pts
120Oldham County4.8-1.2 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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 Kentucky by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Kentucky by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2017. 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 Kentucky by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2017.

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 Kentucky by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2017,
  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 Kentucky by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2017. 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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 Kentucky by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2017.
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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Clay County, with 55.7% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Oldham County, with 4.8% in 2017.

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 Kentucky: more rankings