Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in North Carolina

Counties in North Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024

Scotland County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 100 counties in 2024, at 34.7%. Camden County had the lowest, at 7.8%. The median was 19.9% and the figure for North Carolina was 16.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest34.7Scotland County
Lowest7.8Camden County
Median19.9100 counties
North Carolina16.6History

Map of counties, 2024

Alamance County: 18.2 %Alexander County: 15 %Alleghany County: 24 %Anson County: 26 %Ashe County: 24.4 %Avery County: 19.9 %Beaufort County: 23.9 %Bertie County: 25.4 %Bladen County: 28.2 %Brunswick County: 16.2 %Buncombe County: 15.7 %Burke County: 22.1 %Cabarrus County: 10.2 %Caldwell County: 18.3 %Camden County: 7.8 %Carteret County: 13.2 %Caswell County: 23.6 %Catawba County: 16.9 %Chatham County: 10.8 %Cherokee County: 23.9 %Chowan County: 24.8 %Clay County: 19.1 %Cleveland County: 21.6 %Columbus County: 25.6 %Craven County: 16.6 %Cumberland County: 22.2 %Currituck County: 10.4 %Dare County: 11.9 %Davidson County: 14.8 %Davie County: 13 %Duplin County: 30.5 %Durham County: 15.7 %Edgecombe County: 30.4 %Forsyth County: 16.6 %Franklin County: 15.2 %Gaston County: 15.9 %Gates County: 17.5 %Graham County: 22.3 %Granville County: 18.3 %Greene County: 24.5 %Guilford County: 18.6 %Halifax County: 26.8 %Harnett County: 14.3 %Haywood County: 18.4 %Henderson County: 14.7 %Hertford County: 30.1 %Hoke County: 23 %Hyde County: 26.4 %Iredell County: 11.8 %Jackson County: 21 %Johnston County: 13.4 %Jones County: 27.7 %Lee County: 18.6 %Lenoir County: 27.6 %Lincoln County: 12.5 %McDowell County: 20.9 %Macon County: 19.9 %Madison County: 19.3 %Martin County: 28.4 %Mecklenburg County: 14.3 %Mitchell County: 19.1 %Montgomery County: 23 %Moore County: 13.4 %Nash County: 18.4 %New Hanover County: 14 %Northampton County: 34.5 %Onslow County: 14.8 %Orange County: 9.1 %Pamlico County: 23.6 %Pasquotank County: 21.8 %Pender County: 12.3 %Perquimans County: 22.2 %Person County: 19.9 %Pitt County: 21.7 %Polk County: 18.1 %Randolph County: 16.5 %Richmond County: 31.9 %Robeson County: 30.8 %Rockingham County: 24.5 %Rowan County: 18.6 %Rutherford County: 20.4 %Sampson County: 26.5 %Scotland County: 34.7 %Stanly County: 15.9 %Stokes County: 15.1 %Surry County: 23.9 %Swain County: 22 %Transylvania County: 16.9 %Tyrrell County: 25.2 %Union County: 9.1 %Vance County: 26.6 %Wake County: 10.1 %Warren County: 27.8 %Washington County: 32.4 %Watauga County: 13 %Wayne County: 29.6 %Wilkes County: 20.3 %Wilson County: 27.7 %Yadkin County: 19.1 %Yancey County: 19.8 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 17
  • 17 to 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 to 27
  • 27 and over
%, 2024. 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, 2024

Scotland County: 34.7 %Scotland County34.7Northampton County: 34.5 %Northampton County34.5Washington County: 32.4 %Washington County32.4Richmond County: 31.9 %Richmond County31.9Robeson County: 30.8 %Robeson County30.8Duplin County: 30.5 %Duplin County30.5Edgecombe County: 30.4 %Edgecombe County30.4Hertford County: 30.1 %Hertford County30.1Wayne County: 29.6 %Wayne County29.6Martin County: 28.4 %Martin County28.4Bladen County: 28.2 %Bladen County28.2Warren County: 27.8 %Warren County27.8Jones County: 27.7 %Jones County27.7Wilson County: 27.7 %Wilson County27.7Lenoir County: 27.6 %Lenoir County27.6Halifax County: 26.8 %Halifax County26.8Vance County: 26.6 %Vance County26.6Sampson County: 26.5 %Sampson County26.5Hyde County: 26.4 %Hyde County26.4Anson County: 26 %Anson County26Columbus County: 25.6 %Columbus County25.6Bertie County: 25.4 %Bertie County25.4Tyrrell County: 25.2 %Tyrrell County25.2Chowan County: 24.8 %Chowan County24.8Greene County: 24.5 %Greene County24.5Rockingham County: 24.5 %Rockingham County24.5Ashe County: 24.4 %Ashe County24.4Alleghany County: 24 %Alleghany County24Beaufort County: 23.9 %Beaufort County23.9Cherokee County: 23.9 %Cherokee County23.9Surry County: 23.9 %Surry County23.9Caswell County: 23.6 %Caswell County23.6Pamlico County: 23.6 %Pamlico County23.6Hoke County: 23 %Hoke County23Montgomery County: 23 %Montgomery County23Graham County: 22.3 %Graham County22.3Cumberland County: 22.2 %Cumberland County22.2Perquimans County: 22.2 %Perquimans County22.2Burke County: 22.1 %Burke County22.1Swain County: 22 %Swain County22Scotland County: 34.7 %Scotland County34.7Northampton County: 34.5 %Northampton County34.5Washington County: 32.4 %Washington County32.4Richmond County: 31.9 %Richmond County31.9Robeson County: 30.8 %Robeson County30.8Duplin County: 30.5 %Duplin County30.5Edgecombe County: 30.4 %Edgecombe County30.4Hertford County: 30.1 %Hertford County30.1Wayne County: 29.6 %Wayne County29.6Martin County: 28.4 %Martin County28.4Bladen County: 28.2 %Bladen County28.2Warren County: 27.8 %Warren County27.8Jones County: 27.7 %Jones County27.7Wilson County: 27.7 %Wilson County27.7Lenoir County: 27.6 %Lenoir County27.6Halifax County: 26.8 %Halifax County26.8Vance County: 26.6 %Vance County26.6Sampson County: 26.5 %Sampson County26.5Hyde County: 26.4 %Hyde County26.4Anson County: 26 %Anson County26Columbus County: 25.6 %Columbus County25.6Bertie County: 25.4 %Bertie County25.4Tyrrell County: 25.2 %Tyrrell County25.2Chowan County: 24.8 %Chowan County24.8Greene County: 24.5 %Greene County24.5Rockingham County: 24.5 %Rockingham County24.5Ashe County: 24.4 %Ashe County24.4Alleghany County: 24 %Alleghany County24Beaufort County: 23.9 %Beaufort County23.9Cherokee County: 23.9 %Cherokee County23.9Surry County: 23.9 %Surry County23.9Caswell County: 23.6 %Caswell County23.6Pamlico County: 23.6 %Pamlico County23.6Hoke County: 23 %Hoke County23Montgomery County: 23 %Montgomery County23Graham County: 22.3 %Graham County22.3Cumberland County: 22.2 %Cumberland County22.2Perquimans County: 22.2 %Perquimans County22.2Burke County: 22.1 %Burke County22.1Swain County: 22 %Swain County22
%. 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

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Scotland County34.7-8.2 pts
2Northampton County34.5+2.7 pts
3Washington County32.4-3.4 pts
4Richmond County31.9+0.9 pts
5Robeson County30.8-7.1 pts
6Duplin County30.5+3.7 pts
7Edgecombe County30.4-8.6 pts
8Hertford County30.1-1.9 pts
9Wayne County29.6+7.4 pts
10Martin County28.4-2.4 pts
11Bladen County28.2-0.9 pts
12Warren County27.8-2.8 pts
13Jones County27.7-2.6 pts
13Wilson County27.7+0.7 pts
15Lenoir County27.6-4.4 pts
16Halifax County26.8-14.8 pts
17Vance County26.6-10.1 pts
18Sampson County26.5+0.5 pts
19Hyde County26.4-4.8 pts
20Anson County26-7 pts
21Columbus County25.6-4.6 pts
22Bertie County25.4-8.1 pts
23Tyrrell County25.2-4.7 pts
24Chowan County24.8+0.2 pts
25Greene County24.5-5.2 pts
25Rockingham County24.5+5.9 pts
27Ashe County24.4+2.4 pts
28Alleghany County24-0.5 pts
29Beaufort County23.9-6.6 pts
29Cherokee County23.9-0.6 pts
29Surry County23.9+7.6 pts
32Caswell County23.6+0.3 pts
32Pamlico County23.6-1.8 pts
34Hoke County23-1.3 pts
34Montgomery County23+1.8 pts
36Graham County22.3-1 pts
37Cumberland County22.2+0.2 pts
37Perquimans County22.2-2.6 pts
39Burke County22.1-2.3 pts
40Swain County22-1.3 pts
41Pasquotank County21.8-1.4 pts
42Pitt County21.7-1.5 pts
43Cleveland County21.6-4.4 pts
44Jackson County21-0.3 pts
45McDowell County20.9+0.8 pts
46Rutherford County20.4+0.1 pts
47Wilkes County20.3-0.4 pts
48Avery County19.9-2.2 pts
48Macon County19.9-0.6 pts
48Person County19.9+0.7 pts
51Yancey County19.8-2.2 pts
52Madison County19.3-0.7 pts
53Clay County19.1-3.1 pts
53Mitchell County19.1-0.7 pts
53Yadkin County19.1+1.3 pts
56Guilford County18.6-2 pts
56Lee County18.6-4.3 pts
56Rowan County18.6-2.1 pts
59Haywood County18.4+1.1 pts
59Nash County18.4-2.9 pts
61Caldwell County18.3+0.2 pts
61Granville County18.3+2.5 pts
63Alamance County18.2+2.2 pts
64Polk County18.1-1.7 pts
65Gates County17.5-2 pts
66Catawba County16.9+1.3 pts
66Transylvania County16.9-1.5 pts
68Craven County16.6-8.5 pts
68Forsyth County16.6-6.6 pts
70Randolph County16.5-4.1 pts
71Brunswick County16.2-0.6 pts
72Gaston County15.9-2.6 pts
72Stanly County15.9+1.4 pts
74Buncombe County15.7-0.7 pts
74Durham County15.7+0.6 pts
76Franklin County15.2+0.2 pts
77Stokes County15.1-0.1 pts
78Alexander County15-2.4 pts
79Davidson County14.8-6.4 pts
79Onslow County14.8-1.4 pts
81Henderson County14.7-0.8 pts
82Harnett County14.3-4 pts
82Mecklenburg County14.3+0.1 pts
84New Hanover County14-1.5 pts
85Johnston County13.4-0.7 pts
85Moore County13.4+0.8 pts
87Carteret County13.2-1.2 pts
88Davie County13-0.9 pts
88Watauga County13+0.7 pts
90Lincoln County12.5-0.7 pts
91Pender County12.3-2.1 pts
92Dare County11.9-1.4 pts
93Iredell County11.8-0.1 pts
94Chatham County10.8-0.9 pts
95Currituck County10.4-0.1 pts
96Cabarrus County10.2-2.2 pts
97Wake County10.1+1.9 pts
98Orange County9.1+0.9 pts
98Union County9.1-1.1 pts
100Camden County7.8-0.7 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 North Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties. 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 North Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties.

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 North Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2024,
  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 North Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties. 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 North Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties.
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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Scotland County, with 34.7% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Camden County, with 7.8% in 2024.

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 North Carolina: more rankings