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 2023, at 29.3%. Chester County had the lowest, at 6.5%. The median was 17% and the figure for Pennsylvania was 15.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest29.3Forest County
Median1767 counties
Pennsylvania15.5History

Map of counties, 2023

Adams County: 12.6 %Allegheny County: 15.2 %Armstrong County: 15.4 %Beaver County: 12.7 %Bedford County: 14.3 %Berks County: 17.9 %Blair County: 18 %Bradford County: 17.6 %Bucks County: 7.5 %Butler County: 9.8 %Cambria County: 17.6 %Cameron County: 25.7 %Carbon County: 17.6 %Centre County: 10 %Chester County: 6.5 %Clarion County: 17.3 %Clearfield County: 19.8 %Clinton County: 18.5 %Columbia County: 13.8 %Crawford County: 17.5 %Cumberland County: 9.1 %Dauphin County: 19 %Delaware County: 13.7 %Elk County: 13.8 %Erie County: 20.8 %Fayette County: 27.1 %Forest County: 29.3 %Franklin County: 11.3 %Fulton County: 18.7 %Greene County: 18.4 %Huntingdon County: 17.7 %Indiana County: 18.5 %Jefferson County: 23.5 %Juniata County: 13.4 %Lackawanna County: 19.5 %Lancaster County: 11.5 %Lawrence County: 18.5 %Lebanon County: 11.3 %Lehigh County: 17.6 %Luzerne County: 25.3 %Lycoming County: 16.7 %McKean County: 21 %Mercer County: 18.8 %Mifflin County: 21.5 %Monroe County: 13.9 %Montgomery County: 7.9 %Montour County: 12.9 %Northampton County: 14.6 %Northumberland County: 15.8 %Perry County: 14.6 %Philadelphia County: 25.8 %Pike County: 13.4 %Potter County: 17.7 %Schuylkill County: 21 %Snyder County: 13.5 %Somerset County: 15.9 %Sullivan County: 19.9 %Susquehanna County: 16.1 %Tioga County: 18.2 %Union County: 11.6 %Venango County: 20.8 %Warren County: 17.1 %Washington County: 12.2 %Wayne County: 16.5 %Westmoreland County: 13.8 %Wyoming County: 17 %York County: 12 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 14
  • 14 to 17
  • 17 to 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Forest County: 29.3 %Forest County29.3Fayette County: 27.1 %Fayette County27.1Philadelphia County: 25.8 %Philadelphia County25.8Cameron County: 25.7 %Cameron County25.7Luzerne County: 25.3 %Luzerne County25.3Jefferson County: 23.5 %Jefferson County23.5Mifflin County: 21.5 %Mifflin County21.5McKean County: 21 %McKean County21Schuylkill County: 21 %Schuylkill County21Erie County: 20.8 %Erie County20.8Venango County: 20.8 %Venango County20.8Sullivan County: 19.9 %Sullivan County19.9Clearfield County: 19.8 %Clearfield County19.8Lackawanna County: 19.5 %Lackawanna County19.5Dauphin County: 19 %Dauphin County19Mercer County: 18.8 %Mercer County18.8Fulton County: 18.7 %Fulton County18.7Clinton County: 18.5 %Clinton County18.5Indiana County: 18.5 %Indiana County18.5Lawrence County: 18.5 %Lawrence County18.5Greene County: 18.4 %Greene County18.4Tioga County: 18.2 %Tioga County18.2Blair County: 18 %Blair County18Berks County: 17.9 %Berks County17.9Huntingdon County: 17.7 %Huntingdon County17.7Potter County: 17.7 %Potter County17.7Bradford County: 17.6 %Bradford County17.6Cambria County: 17.6 %Cambria County17.6Carbon County: 17.6 %Carbon County17.6Lehigh County: 17.6 %Lehigh County17.6Crawford County: 17.5 %Crawford County17.5Clarion County: 17.3 %Clarion County17.3Warren County: 17.1 %Warren County17.1Wyoming County: 17 %Wyoming County17Lycoming County: 16.7 %Lycoming County16.7Wayne County: 16.5 %Wayne County16.5Susquehanna County: 16.1 %Susquehanna County16.1Somerset County: 15.9 %Somerset County15.9Northumberland County: 15.8 %Northumberland County15.8Armstrong County: 15.4 %Armstrong County15.4Forest County: 29.3 %Forest County29.3Fayette County: 27.1 %Fayette County27.1Philadelphia County: 25.8 %Philadelphia County25.8Cameron County: 25.7 %Cameron County25.7Luzerne County: 25.3 %Luzerne County25.3Jefferson County: 23.5 %Jefferson County23.5Mifflin County: 21.5 %Mifflin County21.5McKean County: 21 %McKean County21Schuylkill County: 21 %Schuylkill County21Erie County: 20.8 %Erie County20.8Venango County: 20.8 %Venango County20.8Sullivan County: 19.9 %Sullivan County19.9Clearfield County: 19.8 %Clearfield County19.8Lackawanna County: 19.5 %Lackawanna County19.5Dauphin County: 19 %Dauphin County19Mercer County: 18.8 %Mercer County18.8Fulton County: 18.7 %Fulton County18.7Clinton County: 18.5 %Clinton County18.5Indiana County: 18.5 %Indiana County18.5Lawrence County: 18.5 %Lawrence County18.5Greene County: 18.4 %Greene County18.4Tioga County: 18.2 %Tioga County18.2Blair County: 18 %Blair County18Berks County: 17.9 %Berks County17.9Huntingdon County: 17.7 %Huntingdon County17.7Potter County: 17.7 %Potter County17.7Bradford County: 17.6 %Bradford County17.6Cambria County: 17.6 %Cambria County17.6Carbon County: 17.6 %Carbon County17.6Lehigh County: 17.6 %Lehigh County17.6Crawford County: 17.5 %Crawford County17.5Clarion County: 17.3 %Clarion County17.3Warren County: 17.1 %Warren County17.1Wyoming County: 17 %Wyoming County17Lycoming County: 16.7 %Lycoming County16.7Wayne County: 16.5 %Wayne County16.5Susquehanna County: 16.1 %Susquehanna County16.1Somerset County: 15.9 %Somerset County15.9Northumberland County: 15.8 %Northumberland County15.8Armstrong County: 15.4 %Armstrong County15.4
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Forest County29.3+0.7 pts
2Fayette County27.1+4 pts
3Philadelphia County25.8-2.5 pts
4Cameron County25.7+3.2 pts
5Luzerne County25.3+3.9 pts
6Jefferson County23.5+4.6 pts
7Mifflin County21.5+0.9 pts
8McKean County21+0.4 pts
8Schuylkill County21+4.6 pts
10Erie County20.8+1.2 pts
10Venango County20.8+0.7 pts
12Sullivan County19.9-2.7 pts
13Clearfield County19.8+3.5 pts
14Lackawanna County19.5+2.8 pts
15Dauphin County19+3.3 pts
16Mercer County18.8+0.4 pts
17Fulton County18.7+1.5 pts
18Clinton County18.5+0.9 pts
18Indiana County18.5+0.7 pts
18Lawrence County18.5+1.8 pts
21Greene County18.4+0.9 pts
22Tioga County18.2+0.5 pts
23Blair County18+0.7 pts
24Berks County17.9+3.6 pts
25Huntingdon County17.7+1.9 pts
25Potter County17.7-5.2 pts
27Bradford County17.6+0.9 pts
27Cambria County17.6-4 pts
27Carbon County17.6+2.1 pts
27Lehigh County17.6+1.8 pts
31Crawford County17.5-1.1 pts
32Clarion County17.3+1.3 pts
33Warren County17.1-2.3 pts
34Wyoming County17-0.4 pts
35Lycoming County16.7+1.2 pts
36Wayne County16.5-1.6 pts
37Susquehanna County16.1-3 pts
38Somerset County15.9-2.7 pts
39Northumberland County15.8-2 pts
40Armstrong County15.4-0.9 pts
41Allegheny County15.2+0.8 pts
42Northampton County14.6+0.3 pts
42Perry County14.6+1.5 pts
44Bedford County14.3-0.6 pts
45Monroe County13.9-2.2 pts
46Columbia County13.8-0.6 pts
46Elk County13.8-0.5 pts
46Westmoreland County13.8+0.6 pts
49Delaware County13.7+0.9 pts
50Snyder County13.5-0.5 pts
51Juniata County13.4-1.3 pts
51Pike County13.4+0.4 pts
53Montour County12.9-0.4 pts
54Beaver County12.7-1 pts
55Adams County12.6+2.6 pts
56Washington County12.2-1 pts
57York County12+0.5 pts
58Union County11.6+0.1 pts
59Lancaster County11.5-0.4 pts
60Franklin County11.3-0.5 pts
60Lebanon County11.3-2.8 pts
62Centre County10+0.1 pts
63Butler County9.8+1.4 pts
64Cumberland County9.1-0.3 pts
65Montgomery County7.9+0.7 pts
66Bucks County7.5+0.5 pts
67Chester County6.5+0.1 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_pennsylvania_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/pennsylvania-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 29.3% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Chester County, with 6.5% in 2023.

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