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

Philadelphia County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 67 counties in 2019, at 31.6%. Chester County had the lowest, at 6.3%. The median was 17.4% and the figure for Pennsylvania was 16.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Median17.467 counties
Pennsylvania16.5History

Map of counties, 2019

Adams County: 10.2 %Allegheny County: 14.1 %Armstrong County: 15.9 %Beaver County: 17.8 %Bedford County: 14 %Berks County: 16.2 %Blair County: 21.9 %Bradford County: 21.2 %Bucks County: 7.1 %Butler County: 8.1 %Cambria County: 22.5 %Cameron County: 23.1 %Carbon County: 14 %Centre County: 8.6 %Chester County: 6.3 %Clarion County: 16.9 %Clearfield County: 18.6 %Clinton County: 20.2 %Columbia County: 17.3 %Crawford County: 19.4 %Cumberland County: 9.5 %Dauphin County: 18.4 %Delaware County: 13.8 %Elk County: 11.9 %Erie County: 24.2 %Fayette County: 26.9 %Forest County: 30 %Franklin County: 12.7 %Fulton County: 18.6 %Greene County: 18.8 %Huntingdon County: 17.5 %Indiana County: 19.3 %Jefferson County: 28 %Juniata County: 15.4 %Lackawanna County: 19 %Lancaster County: 14.6 %Lawrence County: 18.1 %Lebanon County: 15.5 %Lehigh County: 18.2 %Luzerne County: 24.6 %Lycoming County: 18.4 %McKean County: 22.8 %Mercer County: 18.7 %Mifflin County: 19.7 %Monroe County: 17.4 %Montgomery County: 6.7 %Montour County: 14.2 %Northampton County: 10.4 %Northumberland County: 20.3 %Perry County: 13.1 %Philadelphia County: 31.6 %Pike County: 14.5 %Potter County: 20.9 %Schuylkill County: 15.5 %Snyder County: 15.1 %Somerset County: 20.2 %Sullivan County: 16.1 %Susquehanna County: 18 %Tioga County: 19.1 %Union County: 11.6 %Venango County: 18.2 %Warren County: 23.2 %Washington County: 11.8 %Wayne County: 17.1 %Westmoreland County: 13.9 %Wyoming County: 15.2 %York County: 12.6 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 and over
%, 2019. 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, 2019

Philadelphia County: 31.6 %Philadelphia County31.6Forest County: 30 %Forest County30Jefferson County: 28 %Jefferson County28Fayette County: 26.9 %Fayette County26.9Luzerne County: 24.6 %Luzerne County24.6Erie County: 24.2 %Erie County24.2Warren County: 23.2 %Warren County23.2Cameron County: 23.1 %Cameron County23.1McKean County: 22.8 %McKean County22.8Cambria County: 22.5 %Cambria County22.5Blair County: 21.9 %Blair County21.9Bradford County: 21.2 %Bradford County21.2Potter County: 20.9 %Potter County20.9Northumberland County: 20.3 %Northumberland County20.3Clinton County: 20.2 %Clinton County20.2Somerset County: 20.2 %Somerset County20.2Mifflin County: 19.7 %Mifflin County19.7Crawford County: 19.4 %Crawford County19.4Indiana County: 19.3 %Indiana County19.3Tioga County: 19.1 %Tioga County19.1Lackawanna County: 19 %Lackawanna County19Greene County: 18.8 %Greene County18.8Mercer County: 18.7 %Mercer County18.7Clearfield County: 18.6 %Clearfield County18.6Fulton County: 18.6 %Fulton County18.6Dauphin County: 18.4 %Dauphin County18.4Lycoming County: 18.4 %Lycoming County18.4Lehigh County: 18.2 %Lehigh County18.2Venango County: 18.2 %Venango County18.2Lawrence County: 18.1 %Lawrence County18.1Susquehanna County: 18 %Susquehanna County18Beaver County: 17.8 %Beaver County17.8Huntingdon County: 17.5 %Huntingdon County17.5Monroe County: 17.4 %Monroe County17.4Columbia County: 17.3 %Columbia County17.3Wayne County: 17.1 %Wayne County17.1Clarion County: 16.9 %Clarion County16.9Berks County: 16.2 %Berks County16.2Sullivan County: 16.1 %Sullivan County16.1Armstrong County: 15.9 %Armstrong County15.9Philadelphia County: 31.6 %Philadelphia County31.6Forest County: 30 %Forest County30Jefferson County: 28 %Jefferson County28Fayette County: 26.9 %Fayette County26.9Luzerne County: 24.6 %Luzerne County24.6Erie County: 24.2 %Erie County24.2Warren County: 23.2 %Warren County23.2Cameron County: 23.1 %Cameron County23.1McKean County: 22.8 %McKean County22.8Cambria County: 22.5 %Cambria County22.5Blair County: 21.9 %Blair County21.9Bradford County: 21.2 %Bradford County21.2Potter County: 20.9 %Potter County20.9Northumberland County: 20.3 %Northumberland County20.3Clinton County: 20.2 %Clinton County20.2Somerset County: 20.2 %Somerset County20.2Mifflin County: 19.7 %Mifflin County19.7Crawford County: 19.4 %Crawford County19.4Indiana County: 19.3 %Indiana County19.3Tioga County: 19.1 %Tioga County19.1Lackawanna County: 19 %Lackawanna County19Greene County: 18.8 %Greene County18.8Mercer County: 18.7 %Mercer County18.7Clearfield County: 18.6 %Clearfield County18.6Fulton County: 18.6 %Fulton County18.6Dauphin County: 18.4 %Dauphin County18.4Lycoming County: 18.4 %Lycoming County18.4Lehigh County: 18.2 %Lehigh County18.2Venango County: 18.2 %Venango County18.2Lawrence County: 18.1 %Lawrence County18.1Susquehanna County: 18 %Susquehanna County18Beaver County: 17.8 %Beaver County17.8Huntingdon County: 17.5 %Huntingdon County17.5Monroe County: 17.4 %Monroe County17.4Columbia County: 17.3 %Columbia County17.3Wayne County: 17.1 %Wayne County17.1Clarion County: 16.9 %Clarion County16.9Berks County: 16.2 %Berks County16.2Sullivan County: 16.1 %Sullivan County16.1Armstrong County: 15.9 %Armstrong County15.9
%. 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

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Philadelphia County31.6-2.4 pts
2Forest County30-0.1 pts
3Jefferson County28+7.7 pts
4Fayette County26.9+6.6 pts
5Luzerne County24.6+1.4 pts
6Erie County24.2+2.8 pts
7Warren County23.2+5.1 pts
8Cameron County23.1+0.2 pts
9McKean County22.8-3.7 pts
10Cambria County22.5-0.1 pts
11Blair County21.9+2.5 pts
12Bradford County21.2+4.1 pts
13Potter County20.9-3.4 pts
14Northumberland County20.3+1.3 pts
15Clinton County20.2+2.6 pts
15Somerset County20.2+1.6 pts
17Mifflin County19.7-3.5 pts
18Crawford County19.4+0.3 pts
19Indiana County19.30 pts
20Tioga County19.1-2.3 pts
21Lackawanna County19-1.3 pts
22Greene County18.8-1.2 pts
23Mercer County18.7-5.7 pts
24Clearfield County18.6-4 pts
24Fulton County18.6+1.3 pts
26Dauphin County18.4-2.1 pts
26Lycoming County18.4+0.9 pts
28Lehigh County18.2+0.8 pts
28Venango County18.2-2.7 pts
30Lawrence County18.1-4.9 pts
31Susquehanna County18-1.7 pts
32Beaver County17.8+1.5 pts
33Huntingdon County17.5-1.4 pts
34Monroe County17.4+1.1 pts
35Columbia County17.3+2.7 pts
36Wayne County17.1-1.2 pts
37Clarion County16.9-1.7 pts
38Berks County16.2-0.7 pts
39Sullivan County16.1-4.8 pts
40Armstrong County15.9+2.3 pts
41Lebanon County15.5+0.9 pts
41Schuylkill County15.5-0.2 pts
43Juniata County15.4+0.9 pts
44Wyoming County15.2-1.9 pts
45Snyder County15.10 pts
46Lancaster County14.6+4.5 pts
47Pike County14.5-0.7 pts
48Montour County14.2+0.4 pts
49Allegheny County14.1-0.9 pts
50Bedford County14-1 pts
50Carbon County14-5.1 pts
52Westmoreland County13.9+1.6 pts
53Delaware County13.8+2.5 pts
54Perry County13.1+0.3 pts
55Franklin County12.7-5.1 pts
56York County12.6-0.2 pts
57Elk County11.9-0.7 pts
58Washington County11.8+1 pts
59Union County11.6-1.5 pts
60Northampton County10.4-4 pts
61Adams County10.2-1 pts
62Cumberland County9.5+0.3 pts
63Centre County8.6-2 pts
64Butler County8.1-0.9 pts
65Bucks County7.1+0.5 pts
66Montgomery County6.7+0.1 pts
67Chester County6.3-1.5 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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 Pennsylvania by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Pennsylvania by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2019. 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 Pennsylvania by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2019.

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 Pennsylvania by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_pennsylvania_by_2019,
  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 Pennsylvania by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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 Pennsylvania by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Philadelphia County, with 31.6% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Chester County, with 6.3% in 2019.

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 Pennsylvania: more rankings