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 2021, at 29.7%. Carver County had the lowest, at 4.1%. The median was 12.5% and the figure for Minnesota was 10.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest29.7Mahnomen County
Lowest4.1Carver County
Median12.587 counties
Minnesota10.8History

Map of counties, 2021

Aitkin County: 16.8 %Anoka County: 8.6 %Becker County: 15.2 %Beltrami County: 21 %Benton County: 9.6 %Big Stone County: 16.6 %Blue Earth County: 12.1 %Brown County: 10.9 %Carlton County: 12.2 %Carver County: 4.1 %Cass County: 18.7 %Chippewa County: 14.3 %Chisago County: 7.8 %Clay County: 13.6 %Clearwater County: 18.6 %Cook County: 16.9 %Cottonwood County: 15.7 %Crow Wing County: 13.8 %Dakota County: 5.6 %Dodge County: 6.9 %Douglas County: 9.3 %Faribault County: 16.4 %Fillmore County: 17.8 %Freeborn County: 14 %Goodhue County: 8.7 %Grant County: 13.2 %Hennepin County: 10.4 %Houston County: 8.7 %Hubbard County: 14.7 %Isanti County: 9.4 %Itasca County: 14.9 %Jackson County: 12.8 %Kanabec County: 16.7 %Kandiyohi County: 15.5 %Kittson County: 12.1 %Koochiching County: 18.9 %Lac qui Parle County: 12.9 %Lake County: 11.4 %Lake of the Woods County: 14.3 %Le Sueur County: 7.6 %Lincoln County: 11.7 %Lyon County: 11.7 %McLeod County: 8.7 %Mahnomen County: 29.7 %Marshall County: 11.3 %Martin County: 14.9 %Meeker County: 9.5 %Mille Lacs County: 15.7 %Morrison County: 11.8 %Mower County: 14.4 %Murray County: 12.5 %Nicollet County: 10.1 %Nobles County: 13.4 %Norman County: 17.3 %Olmsted County: 8.5 %Otter Tail County: 11.8 %Pennington County: 12.4 %Pine County: 15 %Pipestone County: 14.8 %Polk County: 15.1 %Pope County: 10.6 %Ramsey County: 18 %Red Lake County: 10.8 %Redwood County: 11.7 %Renville County: 14.7 %Rice County: 10.9 %Rock County: 11.4 %Roseau County: 10.9 %St. Louis County: 13.8 %Scott County: 5.7 %Sherburne County: 6.7 %Sibley County: 10.2 %Stearns County: 15 %Steele County: 12.1 %Stevens County: 9.6 %Swift County: 13.6 %Todd County: 17.8 %Traverse County: 22.3 %Wabasha County: 8.4 %Wadena County: 16.7 %Waseca County: 11 %Washington County: 5.4 %Watonwan County: 15.2 %Wilkin County: 12.5 %Winona County: 11 %Wright County: 4.9 %Yellow Medicine County: 14.5 %
  • Under 8.9
  • 8.9 to 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 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

Mahnomen County: 29.7 %Mahnomen County29.7Traverse County: 22.3 %Traverse County22.3Beltrami County: 21 %Beltrami County21Koochiching County: 18.9 %Koochiching County18.9Cass County: 18.7 %Cass County18.7Clearwater County: 18.6 %Clearwater County18.6Ramsey County: 18 %Ramsey County18Fillmore County: 17.8 %Fillmore County17.8Todd County: 17.8 %Todd County17.8Norman County: 17.3 %Norman County17.3Cook County: 16.9 %Cook County16.9Aitkin County: 16.8 %Aitkin County16.8Kanabec County: 16.7 %Kanabec County16.7Wadena County: 16.7 %Wadena County16.7Big Stone County: 16.6 %Big Stone County16.6Faribault County: 16.4 %Faribault County16.4Cottonwood County: 15.7 %Cottonwood County15.7Mille Lacs County: 15.7 %Mille Lacs County15.7Kandiyohi County: 15.5 %Kandiyohi County15.5Becker County: 15.2 %Becker County15.2Watonwan County: 15.2 %Watonwan County15.2Polk County: 15.1 %Polk County15.1Pine County: 15 %Pine County15Stearns County: 15 %Stearns County15Itasca County: 14.9 %Itasca County14.9Martin County: 14.9 %Martin County14.9Pipestone County: 14.8 %Pipestone County14.8Hubbard County: 14.7 %Hubbard County14.7Renville County: 14.7 %Renville County14.7Yellow Medicine County: 14.5 %Yellow Medicine County14.5Mower County: 14.4 %Mower County14.4Chippewa County: 14.3 %Chippewa County14.3Lake of the Woods County: 14.3 %Lake of the Woods County14.3Freeborn County: 14 %Freeborn County14Crow Wing County: 13.8 %Crow Wing County13.8St. Louis County: 13.8 %St. Louis County13.8Clay County: 13.6 %Clay County13.6Swift County: 13.6 %Swift County13.6Nobles County: 13.4 %Nobles County13.4Grant County: 13.2 %Grant County13.2Mahnomen County: 29.7 %Mahnomen County29.7Traverse County: 22.3 %Traverse County22.3Beltrami County: 21 %Beltrami County21Koochiching County: 18.9 %Koochiching County18.9Cass County: 18.7 %Cass County18.7Clearwater County: 18.6 %Clearwater County18.6Ramsey County: 18 %Ramsey County18Fillmore County: 17.8 %Fillmore County17.8Todd County: 17.8 %Todd County17.8Norman County: 17.3 %Norman County17.3Cook County: 16.9 %Cook County16.9Aitkin County: 16.8 %Aitkin County16.8Kanabec County: 16.7 %Kanabec County16.7Wadena County: 16.7 %Wadena County16.7Big Stone County: 16.6 %Big Stone County16.6Faribault County: 16.4 %Faribault County16.4Cottonwood County: 15.7 %Cottonwood County15.7Mille Lacs County: 15.7 %Mille Lacs County15.7Kandiyohi County: 15.5 %Kandiyohi County15.5Becker County: 15.2 %Becker County15.2Watonwan County: 15.2 %Watonwan County15.2Polk County: 15.1 %Polk County15.1Pine County: 15 %Pine County15Stearns County: 15 %Stearns County15Itasca County: 14.9 %Itasca County14.9Martin County: 14.9 %Martin County14.9Pipestone County: 14.8 %Pipestone County14.8Hubbard County: 14.7 %Hubbard County14.7Renville County: 14.7 %Renville County14.7Yellow Medicine County: 14.5 %Yellow Medicine County14.5Mower County: 14.4 %Mower County14.4Chippewa County: 14.3 %Chippewa County14.3Lake of the Woods County: 14.3 %Lake of the Woods County14.3Freeborn County: 14 %Freeborn County14Crow Wing County: 13.8 %Crow Wing County13.8St. Louis County: 13.8 %St. Louis County13.8Clay County: 13.6 %Clay County13.6Swift County: 13.6 %Swift County13.6Nobles County: 13.4 %Nobles County13.4Grant County: 13.2 %Grant County13.2
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Mahnomen County29.7+5.3 pts
2Traverse County22.3+4.1 pts
3Beltrami County21+3.5 pts
4Koochiching County18.9+3.5 pts
5Cass County18.7-0.7 pts
6Clearwater County18.6+4.2 pts
7Ramsey County18+1.6 pts
8Fillmore County17.8+6.6 pts
8Todd County17.8+1.9 pts
10Norman County17.3+1.9 pts
11Cook County16.9+5.7 pts
12Aitkin County16.8+1.2 pts
13Kanabec County16.7+5.9 pts
13Wadena County16.7+2.8 pts
15Big Stone County16.6+2.6 pts
16Faribault County16.4+2.8 pts
17Cottonwood County15.7+0.9 pts
17Mille Lacs County15.7+3.3 pts
19Kandiyohi County15.5+4.6 pts
20Becker County15.2-0.3 pts
20Watonwan County15.2+2.7 pts
22Polk County15.1+3.1 pts
23Pine County15+2.4 pts
23Stearns County15+4 pts
25Itasca County14.9+2.1 pts
25Martin County14.9+1.9 pts
27Pipestone County14.8+2.3 pts
28Hubbard County14.7+1.2 pts
28Renville County14.7+3.6 pts
30Yellow Medicine County14.5+2.7 pts
31Mower County14.4+3.9 pts
32Chippewa County14.3+3.2 pts
32Lake of the Woods County14.3+4.1 pts
34Freeborn County14+0.9 pts
35Crow Wing County13.8+2.9 pts
35St. Louis County13.8+2.3 pts
37Clay County13.6+4.9 pts
37Swift County13.6+2.1 pts
39Nobles County13.4+1.2 pts
40Grant County13.2+0.5 pts
41Lac qui Parle County12.9+1.2 pts
42Jackson County12.8+2.3 pts
43Murray County12.5+1.7 pts
43Wilkin County12.5+1.6 pts
45Pennington County12.4+3.9 pts
46Carlton County12.2+3.3 pts
47Blue Earth County12.1+1.4 pts
47Kittson County12.1+0.4 pts
47Steele County12.1+2.6 pts
50Morrison County11.8-0.1 pts
50Otter Tail County11.8+1.7 pts
52Lincoln County11.7+2.8 pts
52Lyon County11.7+1.4 pts
52Redwood County11.7+1.1 pts
55Lake County11.4+2.5 pts
55Rock County11.4+0.8 pts
57Marshall County11.3+2.1 pts
58Waseca County11+1.6 pts
58Winona County11-0.1 pts
60Brown County10.9+3.2 pts
60Rice County10.9+2 pts
60Roseau County10.9+1.9 pts
63Red Lake County10.8+1.8 pts
64Pope County10.6+2.3 pts
65Hennepin County10.4-0.1 pts
66Sibley County10.2+0.9 pts
67Nicollet County10.1+3.1 pts
68Benton County9.6+2 pts
68Stevens County9.6+1.5 pts
70Meeker County9.5+2.7 pts
71Isanti County9.4+1.8 pts
72Douglas County9.3+1.5 pts
73Goodhue County8.7+1.3 pts
73Houston County8.7+1.4 pts
73McLeod County8.7+1.7 pts
76Anoka County8.6+1.2 pts
77Olmsted County8.5+1.9 pts
78Wabasha County8.4+1.2 pts
79Chisago County7.8+1.5 pts
80Le Sueur County7.6+1.2 pts
81Dodge County6.9+0.9 pts
82Sherburne County6.7+1.5 pts
83Scott County5.7+0.8 pts
84Dakota County5.6+0.2 pts
85Washington County5.4+1.1 pts
86Wright County4.9+0.5 pts
87Carver County4.1+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/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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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/minnesota-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 Minnesota 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/minnesota-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 Minnesota 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/minnesota-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_minnesota_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 Minnesota 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/minnesota-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 Minnesota 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/minnesota-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/minnesota-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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Questions

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

Mahnomen County, with 29.7% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Carver County, with 4.1% 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 Minnesota: more rankings