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 2018, at 36.4%. Livingston County had the lowest, at 5.5%. The median was 19.9% and the figure for Michigan was 19.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest36.4Lake County
Median19.983 counties
Michigan19.3History

Map of counties, 2018

Alcona County: 31.6 %Alger County: 18.5 %Allegan County: 13.6 %Alpena County: 22.6 %Antrim County: 18.7 %Arenac County: 24.1 %Baraga County: 21 %Barry County: 10.8 %Bay County: 24.8 %Benzie County: 15.7 %Berrien County: 21.1 %Branch County: 21.2 %Calhoun County: 27.6 %Cass County: 17.3 %Charlevoix County: 16 %Cheboygan County: 25.9 %Chippewa County: 22.4 %Clare County: 32.4 %Clinton County: 8.6 %Crawford County: 26.1 %Delta County: 17.4 %Dickinson County: 15.1 %Eaton County: 12.2 %Emmet County: 11.4 %Genesee County: 28.9 %Gladwin County: 26.8 %Gogebic County: 26.8 %Grand Traverse County: 11.5 %Gratiot County: 20.8 %Hillsdale County: 20 %Houghton County: 15.5 %Huron County: 18.4 %Ingham County: 19.1 %Ionia County: 12.4 %Iosco County: 27.5 %Iron County: 24.7 %Isabella County: 16.8 %Jackson County: 19.9 %Kalamazoo County: 16.5 %Kalkaska County: 21.8 %Kent County: 14.6 %Keweenaw County: 18.6 %Lake County: 36.4 %Lapeer County: 13.9 %Leelanau County: 10.6 %Lenawee County: 14 %Livingston County: 5.5 %Luce County: 26.8 %Mackinac County: 20.8 %Macomb County: 16 %Manistee County: 21.9 %Marquette County: 14.8 %Mason County: 18.6 %Mecosta County: 20.7 %Menominee County: 17.3 %Midland County: 13.5 %Missaukee County: 21.1 %Monroe County: 13.5 %Montcalm County: 19.9 %Montmorency County: 32.2 %Muskegon County: 21.9 %Newaygo County: 23 %Oakland County: 9.6 %Oceana County: 23.3 %Ogemaw County: 26.6 %Ontonagon County: 25 %Osceola County: 25.2 %Oscoda County: 28.2 %Otsego County: 16.3 %Ottawa County: 5.7 %Presque Isle County: 23.2 %Roscommon County: 33.3 %Saginaw County: 23.9 %St. Clair County: 19.6 %St. Joseph County: 17.9 %Sanilac County: 22 %Schoolcraft County: 22 %Shiawassee County: 15.3 %Tuscola County: 17.8 %Van Buren County: 23.2 %Washtenaw County: 12.6 %Wayne County: 32.4 %Wexford County: 19.7 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 17
  • 17 to 20
  • 20 to 22
  • 22 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2018. 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, 2018

Lake County: 36.4 %Lake County36.4Roscommon County: 33.3 %Roscommon County33.3Clare County: 32.4 %Clare County32.4Wayne County: 32.4 %Wayne County32.4Montmorency County: 32.2 %Montmorency County32.2Alcona County: 31.6 %Alcona County31.6Genesee County: 28.9 %Genesee County28.9Oscoda County: 28.2 %Oscoda County28.2Calhoun County: 27.6 %Calhoun County27.6Iosco County: 27.5 %Iosco County27.5Gladwin County: 26.8 %Gladwin County26.8Gogebic County: 26.8 %Gogebic County26.8Luce County: 26.8 %Luce County26.8Ogemaw County: 26.6 %Ogemaw County26.6Crawford County: 26.1 %Crawford County26.1Cheboygan County: 25.9 %Cheboygan County25.9Osceola County: 25.2 %Osceola County25.2Ontonagon County: 25 %Ontonagon County25Bay County: 24.8 %Bay County24.8Iron County: 24.7 %Iron County24.7Arenac County: 24.1 %Arenac County24.1Saginaw County: 23.9 %Saginaw County23.9Oceana County: 23.3 %Oceana County23.3Presque Isle County: 23.2 %Presque Isle County23.2Van Buren County: 23.2 %Van Buren County23.2Newaygo County: 23 %Newaygo County23Alpena County: 22.6 %Alpena County22.6Chippewa County: 22.4 %Chippewa County22.4Sanilac County: 22 %Sanilac County22Schoolcraft County: 22 %Schoolcraft County22Manistee County: 21.9 %Manistee County21.9Muskegon County: 21.9 %Muskegon County21.9Kalkaska County: 21.8 %Kalkaska County21.8Branch County: 21.2 %Branch County21.2Berrien County: 21.1 %Berrien County21.1Missaukee County: 21.1 %Missaukee County21.1Baraga County: 21 %Baraga County21Gratiot County: 20.8 %Gratiot County20.8Mackinac County: 20.8 %Mackinac County20.8Mecosta County: 20.7 %Mecosta County20.7Lake County: 36.4 %Lake County36.4Roscommon County: 33.3 %Roscommon County33.3Clare County: 32.4 %Clare County32.4Wayne County: 32.4 %Wayne County32.4Montmorency County: 32.2 %Montmorency County32.2Alcona County: 31.6 %Alcona County31.6Genesee County: 28.9 %Genesee County28.9Oscoda County: 28.2 %Oscoda County28.2Calhoun County: 27.6 %Calhoun County27.6Iosco County: 27.5 %Iosco County27.5Gladwin County: 26.8 %Gladwin County26.8Gogebic County: 26.8 %Gogebic County26.8Luce County: 26.8 %Luce County26.8Ogemaw County: 26.6 %Ogemaw County26.6Crawford County: 26.1 %Crawford County26.1Cheboygan County: 25.9 %Cheboygan County25.9Osceola County: 25.2 %Osceola County25.2Ontonagon County: 25 %Ontonagon County25Bay County: 24.8 %Bay County24.8Iron County: 24.7 %Iron County24.7Arenac County: 24.1 %Arenac County24.1Saginaw County: 23.9 %Saginaw County23.9Oceana County: 23.3 %Oceana County23.3Presque Isle County: 23.2 %Presque Isle County23.2Van Buren County: 23.2 %Van Buren County23.2Newaygo County: 23 %Newaygo County23Alpena County: 22.6 %Alpena County22.6Chippewa County: 22.4 %Chippewa County22.4Sanilac County: 22 %Sanilac County22Schoolcraft County: 22 %Schoolcraft County22Manistee County: 21.9 %Manistee County21.9Muskegon County: 21.9 %Muskegon County21.9Kalkaska County: 21.8 %Kalkaska County21.8Branch County: 21.2 %Branch County21.2Berrien County: 21.1 %Berrien County21.1Missaukee County: 21.1 %Missaukee County21.1Baraga County: 21 %Baraga County21Gratiot County: 20.8 %Gratiot County20.8Mackinac County: 20.8 %Mackinac County20.8Mecosta County: 20.7 %Mecosta County20.7
%. 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

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Lake County36.4-2.4 pts
2Roscommon County33.3-4.5 pts
3Clare County32.4-5.4 pts
3Wayne County32.4-1 pts
5Montmorency County32.2+3.7 pts
6Alcona County31.6+2.9 pts
7Genesee County28.9+2.6 pts
8Oscoda County28.2-1.2 pts
9Calhoun County27.6-0.8 pts
10Iosco County27.5-0.6 pts
11Gladwin County26.8-0.5 pts
11Gogebic County26.8-1.2 pts
11Luce County26.8+0.5 pts
14Ogemaw County26.6-0.4 pts
15Crawford County26.1-4.4 pts
16Cheboygan County25.9+0.1 pts
17Osceola County25.2+2.4 pts
18Ontonagon County25-2.2 pts
19Bay County24.8+5.4 pts
20Iron County24.7+0.7 pts
21Arenac County24.1-1.8 pts
22Saginaw County23.9-0.3 pts
23Oceana County23.3+1.8 pts
24Presque Isle County23.2-3.8 pts
24Van Buren County23.2+5.1 pts
26Newaygo County23+1.6 pts
27Alpena County22.6+1.1 pts
28Chippewa County22.4+0.7 pts
29Sanilac County22-0.1 pts
29Schoolcraft County22-1.2 pts
31Manistee County21.9-0.2 pts
31Muskegon County21.9+0.4 pts
33Kalkaska County21.8-2.2 pts
34Branch County21.2+2.1 pts
35Berrien County21.1-5.5 pts
35Missaukee County21.1-0.6 pts
37Baraga County21-2.6 pts
38Gratiot County20.8-1.7 pts
38Mackinac County20.8-1.1 pts
40Mecosta County20.7-6 pts
41Hillsdale County20-0.2 pts
42Jackson County19.9-1.3 pts
42Montcalm County19.9-1.3 pts
44Wexford County19.7-1.2 pts
45St. Clair County19.6+1 pts
46Ingham County19.1-4.6 pts
47Antrim County18.7+0.9 pts
48Keweenaw County18.6+3.1 pts
48Mason County18.6-2.6 pts
50Alger County18.5+0.1 pts
51Huron County18.4-2 pts
52St. Joseph County17.9-1.5 pts
53Tuscola County17.8-2 pts
54Delta County17.4-0.8 pts
55Cass County17.3-0.6 pts
55Menominee County17.3+0.3 pts
57Isabella County16.8-0.2 pts
58Kalamazoo County16.5+0.4 pts
59Otsego County16.3-2.3 pts
60Charlevoix County16+0.8 pts
60Macomb County16+0.3 pts
62Benzie County15.7+0.5 pts
63Houghton County15.5+0.2 pts
64Shiawassee County15.3-1.2 pts
65Dickinson County15.1-0.6 pts
66Marquette County14.8-2.9 pts
67Kent County14.6+0.5 pts
68Lenawee County14-0.3 pts
69Lapeer County13.9+2 pts
70Allegan County13.6+1.1 pts
71Midland County13.5+0.5 pts
71Monroe County13.5-0.9 pts
73Washtenaw County12.6+1.2 pts
74Ionia County12.4-2.1 pts
75Eaton County12.2-0.5 pts
76Grand Traverse County11.5+0.1 pts
77Emmet County11.4-0.7 pts
78Barry County10.8-0.9 pts
79Leelanau County10.6-0.3 pts
80Oakland County9.6+0.3 pts
81Clinton County8.6+0.9 pts
82Ottawa County5.7-2.5 pts
83Livingston County5.5-0.8 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2018. 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), 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2018.

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), 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_michigan_by_2018,
  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), 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2018. 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2018.
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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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 36.4% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Livingston County, with 5.5% in 2018.

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