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

Washington County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 100 counties in 2016, at 43.2%. Camden County had the lowest, at 10.9%. The median was 25.5% and the figure for North Carolina was 21.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Lowest10.9Camden County
Median25.5100 counties
North Carolina21.7History

Map of counties, 2016

Alamance County: 23.8 %Alexander County: 23 %Alleghany County: 34.7 %Anson County: 35.8 %Ashe County: 25.8 %Avery County: 30.2 %Beaufort County: 30.8 %Bertie County: 34.9 %Bladen County: 35.3 %Brunswick County: 23.2 %Buncombe County: 19.4 %Burke County: 26.6 %Cabarrus County: 16.1 %Caldwell County: 22.7 %Camden County: 10.9 %Carteret County: 17.9 %Caswell County: 29.5 %Catawba County: 18.1 %Chatham County: 17.4 %Cherokee County: 31.4 %Chowan County: 31.3 %Clay County: 27.5 %Cleveland County: 27.7 %Columbus County: 35.9 %Craven County: 22.7 %Cumberland County: 27.2 %Currituck County: 15.7 %Dare County: 17.6 %Davidson County: 22 %Davie County: 17.4 %Duplin County: 31 %Durham County: 23.7 %Edgecombe County: 36.2 %Forsyth County: 24.5 %Franklin County: 21.5 %Gaston County: 23.2 %Gates County: 22.3 %Graham County: 30.7 %Granville County: 20.9 %Greene County: 32.5 %Guilford County: 25.6 %Halifax County: 38 %Harnett County: 20.7 %Haywood County: 28.2 %Henderson County: 18.9 %Hertford County: 34.2 %Hoke County: 25.3 %Hyde County: 29.7 %Iredell County: 14.1 %Jackson County: 24.2 %Johnston County: 19.2 %Jones County: 36.6 %Lee County: 24.2 %Lenoir County: 32.3 %Lincoln County: 17.6 %McDowell County: 26.8 %Macon County: 26.4 %Madison County: 25.9 %Martin County: 35.9 %Mecklenburg County: 18.1 %Mitchell County: 25 %Montgomery County: 30.1 %Moore County: 16.6 %Nash County: 25.1 %New Hanover County: 20.5 %Northampton County: 37.2 %Onslow County: 19.1 %Orange County: 11.4 %Pamlico County: 32.2 %Pasquotank County: 27.2 %Pender County: 20.9 %Perquimans County: 28.6 %Person County: 23.8 %Pitt County: 24.2 %Polk County: 22.8 %Randolph County: 20.8 %Richmond County: 38.2 %Robeson County: 38.3 %Rockingham County: 27.1 %Rowan County: 26.1 %Rutherford County: 26.4 %Sampson County: 29.1 %Scotland County: 38.7 %Stanly County: 20.8 %Stokes County: 18.2 %Surry County: 25.3 %Swain County: 25.4 %Transylvania County: 30.6 %Tyrrell County: 38.2 %Union County: 12.1 %Vance County: 35.9 %Wake County: 11.5 %Warren County: 39.5 %Washington County: 43.2 %Watauga County: 19.5 %Wayne County: 29.2 %Wilkes County: 25.4 %Wilson County: 35.8 %Yadkin County: 21.3 %Yancey County: 28.1 %
  • Under 19
  • 19 to 23
  • 23 to 26
  • 26 to 29
  • 29 to 35
  • 35 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

Washington County: 43.2 %Washington County43.2Warren County: 39.5 %Warren County39.5Scotland County: 38.7 %Scotland County38.7Robeson County: 38.3 %Robeson County38.3Richmond County: 38.2 %Richmond County38.2Tyrrell County: 38.2 %Tyrrell County38.2Halifax County: 38 %Halifax County38Northampton County: 37.2 %Northampton County37.2Jones County: 36.6 %Jones County36.6Edgecombe County: 36.2 %Edgecombe County36.2Columbus County: 35.9 %Columbus County35.9Martin County: 35.9 %Martin County35.9Vance County: 35.9 %Vance County35.9Anson County: 35.8 %Anson County35.8Wilson County: 35.8 %Wilson County35.8Bladen County: 35.3 %Bladen County35.3Bertie County: 34.9 %Bertie County34.9Alleghany County: 34.7 %Alleghany County34.7Hertford County: 34.2 %Hertford County34.2Greene County: 32.5 %Greene County32.5Lenoir County: 32.3 %Lenoir County32.3Pamlico County: 32.2 %Pamlico County32.2Cherokee County: 31.4 %Cherokee County31.4Chowan County: 31.3 %Chowan County31.3Duplin County: 31 %Duplin County31Beaufort County: 30.8 %Beaufort County30.8Graham County: 30.7 %Graham County30.7Transylvania County: 30.6 %Transylvania County30.6Avery County: 30.2 %Avery County30.2Montgomery County: 30.1 %Montgomery County30.1Hyde County: 29.7 %Hyde County29.7Caswell County: 29.5 %Caswell County29.5Wayne County: 29.2 %Wayne County29.2Sampson County: 29.1 %Sampson County29.1Perquimans County: 28.6 %Perquimans County28.6Haywood County: 28.2 %Haywood County28.2Yancey County: 28.1 %Yancey County28.1Cleveland County: 27.7 %Cleveland County27.7Clay County: 27.5 %Clay County27.5Cumberland County: 27.2 %Cumberland County27.2Washington County: 43.2 %Washington County43.2Warren County: 39.5 %Warren County39.5Scotland County: 38.7 %Scotland County38.7Robeson County: 38.3 %Robeson County38.3Richmond County: 38.2 %Richmond County38.2Tyrrell County: 38.2 %Tyrrell County38.2Halifax County: 38 %Halifax County38Northampton County: 37.2 %Northampton County37.2Jones County: 36.6 %Jones County36.6Edgecombe County: 36.2 %Edgecombe County36.2Columbus County: 35.9 %Columbus County35.9Martin County: 35.9 %Martin County35.9Vance County: 35.9 %Vance County35.9Anson County: 35.8 %Anson County35.8Wilson County: 35.8 %Wilson County35.8Bladen County: 35.3 %Bladen County35.3Bertie County: 34.9 %Bertie County34.9Alleghany County: 34.7 %Alleghany County34.7Hertford County: 34.2 %Hertford County34.2Greene County: 32.5 %Greene County32.5Lenoir County: 32.3 %Lenoir County32.3Pamlico County: 32.2 %Pamlico County32.2Cherokee County: 31.4 %Cherokee County31.4Chowan County: 31.3 %Chowan County31.3Duplin County: 31 %Duplin County31Beaufort County: 30.8 %Beaufort County30.8Graham County: 30.7 %Graham County30.7Transylvania County: 30.6 %Transylvania County30.6Avery County: 30.2 %Avery County30.2Montgomery County: 30.1 %Montgomery County30.1Hyde County: 29.7 %Hyde County29.7Caswell County: 29.5 %Caswell County29.5Wayne County: 29.2 %Wayne County29.2Sampson County: 29.1 %Sampson County29.1Perquimans County: 28.6 %Perquimans County28.6Haywood County: 28.2 %Haywood County28.2Yancey County: 28.1 %Yancey County28.1Cleveland County: 27.7 %Cleveland County27.7Clay County: 27.5 %Clay County27.5Cumberland County: 27.2 %Cumberland County27.2
%. 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
1Washington County43.2+2.3 pts
2Warren County39.5+2.4 pts
3Scotland County38.7-5.7 pts
4Robeson County38.3-3.6 pts
5Richmond County38.2-4.6 pts
5Tyrrell County38.2+2 pts
7Halifax County38-1.1 pts
8Northampton County37.2-8.1 pts
9Jones County36.6+0.1 pts
10Edgecombe County36.2-6.4 pts
11Columbus County35.9+1.8 pts
11Martin County35.9-0.4 pts
11Vance County35.9-1.4 pts
14Anson County35.8+0.2 pts
14Wilson County35.8+5.5 pts
16Bladen County35.3+0.1 pts
17Bertie County34.9-1 pts
18Alleghany County34.7-1.2 pts
19Hertford County34.2-3.4 pts
20Greene County32.5-2 pts
21Lenoir County32.3-4.6 pts
22Pamlico County32.2-0.1 pts
23Cherokee County31.4+0.5 pts
24Chowan County31.3-1.7 pts
25Duplin County31-3.1 pts
26Beaufort County30.8-2.5 pts
27Graham County30.7-1.9 pts
28Transylvania County30.6+1 pts
29Avery County30.2+0.3 pts
30Montgomery County30.1-1.2 pts
31Hyde County29.7-1 pts
32Caswell County29.5-0.3 pts
33Wayne County29.2+1.1 pts
34Sampson County29.1-0.4 pts
35Perquimans County28.6-3 pts
36Haywood County28.2+0.9 pts
37Yancey County28.1-1.1 pts
38Cleveland County27.7-1.7 pts
39Clay County27.5-4.4 pts
40Cumberland County27.2-0.4 pts
40Pasquotank County27.2-2.3 pts
42Rockingham County27.1+0.8 pts
43McDowell County26.80 pts
44Burke County26.6+3 pts
45Macon County26.4-3 pts
45Rutherford County26.4-3.2 pts
47Rowan County26.1-0.4 pts
48Madison County25.9-3.2 pts
49Ashe County25.8-6 pts
50Guilford County25.6+2.1 pts
51Swain County25.4-0.6 pts
51Wilkes County25.4-2 pts
53Hoke County25.3-3.2 pts
53Surry County25.3-1.7 pts
55Nash County25.1-0.8 pts
56Mitchell County25-2.5 pts
57Forsyth County24.5-4 pts
58Jackson County24.2-3.1 pts
58Lee County24.2-1.6 pts
58Pitt County24.2-6.4 pts
61Alamance County23.8-2.3 pts
61Person County23.8-0.2 pts
63Durham County23.7-2.3 pts
64Brunswick County23.2-1.3 pts
64Gaston County23.2-1.8 pts
66Alexander County23+0.7 pts
67Polk County22.8-1.3 pts
68Caldwell County22.7-1.2 pts
68Craven County22.7-1.5 pts
70Gates County22.3-1.2 pts
71Davidson County22+0.7 pts
72Franklin County21.5-1 pts
73Yadkin County21.3-3.6 pts
74Granville County20.9-0.9 pts
74Pender County20.9-1 pts
76Randolph County20.8-4.2 pts
76Stanly County20.8-4.3 pts
78Harnett County20.7-3.1 pts
79New Hanover County20.5-1.6 pts
80Watauga County19.5+0.6 pts
81Buncombe County19.4-3.8 pts
82Johnston County19.2+0.5 pts
83Onslow County19.1-2.4 pts
84Henderson County18.9-2.2 pts
85Stokes County18.2-4.6 pts
86Catawba County18.1-2.7 pts
86Mecklenburg County18.1-1 pts
88Carteret County17.9-4.8 pts
89Dare County17.6-0.2 pts
89Lincoln County17.6-2.8 pts
91Chatham County17.4-0.6 pts
91Davie County17.4-1 pts
93Moore County16.6-4.5 pts
94Cabarrus County16.1+0.9 pts
95Currituck County15.7-1.3 pts
96Iredell County14.1-5.2 pts
97Union County12.1-0.6 pts
98Wake County11.5-3.2 pts
99Orange County11.4-1.7 pts
100Camden County10.9-2.8 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

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

Washington County, with 43.2% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Camden County, with 10.9% 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 North Carolina: more rankings