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

Big Horn County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 56 counties in 2020, at 35.6%. Gallatin County had the lowest, at 7.1%. The median was 16.9% and the figure for Montana was 14.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest35.6Big Horn County
Median16.956 counties
Montana14.6History

Map of counties, 2020

Beaverhead County: 15.6 %Big Horn County: 35.6 %Blaine County: 23 %Broadwater County: 13.2 %Carbon County: 13.2 %Carter County: 18.9 %Cascade County: 16.4 %Chouteau County: 21.1 %Custer County: 13.4 %Daniels County: 13 %Dawson County: 12.8 %Deer Lodge County: 20.8 %Fallon County: 11 %Fergus County: 14.6 %Flathead County: 12.5 %Gallatin County: 7.1 %Garfield County: 26.9 %Glacier County: 25.4 %Golden Valley County: 32.4 %Granite County: 17.3 %Hill County: 21.4 %Jefferson County: 8 %Judith Basin County: 21 %Lake County: 24.1 %Lewis and Clark County: 11 %Liberty County: 22.3 %Lincoln County: 28.2 %McCone County: 15.6 %Madison County: 12.9 %Meagher County: 22.3 %Mineral County: 22.2 %Missoula County: 11.8 %Musselshell County: 24.6 %Park County: 12 %Petroleum County: 29.3 %Phillips County: 21.8 %Pondera County: 23.3 %Powder River County: 20.8 %Powell County: 17.5 %Prairie County: 20.1 %Ravalli County: 15.9 %Richland County: 9.5 %Roosevelt County: 28.6 %Rosebud County: 21.9 %Sanders County: 24.8 %Sheridan County: 15.4 %Silver Bow County: 14.6 %Stillwater County: 9.9 %Sweet Grass County: 12.6 %Teton County: 14 %Toole County: 16.4 %Treasure County: 23 %Valley County: 16.3 %Wheatland County: 24.9 %Wibaux County: 15 %Yellowstone County: 11.5 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 22
  • 22 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2020. 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, 2020

Big Horn County: 35.6 %Big Horn County35.6Golden Valley County: 32.4 %Golden Valley County32.4Petroleum County: 29.3 %Petroleum County29.3Roosevelt County: 28.6 %Roosevelt County28.6Lincoln County: 28.2 %Lincoln County28.2Garfield County: 26.9 %Garfield County26.9Glacier County: 25.4 %Glacier County25.4Wheatland County: 24.9 %Wheatland County24.9Sanders County: 24.8 %Sanders County24.8Musselshell County: 24.6 %Musselshell County24.6Lake County: 24.1 %Lake County24.1Pondera County: 23.3 %Pondera County23.3Blaine County: 23 %Blaine County23Treasure County: 23 %Treasure County23Liberty County: 22.3 %Liberty County22.3Meagher County: 22.3 %Meagher County22.3Mineral County: 22.2 %Mineral County22.2Rosebud County: 21.9 %Rosebud County21.9Phillips County: 21.8 %Phillips County21.8Hill County: 21.4 %Hill County21.4Chouteau County: 21.1 %Chouteau County21.1Judith Basin County: 21 %Judith Basin County21Deer Lodge County: 20.8 %Deer Lodge County20.8Powder River County: 20.8 %Powder River County20.8Prairie County: 20.1 %Prairie County20.1Carter County: 18.9 %Carter County18.9Powell County: 17.5 %Powell County17.5Granite County: 17.3 %Granite County17.3Cascade County: 16.4 %Cascade County16.4Toole County: 16.4 %Toole County16.4Valley County: 16.3 %Valley County16.3Ravalli County: 15.9 %Ravalli County15.9Beaverhead County: 15.6 %Beaverhead County15.6McCone County: 15.6 %McCone County15.6Sheridan County: 15.4 %Sheridan County15.4Wibaux County: 15 %Wibaux County15Fergus County: 14.6 %Fergus County14.6Silver Bow County: 14.6 %Silver Bow County14.6Teton County: 14 %Teton County14Custer County: 13.4 %Custer County13.4Broadwater County: 13.2 %Broadwater County13.2Carbon County: 13.2 %Carbon County13.2Daniels County: 13 %Daniels County13Madison County: 12.9 %Madison County12.9Dawson County: 12.8 %Dawson County12.8Sweet Grass County: 12.6 %Sweet Grass County12.6Flathead County: 12.5 %Flathead County12.5Park County: 12 %Park County12Missoula County: 11.8 %Missoula County11.8Yellowstone County: 11.5 %Yellowstone County11.5Fallon County: 11 %Fallon County11Lewis and Clark County: 11 %Lewis and Clark County11Stillwater County: 9.9 %Stillwater County9.9Richland County: 9.5 %Richland County9.5Jefferson County: 8 %Jefferson County8Gallatin County: 7.1 %Gallatin County7.1Big Horn County: 35.6 %Big Horn County35.6Golden Valley County: 32.4 %Golden Valley County32.4Petroleum County: 29.3 %Petroleum County29.3Roosevelt County: 28.6 %Roosevelt County28.6Lincoln County: 28.2 %Lincoln County28.2Garfield County: 26.9 %Garfield County26.9Glacier County: 25.4 %Glacier County25.4Wheatland County: 24.9 %Wheatland County24.9Sanders County: 24.8 %Sanders County24.8Musselshell County: 24.6 %Musselshell County24.6Lake County: 24.1 %Lake County24.1Pondera County: 23.3 %Pondera County23.3Blaine County: 23 %Blaine County23Treasure County: 23 %Treasure County23Liberty County: 22.3 %Liberty County22.3Meagher County: 22.3 %Meagher County22.3Mineral County: 22.2 %Mineral County22.2Rosebud County: 21.9 %Rosebud County21.9Phillips County: 21.8 %Phillips County21.8Hill County: 21.4 %Hill County21.4Chouteau County: 21.1 %Chouteau County21.1Judith Basin County: 21 %Judith Basin County21Deer Lodge County: 20.8 %Deer Lodge County20.8Powder River County: 20.8 %Powder River County20.8Prairie County: 20.1 %Prairie County20.1Carter County: 18.9 %Carter County18.9Powell County: 17.5 %Powell County17.5Granite County: 17.3 %Granite County17.3Cascade County: 16.4 %Cascade County16.4Toole County: 16.4 %Toole County16.4Valley County: 16.3 %Valley County16.3Ravalli County: 15.9 %Ravalli County15.9Beaverhead County: 15.6 %Beaverhead County15.6McCone County: 15.6 %McCone County15.6Sheridan County: 15.4 %Sheridan County15.4Wibaux County: 15 %Wibaux County15Fergus County: 14.6 %Fergus County14.6Silver Bow County: 14.6 %Silver Bow County14.6Teton County: 14 %Teton County14Custer County: 13.4 %Custer County13.4Broadwater County: 13.2 %Broadwater County13.2Carbon County: 13.2 %Carbon County13.2Daniels County: 13 %Daniels County13Madison County: 12.9 %Madison County12.9Dawson County: 12.8 %Dawson County12.8Sweet Grass County: 12.6 %Sweet Grass County12.6Flathead County: 12.5 %Flathead County12.5Park County: 12 %Park County12Missoula County: 11.8 %Missoula County11.8Yellowstone County: 11.5 %Yellowstone County11.5Fallon County: 11 %Fallon County11Lewis and Clark County: 11 %Lewis and Clark County11Stillwater County: 9.9 %Stillwater County9.9Richland County: 9.5 %Richland County9.5Jefferson County: 8 %Jefferson County8Gallatin County: 7.1 %Gallatin County7.1
%. 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

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Big Horn County35.6+3.3 pts
2Golden Valley County32.4-0.5 pts
3Petroleum County29.3+3.7 pts
4Roosevelt County28.6+1 pts
5Lincoln County28.2+0.5 pts
6Garfield County26.9-0.3 pts
7Glacier County25.4-6.5 pts
8Wheatland County24.9-4.7 pts
9Sanders County24.8+1.5 pts
10Musselshell County24.6-1.6 pts
11Lake County24.1+1.1 pts
12Pondera County23.3-1.4 pts
13Blaine County23-4.2 pts
13Treasure County23+4.4 pts
15Liberty County22.3-6.5 pts
15Meagher County22.3-1.9 pts
17Mineral County22.2-1.1 pts
18Rosebud County21.9+0.1 pts
19Phillips County21.8+1.7 pts
20Hill County21.4+2.6 pts
21Chouteau County21.1+0.9 pts
22Judith Basin County21-0.6 pts
23Deer Lodge County20.8+0.9 pts
23Powder River County20.8+1.1 pts
25Prairie County20.1+1 pts
26Carter County18.9-1.8 pts
27Powell County17.5-0.5 pts
28Granite County17.3-1.7 pts
29Cascade County16.4-1.4 pts
29Toole County16.4-2.6 pts
31Valley County16.30 pts
32Ravalli County15.9-0.1 pts
33Beaverhead County15.6-1 pts
33McCone County15.6-1.3 pts
35Sheridan County15.4+2.5 pts
36Wibaux County15-0.1 pts
37Fergus County14.6-1.1 pts
37Silver Bow County14.6-3.1 pts
39Teton County14-3.6 pts
40Custer County13.4-1 pts
41Broadwater County13.2+0.9 pts
41Carbon County13.2+0.4 pts
43Daniels County13+1.4 pts
44Madison County12.9+0.9 pts
45Dawson County12.80 pts
46Sweet Grass County12.6-1.3 pts
47Flathead County12.5+0.7 pts
48Park County12-1.4 pts
49Missoula County11.8+0.5 pts
50Yellowstone County11.5-3 pts
51Fallon County11-1.5 pts
51Lewis and Clark County11-0.9 pts
53Stillwater County9.9-1.8 pts
54Richland County9.5-0.8 pts
55Jefferson County8-1.6 pts
56Gallatin County7.1-0.5 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/montana-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/montana-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/montana-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_montana_by_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/montana-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/montana-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/montana-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Big Horn County, with 35.6% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Gallatin County, with 7.1% in 2020.

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