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 2017, at 38.8%. Livingston County had the lowest, at 6.3%. The median was 20.9% and the figure for Michigan was 19.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest38.8Lake County
Median20.983 counties
Michigan19.6History

Map of counties, 2017

Alcona County: 28.7 %Alger County: 18.4 %Allegan County: 12.5 %Alpena County: 21.5 %Antrim County: 17.8 %Arenac County: 25.9 %Baraga County: 23.6 %Barry County: 11.7 %Bay County: 19.4 %Benzie County: 15.2 %Berrien County: 26.6 %Branch County: 19.1 %Calhoun County: 28.4 %Cass County: 17.9 %Charlevoix County: 15.2 %Cheboygan County: 25.8 %Chippewa County: 21.7 %Clare County: 37.8 %Clinton County: 7.7 %Crawford County: 30.5 %Delta County: 18.2 %Dickinson County: 15.7 %Eaton County: 12.7 %Emmet County: 12.1 %Genesee County: 26.3 %Gladwin County: 27.3 %Gogebic County: 28 %Grand Traverse County: 11.4 %Gratiot County: 22.5 %Hillsdale County: 20.2 %Houghton County: 15.3 %Huron County: 20.4 %Ingham County: 23.7 %Ionia County: 14.5 %Iosco County: 28.1 %Iron County: 24 %Isabella County: 17 %Jackson County: 21.2 %Kalamazoo County: 16.1 %Kalkaska County: 24 %Kent County: 14.1 %Keweenaw County: 15.5 %Lake County: 38.8 %Lapeer County: 11.9 %Leelanau County: 10.9 %Lenawee County: 14.3 %Livingston County: 6.3 %Luce County: 26.3 %Mackinac County: 21.9 %Macomb County: 15.7 %Manistee County: 22.1 %Marquette County: 17.7 %Mason County: 21.2 %Mecosta County: 26.7 %Menominee County: 17 %Midland County: 13 %Missaukee County: 21.7 %Monroe County: 14.4 %Montcalm County: 21.2 %Montmorency County: 28.5 %Muskegon County: 21.5 %Newaygo County: 21.4 %Oakland County: 9.3 %Oceana County: 21.5 %Ogemaw County: 27 %Ontonagon County: 27.2 %Osceola County: 22.8 %Oscoda County: 29.4 %Otsego County: 18.6 %Ottawa County: 8.2 %Presque Isle County: 27 %Roscommon County: 37.8 %Saginaw County: 24.2 %St. Clair County: 18.6 %St. Joseph County: 19.4 %Sanilac County: 22.1 %Schoolcraft County: 23.2 %Shiawassee County: 16.5 %Tuscola County: 19.8 %Van Buren County: 18.1 %Washtenaw County: 11.4 %Wayne County: 33.4 %Wexford County: 20.9 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 to 27
  • 27 and over
%, 2017. 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, 2017

Lake County: 38.8 %Lake County38.8Clare County: 37.8 %Clare County37.8Roscommon County: 37.8 %Roscommon County37.8Wayne County: 33.4 %Wayne County33.4Crawford County: 30.5 %Crawford County30.5Oscoda County: 29.4 %Oscoda County29.4Alcona County: 28.7 %Alcona County28.7Montmorency County: 28.5 %Montmorency County28.5Calhoun County: 28.4 %Calhoun County28.4Iosco County: 28.1 %Iosco County28.1Gogebic County: 28 %Gogebic County28Gladwin County: 27.3 %Gladwin County27.3Ontonagon County: 27.2 %Ontonagon County27.2Ogemaw County: 27 %Ogemaw County27Presque Isle County: 27 %Presque Isle County27Mecosta County: 26.7 %Mecosta County26.7Berrien County: 26.6 %Berrien County26.6Genesee County: 26.3 %Genesee County26.3Luce County: 26.3 %Luce County26.3Arenac County: 25.9 %Arenac County25.9Cheboygan County: 25.8 %Cheboygan County25.8Saginaw County: 24.2 %Saginaw County24.2Iron County: 24 %Iron County24Kalkaska County: 24 %Kalkaska County24Ingham County: 23.7 %Ingham County23.7Baraga County: 23.6 %Baraga County23.6Schoolcraft County: 23.2 %Schoolcraft County23.2Osceola County: 22.8 %Osceola County22.8Gratiot County: 22.5 %Gratiot County22.5Manistee County: 22.1 %Manistee County22.1Sanilac County: 22.1 %Sanilac County22.1Mackinac County: 21.9 %Mackinac County21.9Chippewa County: 21.7 %Chippewa County21.7Missaukee County: 21.7 %Missaukee County21.7Alpena County: 21.5 %Alpena County21.5Muskegon County: 21.5 %Muskegon County21.5Oceana County: 21.5 %Oceana County21.5Newaygo County: 21.4 %Newaygo County21.4Jackson County: 21.2 %Jackson County21.2Mason County: 21.2 %Mason County21.2Lake County: 38.8 %Lake County38.8Clare County: 37.8 %Clare County37.8Roscommon County: 37.8 %Roscommon County37.8Wayne County: 33.4 %Wayne County33.4Crawford County: 30.5 %Crawford County30.5Oscoda County: 29.4 %Oscoda County29.4Alcona County: 28.7 %Alcona County28.7Montmorency County: 28.5 %Montmorency County28.5Calhoun County: 28.4 %Calhoun County28.4Iosco County: 28.1 %Iosco County28.1Gogebic County: 28 %Gogebic County28Gladwin County: 27.3 %Gladwin County27.3Ontonagon County: 27.2 %Ontonagon County27.2Ogemaw County: 27 %Ogemaw County27Presque Isle County: 27 %Presque Isle County27Mecosta County: 26.7 %Mecosta County26.7Berrien County: 26.6 %Berrien County26.6Genesee County: 26.3 %Genesee County26.3Luce County: 26.3 %Luce County26.3Arenac County: 25.9 %Arenac County25.9Cheboygan County: 25.8 %Cheboygan County25.8Saginaw County: 24.2 %Saginaw County24.2Iron County: 24 %Iron County24Kalkaska County: 24 %Kalkaska County24Ingham County: 23.7 %Ingham County23.7Baraga County: 23.6 %Baraga County23.6Schoolcraft County: 23.2 %Schoolcraft County23.2Osceola County: 22.8 %Osceola County22.8Gratiot County: 22.5 %Gratiot County22.5Manistee County: 22.1 %Manistee County22.1Sanilac County: 22.1 %Sanilac County22.1Mackinac County: 21.9 %Mackinac County21.9Chippewa County: 21.7 %Chippewa County21.7Missaukee County: 21.7 %Missaukee County21.7Alpena County: 21.5 %Alpena County21.5Muskegon County: 21.5 %Muskegon County21.5Oceana County: 21.5 %Oceana County21.5Newaygo County: 21.4 %Newaygo County21.4Jackson County: 21.2 %Jackson County21.2Mason County: 21.2 %Mason County21.2
%. 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

RankCounties2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Lake County38.8-1.4 pts
2Clare County37.8+3.7 pts
2Roscommon County37.8+4.9 pts
4Wayne County33.4-0.4 pts
5Crawford County30.5-4.1 pts
6Oscoda County29.4-0.8 pts
7Alcona County28.7-0.9 pts
8Montmorency County28.5-2.6 pts
9Calhoun County28.4+3.2 pts
10Iosco County28.1-3.1 pts
11Gogebic County28-2 pts
12Gladwin County27.3-1.8 pts
13Ontonagon County27.2-1.4 pts
14Ogemaw County27-3.9 pts
14Presque Isle County27+0.8 pts
16Mecosta County26.7+2.2 pts
17Berrien County26.6+0.5 pts
18Genesee County26.3-2.8 pts
18Luce County26.3-2.6 pts
20Arenac County25.9+0.4 pts
21Cheboygan County25.8-5.3 pts
22Saginaw County24.2-0.4 pts
23Iron County24-1.6 pts
23Kalkaska County24-0.7 pts
25Ingham County23.7+0.5 pts
26Baraga County23.6-0.4 pts
27Schoolcraft County23.2-1.9 pts
28Osceola County22.8-6.1 pts
29Gratiot County22.5+0.4 pts
30Manistee County22.1-1.3 pts
30Sanilac County22.1-1 pts
32Mackinac County21.9-2 pts
33Chippewa County21.7+0.8 pts
33Missaukee County21.7-0.1 pts
35Alpena County21.5-2.6 pts
35Muskegon County21.5-6.4 pts
35Oceana County21.5-4.4 pts
38Newaygo County21.4-2.7 pts
39Jackson County21.2+0.8 pts
39Mason County21.2-3.1 pts
39Montcalm County21.2-1.5 pts
42Wexford County20.9-6.1 pts
43Huron County20.4-2.7 pts
44Hillsdale County20.2+0.1 pts
45Tuscola County19.8-1.4 pts
46Bay County19.4-3.3 pts
46St. Joseph County19.4-2.2 pts
48Branch County19.1-5.9 pts
49Otsego County18.6-2.7 pts
49St. Clair County18.6-1.2 pts
51Alger County18.4-1.1 pts
52Delta County18.2-0.8 pts
53Van Buren County18.1-6.7 pts
54Cass County17.9-1.8 pts
55Antrim County17.8-2.5 pts
56Marquette County17.7+2.7 pts
57Isabella County17-1.9 pts
57Menominee County17-2.5 pts
59Shiawassee County16.5-1.8 pts
60Kalamazoo County16.1-3.5 pts
61Dickinson County15.7-1.6 pts
61Macomb County15.7-0.2 pts
63Keweenaw County15.5-2.7 pts
64Houghton County15.3-2.8 pts
65Benzie County15.2-3.2 pts
65Charlevoix County15.2-3 pts
67Ionia County14.5-5.2 pts
68Monroe County14.4+1.5 pts
69Lenawee County14.3-2.2 pts
70Kent County14.1-0.8 pts
71Midland County13+0.9 pts
72Eaton County12.7-3.7 pts
73Allegan County12.5+0.7 pts
74Emmet County12.1-2.6 pts
75Lapeer County11.9-2.8 pts
76Barry County11.7-0.7 pts
77Grand Traverse County11.4-1.5 pts
77Washtenaw County11.4-0.8 pts
79Leelanau County10.9-2.3 pts
80Oakland County9.3-1.5 pts
81Ottawa County8.2-0.7 pts
82Clinton County7.7-2.2 pts
83Livingston County6.3-0.1 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2017. 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), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2017.

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), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_michigan_by_2017,
  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), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2017. 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2017.
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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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 38.8% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Livingston County, with 6.3% in 2017.

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