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 2022, at 35.3%. Wake County had the lowest, at 8.3%. The median was 21.2% and the figure for North Carolina was 17.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Lowest8.3Wake County
Median21.2100 counties
North Carolina17.3History

Map of counties, 2022

Alamance County: 15 %Alexander County: 20.9 %Alleghany County: 25.3 %Anson County: 32.6 %Ashe County: 20.6 %Avery County: 20.5 %Beaufort County: 28.2 %Bertie County: 34.9 %Bladen County: 27.5 %Brunswick County: 16.5 %Buncombe County: 15.4 %Burke County: 18.5 %Cabarrus County: 9.9 %Caldwell County: 23.9 %Camden County: 9.2 %Carteret County: 17 %Caswell County: 24 %Catawba County: 16.4 %Chatham County: 11 %Cherokee County: 24.5 %Chowan County: 25.3 %Clay County: 23.1 %Cleveland County: 24.6 %Columbus County: 29.2 %Craven County: 19.1 %Cumberland County: 21.2 %Currituck County: 11.7 %Dare County: 10.8 %Davidson County: 16.1 %Davie County: 15.1 %Duplin County: 29.6 %Durham County: 17 %Edgecombe County: 31.8 %Forsyth County: 21.6 %Franklin County: 15.7 %Gaston County: 16.8 %Gates County: 19.5 %Graham County: 22.7 %Granville County: 15.3 %Greene County: 35.2 %Guilford County: 21.2 %Halifax County: 28 %Harnett County: 16.6 %Haywood County: 18.5 %Henderson County: 16.2 %Hertford County: 35.1 %Hoke County: 20.2 %Hyde County: 28.3 %Iredell County: 12.1 %Jackson County: 18.6 %Johnston County: 13.6 %Jones County: 27.4 %Lee County: 23.8 %Lenoir County: 31.7 %Lincoln County: 11.3 %McDowell County: 22.2 %Macon County: 18.6 %Madison County: 21.2 %Martin County: 29.3 %Mecklenburg County: 14.1 %Mitchell County: 21.7 %Montgomery County: 24 %Moore County: 13 %Nash County: 21.4 %New Hanover County: 15.5 %Northampton County: 29.3 %Onslow County: 16.2 %Orange County: 11.4 %Pamlico County: 27.4 %Pasquotank County: 22.8 %Pender County: 13.9 %Perquimans County: 23 %Person County: 20.3 %Pitt County: 22.9 %Polk County: 19.5 %Randolph County: 17.6 %Richmond County: 30.6 %Robeson County: 35 %Rockingham County: 22.9 %Rowan County: 23.1 %Rutherford County: 21.4 %Sampson County: 25.7 %Scotland County: 34.3 %Stanly County: 19 %Stokes County: 15.4 %Surry County: 22.7 %Swain County: 20.7 %Transylvania County: 20.9 %Tyrrell County: 28.1 %Union County: 8.7 %Vance County: 31.5 %Wake County: 8.3 %Warren County: 27.3 %Washington County: 35.3 %Watauga County: 12.8 %Wayne County: 26.4 %Wilkes County: 28.4 %Wilson County: 30.6 %Yadkin County: 17.6 %Yancey County: 21.4 %
  • Under 15
  • 15 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 to 24
  • 24 to 28
  • 28 and over
%, 2022. 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, 2022

Washington County: 35.3 %Washington County35.3Greene County: 35.2 %Greene County35.2Hertford County: 35.1 %Hertford County35.1Robeson County: 35 %Robeson County35Bertie County: 34.9 %Bertie County34.9Scotland County: 34.3 %Scotland County34.3Anson County: 32.6 %Anson County32.6Edgecombe County: 31.8 %Edgecombe County31.8Lenoir County: 31.7 %Lenoir County31.7Vance County: 31.5 %Vance County31.5Richmond County: 30.6 %Richmond County30.6Wilson County: 30.6 %Wilson County30.6Duplin County: 29.6 %Duplin County29.6Martin County: 29.3 %Martin County29.3Northampton County: 29.3 %Northampton County29.3Columbus County: 29.2 %Columbus County29.2Wilkes County: 28.4 %Wilkes County28.4Hyde County: 28.3 %Hyde County28.3Beaufort County: 28.2 %Beaufort County28.2Tyrrell County: 28.1 %Tyrrell County28.1Halifax County: 28 %Halifax County28Bladen County: 27.5 %Bladen County27.5Jones County: 27.4 %Jones County27.4Pamlico County: 27.4 %Pamlico County27.4Warren County: 27.3 %Warren County27.3Wayne County: 26.4 %Wayne County26.4Sampson County: 25.7 %Sampson County25.7Alleghany County: 25.3 %Alleghany County25.3Chowan County: 25.3 %Chowan County25.3Cleveland County: 24.6 %Cleveland County24.6Cherokee County: 24.5 %Cherokee County24.5Caswell County: 24 %Caswell County24Montgomery County: 24 %Montgomery County24Caldwell County: 23.9 %Caldwell County23.9Lee County: 23.8 %Lee County23.8Clay County: 23.1 %Clay County23.1Rowan County: 23.1 %Rowan County23.1Perquimans County: 23 %Perquimans County23Pitt County: 22.9 %Pitt County22.9Rockingham County: 22.9 %Rockingham County22.9Washington County: 35.3 %Washington County35.3Greene County: 35.2 %Greene County35.2Hertford County: 35.1 %Hertford County35.1Robeson County: 35 %Robeson County35Bertie County: 34.9 %Bertie County34.9Scotland County: 34.3 %Scotland County34.3Anson County: 32.6 %Anson County32.6Edgecombe County: 31.8 %Edgecombe County31.8Lenoir County: 31.7 %Lenoir County31.7Vance County: 31.5 %Vance County31.5Richmond County: 30.6 %Richmond County30.6Wilson County: 30.6 %Wilson County30.6Duplin County: 29.6 %Duplin County29.6Martin County: 29.3 %Martin County29.3Northampton County: 29.3 %Northampton County29.3Columbus County: 29.2 %Columbus County29.2Wilkes County: 28.4 %Wilkes County28.4Hyde County: 28.3 %Hyde County28.3Beaufort County: 28.2 %Beaufort County28.2Tyrrell County: 28.1 %Tyrrell County28.1Halifax County: 28 %Halifax County28Bladen County: 27.5 %Bladen County27.5Jones County: 27.4 %Jones County27.4Pamlico County: 27.4 %Pamlico County27.4Warren County: 27.3 %Warren County27.3Wayne County: 26.4 %Wayne County26.4Sampson County: 25.7 %Sampson County25.7Alleghany County: 25.3 %Alleghany County25.3Chowan County: 25.3 %Chowan County25.3Cleveland County: 24.6 %Cleveland County24.6Cherokee County: 24.5 %Cherokee County24.5Caswell County: 24 %Caswell County24Montgomery County: 24 %Montgomery County24Caldwell County: 23.9 %Caldwell County23.9Lee County: 23.8 %Lee County23.8Clay County: 23.1 %Clay County23.1Rowan County: 23.1 %Rowan County23.1Perquimans County: 23 %Perquimans County23Pitt County: 22.9 %Pitt County22.9Rockingham County: 22.9 %Rockingham County22.9
%. 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

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Washington County35.3-3.5 pts
2Greene County35.2+3.4 pts
3Hertford County35.10 pts
4Robeson County35-1 pts
5Bertie County34.9+4.1 pts
6Scotland County34.3-0.7 pts
7Anson County32.6+2.1 pts
8Edgecombe County31.8-1.2 pts
9Lenoir County31.7+1.6 pts
10Vance County31.5-2.9 pts
11Richmond County30.6-9.6 pts
11Wilson County30.6+4 pts
13Duplin County29.6+1.2 pts
14Martin County29.3-1.5 pts
14Northampton County29.3-7.1 pts
16Columbus County29.2-4.7 pts
17Wilkes County28.4+4.5 pts
18Hyde County28.3-2 pts
19Beaufort County28.2-3.8 pts
20Tyrrell County28.1-2.8 pts
21Halifax County28-7.9 pts
22Bladen County27.5-3.1 pts
23Jones County27.4-1.7 pts
23Pamlico County27.4+1.1 pts
25Warren County27.3-1.9 pts
26Wayne County26.4-0.3 pts
27Sampson County25.7-3.5 pts
28Alleghany County25.3-3.1 pts
28Chowan County25.3-3.2 pts
30Cleveland County24.6-2.2 pts
31Cherokee County24.5-2.4 pts
32Caswell County24-3.8 pts
32Montgomery County24-3.8 pts
34Caldwell County23.9+2.7 pts
35Lee County23.8+3.2 pts
36Clay County23.1-2.1 pts
36Rowan County23.1-0.5 pts
38Perquimans County23-4.2 pts
39Pitt County22.9-0.6 pts
39Rockingham County22.9-3.6 pts
41Pasquotank County22.8+0.4 pts
42Graham County22.7-4.9 pts
42Surry County22.7+1.6 pts
44McDowell County22.2+0.4 pts
45Mitchell County21.7-0.7 pts
46Forsyth County21.6+1.7 pts
47Nash County21.4-0.9 pts
47Rutherford County21.4-3.9 pts
47Yancey County21.4-2.8 pts
50Cumberland County21.2-0.5 pts
50Guilford County21.2+3.5 pts
50Madison County21.2-1 pts
53Alexander County20.9+2.6 pts
53Transylvania County20.9-1 pts
55Swain County20.7-5.1 pts
56Ashe County20.6-1.8 pts
57Avery County20.5-3.5 pts
58Person County20.3-5.3 pts
59Hoke County20.2-1.3 pts
60Gates County19.5-1.2 pts
60Polk County19.5+0.7 pts
62Craven County19.1+1.1 pts
63Stanly County19-1.7 pts
64Jackson County18.6-3.9 pts
64Macon County18.6-3.2 pts
66Burke County18.5-1.4 pts
66Haywood County18.5-1.9 pts
68Randolph County17.6-3.5 pts
68Yadkin County17.6-1.2 pts
70Carteret County17-0.9 pts
70Durham County17-2.3 pts
72Gaston County16.8-2.8 pts
73Harnett County16.6-1.2 pts
74Brunswick County16.5-1.9 pts
75Catawba County16.4-1.5 pts
76Henderson County16.2-2.4 pts
76Onslow County16.2-1.9 pts
78Davidson County16.1-3.5 pts
79Franklin County15.7-1.7 pts
80New Hanover County15.5+2.3 pts
81Buncombe County15.4-1.6 pts
81Stokes County15.4-3.7 pts
83Granville County15.3-1.4 pts
84Davie County15.1+0.7 pts
85Alamance County15-2.6 pts
86Mecklenburg County14.10 pts
87Pender County13.9-1.5 pts
88Johnston County13.6-1.6 pts
89Moore County13-0.1 pts
90Watauga County12.8-1 pts
91Iredell County12.1-0.7 pts
92Currituck County11.7-1.1 pts
93Orange County11.4+0.8 pts
94Lincoln County11.3-1 pts
95Chatham County11-5.7 pts
96Dare County10.8-3.2 pts
97Cabarrus County9.9-2.8 pts
98Camden County9.2-0.6 pts
99Union County8.7-0.7 pts
100Wake County8.3-1.8 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2022. 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), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2022.

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), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2022,
  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), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2022. 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/north-carolina-counties?period=2022.
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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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 35.3% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Wake County, with 8.3% in 2022.

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