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

Forest County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 67 counties in 2020, at 29.9%. Montgomery County had the lowest, at 5.7%. The median was 15.2% and the figure for Pennsylvania was 14.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest29.9Forest County
Median15.267 counties
Pennsylvania14.3History

Map of counties, 2020

Adams County: 11.1 %Allegheny County: 13 %Armstrong County: 16.1 %Beaver County: 12.2 %Bedford County: 14.4 %Berks County: 14 %Blair County: 15.2 %Bradford County: 13.4 %Bucks County: 6.1 %Butler County: 7.8 %Cambria County: 16.1 %Cameron County: 22 %Carbon County: 18.9 %Centre County: 9.4 %Chester County: 5.8 %Clarion County: 15.2 %Clearfield County: 19.9 %Clinton County: 18.2 %Columbia County: 13.2 %Crawford County: 18.3 %Cumberland County: 8.8 %Dauphin County: 15.5 %Delaware County: 11.4 %Elk County: 10.7 %Erie County: 18 %Fayette County: 23.5 %Forest County: 29.9 %Franklin County: 12.2 %Fulton County: 14.5 %Greene County: 16.6 %Huntingdon County: 14.2 %Indiana County: 17.7 %Jefferson County: 15.4 %Juniata County: 14.6 %Lackawanna County: 16.3 %Lancaster County: 9.8 %Lawrence County: 18.3 %Lebanon County: 12.9 %Lehigh County: 18.6 %Luzerne County: 23.7 %Lycoming County: 19.3 %McKean County: 20 %Mercer County: 20.3 %Mifflin County: 21 %Monroe County: 13.5 %Montgomery County: 5.7 %Montour County: 13 %Northampton County: 10.4 %Northumberland County: 16.9 %Perry County: 12.1 %Philadelphia County: 27 %Pike County: 13.6 %Potter County: 19.7 %Schuylkill County: 17.4 %Snyder County: 13.8 %Somerset County: 16 %Sullivan County: 16.6 %Susquehanna County: 16.3 %Tioga County: 16.4 %Union County: 11.5 %Venango County: 22.8 %Warren County: 16.5 %Washington County: 10.8 %Wayne County: 14.4 %Westmoreland County: 11.2 %Wyoming County: 15 %York County: 9.1 %
  • Under 11
  • 11 to 13
  • 13 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 and over
%, 2020. 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, 2020

Forest County: 29.9 %Forest County29.9Philadelphia County: 27 %Philadelphia County27Luzerne County: 23.7 %Luzerne County23.7Fayette County: 23.5 %Fayette County23.5Venango County: 22.8 %Venango County22.8Cameron County: 22 %Cameron County22Mifflin County: 21 %Mifflin County21Mercer County: 20.3 %Mercer County20.3McKean County: 20 %McKean County20Clearfield County: 19.9 %Clearfield County19.9Potter County: 19.7 %Potter County19.7Lycoming County: 19.3 %Lycoming County19.3Carbon County: 18.9 %Carbon County18.9Lehigh County: 18.6 %Lehigh County18.6Crawford County: 18.3 %Crawford County18.3Lawrence County: 18.3 %Lawrence County18.3Clinton County: 18.2 %Clinton County18.2Erie County: 18 %Erie County18Indiana County: 17.7 %Indiana County17.7Schuylkill County: 17.4 %Schuylkill County17.4Northumberland County: 16.9 %Northumberland County16.9Greene County: 16.6 %Greene County16.6Sullivan County: 16.6 %Sullivan County16.6Warren County: 16.5 %Warren County16.5Tioga County: 16.4 %Tioga County16.4Lackawanna County: 16.3 %Lackawanna County16.3Susquehanna County: 16.3 %Susquehanna County16.3Armstrong County: 16.1 %Armstrong County16.1Cambria County: 16.1 %Cambria County16.1Somerset County: 16 %Somerset County16Dauphin County: 15.5 %Dauphin County15.5Jefferson County: 15.4 %Jefferson County15.4Blair County: 15.2 %Blair County15.2Clarion County: 15.2 %Clarion County15.2Wyoming County: 15 %Wyoming County15Juniata County: 14.6 %Juniata County14.6Fulton County: 14.5 %Fulton County14.5Bedford County: 14.4 %Bedford County14.4Wayne County: 14.4 %Wayne County14.4Huntingdon County: 14.2 %Huntingdon County14.2Forest County: 29.9 %Forest County29.9Philadelphia County: 27 %Philadelphia County27Luzerne County: 23.7 %Luzerne County23.7Fayette County: 23.5 %Fayette County23.5Venango County: 22.8 %Venango County22.8Cameron County: 22 %Cameron County22Mifflin County: 21 %Mifflin County21Mercer County: 20.3 %Mercer County20.3McKean County: 20 %McKean County20Clearfield County: 19.9 %Clearfield County19.9Potter County: 19.7 %Potter County19.7Lycoming County: 19.3 %Lycoming County19.3Carbon County: 18.9 %Carbon County18.9Lehigh County: 18.6 %Lehigh County18.6Crawford County: 18.3 %Crawford County18.3Lawrence County: 18.3 %Lawrence County18.3Clinton County: 18.2 %Clinton County18.2Erie County: 18 %Erie County18Indiana County: 17.7 %Indiana County17.7Schuylkill County: 17.4 %Schuylkill County17.4Northumberland County: 16.9 %Northumberland County16.9Greene County: 16.6 %Greene County16.6Sullivan County: 16.6 %Sullivan County16.6Warren County: 16.5 %Warren County16.5Tioga County: 16.4 %Tioga County16.4Lackawanna County: 16.3 %Lackawanna County16.3Susquehanna County: 16.3 %Susquehanna County16.3Armstrong County: 16.1 %Armstrong County16.1Cambria County: 16.1 %Cambria County16.1Somerset County: 16 %Somerset County16Dauphin County: 15.5 %Dauphin County15.5Jefferson County: 15.4 %Jefferson County15.4Blair County: 15.2 %Blair County15.2Clarion County: 15.2 %Clarion County15.2Wyoming County: 15 %Wyoming County15Juniata County: 14.6 %Juniata County14.6Fulton County: 14.5 %Fulton County14.5Bedford County: 14.4 %Bedford County14.4Wayne County: 14.4 %Wayne County14.4Huntingdon County: 14.2 %Huntingdon County14.2
%. 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

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Forest County29.9-0.1 pts
2Philadelphia County27-4.6 pts
3Luzerne County23.7-0.9 pts
4Fayette County23.5-3.4 pts
5Venango County22.8+4.6 pts
6Cameron County22-1.1 pts
7Mifflin County21+1.3 pts
8Mercer County20.3+1.6 pts
9McKean County20-2.8 pts
10Clearfield County19.9+1.3 pts
11Potter County19.7-1.2 pts
12Lycoming County19.3+0.9 pts
13Carbon County18.9+4.9 pts
14Lehigh County18.6+0.4 pts
15Crawford County18.3-1.1 pts
15Lawrence County18.3+0.2 pts
17Clinton County18.2-2 pts
18Erie County18-6.2 pts
19Indiana County17.7-1.6 pts
20Schuylkill County17.4+1.9 pts
21Northumberland County16.9-3.4 pts
22Greene County16.6-2.2 pts
22Sullivan County16.6+0.5 pts
24Warren County16.5-6.7 pts
25Tioga County16.4-2.7 pts
26Lackawanna County16.3-2.7 pts
26Susquehanna County16.3-1.7 pts
28Armstrong County16.1+0.2 pts
28Cambria County16.1-6.4 pts
30Somerset County16-4.2 pts
31Dauphin County15.5-2.9 pts
32Jefferson County15.4-12.6 pts
33Blair County15.2-6.7 pts
33Clarion County15.2-1.7 pts
35Wyoming County15-0.2 pts
36Juniata County14.6-0.8 pts
37Fulton County14.5-4.1 pts
38Bedford County14.4+0.4 pts
38Wayne County14.4-2.7 pts
40Huntingdon County14.2-3.3 pts
41Berks County14-2.2 pts
42Snyder County13.8-1.3 pts
43Pike County13.6-0.9 pts
44Monroe County13.5-3.9 pts
45Bradford County13.4-7.8 pts
46Columbia County13.2-4.1 pts
47Allegheny County13-1.1 pts
47Montour County13-1.2 pts
49Lebanon County12.9-2.6 pts
50Beaver County12.2-5.6 pts
50Franklin County12.2-0.5 pts
52Perry County12.1-1 pts
53Union County11.5-0.1 pts
54Delaware County11.4-2.4 pts
55Westmoreland County11.2-2.7 pts
56Adams County11.1+0.9 pts
57Washington County10.8-1 pts
58Elk County10.7-1.2 pts
59Northampton County10.40 pts
60Lancaster County9.8-4.8 pts
61Centre County9.4+0.8 pts
62York County9.1-3.5 pts
63Cumberland County8.8-0.7 pts
64Butler County7.8-0.3 pts
65Bucks County6.1-1 pts
66Chester County5.8-0.5 pts
67Montgomery County5.7-1 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_pennsylvania_by_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Forest County, with 29.9% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Montgomery County, with 5.7% in 2020.

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