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 2023, at 33%. Livingston County had the lowest, at 5.7%. The median was 18.1% and the figure for Michigan was 17.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest33Lake County
Lowest5.7Livingston County
Median18.183 counties
Michigan17.5History

Map of counties, 2023

Alcona County: 25.6 %Alger County: 16 %Allegan County: 12.2 %Alpena County: 19.6 %Antrim County: 15.7 %Arenac County: 22.8 %Baraga County: 19.1 %Barry County: 10.6 %Bay County: 16.1 %Benzie County: 14.1 %Berrien County: 17 %Branch County: 20.4 %Calhoun County: 19.4 %Cass County: 16.7 %Charlevoix County: 13 %Cheboygan County: 22.9 %Chippewa County: 17.5 %Clare County: 28.8 %Clinton County: 7.3 %Crawford County: 21.9 %Delta County: 16.8 %Dickinson County: 14.4 %Eaton County: 12 %Emmet County: 10.6 %Genesee County: 24.8 %Gladwin County: 22.1 %Gogebic County: 26.1 %Grand Traverse County: 9.1 %Gratiot County: 19.4 %Hillsdale County: 18.9 %Houghton County: 14 %Huron County: 18.1 %Ingham County: 16.7 %Ionia County: 14.8 %Iosco County: 27.2 %Iron County: 25.5 %Isabella County: 16.3 %Jackson County: 18.9 %Kalamazoo County: 14.5 %Kalkaska County: 20.4 %Kent County: 13 %Keweenaw County: 16.7 %Lake County: 33 %Lapeer County: 12.3 %Leelanau County: 10.3 %Lenawee County: 13.2 %Livingston County: 5.7 %Luce County: 26.9 %Mackinac County: 19.2 %Macomb County: 14.3 %Manistee County: 20.4 %Marquette County: 13.4 %Mason County: 21.5 %Mecosta County: 24.1 %Menominee County: 20.2 %Midland County: 14.1 %Missaukee County: 16.6 %Monroe County: 12.9 %Montcalm County: 18.4 %Montmorency County: 25.1 %Muskegon County: 16.3 %Newaygo County: 17.9 %Oakland County: 9.5 %Oceana County: 20.7 %Ogemaw County: 22.7 %Ontonagon County: 23.9 %Osceola County: 21.7 %Oscoda County: 27.8 %Otsego County: 15.3 %Ottawa County: 7.5 %Presque Isle County: 18.8 %Roscommon County: 27.1 %Saginaw County: 22.6 %St. Clair County: 14.3 %St. Joseph County: 14.2 %Sanilac County: 20.1 %Schoolcraft County: 21.9 %Shiawassee County: 16.6 %Tuscola County: 19.7 %Van Buren County: 18.3 %Washtenaw County: 13.9 %Wayne County: 29.2 %Wexford County: 18.7 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Lake County: 33 %Lake County33Wayne County: 29.2 %Wayne County29.2Clare County: 28.8 %Clare County28.8Oscoda County: 27.8 %Oscoda County27.8Iosco County: 27.2 %Iosco County27.2Roscommon County: 27.1 %Roscommon County27.1Luce County: 26.9 %Luce County26.9Gogebic County: 26.1 %Gogebic County26.1Alcona County: 25.6 %Alcona County25.6Iron County: 25.5 %Iron County25.5Montmorency County: 25.1 %Montmorency County25.1Genesee County: 24.8 %Genesee County24.8Mecosta County: 24.1 %Mecosta County24.1Ontonagon County: 23.9 %Ontonagon County23.9Cheboygan County: 22.9 %Cheboygan County22.9Arenac County: 22.8 %Arenac County22.8Ogemaw County: 22.7 %Ogemaw County22.7Saginaw County: 22.6 %Saginaw County22.6Gladwin County: 22.1 %Gladwin County22.1Crawford County: 21.9 %Crawford County21.9Schoolcraft County: 21.9 %Schoolcraft County21.9Osceola County: 21.7 %Osceola County21.7Mason County: 21.5 %Mason County21.5Oceana County: 20.7 %Oceana County20.7Branch County: 20.4 %Branch County20.4Kalkaska County: 20.4 %Kalkaska County20.4Manistee County: 20.4 %Manistee County20.4Menominee County: 20.2 %Menominee County20.2Sanilac County: 20.1 %Sanilac County20.1Tuscola County: 19.7 %Tuscola County19.7Alpena County: 19.6 %Alpena County19.6Calhoun County: 19.4 %Calhoun County19.4Gratiot County: 19.4 %Gratiot County19.4Mackinac County: 19.2 %Mackinac County19.2Baraga County: 19.1 %Baraga County19.1Hillsdale County: 18.9 %Hillsdale County18.9Jackson County: 18.9 %Jackson County18.9Presque Isle County: 18.8 %Presque Isle County18.8Wexford County: 18.7 %Wexford County18.7Montcalm County: 18.4 %Montcalm County18.4Lake County: 33 %Lake County33Wayne County: 29.2 %Wayne County29.2Clare County: 28.8 %Clare County28.8Oscoda County: 27.8 %Oscoda County27.8Iosco County: 27.2 %Iosco County27.2Roscommon County: 27.1 %Roscommon County27.1Luce County: 26.9 %Luce County26.9Gogebic County: 26.1 %Gogebic County26.1Alcona County: 25.6 %Alcona County25.6Iron County: 25.5 %Iron County25.5Montmorency County: 25.1 %Montmorency County25.1Genesee County: 24.8 %Genesee County24.8Mecosta County: 24.1 %Mecosta County24.1Ontonagon County: 23.9 %Ontonagon County23.9Cheboygan County: 22.9 %Cheboygan County22.9Arenac County: 22.8 %Arenac County22.8Ogemaw County: 22.7 %Ogemaw County22.7Saginaw County: 22.6 %Saginaw County22.6Gladwin County: 22.1 %Gladwin County22.1Crawford County: 21.9 %Crawford County21.9Schoolcraft County: 21.9 %Schoolcraft County21.9Osceola County: 21.7 %Osceola County21.7Mason County: 21.5 %Mason County21.5Oceana County: 20.7 %Oceana County20.7Branch County: 20.4 %Branch County20.4Kalkaska County: 20.4 %Kalkaska County20.4Manistee County: 20.4 %Manistee County20.4Menominee County: 20.2 %Menominee County20.2Sanilac County: 20.1 %Sanilac County20.1Tuscola County: 19.7 %Tuscola County19.7Alpena County: 19.6 %Alpena County19.6Calhoun County: 19.4 %Calhoun County19.4Gratiot County: 19.4 %Gratiot County19.4Mackinac County: 19.2 %Mackinac County19.2Baraga County: 19.1 %Baraga County19.1Hillsdale County: 18.9 %Hillsdale County18.9Jackson County: 18.9 %Jackson County18.9Presque Isle County: 18.8 %Presque Isle County18.8Wexford County: 18.7 %Wexford County18.7Montcalm County: 18.4 %Montcalm County18.4
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Lake County33+0.7 pts
2Wayne County29.2-2.3 pts
3Clare County28.8+2.9 pts
4Oscoda County27.8+3.2 pts
5Iosco County27.2+1 pts
6Roscommon County27.1+1.5 pts
7Luce County26.9+0.4 pts
8Gogebic County26.1+2.1 pts
9Alcona County25.6+0.2 pts
10Iron County25.5+4.1 pts
11Montmorency County25.1-9.9 pts
12Genesee County24.8+1.1 pts
13Mecosta County24.1-1.6 pts
14Ontonagon County23.9+1.3 pts
15Cheboygan County22.9+2.3 pts
16Arenac County22.8+3.8 pts
17Ogemaw County22.7+0.3 pts
18Saginaw County22.6-2.5 pts
19Gladwin County22.1+0.7 pts
20Crawford County21.9+0.7 pts
20Schoolcraft County21.9+2.5 pts
22Osceola County21.7+1.2 pts
23Mason County21.5+5.4 pts
24Oceana County20.7-1.7 pts
25Branch County20.4-2.4 pts
25Kalkaska County20.4+3.7 pts
25Manistee County20.4+0.8 pts
28Menominee County20.2+4.2 pts
29Sanilac County20.1+0.4 pts
30Tuscola County19.7+0.7 pts
31Alpena County19.6-2.2 pts
32Calhoun County19.4-0.3 pts
32Gratiot County19.4+3 pts
34Mackinac County19.2-1.9 pts
35Baraga County19.1+0.4 pts
36Hillsdale County18.9-0.7 pts
36Jackson County18.9+1.2 pts
38Presque Isle County18.8-0.3 pts
39Wexford County18.7+2.7 pts
40Montcalm County18.4-1 pts
41Van Buren County18.3+0.1 pts
42Huron County18.1+2.9 pts
43Newaygo County17.9-0.3 pts
44Chippewa County17.50 pts
45Berrien County17-3.9 pts
46Delta County16.8+2.7 pts
47Cass County16.70 pts
47Ingham County16.7-2.2 pts
47Keweenaw County16.7+0.7 pts
50Missaukee County16.6-0.2 pts
50Shiawassee County16.6+1.3 pts
52Isabella County16.3-1.1 pts
52Muskegon County16.3-4.4 pts
54Bay County16.1-1.7 pts
55Alger County16+0.6 pts
56Antrim County15.7+0.8 pts
57Otsego County15.3-0.7 pts
58Ionia County14.8+1.7 pts
59Kalamazoo County14.5+1 pts
60Dickinson County14.4-0.5 pts
61Macomb County14.3+1.2 pts
61St. Clair County14.3-2.8 pts
63St. Joseph County14.2-4.5 pts
64Benzie County14.1+0.7 pts
64Midland County14.1+4.3 pts
66Houghton County14+1 pts
67Washtenaw County13.9+3.7 pts
68Marquette County13.4+3.2 pts
69Lenawee County13.2-2.1 pts
70Charlevoix County13+1.1 pts
70Kent County13-0.5 pts
72Monroe County12.9+1.2 pts
73Lapeer County12.3-1.7 pts
74Allegan County12.2-0.4 pts
75Eaton County12-0.2 pts
76Barry County10.6+0.7 pts
76Emmet County10.6+0.1 pts
78Leelanau County10.3+0.2 pts
79Oakland County9.5+0.2 pts
80Grand Traverse County9.1-1.1 pts
81Ottawa County7.5+0.8 pts
82Clinton County7.3-1.1 pts
83Livingston County5.7+0.4 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_michigan_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/michigan-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 33% in 2023, 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 2023.

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