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 2021, at 34.8%. Montgomery County had the lowest, at 7.8%. The median was 17.3% and the figure for Pennsylvania was 16.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest34.8Forest County
Median17.367 counties
Pennsylvania16.3History

Map of counties, 2021

Adams County: 11.6 %Allegheny County: 13.9 %Armstrong County: 15.7 %Beaver County: 17 %Bedford County: 15.4 %Berks County: 18.1 %Blair County: 16.3 %Bradford County: 18.7 %Bucks County: 8.2 %Butler County: 8.8 %Cambria County: 19.4 %Cameron County: 25 %Carbon County: 22.4 %Centre County: 10.6 %Chester County: 7.8 %Clarion County: 15.8 %Clearfield County: 19 %Clinton County: 18.3 %Columbia County: 18.3 %Crawford County: 21.1 %Cumberland County: 10.5 %Dauphin County: 17 %Delaware County: 13.9 %Elk County: 14.1 %Erie County: 23.8 %Fayette County: 21 %Forest County: 34.8 %Franklin County: 13.9 %Fulton County: 18.5 %Greene County: 20.2 %Huntingdon County: 19.7 %Indiana County: 18.2 %Jefferson County: 18.7 %Juniata County: 13.6 %Lackawanna County: 19.2 %Lancaster County: 10.8 %Lawrence County: 18.5 %Lebanon County: 12.3 %Lehigh County: 15.6 %Luzerne County: 18.8 %Lycoming County: 15.1 %McKean County: 19.1 %Mercer County: 17.7 %Mifflin County: 23.7 %Monroe County: 16.3 %Montgomery County: 7.8 %Montour County: 13.6 %Northampton County: 12.6 %Northumberland County: 17.3 %Perry County: 12.6 %Philadelphia County: 32.7 %Pike County: 14.1 %Potter County: 25.8 %Schuylkill County: 17.4 %Snyder County: 11.6 %Somerset County: 18.8 %Sullivan County: 17.3 %Susquehanna County: 17.4 %Tioga County: 19.4 %Union County: 12 %Venango County: 21 %Warren County: 20.2 %Washington County: 11.6 %Wayne County: 18.2 %Westmoreland County: 14.7 %Wyoming County: 17.4 %York County: 12.3 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 20
  • 20 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Forest County: 34.8 %Forest County34.8Philadelphia County: 32.7 %Philadelphia County32.7Potter County: 25.8 %Potter County25.8Cameron County: 25 %Cameron County25Erie County: 23.8 %Erie County23.8Mifflin County: 23.7 %Mifflin County23.7Carbon County: 22.4 %Carbon County22.4Crawford County: 21.1 %Crawford County21.1Fayette County: 21 %Fayette County21Venango County: 21 %Venango County21Greene County: 20.2 %Greene County20.2Warren County: 20.2 %Warren County20.2Huntingdon County: 19.7 %Huntingdon County19.7Cambria County: 19.4 %Cambria County19.4Tioga County: 19.4 %Tioga County19.4Lackawanna County: 19.2 %Lackawanna County19.2McKean County: 19.1 %McKean County19.1Clearfield County: 19 %Clearfield County19Luzerne County: 18.8 %Luzerne County18.8Somerset County: 18.8 %Somerset County18.8Bradford County: 18.7 %Bradford County18.7Jefferson County: 18.7 %Jefferson County18.7Fulton County: 18.5 %Fulton County18.5Lawrence County: 18.5 %Lawrence County18.5Clinton County: 18.3 %Clinton County18.3Columbia County: 18.3 %Columbia County18.3Indiana County: 18.2 %Indiana County18.2Wayne County: 18.2 %Wayne County18.2Berks County: 18.1 %Berks County18.1Mercer County: 17.7 %Mercer County17.7Schuylkill County: 17.4 %Schuylkill County17.4Susquehanna County: 17.4 %Susquehanna County17.4Wyoming County: 17.4 %Wyoming County17.4Northumberland County: 17.3 %Northumberland County17.3Sullivan County: 17.3 %Sullivan County17.3Beaver County: 17 %Beaver County17Dauphin County: 17 %Dauphin County17Blair County: 16.3 %Blair County16.3Monroe County: 16.3 %Monroe County16.3Clarion County: 15.8 %Clarion County15.8Forest County: 34.8 %Forest County34.8Philadelphia County: 32.7 %Philadelphia County32.7Potter County: 25.8 %Potter County25.8Cameron County: 25 %Cameron County25Erie County: 23.8 %Erie County23.8Mifflin County: 23.7 %Mifflin County23.7Carbon County: 22.4 %Carbon County22.4Crawford County: 21.1 %Crawford County21.1Fayette County: 21 %Fayette County21Venango County: 21 %Venango County21Greene County: 20.2 %Greene County20.2Warren County: 20.2 %Warren County20.2Huntingdon County: 19.7 %Huntingdon County19.7Cambria County: 19.4 %Cambria County19.4Tioga County: 19.4 %Tioga County19.4Lackawanna County: 19.2 %Lackawanna County19.2McKean County: 19.1 %McKean County19.1Clearfield County: 19 %Clearfield County19Luzerne County: 18.8 %Luzerne County18.8Somerset County: 18.8 %Somerset County18.8Bradford County: 18.7 %Bradford County18.7Jefferson County: 18.7 %Jefferson County18.7Fulton County: 18.5 %Fulton County18.5Lawrence County: 18.5 %Lawrence County18.5Clinton County: 18.3 %Clinton County18.3Columbia County: 18.3 %Columbia County18.3Indiana County: 18.2 %Indiana County18.2Wayne County: 18.2 %Wayne County18.2Berks County: 18.1 %Berks County18.1Mercer County: 17.7 %Mercer County17.7Schuylkill County: 17.4 %Schuylkill County17.4Susquehanna County: 17.4 %Susquehanna County17.4Wyoming County: 17.4 %Wyoming County17.4Northumberland County: 17.3 %Northumberland County17.3Sullivan County: 17.3 %Sullivan County17.3Beaver County: 17 %Beaver County17Dauphin County: 17 %Dauphin County17Blair County: 16.3 %Blair County16.3Monroe County: 16.3 %Monroe County16.3Clarion County: 15.8 %Clarion County15.8
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Forest County34.8+4.9 pts
2Philadelphia County32.7+5.7 pts
3Potter County25.8+6.1 pts
4Cameron County25+3 pts
5Erie County23.8+5.8 pts
6Mifflin County23.7+2.7 pts
7Carbon County22.4+3.5 pts
8Crawford County21.1+2.8 pts
9Fayette County21-2.5 pts
9Venango County21-1.8 pts
11Greene County20.2+3.6 pts
11Warren County20.2+3.7 pts
13Huntingdon County19.7+5.5 pts
14Cambria County19.4+3.3 pts
14Tioga County19.4+3 pts
16Lackawanna County19.2+2.9 pts
17McKean County19.1-0.9 pts
18Clearfield County19-0.9 pts
19Luzerne County18.8-4.9 pts
19Somerset County18.8+2.8 pts
21Bradford County18.7+5.3 pts
21Jefferson County18.7+3.3 pts
23Fulton County18.5+4 pts
23Lawrence County18.5+0.2 pts
25Clinton County18.3+0.1 pts
25Columbia County18.3+5.1 pts
27Indiana County18.2+0.5 pts
27Wayne County18.2+3.8 pts
29Berks County18.1+4.1 pts
30Mercer County17.7-2.6 pts
31Schuylkill County17.40 pts
31Susquehanna County17.4+1.1 pts
31Wyoming County17.4+2.4 pts
34Northumberland County17.3+0.4 pts
34Sullivan County17.3+0.7 pts
36Beaver County17+4.8 pts
36Dauphin County17+1.5 pts
38Blair County16.3+1.1 pts
38Monroe County16.3+2.8 pts
40Clarion County15.8+0.6 pts
41Armstrong County15.7-0.4 pts
42Lehigh County15.6-3 pts
43Bedford County15.4+1 pts
44Lycoming County15.1-4.2 pts
45Westmoreland County14.7+3.5 pts
46Elk County14.1+3.4 pts
46Pike County14.1+0.5 pts
48Allegheny County13.9+0.9 pts
48Delaware County13.9+2.5 pts
48Franklin County13.9+1.7 pts
51Juniata County13.6-1 pts
51Montour County13.6+0.6 pts
53Northampton County12.6+2.2 pts
53Perry County12.6+0.5 pts
55Lebanon County12.3-0.6 pts
55York County12.3+3.2 pts
57Union County12+0.5 pts
58Adams County11.6+0.5 pts
58Snyder County11.6-2.2 pts
58Washington County11.6+0.8 pts
61Lancaster County10.8+1 pts
62Centre County10.6+1.2 pts
63Cumberland County10.5+1.7 pts
64Butler County8.8+1 pts
65Bucks County8.2+2.1 pts
66Chester County7.8+2 pts
66Montgomery County7.8+2.1 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_pennsylvania_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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 34.8% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Montgomery County, with 7.8% in 2021.

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