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)

Owsley County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 120 counties in 2018, at 47.8%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 5.1%. The median was 24.8% and the figure for Kentucky was 22.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest47.8Owsley County
Lowest5.1Oldham County
Median24.8120 counties
Kentucky22.3History

Map of counties, 2018

Adair County: 35 %Allen County: 24.6 %Anderson County: 14.4 %Ballard County: 24.4 %Barren County: 26.8 %Bath County: 33.1 %Bell County: 43.5 %Boone County: 8.7 %Bourbon County: 24.2 %Boyd County: 26.8 %Boyle County: 20.3 %Bracken County: 21.6 %Breathitt County: 43.4 %Breckinridge County: 23.7 %Bullitt County: 12.6 %Butler County: 22.1 %Caldwell County: 26.6 %Calloway County: 23.1 %Campbell County: 14.4 %Carlisle County: 23.7 %Carroll County: 24.8 %Carter County: 33.4 %Casey County: 38.5 %Christian County: 26.3 %Clark County: 24.8 %Clay County: 47.2 %Clinton County: 37.5 %Crittenden County: 28.7 %Cumberland County: 33.1 %Daviess County: 19.2 %Edmonson County: 22.1 %Elliott County: 29.1 %Estill County: 33 %Fayette County: 17.3 %Fleming County: 29.1 %Floyd County: 44.3 %Franklin County: 18.8 %Fulton County: 46.1 %Gallatin County: 23.6 %Garrard County: 23.5 %Grant County: 20.3 %Graves County: 25.4 %Grayson County: 28.7 %Green County: 26.1 %Greenup County: 21.3 %Hancock County: 16.3 %Hardin County: 17.7 %Harlan County: 43.6 %Harrison County: 21.7 %Hart County: 28.5 %Henderson County: 21.6 %Henry County: 21.7 %Hickman County: 27.8 %Hopkins County: 23.6 %Jackson County: 36.5 %Jefferson County: 22.4 %Jessamine County: 17 %Johnson County: 29 %Kenton County: 14.1 %Knott County: 41.4 %Knox County: 44.5 %Larue County: 22.2 %Laurel County: 29.4 %Lawrence County: 31.1 %Lee County: 43.7 %Leslie County: 38.8 %Letcher County: 36 %Lewis County: 33.1 %Lincoln County: 28.7 %Livingston County: 23.3 %Logan County: 26.5 %Lyon County: 20.1 %McCracken County: 21.7 %McCreary County: 39.4 %McLean County: 19 %Madison County: 17.6 %Magoffin County: 37.6 %Marion County: 22.3 %Marshall County: 17.6 %Martin County: 44.1 %Mason County: 24.8 %Meade County: 15.7 %Menifee County: 39.2 %Mercer County: 20.8 %Metcalfe County: 37 %Monroe County: 34.6 %Montgomery County: 21.1 %Morgan County: 32.2 %Muhlenberg County: 22.7 %Nelson County: 16.4 %Nicholas County: 28.2 %Ohio County: 25 %Oldham County: 5.1 %Owen County: 21.9 %Owsley County: 47.8 %Pendleton County: 22.7 %Perry County: 37 %Pike County: 31.5 %Powell County: 32.9 %Pulaski County: 26.4 %Robertson County: 28.9 %Rockcastle County: 30.2 %Rowan County: 23.9 %Russell County: 30.5 %Scott County: 10.9 %Shelby County: 13.6 %Simpson County: 21.5 %Spencer County: 9.7 %Taylor County: 26.7 %Todd County: 24.2 %Trigg County: 25 %Trimble County: 20.6 %Union County: 21.9 %Warren County: 19.6 %Washington County: 20.9 %Wayne County: 36 %Webster County: 22 %Whitley County: 33.9 %Wolfe County: 43.6 %Woodford County: 13.2 %
  • Under 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 25
  • 25 to 29
  • 29 to 37
  • 37 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

Owsley County: 47.8 %Owsley County47.8Clay County: 47.2 %Clay County47.2Fulton County: 46.1 %Fulton County46.1Knox County: 44.5 %Knox County44.5Floyd County: 44.3 %Floyd County44.3Martin County: 44.1 %Martin County44.1Lee County: 43.7 %Lee County43.7Harlan County: 43.6 %Harlan County43.6Wolfe County: 43.6 %Wolfe County43.6Bell County: 43.5 %Bell County43.5Breathitt County: 43.4 %Breathitt County43.4Knott County: 41.4 %Knott County41.4McCreary County: 39.4 %McCreary County39.4Menifee County: 39.2 %Menifee County39.2Leslie County: 38.8 %Leslie County38.8Casey County: 38.5 %Casey County38.5Magoffin County: 37.6 %Magoffin County37.6Clinton County: 37.5 %Clinton County37.5Metcalfe County: 37 %Metcalfe County37Perry County: 37 %Perry County37Jackson County: 36.5 %Jackson County36.5Letcher County: 36 %Letcher County36Wayne County: 36 %Wayne County36Adair County: 35 %Adair County35Monroe County: 34.6 %Monroe County34.6Whitley County: 33.9 %Whitley County33.9Carter County: 33.4 %Carter County33.4Bath County: 33.1 %Bath County33.1Cumberland County: 33.1 %Cumberland County33.1Lewis County: 33.1 %Lewis County33.1Estill County: 33 %Estill County33Powell County: 32.9 %Powell County32.9Morgan County: 32.2 %Morgan County32.2Pike County: 31.5 %Pike County31.5Lawrence County: 31.1 %Lawrence County31.1Russell County: 30.5 %Russell County30.5Rockcastle County: 30.2 %Rockcastle County30.2Laurel County: 29.4 %Laurel County29.4Elliott County: 29.1 %Elliott County29.1Fleming County: 29.1 %Fleming County29.1Owsley County: 47.8 %Owsley County47.8Clay County: 47.2 %Clay County47.2Fulton County: 46.1 %Fulton County46.1Knox County: 44.5 %Knox County44.5Floyd County: 44.3 %Floyd County44.3Martin County: 44.1 %Martin County44.1Lee County: 43.7 %Lee County43.7Harlan County: 43.6 %Harlan County43.6Wolfe County: 43.6 %Wolfe County43.6Bell County: 43.5 %Bell County43.5Breathitt County: 43.4 %Breathitt County43.4Knott County: 41.4 %Knott County41.4McCreary County: 39.4 %McCreary County39.4Menifee County: 39.2 %Menifee County39.2Leslie County: 38.8 %Leslie County38.8Casey County: 38.5 %Casey County38.5Magoffin County: 37.6 %Magoffin County37.6Clinton County: 37.5 %Clinton County37.5Metcalfe County: 37 %Metcalfe County37Perry County: 37 %Perry County37Jackson County: 36.5 %Jackson County36.5Letcher County: 36 %Letcher County36Wayne County: 36 %Wayne County36Adair County: 35 %Adair County35Monroe County: 34.6 %Monroe County34.6Whitley County: 33.9 %Whitley County33.9Carter County: 33.4 %Carter County33.4Bath County: 33.1 %Bath County33.1Cumberland County: 33.1 %Cumberland County33.1Lewis County: 33.1 %Lewis County33.1Estill County: 33 %Estill County33Powell County: 32.9 %Powell County32.9Morgan County: 32.2 %Morgan County32.2Pike County: 31.5 %Pike County31.5Lawrence County: 31.1 %Lawrence County31.1Russell County: 30.5 %Russell County30.5Rockcastle County: 30.2 %Rockcastle County30.2Laurel County: 29.4 %Laurel County29.4Elliott County: 29.1 %Elliott County29.1Fleming County: 29.1 %Fleming County29.1
%. 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

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Owsley County47.8-1.4 pts
2Clay County47.2-8.5 pts
3Fulton County46.1+3.3 pts
4Knox County44.5+7.1 pts
5Floyd County44.3+5.3 pts
6Martin County44.1-1.8 pts
7Lee County43.7-4.3 pts
8Harlan County43.6-5.6 pts
8Wolfe County43.6+0.3 pts
10Bell County43.5-2 pts
11Breathitt County43.4-1.1 pts
12Knott County41.4-0.6 pts
13McCreary County39.4-6.2 pts
14Menifee County39.2+0.1 pts
15Leslie County38.8+1.5 pts
16Casey County38.5+5.3 pts
17Magoffin County37.6-1.7 pts
18Clinton County37.5+2.1 pts
19Metcalfe County37+2.3 pts
19Perry County37+3.6 pts
21Jackson County36.5-2.4 pts
22Letcher County36-2.3 pts
22Wayne County36+0.6 pts
24Adair County35+1.5 pts
25Monroe County34.6+1.5 pts
26Whitley County33.9-2.3 pts
27Carter County33.4-0.5 pts
28Bath County33.1-0.9 pts
28Cumberland County33.1+0.1 pts
28Lewis County33.1-2.2 pts
31Estill County33+3.2 pts
32Powell County32.9-2.1 pts
33Morgan County32.2-2.2 pts
34Pike County31.5-4.3 pts
35Lawrence County31.1-7.8 pts
36Russell County30.5-1.6 pts
37Rockcastle County30.2+1.7 pts
38Laurel County29.4-1 pts
39Elliott County29.1-5.9 pts
39Fleming County29.1+3.7 pts
41Johnson County29-0.7 pts
42Robertson County28.9-0.3 pts
43Crittenden County28.7+0.1 pts
43Grayson County28.7-0.9 pts
43Lincoln County28.7+0.5 pts
46Hart County28.5+2.3 pts
47Nicholas County28.2+0.6 pts
48Hickman County27.8+0.2 pts
49Barren County26.8-6 pts
49Boyd County26.8-1.7 pts
51Taylor County26.7+1.1 pts
52Caldwell County26.6+2 pts
53Logan County26.5+2.1 pts
54Pulaski County26.4-3 pts
55Christian County26.3-1.1 pts
56Green County26.1-0.1 pts
57Graves County25.4+0.5 pts
58Ohio County25+1.3 pts
58Trigg County25+2.4 pts
60Carroll County24.8-6.5 pts
60Clark County24.8+4.8 pts
60Mason County24.8-1.5 pts
63Allen County24.6-5.6 pts
64Ballard County24.4+0.7 pts
65Bourbon County24.2+1.2 pts
65Todd County24.2-0.4 pts
67Rowan County23.9-2.8 pts
68Breckinridge County23.7-1.8 pts
68Carlisle County23.7+1.3 pts
70Gallatin County23.6+1.8 pts
70Hopkins County23.6-1.6 pts
72Garrard County23.5-0.3 pts
73Livingston County23.3-0.1 pts
74Calloway County23.1+2.5 pts
75Muhlenberg County22.7-2.2 pts
75Pendleton County22.7+1 pts
77Jefferson County22.4+2.6 pts
78Marion County22.3+2.4 pts
79Larue County22.2+0.8 pts
80Butler County22.1-0.9 pts
80Edmonson County22.1-2.4 pts
82Webster County22+2 pts
83Owen County21.9+1 pts
83Union County21.90 pts
85Harrison County21.7+0.6 pts
85Henry County21.7+1.4 pts
85McCracken County21.7+0.5 pts
88Bracken County21.6+0.9 pts
88Henderson County21.6+1 pts
90Simpson County21.5+0.2 pts
91Greenup County21.3-0.9 pts
92Montgomery County21.1-1.2 pts
93Washington County20.9+0.5 pts
94Mercer County20.8+1.5 pts
95Trimble County20.6+1.5 pts
96Boyle County20.3+0.8 pts
96Grant County20.3-0.4 pts
98Lyon County20.1-0.1 pts
99Warren County19.6+0.2 pts
100Daviess County19.2-2.5 pts
101McLean County19-2.3 pts
102Franklin County18.8-0.4 pts
103Hardin County17.7+0.9 pts
104Madison County17.60 pts
104Marshall County17.6+0.7 pts
106Fayette County17.3+0.2 pts
107Jessamine County17-3.3 pts
108Nelson County16.4+1.3 pts
109Hancock County16.3-0.9 pts
110Meade County15.7+0.6 pts
111Anderson County14.4+0.3 pts
111Campbell County14.4+2.7 pts
113Kenton County14.1-0.2 pts
114Shelby County13.60 pts
115Woodford County13.20 pts
116Bullitt County12.6+0.4 pts
117Scott County10.9-1.8 pts
118Spencer County9.7+0.5 pts
119Boone County8.70 pts
120Oldham County5.1+0.3 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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/kentucky-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 Kentucky 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/kentucky-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 Kentucky 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/kentucky-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

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

Owsley County, with 47.8% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Oldham County, with 5.1% 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 Kentucky: more rankings