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

Lake County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 83 counties in 2015, at 45.2%. Livingston County had the lowest, at 7.8%. The median was 24.1% and the figure for Michigan was 22.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest45.2Lake County
Median24.183 counties
Michigan22.2History

Map of counties, 2015

Alcona County: 30.8 %Alger County: 21 %Allegan County: 15.1 %Alpena County: 24.6 %Antrim County: 24.1 %Arenac County: 30.5 %Baraga County: 24.3 %Barry County: 14 %Bay County: 20.8 %Benzie County: 19.1 %Berrien County: 26.2 %Branch County: 23.7 %Calhoun County: 24 %Cass County: 22.5 %Charlevoix County: 18.3 %Cheboygan County: 28.4 %Chippewa County: 27.4 %Clare County: 38.8 %Clinton County: 10.8 %Crawford County: 31.2 %Delta County: 20.8 %Dickinson County: 17.8 %Eaton County: 15.7 %Emmet County: 15.7 %Genesee County: 30.2 %Gladwin County: 32.2 %Gogebic County: 27.5 %Grand Traverse County: 12.3 %Gratiot County: 20.6 %Hillsdale County: 24.6 %Houghton County: 18.4 %Huron County: 18.9 %Ingham County: 24.1 %Ionia County: 17.7 %Iosco County: 32.3 %Iron County: 25.5 %Isabella County: 20 %Jackson County: 25.2 %Kalamazoo County: 19 %Kalkaska County: 27.5 %Kent County: 19.1 %Keweenaw County: 21.4 %Lake County: 45.2 %Lapeer County: 14.7 %Leelanau County: 13.4 %Lenawee County: 20.9 %Livingston County: 7.8 %Luce County: 29.7 %Mackinac County: 26.1 %Macomb County: 16.8 %Manistee County: 25.8 %Marquette County: 17.9 %Mason County: 26.9 %Mecosta County: 29.6 %Menominee County: 26.8 %Midland County: 15 %Missaukee County: 26.2 %Monroe County: 14.6 %Montcalm County: 26.9 %Montmorency County: 33.9 %Muskegon County: 23.4 %Newaygo County: 23.1 %Oakland County: 11.7 %Oceana County: 28.9 %Ogemaw County: 34.2 %Ontonagon County: 30.3 %Osceola County: 29.9 %Oscoda County: 32.8 %Otsego County: 19.2 %Ottawa County: 9.2 %Presque Isle County: 25 %Roscommon County: 40.3 %Saginaw County: 27.7 %St. Clair County: 18.9 %St. Joseph County: 22.3 %Sanilac County: 24.8 %Schoolcraft County: 24.8 %Shiawassee County: 19.6 %Tuscola County: 25.1 %Van Buren County: 22.8 %Washtenaw County: 13.4 %Wayne County: 37 %Wexford County: 25.2 %
  • Under 16
  • 16 to 20
  • 20 to 24
  • 24 to 26
  • 26 to 30
  • 30 and over
%, 2015. 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, 2015

Lake County: 45.2 %Lake County45.2Roscommon County: 40.3 %Roscommon County40.3Clare County: 38.8 %Clare County38.8Wayne County: 37 %Wayne County37Ogemaw County: 34.2 %Ogemaw County34.2Montmorency County: 33.9 %Montmorency County33.9Oscoda County: 32.8 %Oscoda County32.8Iosco County: 32.3 %Iosco County32.3Gladwin County: 32.2 %Gladwin County32.2Crawford County: 31.2 %Crawford County31.2Alcona County: 30.8 %Alcona County30.8Arenac County: 30.5 %Arenac County30.5Ontonagon County: 30.3 %Ontonagon County30.3Genesee County: 30.2 %Genesee County30.2Osceola County: 29.9 %Osceola County29.9Luce County: 29.7 %Luce County29.7Mecosta County: 29.6 %Mecosta County29.6Oceana County: 28.9 %Oceana County28.9Cheboygan County: 28.4 %Cheboygan County28.4Saginaw County: 27.7 %Saginaw County27.7Gogebic County: 27.5 %Gogebic County27.5Kalkaska County: 27.5 %Kalkaska County27.5Chippewa County: 27.4 %Chippewa County27.4Mason County: 26.9 %Mason County26.9Montcalm County: 26.9 %Montcalm County26.9Menominee County: 26.8 %Menominee County26.8Berrien County: 26.2 %Berrien County26.2Missaukee County: 26.2 %Missaukee County26.2Mackinac County: 26.1 %Mackinac County26.1Manistee County: 25.8 %Manistee County25.8Iron County: 25.5 %Iron County25.5Jackson County: 25.2 %Jackson County25.2Wexford County: 25.2 %Wexford County25.2Tuscola County: 25.1 %Tuscola County25.1Presque Isle County: 25 %Presque Isle County25Sanilac County: 24.8 %Sanilac County24.8Schoolcraft County: 24.8 %Schoolcraft County24.8Alpena County: 24.6 %Alpena County24.6Hillsdale County: 24.6 %Hillsdale County24.6Baraga County: 24.3 %Baraga County24.3Lake County: 45.2 %Lake County45.2Roscommon County: 40.3 %Roscommon County40.3Clare County: 38.8 %Clare County38.8Wayne County: 37 %Wayne County37Ogemaw County: 34.2 %Ogemaw County34.2Montmorency County: 33.9 %Montmorency County33.9Oscoda County: 32.8 %Oscoda County32.8Iosco County: 32.3 %Iosco County32.3Gladwin County: 32.2 %Gladwin County32.2Crawford County: 31.2 %Crawford County31.2Alcona County: 30.8 %Alcona County30.8Arenac County: 30.5 %Arenac County30.5Ontonagon County: 30.3 %Ontonagon County30.3Genesee County: 30.2 %Genesee County30.2Osceola County: 29.9 %Osceola County29.9Luce County: 29.7 %Luce County29.7Mecosta County: 29.6 %Mecosta County29.6Oceana County: 28.9 %Oceana County28.9Cheboygan County: 28.4 %Cheboygan County28.4Saginaw County: 27.7 %Saginaw County27.7Gogebic County: 27.5 %Gogebic County27.5Kalkaska County: 27.5 %Kalkaska County27.5Chippewa County: 27.4 %Chippewa County27.4Mason County: 26.9 %Mason County26.9Montcalm County: 26.9 %Montcalm County26.9Menominee County: 26.8 %Menominee County26.8Berrien County: 26.2 %Berrien County26.2Missaukee County: 26.2 %Missaukee County26.2Mackinac County: 26.1 %Mackinac County26.1Manistee County: 25.8 %Manistee County25.8Iron County: 25.5 %Iron County25.5Jackson County: 25.2 %Jackson County25.2Wexford County: 25.2 %Wexford County25.2Tuscola County: 25.1 %Tuscola County25.1Presque Isle County: 25 %Presque Isle County25Sanilac County: 24.8 %Sanilac County24.8Schoolcraft County: 24.8 %Schoolcraft County24.8Alpena County: 24.6 %Alpena County24.6Hillsdale County: 24.6 %Hillsdale County24.6Baraga County: 24.3 %Baraga County24.3
%. 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

RankCounties2015 (%)Change on 2014
1Lake County45.2+0.8 pts
2Roscommon County40.3+5.9 pts
3Clare County38.80 pts
4Wayne County37+1.8 pts
5Ogemaw County34.2-1.6 pts
6Montmorency County33.9+2.7 pts
7Oscoda County32.8+0.9 pts
8Iosco County32.3+0.9 pts
9Gladwin County32.2+1.2 pts
10Crawford County31.2+2.8 pts
11Alcona County30.8-0.1 pts
12Arenac County30.5-1 pts
13Ontonagon County30.3-0.5 pts
14Genesee County30.2-3 pts
15Osceola County29.9-1.2 pts
16Luce County29.7+1.1 pts
17Mecosta County29.6-1.2 pts
18Oceana County28.9-1.8 pts
19Cheboygan County28.4+0.1 pts
20Saginaw County27.7+2.5 pts
21Gogebic County27.5-3.2 pts
21Kalkaska County27.5+0.5 pts
23Chippewa County27.4+2.7 pts
24Mason County26.9-0.4 pts
24Montcalm County26.9-3.8 pts
26Menominee County26.8+5.4 pts
27Berrien County26.20 pts
27Missaukee County26.2+1.6 pts
29Mackinac County26.1+0.5 pts
30Manistee County25.8-0.8 pts
31Iron County25.50 pts
32Jackson County25.2+1.2 pts
32Wexford County25.2-3.8 pts
34Tuscola County25.1+1.2 pts
35Presque Isle County25-0.7 pts
36Sanilac County24.8+1.4 pts
36Schoolcraft County24.8-2.3 pts
38Alpena County24.6-1.4 pts
38Hillsdale County24.6-1 pts
40Baraga County24.3+2.7 pts
41Antrim County24.1+1.4 pts
41Ingham County24.1+0.4 pts
43Calhoun County24+0.5 pts
44Branch County23.7+0.4 pts
45Muskegon County23.4-3.3 pts
46Newaygo County23.1-4.4 pts
47Van Buren County22.8-0.7 pts
48Cass County22.5+0.4 pts
49St. Joseph County22.3-4.3 pts
50Keweenaw County21.4+0.4 pts
51Alger County21-2.3 pts
52Lenawee County20.9+0.4 pts
53Bay County20.8-3.9 pts
53Delta County20.8+0.1 pts
55Gratiot County20.6-2.3 pts
56Isabella County20-1.7 pts
57Shiawassee County19.6-3.4 pts
58Otsego County19.2-1.4 pts
59Benzie County19.1+0.5 pts
59Kent County19.1-0.9 pts
61Kalamazoo County19-1.4 pts
62Huron County18.9-2 pts
62St. Clair County18.9-0.8 pts
64Houghton County18.4-0.1 pts
65Charlevoix County18.3-0.7 pts
66Marquette County17.9+1.4 pts
67Dickinson County17.8-0.7 pts
68Ionia County17.7-0.8 pts
69Macomb County16.8-1.5 pts
70Eaton County15.7+1.3 pts
70Emmet County15.7-0.7 pts
72Allegan County15.1-0.1 pts
73Midland County15+0.2 pts
74Lapeer County14.7-1.2 pts
75Monroe County14.6-0.4 pts
76Barry County14-1 pts
77Leelanau County13.4-1.4 pts
77Washtenaw County13.4-0.6 pts
79Grand Traverse County12.3-1.2 pts
80Oakland County11.7-0.7 pts
81Clinton County10.8-0.2 pts
82Ottawa County9.2-0.5 pts
83Livingston County7.8-0.3 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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 Michigan by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Michigan by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2015. 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 Michigan by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2015.

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 Michigan by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_michigan_by_2015,
  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 Michigan by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2015. 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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 Michigan by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2015.
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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in Michigan by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Lake County, with 45.2% in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Livingston County, with 7.8% in 2015.

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 Michigan: more rankings