Counties in Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024

Hancock County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 95 counties in 2024, at 38.7%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 3.5%. The median was 19.2% and the figure for Tennessee was 18.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest38.7Hancock County
Median19.295 counties
Tennessee18.4History

Map of counties, 2024

Anderson County: 16.2 %Bedford County: 19.7 %Benton County: 24.3 %Bledsoe County: 21.9 %Blount County: 9.8 %Bradley County: 15.1 %Campbell County: 26.2 %Cannon County: 18.4 %Carroll County: 21.1 %Carter County: 20.8 %Cheatham County: 11.3 %Chester County: 16.6 %Claiborne County: 21.2 %Clay County: 28.4 %Cocke County: 32.9 %Coffee County: 21.9 %Crockett County: 18 %Cumberland County: 20.8 %Davidson County: 17.2 %Decatur County: 20 %DeKalb County: 18.9 %Dickson County: 12.8 %Dyer County: 20.1 %Fayette County: 14.6 %Fentress County: 25.1 %Franklin County: 16.1 %Gibson County: 17.5 %Giles County: 19 %Grainger County: 19.2 %Greene County: 21 %Grundy County: 26 %Hamblen County: 18.2 %Hamilton County: 22 %Hancock County: 38.7 %Hardeman County: 26.5 %Hardin County: 27 %Hawkins County: 17.7 %Haywood County: 30.7 %Henderson County: 19.1 %Henry County: 24.4 %Hickman County: 18.1 %Houston County: 22.3 %Humphreys County: 15.6 %Jackson County: 23.4 %Jefferson County: 16.4 %Johnson County: 27.8 %Knox County: 15.2 %Lake County: 38.4 %Lauderdale County: 27.9 %Lawrence County: 17.8 %Lewis County: 18.4 %Lincoln County: 16.8 %Loudon County: 13.8 %McMinn County: 18.3 %McNairy County: 23.1 %Macon County: 21 %Madison County: 24.1 %Marion County: 19.2 %Marshall County: 11.9 %Maury County: 11.3 %Meigs County: 20.5 %Monroe County: 16.9 %Montgomery County: 14.3 %Moore County: 11.7 %Morgan County: 20.9 %Obion County: 20.9 %Overton County: 17 %Perry County: 23.5 %Pickett County: 24.5 %Polk County: 18.4 %Putnam County: 21.8 %Rhea County: 18.4 %Roane County: 15.9 %Robertson County: 12.2 %Rutherford County: 12.5 %Scott County: 21.7 %Sequatchie County: 21.1 %Sevier County: 18.2 %Shelby County: 29.9 %Smith County: 14.7 %Stewart County: 24.1 %Sullivan County: 22.7 %Sumner County: 10.8 %Tipton County: 19.1 %Trousdale County: 14.9 %Unicoi County: 20 %Union County: 22.1 %Van Buren County: 22.8 %Warren County: 20.4 %Washington County: 16 %Wayne County: 22.5 %Weakley County: 22 %White County: 18.2 %Williamson County: 3.5 %Wilson County: 8.7 %
  • Under 15
  • 15 to 18
  • 18 to 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 24
  • 24 and over
%, 2024. 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, 2024

Hancock County: 38.7 %Hancock County38.7Lake County: 38.4 %Lake County38.4Cocke County: 32.9 %Cocke County32.9Haywood County: 30.7 %Haywood County30.7Shelby County: 29.9 %Shelby County29.9Clay County: 28.4 %Clay County28.4Lauderdale County: 27.9 %Lauderdale County27.9Johnson County: 27.8 %Johnson County27.8Hardin County: 27 %Hardin County27Hardeman County: 26.5 %Hardeman County26.5Campbell County: 26.2 %Campbell County26.2Grundy County: 26 %Grundy County26Fentress County: 25.1 %Fentress County25.1Pickett County: 24.5 %Pickett County24.5Henry County: 24.4 %Henry County24.4Benton County: 24.3 %Benton County24.3Madison County: 24.1 %Madison County24.1Stewart County: 24.1 %Stewart County24.1Perry County: 23.5 %Perry County23.5Jackson County: 23.4 %Jackson County23.4McNairy County: 23.1 %McNairy County23.1Van Buren County: 22.8 %Van Buren County22.8Sullivan County: 22.7 %Sullivan County22.7Wayne County: 22.5 %Wayne County22.5Houston County: 22.3 %Houston County22.3Union County: 22.1 %Union County22.1Hamilton County: 22 %Hamilton County22Weakley County: 22 %Weakley County22Bledsoe County: 21.9 %Bledsoe County21.9Coffee County: 21.9 %Coffee County21.9Putnam County: 21.8 %Putnam County21.8Scott County: 21.7 %Scott County21.7Claiborne County: 21.2 %Claiborne County21.2Carroll County: 21.1 %Carroll County21.1Sequatchie County: 21.1 %Sequatchie County21.1Greene County: 21 %Greene County21Macon County: 21 %Macon County21Morgan County: 20.9 %Morgan County20.9Obion County: 20.9 %Obion County20.9Carter County: 20.8 %Carter County20.8Hancock County: 38.7 %Hancock County38.7Lake County: 38.4 %Lake County38.4Cocke County: 32.9 %Cocke County32.9Haywood County: 30.7 %Haywood County30.7Shelby County: 29.9 %Shelby County29.9Clay County: 28.4 %Clay County28.4Lauderdale County: 27.9 %Lauderdale County27.9Johnson County: 27.8 %Johnson County27.8Hardin County: 27 %Hardin County27Hardeman County: 26.5 %Hardeman County26.5Campbell County: 26.2 %Campbell County26.2Grundy County: 26 %Grundy County26Fentress County: 25.1 %Fentress County25.1Pickett County: 24.5 %Pickett County24.5Henry County: 24.4 %Henry County24.4Benton County: 24.3 %Benton County24.3Madison County: 24.1 %Madison County24.1Stewart County: 24.1 %Stewart County24.1Perry County: 23.5 %Perry County23.5Jackson County: 23.4 %Jackson County23.4McNairy County: 23.1 %McNairy County23.1Van Buren County: 22.8 %Van Buren County22.8Sullivan County: 22.7 %Sullivan County22.7Wayne County: 22.5 %Wayne County22.5Houston County: 22.3 %Houston County22.3Union County: 22.1 %Union County22.1Hamilton County: 22 %Hamilton County22Weakley County: 22 %Weakley County22Bledsoe County: 21.9 %Bledsoe County21.9Coffee County: 21.9 %Coffee County21.9Putnam County: 21.8 %Putnam County21.8Scott County: 21.7 %Scott County21.7Claiborne County: 21.2 %Claiborne County21.2Carroll County: 21.1 %Carroll County21.1Sequatchie County: 21.1 %Sequatchie County21.1Greene County: 21 %Greene County21Macon County: 21 %Macon County21Morgan County: 20.9 %Morgan County20.9Obion County: 20.9 %Obion County20.9Carter County: 20.8 %Carter County20.8
%. 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

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Hancock County38.7+2.7 pts
2Lake County38.4-6.8 pts
3Cocke County32.9+4.2 pts
4Haywood County30.7+1.8 pts
5Shelby County29.9+1.8 pts
6Clay County28.4-1.4 pts
7Lauderdale County27.9-8.7 pts
8Johnson County27.8-0.2 pts
9Hardin County27+2.8 pts
10Hardeman County26.5-3 pts
11Campbell County26.2+0.5 pts
12Grundy County26-0.9 pts
13Fentress County25.1-1.5 pts
14Pickett County24.5-0.5 pts
15Henry County24.4-1.8 pts
16Benton County24.3-3 pts
17Madison County24.1-3.6 pts
17Stewart County24.1+6.6 pts
19Perry County23.5-2.6 pts
20Jackson County23.4-4 pts
21McNairy County23.1+1.9 pts
22Van Buren County22.8-0.8 pts
23Sullivan County22.7+3.7 pts
24Wayne County22.5-1 pts
25Houston County22.3-0.3 pts
26Union County22.1-1.3 pts
27Hamilton County22+3 pts
27Weakley County22+1.1 pts
29Bledsoe County21.9-6.2 pts
29Coffee County21.9+2.5 pts
31Putnam County21.8+3.2 pts
32Scott County21.7-3.4 pts
33Claiborne County21.2-5.8 pts
34Carroll County21.1-0.8 pts
34Sequatchie County21.1-0.8 pts
36Greene County21+1.2 pts
36Macon County21-1.4 pts
38Morgan County20.9+1.3 pts
38Obion County20.9-6.1 pts
40Carter County20.8-2.2 pts
40Cumberland County20.8-3.5 pts
42Meigs County20.5-2.6 pts
43Warren County20.4-2.1 pts
44Dyer County20.1-3.8 pts
45Decatur County20-4 pts
45Unicoi County20-2 pts
47Bedford County19.7+0.7 pts
48Grainger County19.2-2.5 pts
48Marion County19.2-2.3 pts
50Henderson County19.1+0.9 pts
50Tipton County19.1-5.6 pts
52Giles County19-2.9 pts
53DeKalb County18.9-3.1 pts
54Cannon County18.4-3.4 pts
54Lewis County18.4-3 pts
54Polk County18.4-1.4 pts
54Rhea County18.4-3 pts
58McMinn County18.3-1.2 pts
59Hamblen County18.2-3.5 pts
59Sevier County18.2-0.1 pts
59White County18.2-1.5 pts
62Hickman County18.1-3.7 pts
63Crockett County18-2.5 pts
64Lawrence County17.8-2.3 pts
65Hawkins County17.7-4.5 pts
66Gibson County17.5-1.7 pts
67Davidson County17.2-0.1 pts
68Overton County17-2.1 pts
69Monroe County16.9-4.3 pts
70Lincoln County16.8-2.1 pts
71Chester County16.6-4.7 pts
72Jefferson County16.4-1.7 pts
73Anderson County16.2-2 pts
74Franklin County16.1-3 pts
75Washington County16-2.1 pts
76Roane County15.9-0.6 pts
77Humphreys County15.6-4.5 pts
78Knox County15.2-0.6 pts
79Bradley County15.1-4.2 pts
80Trousdale County14.9-1.6 pts
81Smith County14.7-1.8 pts
82Fayette County14.6-3.9 pts
83Montgomery County14.3-1.4 pts
84Loudon County13.8-2.1 pts
85Dickson County12.8-0.8 pts
86Rutherford County12.5+1 pts
87Robertson County12.2-1.4 pts
88Marshall County11.9-3.3 pts
89Moore County11.7-1.1 pts
90Cheatham County11.3-1.1 pts
90Maury County11.3-2.5 pts
92Sumner County10.8-1.1 pts
93Blount County9.8-3.3 pts
94Wilson County8.7+0.3 pts
95Williamson County3.5-1.2 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties. 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 Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties.

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 Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2024,
  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 Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties. 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties.
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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in Tennessee by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Hancock County, with 38.7% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 3.5% in 2024.

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 Tennessee: more rankings