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)

Lee County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 120 counties in 2019, at 44.3%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 4.8%. The median was 23.9% and the figure for Kentucky was 20.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest44.3Lee County
Lowest4.8Oldham County
Median23.9120 counties
Kentucky20.9History

Map of counties, 2019

Adair County: 29.8 %Allen County: 24.1 %Anderson County: 14.1 %Ballard County: 23.7 %Barren County: 25.9 %Bath County: 29.4 %Bell County: 41.1 %Boone County: 8.7 %Bourbon County: 20 %Boyd County: 32.1 %Boyle County: 19.1 %Bracken County: 19.2 %Breathitt County: 37.7 %Breckinridge County: 24.8 %Bullitt County: 11.2 %Butler County: 27.2 %Caldwell County: 22.4 %Calloway County: 19.2 %Campbell County: 12.8 %Carlisle County: 24.7 %Carroll County: 22.3 %Carter County: 27.7 %Casey County: 32.9 %Christian County: 24.5 %Clark County: 18.2 %Clay County: 42.6 %Clinton County: 32.6 %Crittenden County: 31.9 %Cumberland County: 33.1 %Daviess County: 19.5 %Edmonson County: 21.9 %Elliott County: 31.5 %Estill County: 32.2 %Fayette County: 16.7 %Fleming County: 33 %Floyd County: 34.2 %Franklin County: 16.8 %Fulton County: 37.8 %Gallatin County: 17.3 %Garrard County: 22.4 %Grant County: 18.7 %Graves County: 25.6 %Grayson County: 29.6 %Green County: 23.2 %Greenup County: 21.9 %Hancock County: 15.6 %Hardin County: 13.3 %Harlan County: 38.9 %Harrison County: 20.5 %Hart County: 27 %Henderson County: 22 %Henry County: 21.8 %Hickman County: 27.8 %Hopkins County: 24.7 %Jackson County: 36 %Jefferson County: 19.5 %Jessamine County: 16.7 %Johnson County: 31.7 %Kenton County: 15.9 %Knott County: 34.1 %Knox County: 39.3 %Larue County: 23.2 %Laurel County: 27.2 %Lawrence County: 28.6 %Lee County: 44.3 %Leslie County: 38.5 %Letcher County: 34.7 %Lewis County: 31.1 %Lincoln County: 25.7 %Livingston County: 20.6 %Logan County: 21.5 %Lyon County: 20.2 %McCracken County: 22.7 %McCreary County: 43.6 %McLean County: 18.6 %Madison County: 18.2 %Magoffin County: 39.1 %Marion County: 20 %Marshall County: 16.9 %Martin County: 38.3 %Mason County: 23.2 %Meade County: 13.1 %Menifee County: 38.5 %Mercer County: 19.8 %Metcalfe County: 32.3 %Monroe County: 30.8 %Montgomery County: 22 %Morgan County: 33.2 %Muhlenberg County: 24.5 %Nelson County: 15.1 %Nicholas County: 26.7 %Ohio County: 20.4 %Oldham County: 4.8 %Owen County: 20.3 %Owsley County: 43.6 %Pendleton County: 19.9 %Perry County: 32 %Pike County: 30 %Powell County: 31.7 %Pulaski County: 30.8 %Robertson County: 28.7 %Rockcastle County: 31.1 %Rowan County: 26 %Russell County: 31.6 %Scott County: 12 %Shelby County: 12.8 %Simpson County: 18.8 %Spencer County: 9.5 %Taylor County: 21.1 %Todd County: 22.7 %Trigg County: 22.8 %Trimble County: 16.1 %Union County: 21.2 %Warren County: 19.1 %Washington County: 19.8 %Wayne County: 33.3 %Webster County: 20.1 %Whitley County: 26.1 %Wolfe County: 44 %Woodford County: 12 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 24
  • 24 to 29
  • 29 to 33
  • 33 and over
%, 2019. 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, 2019

Lee County: 44.3 %Lee County44.3Wolfe County: 44 %Wolfe County44McCreary County: 43.6 %McCreary County43.6Owsley County: 43.6 %Owsley County43.6Clay County: 42.6 %Clay County42.6Bell County: 41.1 %Bell County41.1Knox County: 39.3 %Knox County39.3Magoffin County: 39.1 %Magoffin County39.1Harlan County: 38.9 %Harlan County38.9Leslie County: 38.5 %Leslie County38.5Menifee County: 38.5 %Menifee County38.5Martin County: 38.3 %Martin County38.3Fulton County: 37.8 %Fulton County37.8Breathitt County: 37.7 %Breathitt County37.7Jackson County: 36 %Jackson County36Letcher County: 34.7 %Letcher County34.7Floyd County: 34.2 %Floyd County34.2Knott County: 34.1 %Knott County34.1Wayne County: 33.3 %Wayne County33.3Morgan County: 33.2 %Morgan County33.2Cumberland County: 33.1 %Cumberland County33.1Fleming County: 33 %Fleming County33Casey County: 32.9 %Casey County32.9Clinton County: 32.6 %Clinton County32.6Metcalfe County: 32.3 %Metcalfe County32.3Estill County: 32.2 %Estill County32.2Boyd County: 32.1 %Boyd County32.1Perry County: 32 %Perry County32Crittenden County: 31.9 %Crittenden County31.9Johnson County: 31.7 %Johnson County31.7Powell County: 31.7 %Powell County31.7Russell County: 31.6 %Russell County31.6Elliott County: 31.5 %Elliott County31.5Lewis County: 31.1 %Lewis County31.1Rockcastle County: 31.1 %Rockcastle County31.1Monroe County: 30.8 %Monroe County30.8Pulaski County: 30.8 %Pulaski County30.8Pike County: 30 %Pike County30Adair County: 29.8 %Adair County29.8Grayson County: 29.6 %Grayson County29.6Lee County: 44.3 %Lee County44.3Wolfe County: 44 %Wolfe County44McCreary County: 43.6 %McCreary County43.6Owsley County: 43.6 %Owsley County43.6Clay County: 42.6 %Clay County42.6Bell County: 41.1 %Bell County41.1Knox County: 39.3 %Knox County39.3Magoffin County: 39.1 %Magoffin County39.1Harlan County: 38.9 %Harlan County38.9Leslie County: 38.5 %Leslie County38.5Menifee County: 38.5 %Menifee County38.5Martin County: 38.3 %Martin County38.3Fulton County: 37.8 %Fulton County37.8Breathitt County: 37.7 %Breathitt County37.7Jackson County: 36 %Jackson County36Letcher County: 34.7 %Letcher County34.7Floyd County: 34.2 %Floyd County34.2Knott County: 34.1 %Knott County34.1Wayne County: 33.3 %Wayne County33.3Morgan County: 33.2 %Morgan County33.2Cumberland County: 33.1 %Cumberland County33.1Fleming County: 33 %Fleming County33Casey County: 32.9 %Casey County32.9Clinton County: 32.6 %Clinton County32.6Metcalfe County: 32.3 %Metcalfe County32.3Estill County: 32.2 %Estill County32.2Boyd County: 32.1 %Boyd County32.1Perry County: 32 %Perry County32Crittenden County: 31.9 %Crittenden County31.9Johnson County: 31.7 %Johnson County31.7Powell County: 31.7 %Powell County31.7Russell County: 31.6 %Russell County31.6Elliott County: 31.5 %Elliott County31.5Lewis County: 31.1 %Lewis County31.1Rockcastle County: 31.1 %Rockcastle County31.1Monroe County: 30.8 %Monroe County30.8Pulaski County: 30.8 %Pulaski County30.8Pike County: 30 %Pike County30Adair County: 29.8 %Adair County29.8Grayson County: 29.6 %Grayson County29.6
%. 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

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Lee County44.3+0.6 pts
2Wolfe County44+0.4 pts
3McCreary County43.6+4.2 pts
3Owsley County43.6-4.2 pts
5Clay County42.6-4.6 pts
6Bell County41.1-2.4 pts
7Knox County39.3-5.2 pts
8Magoffin County39.1+1.5 pts
9Harlan County38.9-4.7 pts
10Leslie County38.5-0.3 pts
10Menifee County38.5-0.7 pts
12Martin County38.3-5.8 pts
13Fulton County37.8-8.3 pts
14Breathitt County37.7-5.7 pts
15Jackson County36-0.5 pts
16Letcher County34.7-1.3 pts
17Floyd County34.2-10.1 pts
18Knott County34.1-7.3 pts
19Wayne County33.3-2.7 pts
20Morgan County33.2+1 pts
21Cumberland County33.10 pts
22Fleming County33+3.9 pts
23Casey County32.9-5.6 pts
24Clinton County32.6-4.9 pts
25Metcalfe County32.3-4.7 pts
26Estill County32.2-0.8 pts
27Boyd County32.1+5.3 pts
28Perry County32-5 pts
29Crittenden County31.9+3.2 pts
30Johnson County31.7+2.7 pts
30Powell County31.7-1.2 pts
32Russell County31.6+1.1 pts
33Elliott County31.5+2.4 pts
34Lewis County31.1-2 pts
34Rockcastle County31.1+0.9 pts
36Monroe County30.8-3.8 pts
36Pulaski County30.8+4.4 pts
38Pike County30-1.5 pts
39Adair County29.8-5.2 pts
40Grayson County29.6+0.9 pts
41Bath County29.4-3.7 pts
42Robertson County28.7-0.2 pts
43Lawrence County28.6-2.5 pts
44Hickman County27.80 pts
45Carter County27.7-5.7 pts
46Butler County27.2+5.1 pts
46Laurel County27.2-2.2 pts
48Hart County27-1.5 pts
49Nicholas County26.7-1.5 pts
50Whitley County26.1-7.8 pts
51Rowan County26+2.1 pts
52Barren County25.9-0.9 pts
53Lincoln County25.7-3 pts
54Graves County25.6+0.2 pts
55Breckinridge County24.8+1.1 pts
56Carlisle County24.7+1 pts
56Hopkins County24.7+1.1 pts
58Christian County24.5-1.8 pts
58Muhlenberg County24.5+1.8 pts
60Allen County24.1-0.5 pts
61Ballard County23.7-0.7 pts
62Green County23.2-2.9 pts
62Larue County23.2+1 pts
62Mason County23.2-1.6 pts
65Trigg County22.8-2.2 pts
66McCracken County22.7+1 pts
66Todd County22.7-1.5 pts
68Caldwell County22.4-4.2 pts
68Garrard County22.4-1.1 pts
70Carroll County22.3-2.5 pts
71Henderson County22+0.4 pts
71Montgomery County22+0.9 pts
73Edmonson County21.9-0.2 pts
73Greenup County21.9+0.6 pts
75Henry County21.8+0.1 pts
76Logan County21.5-5 pts
77Union County21.2-0.7 pts
78Taylor County21.1-5.6 pts
79Livingston County20.6-2.7 pts
80Harrison County20.5-1.2 pts
81Ohio County20.4-4.6 pts
82Owen County20.3-1.6 pts
83Lyon County20.2+0.1 pts
84Webster County20.1-1.9 pts
85Bourbon County20-4.2 pts
85Marion County20-2.3 pts
87Pendleton County19.9-2.8 pts
88Mercer County19.8-1 pts
88Washington County19.8-1.1 pts
90Daviess County19.5+0.3 pts
90Jefferson County19.5-2.9 pts
92Bracken County19.2-2.4 pts
92Calloway County19.2-3.9 pts
94Boyle County19.1-1.2 pts
94Warren County19.1-0.5 pts
96Simpson County18.8-2.7 pts
97Grant County18.7-1.6 pts
98McLean County18.6-0.4 pts
99Clark County18.2-6.6 pts
99Madison County18.2+0.6 pts
101Gallatin County17.3-6.3 pts
102Marshall County16.9-0.7 pts
103Franklin County16.8-2 pts
104Fayette County16.7-0.6 pts
104Jessamine County16.7-0.3 pts
106Trimble County16.1-4.5 pts
107Kenton County15.9+1.8 pts
108Hancock County15.6-0.7 pts
109Nelson County15.1-1.3 pts
110Anderson County14.1-0.3 pts
111Hardin County13.3-4.4 pts
112Meade County13.1-2.6 pts
113Campbell County12.8-1.6 pts
113Shelby County12.8-0.8 pts
115Scott County12+1.1 pts
115Woodford County12-1.2 pts
117Bullitt County11.2-1.4 pts
118Spencer County9.5-0.2 pts
119Boone County8.70 pts
120Oldham County4.8-0.3 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2019. 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), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2019.

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), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2019,
  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), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Lee County, with 44.3% in 2019, 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 2019.

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