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

Meagher County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 56 counties in 2016, at 34.5%. Gallatin County had the lowest, at 8.5%. The median was 18.5% and the figure for Montana was 16.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest34.5Meagher County
Median18.556 counties
Montana16.1History

Map of counties, 2016

Beaverhead County: 19.2 %Big Horn County: 31.2 %Blaine County: 31.5 %Broadwater County: 14.6 %Carbon County: 13.5 %Carter County: 20.5 %Cascade County: 16.9 %Chouteau County: 22.2 %Custer County: 13.5 %Daniels County: 9.5 %Dawson County: 11.8 %Deer Lodge County: 23.4 %Fallon County: 10.8 %Fergus County: 18.4 %Flathead County: 15.7 %Gallatin County: 8.5 %Garfield County: 16.5 %Glacier County: 31.4 %Golden Valley County: 29.6 %Granite County: 21.2 %Hill County: 23.3 %Jefferson County: 11.2 %Judith Basin County: 16.1 %Lake County: 23.7 %Lewis and Clark County: 12.4 %Liberty County: 26.7 %Lincoln County: 28 %McCone County: 20.5 %Madison County: 14.7 %Meagher County: 34.5 %Mineral County: 26.2 %Missoula County: 15.2 %Musselshell County: 26.1 %Park County: 15.3 %Petroleum County: 22 %Phillips County: 20.8 %Pondera County: 24.8 %Powder River County: 15 %Powell County: 21.3 %Prairie County: 16 %Ravalli County: 19.7 %Richland County: 10.4 %Roosevelt County: 28.9 %Rosebud County: 21.9 %Sanders County: 25.7 %Sheridan County: 12.3 %Silver Bow County: 19.6 %Stillwater County: 9.1 %Sweet Grass County: 11.4 %Teton County: 18.6 %Toole County: 18.2 %Treasure County: 13.4 %Valley County: 16.1 %Wheatland County: 27.8 %Wibaux County: 14.2 %Yellowstone County: 10.6 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 26
  • 26 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.

All counties, 2016

Meagher County: 34.5 %Meagher County34.5Blaine County: 31.5 %Blaine County31.5Glacier County: 31.4 %Glacier County31.4Big Horn County: 31.2 %Big Horn County31.2Golden Valley County: 29.6 %Golden Valley County29.6Roosevelt County: 28.9 %Roosevelt County28.9Lincoln County: 28 %Lincoln County28Wheatland County: 27.8 %Wheatland County27.8Liberty County: 26.7 %Liberty County26.7Mineral County: 26.2 %Mineral County26.2Musselshell County: 26.1 %Musselshell County26.1Sanders County: 25.7 %Sanders County25.7Pondera County: 24.8 %Pondera County24.8Lake County: 23.7 %Lake County23.7Deer Lodge County: 23.4 %Deer Lodge County23.4Hill County: 23.3 %Hill County23.3Chouteau County: 22.2 %Chouteau County22.2Petroleum County: 22 %Petroleum County22Rosebud County: 21.9 %Rosebud County21.9Powell County: 21.3 %Powell County21.3Granite County: 21.2 %Granite County21.2Phillips County: 20.8 %Phillips County20.8Carter County: 20.5 %Carter County20.5McCone County: 20.5 %McCone County20.5Ravalli County: 19.7 %Ravalli County19.7Silver Bow County: 19.6 %Silver Bow County19.6Beaverhead County: 19.2 %Beaverhead County19.2Teton County: 18.6 %Teton County18.6Fergus County: 18.4 %Fergus County18.4Toole County: 18.2 %Toole County18.2Cascade County: 16.9 %Cascade County16.9Garfield County: 16.5 %Garfield County16.5Judith Basin County: 16.1 %Judith Basin County16.1Valley County: 16.1 %Valley County16.1Prairie County: 16 %Prairie County16Flathead County: 15.7 %Flathead County15.7Park County: 15.3 %Park County15.3Missoula County: 15.2 %Missoula County15.2Powder River County: 15 %Powder River County15Madison County: 14.7 %Madison County14.7Broadwater County: 14.6 %Broadwater County14.6Wibaux County: 14.2 %Wibaux County14.2Carbon County: 13.5 %Carbon County13.5Custer County: 13.5 %Custer County13.5Treasure County: 13.4 %Treasure County13.4Lewis and Clark County: 12.4 %Lewis and Clark County12.4Sheridan County: 12.3 %Sheridan County12.3Dawson County: 11.8 %Dawson County11.8Sweet Grass County: 11.4 %Sweet Grass County11.4Jefferson County: 11.2 %Jefferson County11.2Fallon County: 10.8 %Fallon County10.8Yellowstone County: 10.6 %Yellowstone County10.6Richland County: 10.4 %Richland County10.4Daniels County: 9.5 %Daniels County9.5Stillwater County: 9.1 %Stillwater County9.1Gallatin County: 8.5 %Gallatin County8.5Meagher County: 34.5 %Meagher County34.5Blaine County: 31.5 %Blaine County31.5Glacier County: 31.4 %Glacier County31.4Big Horn County: 31.2 %Big Horn County31.2Golden Valley County: 29.6 %Golden Valley County29.6Roosevelt County: 28.9 %Roosevelt County28.9Lincoln County: 28 %Lincoln County28Wheatland County: 27.8 %Wheatland County27.8Liberty County: 26.7 %Liberty County26.7Mineral County: 26.2 %Mineral County26.2Musselshell County: 26.1 %Musselshell County26.1Sanders County: 25.7 %Sanders County25.7Pondera County: 24.8 %Pondera County24.8Lake County: 23.7 %Lake County23.7Deer Lodge County: 23.4 %Deer Lodge County23.4Hill County: 23.3 %Hill County23.3Chouteau County: 22.2 %Chouteau County22.2Petroleum County: 22 %Petroleum County22Rosebud County: 21.9 %Rosebud County21.9Powell County: 21.3 %Powell County21.3Granite County: 21.2 %Granite County21.2Phillips County: 20.8 %Phillips County20.8Carter County: 20.5 %Carter County20.5McCone County: 20.5 %McCone County20.5Ravalli County: 19.7 %Ravalli County19.7Silver Bow County: 19.6 %Silver Bow County19.6Beaverhead County: 19.2 %Beaverhead County19.2Teton County: 18.6 %Teton County18.6Fergus County: 18.4 %Fergus County18.4Toole County: 18.2 %Toole County18.2Cascade County: 16.9 %Cascade County16.9Garfield County: 16.5 %Garfield County16.5Judith Basin County: 16.1 %Judith Basin County16.1Valley County: 16.1 %Valley County16.1Prairie County: 16 %Prairie County16Flathead County: 15.7 %Flathead County15.7Park County: 15.3 %Park County15.3Missoula County: 15.2 %Missoula County15.2Powder River County: 15 %Powder River County15Madison County: 14.7 %Madison County14.7Broadwater County: 14.6 %Broadwater County14.6Wibaux County: 14.2 %Wibaux County14.2Carbon County: 13.5 %Carbon County13.5Custer County: 13.5 %Custer County13.5Treasure County: 13.4 %Treasure County13.4Lewis and Clark County: 12.4 %Lewis and Clark County12.4Sheridan County: 12.3 %Sheridan County12.3Dawson County: 11.8 %Dawson County11.8Sweet Grass County: 11.4 %Sweet Grass County11.4Jefferson County: 11.2 %Jefferson County11.2Fallon County: 10.8 %Fallon County10.8Yellowstone County: 10.6 %Yellowstone County10.6Richland County: 10.4 %Richland County10.4Daniels County: 9.5 %Daniels County9.5Stillwater County: 9.1 %Stillwater County9.1Gallatin County: 8.5 %Gallatin County8.5
%. 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
1Meagher County34.5+2.7 pts
2Blaine County31.5-8.9 pts
3Glacier County31.4-6.1 pts
4Big Horn County31.2-8.3 pts
5Golden Valley County29.6-1.7 pts
6Roosevelt County28.9-3.8 pts
7Lincoln County28-4.2 pts
8Wheatland County27.8-5.5 pts
9Liberty County26.7+5.9 pts
10Mineral County26.2-0.4 pts
11Musselshell County26.1-1.6 pts
12Sanders County25.7-2.6 pts
13Pondera County24.8-4.5 pts
14Lake County23.7-5.5 pts
15Deer Lodge County23.4+0.2 pts
16Hill County23.3-1.5 pts
17Chouteau County22.2-0.7 pts
18Petroleum County22-1.3 pts
19Rosebud County21.9-3.1 pts
20Powell County21.3+1.2 pts
21Granite County21.2-2.8 pts
22Phillips County20.8-0.6 pts
23Carter County20.5-2.6 pts
23McCone County20.5+3.9 pts
25Ravalli County19.7-3.2 pts
26Silver Bow County19.6-2.3 pts
27Beaverhead County19.2-1.5 pts
28Teton County18.6-1.3 pts
29Fergus County18.4+0.4 pts
30Toole County18.2-1.4 pts
31Cascade County16.9-2.3 pts
32Garfield County16.5-2 pts
33Judith Basin County16.1+1.9 pts
33Valley County16.1-1 pts
35Prairie County16-2.8 pts
36Flathead County15.7-3.1 pts
37Park County15.3-1.6 pts
38Missoula County15.2-1.6 pts
39Powder River County15+0.7 pts
40Madison County14.7-2.4 pts
41Broadwater County14.6-1.2 pts
42Wibaux County14.2+0.2 pts
43Carbon County13.5-1.5 pts
43Custer County13.5-2.7 pts
45Treasure County13.4-6.3 pts
46Lewis and Clark County12.4-2.7 pts
47Sheridan County12.3+2 pts
48Dawson County11.8-0.6 pts
49Sweet Grass County11.4-2.8 pts
50Jefferson County11.2-1.9 pts
51Fallon County10.8+0.9 pts
52Yellowstone County10.6-3.5 pts
53Richland County10.4+0.2 pts
54Daniels County9.5-0.1 pts
55Stillwater County9.1-1.2 pts
56Gallatin County8.5-1.4 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/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 Montana 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 Montana 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/montana-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 Montana 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/montana-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 Montana 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/montana-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_montana_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 Montana 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/montana-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 Montana 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/montana-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/montana-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)?

Meagher County, with 34.5% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Gallatin County, with 8.5% 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 Montana: more rankings