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)

Robeson County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 100 counties in 2017, at 44.4%. Camden County had the lowest, at 10.7%. The median was 24.3% and the figure for North Carolina was 21%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest44.4Robeson County
Lowest10.7Camden County
Median24.3100 counties
North Carolina21History

Map of counties, 2017

Alamance County: 20.6 %Alexander County: 16.1 %Alleghany County: 34.7 %Anson County: 33 %Ashe County: 25.1 %Avery County: 27.5 %Beaufort County: 31.1 %Bertie County: 39.2 %Bladen County: 28.4 %Brunswick County: 21.5 %Buncombe County: 17.6 %Burke County: 22.1 %Cabarrus County: 13.6 %Caldwell County: 22.1 %Camden County: 10.7 %Carteret County: 20.9 %Caswell County: 28.8 %Catawba County: 18.7 %Chatham County: 16 %Cherokee County: 28.8 %Chowan County: 29.2 %Clay County: 27.4 %Cleveland County: 26.6 %Columbus County: 34.7 %Craven County: 26.4 %Cumberland County: 25.1 %Currituck County: 15 %Dare County: 16.3 %Davidson County: 21.5 %Davie County: 17.1 %Duplin County: 30.5 %Durham County: 24.3 %Edgecombe County: 38.5 %Forsyth County: 25.1 %Franklin County: 23.9 %Gaston County: 21.7 %Gates County: 22.6 %Graham County: 28 %Granville County: 17 %Greene County: 43.7 %Guilford County: 19.7 %Halifax County: 40.2 %Harnett County: 22.9 %Haywood County: 22.5 %Henderson County: 17.5 %Hertford County: 36.7 %Hoke County: 23.2 %Hyde County: 30.8 %Iredell County: 16.4 %Jackson County: 22.5 %Johnston County: 21.4 %Jones County: 32.6 %Lee County: 22.9 %Lenoir County: 37.7 %Lincoln County: 15.1 %McDowell County: 25.9 %Macon County: 26.5 %Madison County: 24.3 %Martin County: 30.7 %Mecklenburg County: 16.8 %Mitchell County: 25.6 %Montgomery County: 27.3 %Moore County: 14.8 %Nash County: 23.9 %New Hanover County: 21 %Northampton County: 40.1 %Onslow County: 18.3 %Orange County: 11.2 %Pamlico County: 30.5 %Pasquotank County: 30.7 %Pender County: 17.5 %Perquimans County: 28 %Person County: 21.9 %Pitt County: 29.6 %Polk County: 21.3 %Randolph County: 23.4 %Richmond County: 37.1 %Robeson County: 44.4 %Rockingham County: 23.9 %Rowan County: 22.4 %Rutherford County: 24.4 %Sampson County: 31.1 %Scotland County: 39.3 %Stanly County: 19.6 %Stokes County: 20.6 %Surry County: 23.1 %Swain County: 24 %Transylvania County: 24.3 %Tyrrell County: 35 %Union County: 11.6 %Vance County: 38 %Wake County: 11.6 %Warren County: 33 %Washington County: 40.7 %Watauga County: 16.8 %Wayne County: 31.1 %Wilkes County: 24.7 %Wilson County: 28.7 %Yadkin County: 22 %Yancey County: 25.5 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 22
  • 22 to 24
  • 24 to 28
  • 28 to 33
  • 33 and over
%, 2017. 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, 2017

Robeson County: 44.4 %Robeson County44.4Greene County: 43.7 %Greene County43.7Washington County: 40.7 %Washington County40.7Halifax County: 40.2 %Halifax County40.2Northampton County: 40.1 %Northampton County40.1Scotland County: 39.3 %Scotland County39.3Bertie County: 39.2 %Bertie County39.2Edgecombe County: 38.5 %Edgecombe County38.5Vance County: 38 %Vance County38Lenoir County: 37.7 %Lenoir County37.7Richmond County: 37.1 %Richmond County37.1Hertford County: 36.7 %Hertford County36.7Tyrrell County: 35 %Tyrrell County35Alleghany County: 34.7 %Alleghany County34.7Columbus County: 34.7 %Columbus County34.7Anson County: 33 %Anson County33Warren County: 33 %Warren County33Jones County: 32.6 %Jones County32.6Beaufort County: 31.1 %Beaufort County31.1Sampson County: 31.1 %Sampson County31.1Wayne County: 31.1 %Wayne County31.1Hyde County: 30.8 %Hyde County30.8Martin County: 30.7 %Martin County30.7Pasquotank County: 30.7 %Pasquotank County30.7Duplin County: 30.5 %Duplin County30.5Pamlico County: 30.5 %Pamlico County30.5Pitt County: 29.6 %Pitt County29.6Chowan County: 29.2 %Chowan County29.2Caswell County: 28.8 %Caswell County28.8Cherokee County: 28.8 %Cherokee County28.8Wilson County: 28.7 %Wilson County28.7Bladen County: 28.4 %Bladen County28.4Graham County: 28 %Graham County28Perquimans County: 28 %Perquimans County28Avery County: 27.5 %Avery County27.5Clay County: 27.4 %Clay County27.4Montgomery County: 27.3 %Montgomery County27.3Cleveland County: 26.6 %Cleveland County26.6Macon County: 26.5 %Macon County26.5Craven County: 26.4 %Craven County26.4Robeson County: 44.4 %Robeson County44.4Greene County: 43.7 %Greene County43.7Washington County: 40.7 %Washington County40.7Halifax County: 40.2 %Halifax County40.2Northampton County: 40.1 %Northampton County40.1Scotland County: 39.3 %Scotland County39.3Bertie County: 39.2 %Bertie County39.2Edgecombe County: 38.5 %Edgecombe County38.5Vance County: 38 %Vance County38Lenoir County: 37.7 %Lenoir County37.7Richmond County: 37.1 %Richmond County37.1Hertford County: 36.7 %Hertford County36.7Tyrrell County: 35 %Tyrrell County35Alleghany County: 34.7 %Alleghany County34.7Columbus County: 34.7 %Columbus County34.7Anson County: 33 %Anson County33Warren County: 33 %Warren County33Jones County: 32.6 %Jones County32.6Beaufort County: 31.1 %Beaufort County31.1Sampson County: 31.1 %Sampson County31.1Wayne County: 31.1 %Wayne County31.1Hyde County: 30.8 %Hyde County30.8Martin County: 30.7 %Martin County30.7Pasquotank County: 30.7 %Pasquotank County30.7Duplin County: 30.5 %Duplin County30.5Pamlico County: 30.5 %Pamlico County30.5Pitt County: 29.6 %Pitt County29.6Chowan County: 29.2 %Chowan County29.2Caswell County: 28.8 %Caswell County28.8Cherokee County: 28.8 %Cherokee County28.8Wilson County: 28.7 %Wilson County28.7Bladen County: 28.4 %Bladen County28.4Graham County: 28 %Graham County28Perquimans County: 28 %Perquimans County28Avery County: 27.5 %Avery County27.5Clay County: 27.4 %Clay County27.4Montgomery County: 27.3 %Montgomery County27.3Cleveland County: 26.6 %Cleveland County26.6Macon County: 26.5 %Macon County26.5Craven County: 26.4 %Craven County26.4
%. 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

RankCounties2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Robeson County44.4+6.1 pts
2Greene County43.7+11.2 pts
3Washington County40.7-2.5 pts
4Halifax County40.2+2.2 pts
5Northampton County40.1+2.9 pts
6Scotland County39.3+0.6 pts
7Bertie County39.2+4.3 pts
8Edgecombe County38.5+2.3 pts
9Vance County38+2.1 pts
10Lenoir County37.7+5.4 pts
11Richmond County37.1-1.1 pts
12Hertford County36.7+2.5 pts
13Tyrrell County35-3.2 pts
14Alleghany County34.70 pts
14Columbus County34.7-1.2 pts
16Anson County33-2.8 pts
16Warren County33-6.5 pts
18Jones County32.6-4 pts
19Beaufort County31.1+0.3 pts
19Sampson County31.1+2 pts
19Wayne County31.1+1.9 pts
22Hyde County30.8+1.1 pts
23Martin County30.7-5.2 pts
23Pasquotank County30.7+3.5 pts
25Duplin County30.5-0.5 pts
25Pamlico County30.5-1.7 pts
27Pitt County29.6+5.4 pts
28Chowan County29.2-2.1 pts
29Caswell County28.8-0.7 pts
29Cherokee County28.8-2.6 pts
31Wilson County28.7-7.1 pts
32Bladen County28.4-6.9 pts
33Graham County28-2.7 pts
33Perquimans County28-0.6 pts
35Avery County27.5-2.7 pts
36Clay County27.4-0.1 pts
37Montgomery County27.3-2.8 pts
38Cleveland County26.6-1.1 pts
39Macon County26.5+0.1 pts
40Craven County26.4+3.7 pts
41McDowell County25.9-0.9 pts
42Mitchell County25.6+0.6 pts
43Yancey County25.5-2.6 pts
44Ashe County25.1-0.7 pts
44Cumberland County25.1-2.1 pts
44Forsyth County25.1+0.6 pts
47Wilkes County24.7-0.7 pts
48Rutherford County24.4-2 pts
49Durham County24.3+0.6 pts
49Madison County24.3-1.6 pts
49Transylvania County24.3-6.3 pts
52Swain County24-1.4 pts
53Franklin County23.9+2.4 pts
53Nash County23.9-1.2 pts
53Rockingham County23.9-3.2 pts
56Randolph County23.4+2.6 pts
57Hoke County23.2-2.1 pts
58Surry County23.1-2.2 pts
59Harnett County22.9+2.2 pts
59Lee County22.9-1.3 pts
61Gates County22.6+0.3 pts
62Haywood County22.5-5.7 pts
62Jackson County22.5-1.7 pts
64Rowan County22.4-3.7 pts
65Burke County22.1-4.5 pts
65Caldwell County22.1-0.6 pts
67Yadkin County22+0.7 pts
68Person County21.9-1.9 pts
69Gaston County21.7-1.5 pts
70Brunswick County21.5-1.7 pts
70Davidson County21.5-0.5 pts
72Johnston County21.4+2.2 pts
73Polk County21.3-1.5 pts
74New Hanover County21+0.5 pts
75Carteret County20.9+3 pts
76Alamance County20.6-3.2 pts
76Stokes County20.6+2.4 pts
78Guilford County19.7-5.9 pts
79Stanly County19.6-1.2 pts
80Catawba County18.7+0.6 pts
81Onslow County18.3-0.8 pts
82Buncombe County17.6-1.8 pts
83Henderson County17.5-1.4 pts
83Pender County17.5-3.4 pts
85Davie County17.1-0.3 pts
86Granville County17-3.9 pts
87Mecklenburg County16.8-1.3 pts
87Watauga County16.8-2.7 pts
89Iredell County16.4+2.3 pts
90Dare County16.3-1.3 pts
91Alexander County16.1-6.9 pts
92Chatham County16-1.4 pts
93Lincoln County15.1-2.5 pts
94Currituck County15-0.7 pts
95Moore County14.8-1.8 pts
96Cabarrus County13.6-2.5 pts
97Union County11.6-0.5 pts
97Wake County11.6+0.1 pts
99Orange County11.2-0.2 pts
100Camden County10.7-0.2 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2017. 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), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2017.

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), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2017,
  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), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2017. 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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.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), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2017.
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/2017/2017-state-and-county/est17all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Robeson County, with 44.4% in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Camden County, with 10.7% in 2017.

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