Counties in Minnesota by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Mahnomen County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 87 counties in 2016, at 29.8%. Carver County had the lowest, at 3.9%. The median was 13.8% and the figure for Minnesota was 12.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest29.8Mahnomen County
Lowest3.9Carver County
Median13.887 counties
Minnesota12.5History

Map of counties, 2016

Aitkin County: 22.5 %Anoka County: 9.2 %Becker County: 18.7 %Beltrami County: 24.8 %Benton County: 11.4 %Big Stone County: 15.9 %Blue Earth County: 13 %Brown County: 10.9 %Carlton County: 12.4 %Carver County: 3.9 %Cass County: 25.5 %Chippewa County: 14.2 %Chisago County: 7.8 %Clay County: 13.3 %Clearwater County: 22.5 %Cook County: 12.2 %Cottonwood County: 15.9 %Crow Wing County: 15.2 %Dakota County: 7.2 %Dodge County: 8.1 %Douglas County: 10.4 %Faribault County: 17.2 %Fillmore County: 19.1 %Freeborn County: 15.9 %Goodhue County: 9.7 %Grant County: 18.7 %Hennepin County: 14 %Houston County: 10.5 %Hubbard County: 20.4 %Isanti County: 10.6 %Itasca County: 18.8 %Jackson County: 12.1 %Kanabec County: 20 %Kandiyohi County: 16.7 %Kittson County: 14.8 %Koochiching County: 22.6 %Lac qui Parle County: 13.8 %Lake County: 13.1 %Lake of the Woods County: 15.9 %Le Sueur County: 10.7 %Lincoln County: 18.4 %Lyon County: 14.9 %McLeod County: 9.5 %Mahnomen County: 29.8 %Marshall County: 12.8 %Martin County: 17.5 %Meeker County: 10 %Mille Lacs County: 17.3 %Morrison County: 16.1 %Mower County: 14.9 %Murray County: 12.7 %Nicollet County: 10.7 %Nobles County: 15.3 %Norman County: 18.9 %Olmsted County: 9.9 %Otter Tail County: 14 %Pennington County: 11.8 %Pine County: 17.1 %Pipestone County: 15.1 %Polk County: 19.9 %Pope County: 12.1 %Ramsey County: 20.2 %Red Lake County: 11.9 %Redwood County: 13.7 %Renville County: 14.6 %Rice County: 12.4 %Rock County: 11.4 %Roseau County: 11 %St. Louis County: 16.6 %Scott County: 6.6 %Sherburne County: 7.3 %Sibley County: 12.2 %Stearns County: 12.6 %Steele County: 12.2 %Stevens County: 9.7 %Swift County: 14.7 %Todd County: 18.4 %Traverse County: 20.5 %Wabasha County: 9.9 %Wadena County: 19.2 %Waseca County: 12.5 %Washington County: 5.3 %Watonwan County: 16.5 %Wilkin County: 11.9 %Winona County: 11.7 %Wright County: 5.7 %Yellow Medicine County: 14.1 %
  • Under 10
  • 10 to 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 19
  • 19 and over
%, 2016. 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, 2016

Mahnomen County: 29.8 %Mahnomen County29.8Cass County: 25.5 %Cass County25.5Beltrami County: 24.8 %Beltrami County24.8Koochiching County: 22.6 %Koochiching County22.6Aitkin County: 22.5 %Aitkin County22.5Clearwater County: 22.5 %Clearwater County22.5Traverse County: 20.5 %Traverse County20.5Hubbard County: 20.4 %Hubbard County20.4Ramsey County: 20.2 %Ramsey County20.2Kanabec County: 20 %Kanabec County20Polk County: 19.9 %Polk County19.9Wadena County: 19.2 %Wadena County19.2Fillmore County: 19.1 %Fillmore County19.1Norman County: 18.9 %Norman County18.9Itasca County: 18.8 %Itasca County18.8Becker County: 18.7 %Becker County18.7Grant County: 18.7 %Grant County18.7Lincoln County: 18.4 %Lincoln County18.4Todd County: 18.4 %Todd County18.4Martin County: 17.5 %Martin County17.5Mille Lacs County: 17.3 %Mille Lacs County17.3Faribault County: 17.2 %Faribault County17.2Pine County: 17.1 %Pine County17.1Kandiyohi County: 16.7 %Kandiyohi County16.7St. Louis County: 16.6 %St. Louis County16.6Watonwan County: 16.5 %Watonwan County16.5Morrison County: 16.1 %Morrison County16.1Big Stone County: 15.9 %Big Stone County15.9Cottonwood County: 15.9 %Cottonwood County15.9Freeborn County: 15.9 %Freeborn County15.9Lake of the Woods County: 15.9 %Lake of the Woods County15.9Nobles County: 15.3 %Nobles County15.3Crow Wing County: 15.2 %Crow Wing County15.2Pipestone County: 15.1 %Pipestone County15.1Lyon County: 14.9 %Lyon County14.9Mower County: 14.9 %Mower County14.9Kittson County: 14.8 %Kittson County14.8Swift County: 14.7 %Swift County14.7Renville County: 14.6 %Renville County14.6Chippewa County: 14.2 %Chippewa County14.2Mahnomen County: 29.8 %Mahnomen County29.8Cass County: 25.5 %Cass County25.5Beltrami County: 24.8 %Beltrami County24.8Koochiching County: 22.6 %Koochiching County22.6Aitkin County: 22.5 %Aitkin County22.5Clearwater County: 22.5 %Clearwater County22.5Traverse County: 20.5 %Traverse County20.5Hubbard County: 20.4 %Hubbard County20.4Ramsey County: 20.2 %Ramsey County20.2Kanabec County: 20 %Kanabec County20Polk County: 19.9 %Polk County19.9Wadena County: 19.2 %Wadena County19.2Fillmore County: 19.1 %Fillmore County19.1Norman County: 18.9 %Norman County18.9Itasca County: 18.8 %Itasca County18.8Becker County: 18.7 %Becker County18.7Grant County: 18.7 %Grant County18.7Lincoln County: 18.4 %Lincoln County18.4Todd County: 18.4 %Todd County18.4Martin County: 17.5 %Martin County17.5Mille Lacs County: 17.3 %Mille Lacs County17.3Faribault County: 17.2 %Faribault County17.2Pine County: 17.1 %Pine County17.1Kandiyohi County: 16.7 %Kandiyohi County16.7St. Louis County: 16.6 %St. Louis County16.6Watonwan County: 16.5 %Watonwan County16.5Morrison County: 16.1 %Morrison County16.1Big Stone County: 15.9 %Big Stone County15.9Cottonwood County: 15.9 %Cottonwood County15.9Freeborn County: 15.9 %Freeborn County15.9Lake of the Woods County: 15.9 %Lake of the Woods County15.9Nobles County: 15.3 %Nobles County15.3Crow Wing County: 15.2 %Crow Wing County15.2Pipestone County: 15.1 %Pipestone County15.1Lyon County: 14.9 %Lyon County14.9Mower County: 14.9 %Mower County14.9Kittson County: 14.8 %Kittson County14.8Swift County: 14.7 %Swift County14.7Renville County: 14.6 %Renville County14.6Chippewa County: 14.2 %Chippewa County14.2
%. 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

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Mahnomen County29.8-4.5 pts
2Cass County25.5-0.5 pts
3Beltrami County24.8+1.3 pts
4Koochiching County22.6+0.6 pts
5Aitkin County22.5+0.1 pts
5Clearwater County22.5-0.8 pts
7Traverse County20.5-2.2 pts
8Hubbard County20.4+2.1 pts
9Ramsey County20.2-2.3 pts
10Kanabec County20+1.8 pts
11Polk County19.9+3.7 pts
12Wadena County19.2-0.4 pts
13Fillmore County19.1+2 pts
14Norman County18.9+1.3 pts
15Itasca County18.8+1.1 pts
16Becker County18.7+2.2 pts
16Grant County18.7+3.6 pts
18Lincoln County18.4+5.3 pts
18Todd County18.4-0.9 pts
20Martin County17.5-2 pts
21Mille Lacs County17.3-1.2 pts
22Faribault County17.2-0.9 pts
23Pine County17.1-1.5 pts
24Kandiyohi County16.7-0.1 pts
25St. Louis County16.6+1.4 pts
26Watonwan County16.5-0.2 pts
27Morrison County16.1+1.1 pts
28Big Stone County15.90 pts
28Cottonwood County15.9-3.2 pts
28Freeborn County15.9-3.8 pts
28Lake of the Woods County15.9-0.3 pts
32Nobles County15.3-1.9 pts
33Crow Wing County15.2+0.3 pts
34Pipestone County15.1-0.6 pts
35Lyon County14.9-1.8 pts
35Mower County14.9-1.2 pts
37Kittson County14.8+0.7 pts
38Swift County14.7-0.5 pts
39Renville County14.6-0.6 pts
40Chippewa County14.2-1.1 pts
41Yellow Medicine County14.1-0.9 pts
42Hennepin County14+0.1 pts
42Otter Tail County14-0.1 pts
44Lac qui Parle County13.8+0.3 pts
45Redwood County13.7-1.7 pts
46Clay County13.3+0.8 pts
47Lake County13.1-1.5 pts
48Blue Earth County13-1 pts
49Marshall County12.8+1.2 pts
50Murray County12.70 pts
51Stearns County12.6-1.7 pts
52Waseca County12.5-1.1 pts
53Carlton County12.4+0.2 pts
53Rice County12.4+1.2 pts
55Cook County12.2-5.6 pts
55Sibley County12.2-0.1 pts
55Steele County12.2-1 pts
58Jackson County12.1-0.9 pts
58Pope County12.1-0.9 pts
60Red Lake County11.9-0.1 pts
60Wilkin County11.9-1.3 pts
62Pennington County11.8-0.2 pts
63Winona County11.7-1 pts
64Benton County11.4-2.1 pts
64Rock County11.4-1.2 pts
66Roseau County11-1 pts
67Brown County10.9+0.3 pts
68Le Sueur County10.7-0.2 pts
68Nicollet County10.7-0.9 pts
70Isanti County10.6+0.5 pts
71Houston County10.5+0.3 pts
72Douglas County10.4-1 pts
73Meeker County10-0.5 pts
74Olmsted County9.9-1.2 pts
74Wabasha County9.9+0.2 pts
76Goodhue County9.7-1.1 pts
76Stevens County9.7+1.1 pts
78McLeod County9.5-1.5 pts
79Anoka County9.20 pts
80Dodge County8.1-0.5 pts
81Chisago County7.8-0.1 pts
82Sherburne County7.3-0.8 pts
83Dakota County7.2-1.9 pts
84Scott County6.6+0.6 pts
85Wright County5.7-0.4 pts
86Washington County5.3-0.7 pts
87Carver County3.9-0.8 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Minnesota by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Minnesota by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/minnesota-counties?period=2016. 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 Minnesota by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/minnesota-counties?period=2016.

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 Minnesota by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/minnesota-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_minnesota_by_2016,
  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 Minnesota by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/minnesota-counties?period=2016. 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Minnesota by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/minnesota-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/minnesota-counties?period=2016.
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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Mahnomen County, with 29.8% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Carver County, with 3.9% in 2016.

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 Minnesota: more rankings