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 2020, at 32.6%. Livingston County had the lowest, at 5.5%. The median was 17.4% and the figure for Michigan was 16.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest32.6Lake County
Median17.483 counties
Michigan16.8History

Map of counties, 2020

Alcona County: 25.5 %Alger County: 16.3 %Allegan County: 8.4 %Alpena County: 19.7 %Antrim County: 19.7 %Arenac County: 21.3 %Baraga County: 16.1 %Barry County: 9.3 %Bay County: 16.4 %Benzie County: 12.7 %Berrien County: 22.1 %Branch County: 18.6 %Calhoun County: 21.5 %Cass County: 16.1 %Charlevoix County: 12.8 %Cheboygan County: 21.7 %Chippewa County: 18.4 %Clare County: 26.7 %Clinton County: 8.7 %Crawford County: 23.9 %Delta County: 15.4 %Dickinson County: 13.4 %Eaton County: 10.3 %Emmet County: 12.1 %Genesee County: 24.3 %Gladwin County: 28.2 %Gogebic County: 22.5 %Grand Traverse County: 10 %Gratiot County: 15.7 %Hillsdale County: 19.4 %Houghton County: 13.6 %Huron County: 13.5 %Ingham County: 14.9 %Ionia County: 11.4 %Iosco County: 24.2 %Iron County: 22.8 %Isabella County: 17 %Jackson County: 16.8 %Kalamazoo County: 14 %Kalkaska County: 19.3 %Kent County: 12.6 %Keweenaw County: 17.2 %Lake County: 32.6 %Lapeer County: 11.4 %Leelanau County: 12.1 %Lenawee County: 12.2 %Livingston County: 5.5 %Luce County: 29.4 %Mackinac County: 21.6 %Macomb County: 12.6 %Manistee County: 18.9 %Marquette County: 13.8 %Mason County: 18.9 %Mecosta County: 19 %Menominee County: 16.5 %Midland County: 12.1 %Missaukee County: 17.7 %Monroe County: 11.9 %Montcalm County: 18.3 %Montmorency County: 25.7 %Muskegon County: 17.6 %Newaygo County: 16.8 %Oakland County: 7.8 %Oceana County: 19.3 %Ogemaw County: 24.9 %Ontonagon County: 23.4 %Osceola County: 20.1 %Oscoda County: 26 %Otsego County: 14.3 %Ottawa County: 6.1 %Presque Isle County: 20.2 %Roscommon County: 28.6 %Saginaw County: 22.1 %St. Clair County: 18.1 %St. Joseph County: 17.4 %Sanilac County: 21.9 %Schoolcraft County: 18.7 %Shiawassee County: 16.7 %Tuscola County: 13.8 %Van Buren County: 18 %Washtenaw County: 9.7 %Wayne County: 29.4 %Wexford County: 15.9 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2020. 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, 2020

Lake County: 32.6 %Lake County32.6Luce County: 29.4 %Luce County29.4Wayne County: 29.4 %Wayne County29.4Roscommon County: 28.6 %Roscommon County28.6Gladwin County: 28.2 %Gladwin County28.2Clare County: 26.7 %Clare County26.7Oscoda County: 26 %Oscoda County26Montmorency County: 25.7 %Montmorency County25.7Alcona County: 25.5 %Alcona County25.5Ogemaw County: 24.9 %Ogemaw County24.9Genesee County: 24.3 %Genesee County24.3Iosco County: 24.2 %Iosco County24.2Crawford County: 23.9 %Crawford County23.9Ontonagon County: 23.4 %Ontonagon County23.4Iron County: 22.8 %Iron County22.8Gogebic County: 22.5 %Gogebic County22.5Berrien County: 22.1 %Berrien County22.1Saginaw County: 22.1 %Saginaw County22.1Sanilac County: 21.9 %Sanilac County21.9Cheboygan County: 21.7 %Cheboygan County21.7Mackinac County: 21.6 %Mackinac County21.6Calhoun County: 21.5 %Calhoun County21.5Arenac County: 21.3 %Arenac County21.3Presque Isle County: 20.2 %Presque Isle County20.2Osceola County: 20.1 %Osceola County20.1Alpena County: 19.7 %Alpena County19.7Antrim County: 19.7 %Antrim County19.7Hillsdale County: 19.4 %Hillsdale County19.4Kalkaska County: 19.3 %Kalkaska County19.3Oceana County: 19.3 %Oceana County19.3Mecosta County: 19 %Mecosta County19Manistee County: 18.9 %Manistee County18.9Mason County: 18.9 %Mason County18.9Schoolcraft County: 18.7 %Schoolcraft County18.7Branch County: 18.6 %Branch County18.6Chippewa County: 18.4 %Chippewa County18.4Montcalm County: 18.3 %Montcalm County18.3St. Clair County: 18.1 %St. Clair County18.1Van Buren County: 18 %Van Buren County18Missaukee County: 17.7 %Missaukee County17.7Lake County: 32.6 %Lake County32.6Luce County: 29.4 %Luce County29.4Wayne County: 29.4 %Wayne County29.4Roscommon County: 28.6 %Roscommon County28.6Gladwin County: 28.2 %Gladwin County28.2Clare County: 26.7 %Clare County26.7Oscoda County: 26 %Oscoda County26Montmorency County: 25.7 %Montmorency County25.7Alcona County: 25.5 %Alcona County25.5Ogemaw County: 24.9 %Ogemaw County24.9Genesee County: 24.3 %Genesee County24.3Iosco County: 24.2 %Iosco County24.2Crawford County: 23.9 %Crawford County23.9Ontonagon County: 23.4 %Ontonagon County23.4Iron County: 22.8 %Iron County22.8Gogebic County: 22.5 %Gogebic County22.5Berrien County: 22.1 %Berrien County22.1Saginaw County: 22.1 %Saginaw County22.1Sanilac County: 21.9 %Sanilac County21.9Cheboygan County: 21.7 %Cheboygan County21.7Mackinac County: 21.6 %Mackinac County21.6Calhoun County: 21.5 %Calhoun County21.5Arenac County: 21.3 %Arenac County21.3Presque Isle County: 20.2 %Presque Isle County20.2Osceola County: 20.1 %Osceola County20.1Alpena County: 19.7 %Alpena County19.7Antrim County: 19.7 %Antrim County19.7Hillsdale County: 19.4 %Hillsdale County19.4Kalkaska County: 19.3 %Kalkaska County19.3Oceana County: 19.3 %Oceana County19.3Mecosta County: 19 %Mecosta County19Manistee County: 18.9 %Manistee County18.9Mason County: 18.9 %Mason County18.9Schoolcraft County: 18.7 %Schoolcraft County18.7Branch County: 18.6 %Branch County18.6Chippewa County: 18.4 %Chippewa County18.4Montcalm County: 18.3 %Montcalm County18.3St. Clair County: 18.1 %St. Clair County18.1Van Buren County: 18 %Van Buren County18Missaukee County: 17.7 %Missaukee County17.7
%. 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

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Lake County32.6-0.6 pts
2Luce County29.4+5.2 pts
2Wayne County29.4+0.3 pts
4Roscommon County28.6+0.7 pts
5Gladwin County28.2+7.1 pts
6Clare County26.7-3.7 pts
7Oscoda County26+0.1 pts
8Montmorency County25.7+1 pts
9Alcona County25.5-1.2 pts
10Ogemaw County24.9-1.8 pts
11Genesee County24.3+2.1 pts
12Iosco County24.2+1.7 pts
13Crawford County23.9-0.2 pts
14Ontonagon County23.4+0.4 pts
15Iron County22.8+1.3 pts
16Gogebic County22.5-1.7 pts
17Berrien County22.1-0.2 pts
17Saginaw County22.1-6.9 pts
19Sanilac County21.9+0.3 pts
20Cheboygan County21.7-2.1 pts
21Mackinac County21.6-1.6 pts
22Calhoun County21.5+1.2 pts
23Arenac County21.3-4.3 pts
24Presque Isle County20.2+0.5 pts
25Osceola County20.1-1.1 pts
26Alpena County19.7+1.4 pts
26Antrim County19.7+2.8 pts
28Hillsdale County19.4-4.2 pts
29Kalkaska County19.3+0.7 pts
29Oceana County19.3-4.1 pts
31Mecosta County19-4.5 pts
32Manistee County18.9-0.3 pts
32Mason County18.9-4.5 pts
34Schoolcraft County18.7-4.2 pts
35Branch County18.6+1 pts
36Chippewa County18.4-6.2 pts
37Montcalm County18.3-0.3 pts
38St. Clair County18.1+4.1 pts
39Van Buren County18+0.4 pts
40Missaukee County17.7+0.9 pts
41Muskegon County17.6+0.3 pts
42St. Joseph County17.4+1.3 pts
43Keweenaw County17.2+2.2 pts
44Isabella County17-3.6 pts
45Jackson County16.8-0.7 pts
45Newaygo County16.8-7.2 pts
47Shiawassee County16.7+1.4 pts
48Menominee County16.5-0.6 pts
49Bay County16.4-3.3 pts
50Alger County16.3-1.1 pts
51Baraga County16.1-2.1 pts
51Cass County16.1-3.8 pts
53Wexford County15.9-2.8 pts
54Gratiot County15.7-3.5 pts
55Delta County15.4-3.4 pts
56Ingham County14.9-2.7 pts
57Otsego County14.3-0.5 pts
58Kalamazoo County14+0.4 pts
59Marquette County13.8+0.9 pts
59Tuscola County13.8-2.7 pts
61Houghton County13.6+1 pts
62Huron County13.5-4.9 pts
63Dickinson County13.4-0.6 pts
64Charlevoix County12.8-0.3 pts
65Benzie County12.7-3.1 pts
66Kent County12.6-2.1 pts
66Macomb County12.6+0.9 pts
68Lenawee County12.2-2.9 pts
69Emmet County12.1+0.3 pts
69Leelanau County12.1+2.4 pts
69Midland County12.1+0.8 pts
72Monroe County11.9-2.4 pts
73Ionia County11.4-1.6 pts
73Lapeer County11.4-1.4 pts
75Eaton County10.3-0.5 pts
76Grand Traverse County10+0.4 pts
77Washtenaw County9.7-2.4 pts
78Barry County9.3-1.6 pts
79Clinton County8.7+1.1 pts
80Allegan County8.4-7.6 pts
81Oakland County7.8-1.4 pts
82Ottawa County6.1-1.1 pts
83Livingston County5.5+0.9 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_michigan_by_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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 32.6% in 2020, 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 2020.

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