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 2023, at 53.6%. Oldham County had the lowest, at 5%. The median was 22.3% and the figure for Kentucky was 20.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest53.6Clay County
Lowest5Oldham County
Median22.3120 counties
Kentucky20.2History

Map of counties, 2023

Adair County: 27.8 %Allen County: 21.5 %Anderson County: 12.2 %Ballard County: 22.4 %Barren County: 22.6 %Bath County: 26.6 %Bell County: 38.4 %Boone County: 8.5 %Bourbon County: 18.4 %Boyd County: 23 %Boyle County: 18.2 %Bracken County: 19.5 %Breathitt County: 37.3 %Breckinridge County: 22.1 %Bullitt County: 10.6 %Butler County: 19.2 %Caldwell County: 21.6 %Calloway County: 19.5 %Campbell County: 11.9 %Carlisle County: 18.5 %Carroll County: 22.5 %Carter County: 24.4 %Casey County: 27.6 %Christian County: 23.2 %Clark County: 16.3 %Clay County: 53.6 %Clinton County: 33.3 %Crittenden County: 26.6 %Cumberland County: 32 %Daviess County: 21.1 %Edmonson County: 21.8 %Elliott County: 28.4 %Estill County: 26.2 %Fayette County: 18.2 %Fleming County: 21.9 %Floyd County: 30.6 %Franklin County: 15.3 %Fulton County: 35.2 %Gallatin County: 18.2 %Garrard County: 24.2 %Grant County: 17.9 %Graves County: 23.9 %Grayson County: 23.8 %Green County: 23.4 %Greenup County: 17.2 %Hancock County: 13.6 %Hardin County: 17.6 %Harlan County: 35.1 %Harrison County: 16.8 %Hart County: 22 %Henderson County: 17.3 %Henry County: 18.8 %Hickman County: 27.2 %Hopkins County: 19.3 %Jackson County: 28.4 %Jefferson County: 21.6 %Jessamine County: 13.7 %Johnson County: 28.3 %Kenton County: 13.8 %Knott County: 31.6 %Knox County: 43.3 %Larue County: 21.9 %Laurel County: 27.7 %Lawrence County: 24.9 %Lee County: 36.5 %Leslie County: 30.6 %Letcher County: 28.9 %Lewis County: 29.4 %Lincoln County: 22.9 %Livingston County: 22.7 %Logan County: 17.5 %Lyon County: 17.9 %McCracken County: 21.2 %McCreary County: 41.7 %McLean County: 17.4 %Madison County: 16.5 %Magoffin County: 34.8 %Marion County: 17.3 %Marshall County: 17.3 %Martin County: 53.2 %Mason County: 20.9 %Meade County: 13.9 %Menifee County: 35.9 %Mercer County: 17.6 %Metcalfe County: 36.6 %Monroe County: 29.6 %Montgomery County: 18.5 %Morgan County: 27.4 %Muhlenberg County: 25.4 %Nelson County: 16.2 %Nicholas County: 25.4 %Ohio County: 19.8 %Oldham County: 5 %Owen County: 18.9 %Owsley County: 42 %Pendleton County: 17.5 %Perry County: 37 %Pike County: 27.7 %Powell County: 28.4 %Pulaski County: 22.4 %Robertson County: 28.3 %Rockcastle County: 26 %Rowan County: 23.2 %Russell County: 25.1 %Scott County: 12.6 %Shelby County: 13.5 %Simpson County: 18 %Spencer County: 7.9 %Taylor County: 22.8 %Todd County: 22.7 %Trigg County: 19.9 %Trimble County: 16.8 %Union County: 19.9 %Warren County: 14.7 %Washington County: 16.5 %Wayne County: 35.7 %Webster County: 19.2 %Whitley County: 33.3 %Wolfe County: 39.5 %Woodford County: 12.7 %
  • Under 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 26
  • 26 to 31
  • 31 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Clay County: 53.6 %Clay County53.6Martin County: 53.2 %Martin County53.2Knox County: 43.3 %Knox County43.3Owsley County: 42 %Owsley County42McCreary County: 41.7 %McCreary County41.7Wolfe County: 39.5 %Wolfe County39.5Bell County: 38.4 %Bell County38.4Breathitt County: 37.3 %Breathitt County37.3Perry County: 37 %Perry County37Metcalfe County: 36.6 %Metcalfe County36.6Lee County: 36.5 %Lee County36.5Menifee County: 35.9 %Menifee County35.9Wayne County: 35.7 %Wayne County35.7Fulton County: 35.2 %Fulton County35.2Harlan County: 35.1 %Harlan County35.1Magoffin County: 34.8 %Magoffin County34.8Clinton County: 33.3 %Clinton County33.3Whitley County: 33.3 %Whitley County33.3Cumberland County: 32 %Cumberland County32Knott County: 31.6 %Knott County31.6Floyd County: 30.6 %Floyd County30.6Leslie County: 30.6 %Leslie County30.6Monroe County: 29.6 %Monroe County29.6Lewis County: 29.4 %Lewis County29.4Letcher County: 28.9 %Letcher County28.9Elliott County: 28.4 %Elliott County28.4Jackson County: 28.4 %Jackson County28.4Powell County: 28.4 %Powell County28.4Johnson County: 28.3 %Johnson County28.3Robertson County: 28.3 %Robertson County28.3Adair County: 27.8 %Adair County27.8Laurel County: 27.7 %Laurel County27.7Pike County: 27.7 %Pike County27.7Casey County: 27.6 %Casey County27.6Morgan County: 27.4 %Morgan County27.4Hickman County: 27.2 %Hickman County27.2Bath County: 26.6 %Bath County26.6Crittenden County: 26.6 %Crittenden County26.6Estill County: 26.2 %Estill County26.2Rockcastle County: 26 %Rockcastle County26Clay County: 53.6 %Clay County53.6Martin County: 53.2 %Martin County53.2Knox County: 43.3 %Knox County43.3Owsley County: 42 %Owsley County42McCreary County: 41.7 %McCreary County41.7Wolfe County: 39.5 %Wolfe County39.5Bell County: 38.4 %Bell County38.4Breathitt County: 37.3 %Breathitt County37.3Perry County: 37 %Perry County37Metcalfe County: 36.6 %Metcalfe County36.6Lee County: 36.5 %Lee County36.5Menifee County: 35.9 %Menifee County35.9Wayne County: 35.7 %Wayne County35.7Fulton County: 35.2 %Fulton County35.2Harlan County: 35.1 %Harlan County35.1Magoffin County: 34.8 %Magoffin County34.8Clinton County: 33.3 %Clinton County33.3Whitley County: 33.3 %Whitley County33.3Cumberland County: 32 %Cumberland County32Knott County: 31.6 %Knott County31.6Floyd County: 30.6 %Floyd County30.6Leslie County: 30.6 %Leslie County30.6Monroe County: 29.6 %Monroe County29.6Lewis County: 29.4 %Lewis County29.4Letcher County: 28.9 %Letcher County28.9Elliott County: 28.4 %Elliott County28.4Jackson County: 28.4 %Jackson County28.4Powell County: 28.4 %Powell County28.4Johnson County: 28.3 %Johnson County28.3Robertson County: 28.3 %Robertson County28.3Adair County: 27.8 %Adair County27.8Laurel County: 27.7 %Laurel County27.7Pike County: 27.7 %Pike County27.7Casey County: 27.6 %Casey County27.6Morgan County: 27.4 %Morgan County27.4Hickman County: 27.2 %Hickman County27.2Bath County: 26.6 %Bath County26.6Crittenden County: 26.6 %Crittenden County26.6Estill County: 26.2 %Estill County26.2Rockcastle County: 26 %Rockcastle County26
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Clay County53.6+7.5 pts
2Martin County53.2+13 pts
3Knox County43.3+2.8 pts
4Owsley County42-2 pts
5McCreary County41.7-1.3 pts
6Wolfe County39.5-3.3 pts
7Bell County38.4-1.8 pts
8Breathitt County37.3-4.2 pts
9Perry County37+7.1 pts
10Metcalfe County36.6+3.3 pts
11Lee County36.5-8.9 pts
12Menifee County35.9-2.2 pts
13Wayne County35.7-2.8 pts
14Fulton County35.2-3.7 pts
15Harlan County35.1+0.6 pts
16Magoffin County34.8-2.1 pts
17Clinton County33.3-0.5 pts
17Whitley County33.3-1.3 pts
19Cumberland County32-0.9 pts
20Knott County31.6-10.6 pts
21Floyd County30.6-19.2 pts
21Leslie County30.6-6.5 pts
23Monroe County29.6+0.8 pts
24Lewis County29.4-1.8 pts
25Letcher County28.9-6.3 pts
26Elliott County28.4-3.8 pts
26Jackson County28.4-3.7 pts
26Powell County28.4-3.9 pts
29Johnson County28.3-3 pts
29Robertson County28.3+1.4 pts
31Adair County27.8-4.1 pts
32Laurel County27.7+2.8 pts
32Pike County27.7-3 pts
34Casey County27.6-8.5 pts
35Morgan County27.4-3.3 pts
36Hickman County27.2+0.1 pts
37Bath County26.6-3.2 pts
37Crittenden County26.6-1.8 pts
39Estill County26.2+1.5 pts
40Rockcastle County26-3.9 pts
41Muhlenberg County25.4-1.7 pts
41Nicholas County25.4-0.5 pts
43Russell County25.1-1.4 pts
44Lawrence County24.9-4.1 pts
45Carter County24.4-1.6 pts
46Garrard County24.2+3.7 pts
47Graves County23.9+4.4 pts
48Grayson County23.8+1.4 pts
49Green County23.4-2.1 pts
50Christian County23.2+0.5 pts
50Rowan County23.2-2.5 pts
52Boyd County23+0.2 pts
53Lincoln County22.9-1.3 pts
54Taylor County22.8-0.9 pts
55Livingston County22.7+0.1 pts
55Todd County22.7-0.2 pts
57Barren County22.6+1.1 pts
58Carroll County22.50 pts
59Ballard County22.4+0.8 pts
59Pulaski County22.4-0.9 pts
61Breckinridge County22.1-2.6 pts
62Hart County22-2.1 pts
63Fleming County21.9-6.1 pts
63Larue County21.9-1.1 pts
65Edmonson County21.8-4.8 pts
66Caldwell County21.6-2 pts
66Jefferson County21.6+1.6 pts
68Allen County21.50 pts
69McCracken County21.2-0.5 pts
70Daviess County21.1+6.5 pts
71Mason County20.9-4.8 pts
72Trigg County19.9-0.7 pts
72Union County19.9-5.5 pts
74Ohio County19.8-3.3 pts
75Bracken County19.5-1.4 pts
75Calloway County19.5-1.8 pts
77Hopkins County19.3-8.8 pts
78Butler County19.2-3.2 pts
78Webster County19.2-1.7 pts
80Owen County18.9-0.9 pts
81Henry County18.8+0.5 pts
82Carlisle County18.5-4.9 pts
82Montgomery County18.5+0.5 pts
84Bourbon County18.4-4.5 pts
85Boyle County18.2+0.7 pts
85Fayette County18.2+1.9 pts
85Gallatin County18.2-0.7 pts
88Simpson County18-1.1 pts
89Grant County17.9+1.4 pts
89Lyon County17.9-0.2 pts
91Hardin County17.6+2.2 pts
91Mercer County17.6-0.4 pts
93Logan County17.5-2 pts
93Pendleton County17.5-0.8 pts
95McLean County17.4+0.5 pts
96Henderson County17.3-6.5 pts
96Marion County17.3-4 pts
96Marshall County17.3+0.2 pts
99Greenup County17.2-3.2 pts
100Harrison County16.8-2.1 pts
100Trimble County16.8+0.6 pts
102Madison County16.5-2.4 pts
102Washington County16.5-1.2 pts
104Clark County16.3-3.9 pts
105Nelson County16.2+1.5 pts
106Franklin County15.3-3.9 pts
107Warren County14.7-4.9 pts
108Meade County13.9-2 pts
109Kenton County13.80 pts
110Jessamine County13.7-2.7 pts
111Hancock County13.6-4 pts
112Shelby County13.5+1.2 pts
113Woodford County12.7-1.6 pts
114Scott County12.6+2.9 pts
115Anderson County12.2-4.4 pts
116Campbell County11.9+0.4 pts
117Bullitt County10.6-1.3 pts
118Boone County8.5+0.4 pts
119Spencer County7.9-1.6 pts
120Oldham County5+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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/kentucky-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 53.6% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Oldham County, with 5% in 2023.

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