Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in Michigan

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 2021, at 32%. Livingston County had the lowest, at 5.7%. The median was 17.9% and the figure for Michigan was 17.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest32Lake County
Lowest5.7Livingston County
Median17.983 counties
Michigan17.6History

Map of counties, 2021

Alcona County: 26.3 %Alger County: 17 %Allegan County: 12.1 %Alpena County: 23.7 %Antrim County: 16.6 %Arenac County: 22.9 %Baraga County: 22.2 %Barry County: 12.1 %Bay County: 16.6 %Benzie County: 14.1 %Berrien County: 24.3 %Branch County: 17.9 %Calhoun County: 19.9 %Cass County: 16.1 %Charlevoix County: 13.6 %Cheboygan County: 20.8 %Chippewa County: 21.6 %Clare County: 30.7 %Clinton County: 9 %Crawford County: 25.3 %Delta County: 15.4 %Dickinson County: 14.3 %Eaton County: 12 %Emmet County: 11.9 %Genesee County: 22.6 %Gladwin County: 25.1 %Gogebic County: 26 %Grand Traverse County: 11.7 %Gratiot County: 20.1 %Hillsdale County: 21.5 %Houghton County: 13.8 %Huron County: 16.5 %Ingham County: 16.5 %Ionia County: 15.2 %Iosco County: 24.5 %Iron County: 25.8 %Isabella County: 16.2 %Jackson County: 17.8 %Kalamazoo County: 14.6 %Kalkaska County: 18.7 %Kent County: 12.7 %Keweenaw County: 16.1 %Lake County: 32 %Lapeer County: 11.3 %Leelanau County: 11.4 %Lenawee County: 15.4 %Livingston County: 5.7 %Luce County: 26.7 %Mackinac County: 20.4 %Macomb County: 16.5 %Manistee County: 21.1 %Marquette County: 14.1 %Mason County: 21.4 %Mecosta County: 19.3 %Menominee County: 16.8 %Midland County: 13.2 %Missaukee County: 17.1 %Monroe County: 12.4 %Montcalm County: 17.9 %Montmorency County: 28.5 %Muskegon County: 19.1 %Newaygo County: 19.8 %Oakland County: 8.6 %Oceana County: 20.9 %Ogemaw County: 26.6 %Ontonagon County: 20.5 %Osceola County: 19 %Oscoda County: 26.9 %Otsego County: 15 %Ottawa County: 6.5 %Presque Isle County: 23.1 %Roscommon County: 31.9 %Saginaw County: 30.3 %St. Clair County: 16.7 %St. Joseph County: 17.3 %Sanilac County: 21.6 %Schoolcraft County: 23.9 %Shiawassee County: 14.3 %Tuscola County: 19 %Van Buren County: 17.4 %Washtenaw County: 11.2 %Wayne County: 28.5 %Wexford County: 21.6 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Lake County: 32 %Lake County32Roscommon County: 31.9 %Roscommon County31.9Clare County: 30.7 %Clare County30.7Saginaw County: 30.3 %Saginaw County30.3Montmorency County: 28.5 %Montmorency County28.5Wayne County: 28.5 %Wayne County28.5Oscoda County: 26.9 %Oscoda County26.9Luce County: 26.7 %Luce County26.7Ogemaw County: 26.6 %Ogemaw County26.6Alcona County: 26.3 %Alcona County26.3Gogebic County: 26 %Gogebic County26Iron County: 25.8 %Iron County25.8Crawford County: 25.3 %Crawford County25.3Gladwin County: 25.1 %Gladwin County25.1Iosco County: 24.5 %Iosco County24.5Berrien County: 24.3 %Berrien County24.3Schoolcraft County: 23.9 %Schoolcraft County23.9Alpena County: 23.7 %Alpena County23.7Presque Isle County: 23.1 %Presque Isle County23.1Arenac County: 22.9 %Arenac County22.9Genesee County: 22.6 %Genesee County22.6Baraga County: 22.2 %Baraga County22.2Chippewa County: 21.6 %Chippewa County21.6Sanilac County: 21.6 %Sanilac County21.6Wexford County: 21.6 %Wexford County21.6Hillsdale County: 21.5 %Hillsdale County21.5Mason County: 21.4 %Mason County21.4Manistee County: 21.1 %Manistee County21.1Oceana County: 20.9 %Oceana County20.9Cheboygan County: 20.8 %Cheboygan County20.8Ontonagon County: 20.5 %Ontonagon County20.5Mackinac County: 20.4 %Mackinac County20.4Gratiot County: 20.1 %Gratiot County20.1Calhoun County: 19.9 %Calhoun County19.9Newaygo County: 19.8 %Newaygo County19.8Mecosta County: 19.3 %Mecosta County19.3Muskegon County: 19.1 %Muskegon County19.1Osceola County: 19 %Osceola County19Tuscola County: 19 %Tuscola County19Kalkaska County: 18.7 %Kalkaska County18.7Lake County: 32 %Lake County32Roscommon County: 31.9 %Roscommon County31.9Clare County: 30.7 %Clare County30.7Saginaw County: 30.3 %Saginaw County30.3Montmorency County: 28.5 %Montmorency County28.5Wayne County: 28.5 %Wayne County28.5Oscoda County: 26.9 %Oscoda County26.9Luce County: 26.7 %Luce County26.7Ogemaw County: 26.6 %Ogemaw County26.6Alcona County: 26.3 %Alcona County26.3Gogebic County: 26 %Gogebic County26Iron County: 25.8 %Iron County25.8Crawford County: 25.3 %Crawford County25.3Gladwin County: 25.1 %Gladwin County25.1Iosco County: 24.5 %Iosco County24.5Berrien County: 24.3 %Berrien County24.3Schoolcraft County: 23.9 %Schoolcraft County23.9Alpena County: 23.7 %Alpena County23.7Presque Isle County: 23.1 %Presque Isle County23.1Arenac County: 22.9 %Arenac County22.9Genesee County: 22.6 %Genesee County22.6Baraga County: 22.2 %Baraga County22.2Chippewa County: 21.6 %Chippewa County21.6Sanilac County: 21.6 %Sanilac County21.6Wexford County: 21.6 %Wexford County21.6Hillsdale County: 21.5 %Hillsdale County21.5Mason County: 21.4 %Mason County21.4Manistee County: 21.1 %Manistee County21.1Oceana County: 20.9 %Oceana County20.9Cheboygan County: 20.8 %Cheboygan County20.8Ontonagon County: 20.5 %Ontonagon County20.5Mackinac County: 20.4 %Mackinac County20.4Gratiot County: 20.1 %Gratiot County20.1Calhoun County: 19.9 %Calhoun County19.9Newaygo County: 19.8 %Newaygo County19.8Mecosta County: 19.3 %Mecosta County19.3Muskegon County: 19.1 %Muskegon County19.1Osceola County: 19 %Osceola County19Tuscola County: 19 %Tuscola County19Kalkaska County: 18.7 %Kalkaska County18.7
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Lake County32-0.6 pts
2Roscommon County31.9+3.3 pts
3Clare County30.7+4 pts
4Saginaw County30.3+8.2 pts
5Montmorency County28.5+2.8 pts
5Wayne County28.5-0.9 pts
7Oscoda County26.9+0.9 pts
8Luce County26.7-2.7 pts
9Ogemaw County26.6+1.7 pts
10Alcona County26.3+0.8 pts
11Gogebic County26+3.5 pts
12Iron County25.8+3 pts
13Crawford County25.3+1.4 pts
14Gladwin County25.1-3.1 pts
15Iosco County24.5+0.3 pts
16Berrien County24.3+2.2 pts
17Schoolcraft County23.9+5.2 pts
18Alpena County23.7+4 pts
19Presque Isle County23.1+2.9 pts
20Arenac County22.9+1.6 pts
21Genesee County22.6-1.7 pts
22Baraga County22.2+6.1 pts
23Chippewa County21.6+3.2 pts
23Sanilac County21.6-0.3 pts
23Wexford County21.6+5.7 pts
26Hillsdale County21.5+2.1 pts
27Mason County21.4+2.5 pts
28Manistee County21.1+2.2 pts
29Oceana County20.9+1.6 pts
30Cheboygan County20.8-0.9 pts
31Ontonagon County20.5-2.9 pts
32Mackinac County20.4-1.2 pts
33Gratiot County20.1+4.4 pts
34Calhoun County19.9-1.6 pts
35Newaygo County19.8+3 pts
36Mecosta County19.3+0.3 pts
37Muskegon County19.1+1.5 pts
38Osceola County19-1.1 pts
38Tuscola County19+5.2 pts
40Kalkaska County18.7-0.6 pts
41Branch County17.9-0.7 pts
41Montcalm County17.9-0.4 pts
43Jackson County17.8+1 pts
44Van Buren County17.4-0.6 pts
45St. Joseph County17.3-0.1 pts
46Missaukee County17.1-0.6 pts
47Alger County17+0.7 pts
48Menominee County16.8+0.3 pts
49St. Clair County16.7-1.4 pts
50Antrim County16.6-3.1 pts
50Bay County16.6+0.2 pts
52Huron County16.5+3 pts
52Ingham County16.5+1.6 pts
52Macomb County16.5+3.9 pts
55Isabella County16.2-0.8 pts
56Cass County16.10 pts
56Keweenaw County16.1-1.1 pts
58Delta County15.40 pts
58Lenawee County15.4+3.2 pts
60Ionia County15.2+3.8 pts
61Otsego County15+0.7 pts
62Kalamazoo County14.6+0.6 pts
63Dickinson County14.3+0.9 pts
63Shiawassee County14.3-2.4 pts
65Benzie County14.1+1.4 pts
65Marquette County14.1+0.3 pts
67Houghton County13.8+0.2 pts
68Charlevoix County13.6+0.8 pts
69Midland County13.2+1.1 pts
70Kent County12.7+0.1 pts
71Monroe County12.4+0.5 pts
72Allegan County12.1+3.7 pts
72Barry County12.1+2.8 pts
74Eaton County12+1.7 pts
75Emmet County11.9-0.2 pts
76Grand Traverse County11.7+1.7 pts
77Leelanau County11.4-0.7 pts
78Lapeer County11.3-0.1 pts
79Washtenaw County11.2+1.5 pts
80Clinton County9+0.3 pts
81Oakland County8.6+0.8 pts
82Ottawa County6.5+0.4 pts
83Livingston County5.7+0.2 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_michigan_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Livingston County, with 5.7% in 2021.

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