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

Allendale County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 46 counties in 2016, at 51.7%. York County had the lowest, at 14.2%. The median was 28.1% and the figure for South Carolina was 23%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest51.7Allendale County
Lowest14.2York County
Median28.146 counties
South Carolina23History

Map of counties, 2016

Abbeville County: 24.6 %Aiken County: 26.1 %Allendale County: 51.7 %Anderson County: 22.1 %Bamberg County: 42.7 %Barnwell County: 35.9 %Beaufort County: 19.2 %Berkeley County: 18.4 %Calhoun County: 26.3 %Charleston County: 20.8 %Cherokee County: 27.7 %Chester County: 30.3 %Chesterfield County: 31.1 %Clarendon County: 39.4 %Colleton County: 38.7 %Darlington County: 32.3 %Dillon County: 38.2 %Dorchester County: 14.2 %Edgefield County: 25.8 %Fairfield County: 32.3 %Florence County: 27.8 %Georgetown County: 30 %Greenville County: 15.3 %Greenwood County: 35.1 %Hampton County: 32.1 %Horry County: 27.6 %Jasper County: 34.9 %Kershaw County: 21.5 %Lancaster County: 20.5 %Laurens County: 27.8 %Lee County: 40.6 %Lexington County: 16.7 %McCormick County: 33.6 %Marion County: 41.3 %Marlboro County: 40.8 %Newberry County: 28.4 %Oconee County: 24.3 %Orangeburg County: 36 %Pickens County: 17.9 %Richland County: 22 %Saluda County: 27.5 %Spartanburg County: 24.3 %Sumter County: 29.5 %Union County: 34.2 %Williamsburg County: 48.8 %York County: 14.2 %
  • Under 21
  • 21 to 26
  • 26 to 28
  • 28 to 32
  • 32 to 38
  • 38 and over
%, 2016. 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.

All counties, 2016

Allendale County: 51.7 %Allendale County51.7Williamsburg County: 48.8 %Williamsburg County48.8Bamberg County: 42.7 %Bamberg County42.7Marion County: 41.3 %Marion County41.3Marlboro County: 40.8 %Marlboro County40.8Lee County: 40.6 %Lee County40.6Clarendon County: 39.4 %Clarendon County39.4Colleton County: 38.7 %Colleton County38.7Dillon County: 38.2 %Dillon County38.2Orangeburg County: 36 %Orangeburg County36Barnwell County: 35.9 %Barnwell County35.9Greenwood County: 35.1 %Greenwood County35.1Jasper County: 34.9 %Jasper County34.9Union County: 34.2 %Union County34.2McCormick County: 33.6 %McCormick County33.6Darlington County: 32.3 %Darlington County32.3Fairfield County: 32.3 %Fairfield County32.3Hampton County: 32.1 %Hampton County32.1Chesterfield County: 31.1 %Chesterfield County31.1Chester County: 30.3 %Chester County30.3Georgetown County: 30 %Georgetown County30Sumter County: 29.5 %Sumter County29.5Newberry County: 28.4 %Newberry County28.4Florence County: 27.8 %Florence County27.8Laurens County: 27.8 %Laurens County27.8Cherokee County: 27.7 %Cherokee County27.7Horry County: 27.6 %Horry County27.6Saluda County: 27.5 %Saluda County27.5Calhoun County: 26.3 %Calhoun County26.3Aiken County: 26.1 %Aiken County26.1Edgefield County: 25.8 %Edgefield County25.8Abbeville County: 24.6 %Abbeville County24.6Oconee County: 24.3 %Oconee County24.3Spartanburg County: 24.3 %Spartanburg County24.3Anderson County: 22.1 %Anderson County22.1Richland County: 22 %Richland County22Kershaw County: 21.5 %Kershaw County21.5Charleston County: 20.8 %Charleston County20.8Lancaster County: 20.5 %Lancaster County20.5Beaufort County: 19.2 %Beaufort County19.2Berkeley County: 18.4 %Berkeley County18.4Pickens County: 17.9 %Pickens County17.9Lexington County: 16.7 %Lexington County16.7Greenville County: 15.3 %Greenville County15.3Dorchester County: 14.2 %Dorchester County14.2York County: 14.2 %York County14.2Allendale County: 51.7 %Allendale County51.7Williamsburg County: 48.8 %Williamsburg County48.8Bamberg County: 42.7 %Bamberg County42.7Marion County: 41.3 %Marion County41.3Marlboro County: 40.8 %Marlboro County40.8Lee County: 40.6 %Lee County40.6Clarendon County: 39.4 %Clarendon County39.4Colleton County: 38.7 %Colleton County38.7Dillon County: 38.2 %Dillon County38.2Orangeburg County: 36 %Orangeburg County36Barnwell County: 35.9 %Barnwell County35.9Greenwood County: 35.1 %Greenwood County35.1Jasper County: 34.9 %Jasper County34.9Union County: 34.2 %Union County34.2McCormick County: 33.6 %McCormick County33.6Darlington County: 32.3 %Darlington County32.3Fairfield County: 32.3 %Fairfield County32.3Hampton County: 32.1 %Hampton County32.1Chesterfield County: 31.1 %Chesterfield County31.1Chester County: 30.3 %Chester County30.3Georgetown County: 30 %Georgetown County30Sumter County: 29.5 %Sumter County29.5Newberry County: 28.4 %Newberry County28.4Florence County: 27.8 %Florence County27.8Laurens County: 27.8 %Laurens County27.8Cherokee County: 27.7 %Cherokee County27.7Horry County: 27.6 %Horry County27.6Saluda County: 27.5 %Saluda County27.5Calhoun County: 26.3 %Calhoun County26.3Aiken County: 26.1 %Aiken County26.1Edgefield County: 25.8 %Edgefield County25.8Abbeville County: 24.6 %Abbeville County24.6Oconee County: 24.3 %Oconee County24.3Spartanburg County: 24.3 %Spartanburg County24.3Anderson County: 22.1 %Anderson County22.1Richland County: 22 %Richland County22Kershaw County: 21.5 %Kershaw County21.5Charleston County: 20.8 %Charleston County20.8Lancaster County: 20.5 %Lancaster County20.5Beaufort County: 19.2 %Beaufort County19.2Berkeley County: 18.4 %Berkeley County18.4Pickens County: 17.9 %Pickens County17.9Lexington County: 16.7 %Lexington County16.7Greenville County: 15.3 %Greenville County15.3Dorchester County: 14.2 %Dorchester County14.2York County: 14.2 %York 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

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Allendale County51.7+1.1 pts
2Williamsburg County48.8+5.5 pts
3Bamberg County42.7-1.2 pts
4Marion County41.3+0.2 pts
5Marlboro County40.8+2.9 pts
6Lee County40.6+2 pts
7Clarendon County39.4+1.3 pts
8Colleton County38.7+2 pts
9Dillon County38.2-4.6 pts
10Orangeburg County36-0.8 pts
11Barnwell County35.9-2.3 pts
12Greenwood County35.1+8.9 pts
13Jasper County34.9-5.2 pts
14Union County34.2+0.4 pts
15McCormick County33.6-1.6 pts
16Darlington County32.3-1.1 pts
16Fairfield County32.3-1.1 pts
18Hampton County32.1-3 pts
19Chesterfield County31.1-2.6 pts
20Chester County30.3-7.7 pts
21Georgetown County30-2 pts
22Sumter County29.5-0.3 pts
23Newberry County28.4-0.1 pts
24Florence County27.8-0.9 pts
24Laurens County27.8-2.9 pts
26Cherokee County27.7-2 pts
27Horry County27.6-2 pts
28Saluda County27.5-2.1 pts
29Calhoun County26.3-3.1 pts
30Aiken County26.1-1 pts
31Edgefield County25.8-1.3 pts
32Abbeville County24.6-1.6 pts
33Oconee County24.3-0.8 pts
33Spartanburg County24.3+2.8 pts
35Anderson County22.1-3 pts
36Richland County22-0.3 pts
37Kershaw County21.5-1.8 pts
38Charleston County20.8-2.1 pts
39Lancaster County20.5-0.5 pts
40Beaufort County19.2-2.1 pts
41Berkeley County18.4-0.3 pts
42Pickens County17.9-1.5 pts
43Lexington County16.7-2.4 pts
44Greenville County15.3-2.4 pts
45Dorchester County14.2-4.6 pts
45York County14.2-2.9 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 South Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in South Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/south-carolina-counties?period=2016. 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 South Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/south-carolina-counties?period=2016.

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 South Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/south-carolina-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_south_carolina_2016,
  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 South Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/south-carolina-counties?period=2016. 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 South Carolina by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/south-carolina-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/south-carolina-counties?period=2016.
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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Allendale County, with 51.7% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

York County, with 14.2% in 2016.

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 South Carolina: more rankings