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)

Magoffin County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 120 counties in 2021, at 47%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 4.6%. The median was 24.4% and the figure for Kentucky was 21.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest47Magoffin County
Lowest4.6Oldham County
Median24.4120 counties
Kentucky21.2History

Map of counties, 2021

Adair County: 35.1 %Allen County: 24.6 %Anderson County: 12.8 %Ballard County: 21.9 %Barren County: 26.3 %Bath County: 30.7 %Bell County: 39.4 %Boone County: 8.3 %Bourbon County: 20.3 %Boyd County: 26.6 %Boyle County: 20.9 %Bracken County: 23.2 %Breathitt County: 42.6 %Breckinridge County: 23.9 %Bullitt County: 13.7 %Butler County: 23.8 %Caldwell County: 23.5 %Calloway County: 18.4 %Campbell County: 13.4 %Carlisle County: 25.4 %Carroll County: 25.5 %Carter County: 29.6 %Casey County: 32.1 %Christian County: 22.7 %Clark County: 17.9 %Clay County: 45.3 %Clinton County: 33.5 %Crittenden County: 29.4 %Cumberland County: 31.2 %Daviess County: 17.2 %Edmonson County: 22.9 %Elliott County: 32.4 %Estill County: 30 %Fayette County: 16.2 %Fleming County: 24.1 %Floyd County: 35.5 %Franklin County: 18.1 %Fulton County: 37.2 %Gallatin County: 22.8 %Garrard County: 20.7 %Grant County: 19.2 %Graves County: 22.2 %Grayson County: 23.9 %Green County: 27.5 %Greenup County: 18.5 %Hancock County: 16.8 %Hardin County: 15.6 %Harlan County: 43.8 %Harrison County: 20.4 %Hart County: 28.8 %Henderson County: 17.7 %Henry County: 19.5 %Hickman County: 28.4 %Hopkins County: 24.4 %Jackson County: 36.1 %Jefferson County: 19.2 %Jessamine County: 18.1 %Johnson County: 29.5 %Kenton County: 16.8 %Knott County: 39 %Knox County: 42.2 %Larue County: 20.8 %Laurel County: 26.7 %Lawrence County: 34.2 %Lee County: 43.9 %Leslie County: 36.3 %Letcher County: 37.3 %Lewis County: 31.4 %Lincoln County: 24.4 %Livingston County: 22.3 %Logan County: 24.7 %Lyon County: 19.7 %McCracken County: 24.6 %McCreary County: 40.3 %McLean County: 18.8 %Madison County: 17.6 %Magoffin County: 47 %Marion County: 21.2 %Marshall County: 19 %Martin County: 44.3 %Mason County: 24.4 %Meade County: 19.7 %Menifee County: 42 %Mercer County: 18.3 %Metcalfe County: 31.8 %Monroe County: 32.1 %Montgomery County: 23.4 %Morgan County: 31 %Muhlenberg County: 29.2 %Nelson County: 14 %Nicholas County: 26.4 %Ohio County: 21 %Oldham County: 4.6 %Owen County: 20.5 %Owsley County: 43.5 %Pendleton County: 20.8 %Perry County: 37.5 %Pike County: 39.6 %Powell County: 32 %Pulaski County: 25.4 %Robertson County: 26.6 %Rockcastle County: 29.1 %Rowan County: 25.5 %Russell County: 31.4 %Scott County: 12.4 %Shelby County: 12.2 %Simpson County: 20.8 %Spencer County: 9.1 %Taylor County: 25 %Todd County: 27.8 %Trigg County: 27.9 %Trimble County: 18 %Union County: 22.4 %Warren County: 20.4 %Washington County: 17.8 %Wayne County: 34 %Webster County: 21.1 %Whitley County: 33.5 %Wolfe County: 42.6 %Woodford County: 11.9 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 24
  • 24 to 29
  • 29 to 35
  • 35 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Magoffin County: 47 %Magoffin County47Clay County: 45.3 %Clay County45.3Martin County: 44.3 %Martin County44.3Lee County: 43.9 %Lee County43.9Harlan County: 43.8 %Harlan County43.8Owsley County: 43.5 %Owsley County43.5Breathitt County: 42.6 %Breathitt County42.6Wolfe County: 42.6 %Wolfe County42.6Knox County: 42.2 %Knox County42.2Menifee County: 42 %Menifee County42McCreary County: 40.3 %McCreary County40.3Pike County: 39.6 %Pike County39.6Bell County: 39.4 %Bell County39.4Knott County: 39 %Knott County39Perry County: 37.5 %Perry County37.5Letcher County: 37.3 %Letcher County37.3Fulton County: 37.2 %Fulton County37.2Leslie County: 36.3 %Leslie County36.3Jackson County: 36.1 %Jackson County36.1Floyd County: 35.5 %Floyd County35.5Adair County: 35.1 %Adair County35.1Lawrence County: 34.2 %Lawrence County34.2Wayne County: 34 %Wayne County34Clinton County: 33.5 %Clinton County33.5Whitley County: 33.5 %Whitley County33.5Elliott County: 32.4 %Elliott County32.4Casey County: 32.1 %Casey County32.1Monroe County: 32.1 %Monroe County32.1Powell County: 32 %Powell County32Metcalfe County: 31.8 %Metcalfe County31.8Lewis County: 31.4 %Lewis County31.4Russell County: 31.4 %Russell County31.4Cumberland County: 31.2 %Cumberland County31.2Morgan County: 31 %Morgan County31Bath County: 30.7 %Bath County30.7Estill County: 30 %Estill County30Carter County: 29.6 %Carter County29.6Johnson County: 29.5 %Johnson County29.5Crittenden County: 29.4 %Crittenden County29.4Muhlenberg County: 29.2 %Muhlenberg County29.2Magoffin County: 47 %Magoffin County47Clay County: 45.3 %Clay County45.3Martin County: 44.3 %Martin County44.3Lee County: 43.9 %Lee County43.9Harlan County: 43.8 %Harlan County43.8Owsley County: 43.5 %Owsley County43.5Breathitt County: 42.6 %Breathitt County42.6Wolfe County: 42.6 %Wolfe County42.6Knox County: 42.2 %Knox County42.2Menifee County: 42 %Menifee County42McCreary County: 40.3 %McCreary County40.3Pike County: 39.6 %Pike County39.6Bell County: 39.4 %Bell County39.4Knott County: 39 %Knott County39Perry County: 37.5 %Perry County37.5Letcher County: 37.3 %Letcher County37.3Fulton County: 37.2 %Fulton County37.2Leslie County: 36.3 %Leslie County36.3Jackson County: 36.1 %Jackson County36.1Floyd County: 35.5 %Floyd County35.5Adair County: 35.1 %Adair County35.1Lawrence County: 34.2 %Lawrence County34.2Wayne County: 34 %Wayne County34Clinton County: 33.5 %Clinton County33.5Whitley County: 33.5 %Whitley County33.5Elliott County: 32.4 %Elliott County32.4Casey County: 32.1 %Casey County32.1Monroe County: 32.1 %Monroe County32.1Powell County: 32 %Powell County32Metcalfe County: 31.8 %Metcalfe County31.8Lewis County: 31.4 %Lewis County31.4Russell County: 31.4 %Russell County31.4Cumberland County: 31.2 %Cumberland County31.2Morgan County: 31 %Morgan County31Bath County: 30.7 %Bath County30.7Estill County: 30 %Estill County30Carter County: 29.6 %Carter County29.6Johnson County: 29.5 %Johnson County29.5Crittenden County: 29.4 %Crittenden County29.4Muhlenberg County: 29.2 %Muhlenberg County29.2
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Magoffin County47+8.4 pts
2Clay County45.3-2.2 pts
3Martin County44.3+7.1 pts
4Lee County43.9+3.2 pts
5Harlan County43.8+7.3 pts
6Owsley County43.5-0.5 pts
7Breathitt County42.6+5.6 pts
7Wolfe County42.6+1.6 pts
9Knox County42.2+6.1 pts
10Menifee County42+6.6 pts
11McCreary County40.3-0.6 pts
12Pike County39.6+11.9 pts
13Bell County39.4+1.1 pts
14Knott County39+3.5 pts
15Perry County37.5+8 pts
16Letcher County37.3+8.5 pts
17Fulton County37.2-1.2 pts
18Leslie County36.3+4.5 pts
19Jackson County36.1+2.3 pts
20Floyd County35.5-5.4 pts
21Adair County35.1+1.8 pts
22Lawrence County34.2+4.5 pts
23Wayne County34+1.1 pts
24Clinton County33.5+1.8 pts
24Whitley County33.5+4.8 pts
26Elliott County32.4-3.1 pts
27Casey County32.1-0.8 pts
27Monroe County32.10 pts
29Powell County32+1.4 pts
30Metcalfe County31.8-1.8 pts
31Lewis County31.4-0.7 pts
31Russell County31.4+4.8 pts
33Cumberland County31.2+0.2 pts
34Morgan County31+0.8 pts
35Bath County30.7-2.6 pts
36Estill County30+1.2 pts
37Carter County29.6+6.2 pts
38Johnson County29.5+1.5 pts
39Crittenden County29.4+2.5 pts
40Muhlenberg County29.2+7.3 pts
41Rockcastle County29.1+0.9 pts
42Hart County28.8+1.2 pts
43Hickman County28.4-5.3 pts
44Trigg County27.9+0.8 pts
45Todd County27.8+3 pts
46Green County27.5+1.5 pts
47Laurel County26.7+1.6 pts
48Boyd County26.6+4.7 pts
48Robertson County26.6+3 pts
50Nicholas County26.4-0.4 pts
51Barren County26.3+1.1 pts
52Carroll County25.5+1.6 pts
52Rowan County25.5-3.3 pts
54Carlisle County25.4+2.1 pts
54Pulaski County25.4-1.1 pts
56Taylor County25+2.5 pts
57Logan County24.7+3.6 pts
58Allen County24.6+1.5 pts
58McCracken County24.6+3.4 pts
60Hopkins County24.4+0.8 pts
60Lincoln County24.4+1.6 pts
60Mason County24.4+1.6 pts
63Fleming County24.1+0.2 pts
64Breckinridge County23.9+1.3 pts
64Grayson County23.9-1.3 pts
66Butler County23.8+1.6 pts
67Caldwell County23.5+0.2 pts
68Montgomery County23.4+2.9 pts
69Bracken County23.2+3.3 pts
70Edmonson County22.9+0.9 pts
71Gallatin County22.8+3.2 pts
72Christian County22.7+0.9 pts
73Union County22.4+0.7 pts
74Livingston County22.3+2.2 pts
75Graves County22.2-1.8 pts
76Ballard County21.9-0.5 pts
77Marion County21.2+0.8 pts
78Webster County21.1+1.8 pts
79Ohio County21-0.5 pts
80Boyle County20.9+2.6 pts
81Larue County20.8+1.3 pts
81Pendleton County20.8+0.7 pts
81Simpson County20.8+2 pts
84Garrard County20.7+2.4 pts
85Owen County20.5+0.6 pts
86Harrison County20.4+1.8 pts
86Warren County20.4-3.3 pts
88Bourbon County20.3-1.3 pts
89Lyon County19.7+0.9 pts
89Meade County19.7+4.4 pts
91Henry County19.5+1.6 pts
92Grant County19.2+1.1 pts
92Jefferson County19.2+3.8 pts
94Marshall County19+4.2 pts
95McLean County18.8+0.8 pts
96Greenup County18.5+0.9 pts
97Calloway County18.4+0.8 pts
98Mercer County18.3-0.3 pts
99Franklin County18.1-0.2 pts
99Jessamine County18.1+2.5 pts
101Trimble County18+2 pts
102Clark County17.9-3 pts
103Washington County17.8+0.3 pts
104Henderson County17.7-1.2 pts
105Madison County17.6+0.7 pts
106Daviess County17.2+1.2 pts
107Hancock County16.8-2.1 pts
107Kenton County16.8+3.2 pts
109Fayette County16.2-0.1 pts
110Hardin County15.6+1.3 pts
111Nelson County14+0.4 pts
112Bullitt County13.7+2.5 pts
113Campbell County13.4+1.9 pts
114Anderson County12.8-0.3 pts
115Scott County12.4+2.1 pts
116Shelby County12.2+0.4 pts
117Woodford County11.9+1 pts
118Spencer County9.1+0.9 pts
119Boone County8.3+0.3 pts
120Oldham County4.6+0.1 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Magoffin County, with 47% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Oldham County, with 4.6% in 2021.

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