Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in Tennessee

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

Lake County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 95 counties in 2015, at 47.9%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 5.3%. The median was 27.9% and the figure for Tennessee was 24.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest47.9Lake County
Lowest5.3Williamson County
Median27.995 counties
Tennessee24.1History

Map of counties, 2015

Anderson County: 30 %Bedford County: 24.7 %Benton County: 32.2 %Bledsoe County: 34.5 %Blount County: 19.3 %Bradley County: 23.8 %Campbell County: 39.4 %Cannon County: 23.4 %Carroll County: 31.1 %Carter County: 33.1 %Cheatham County: 16.3 %Chester County: 26.5 %Claiborne County: 33.1 %Clay County: 34.8 %Cocke County: 40.1 %Coffee County: 24.2 %Crockett County: 25.8 %Cumberland County: 27.5 %Davidson County: 26.5 %Decatur County: 28.7 %DeKalb County: 30.9 %Dickson County: 23.3 %Dyer County: 31.3 %Fayette County: 21.5 %Fentress County: 36.3 %Franklin County: 21.7 %Gibson County: 23.4 %Giles County: 24.3 %Grainger County: 27.9 %Greene County: 25.2 %Grundy County: 36.6 %Hamblen County: 26.3 %Hamilton County: 21.7 %Hancock County: 44.3 %Hardeman County: 31.1 %Hardin County: 31.9 %Hawkins County: 30.6 %Haywood County: 33.1 %Henderson County: 25 %Henry County: 30.8 %Hickman County: 29.3 %Houston County: 29.9 %Humphreys County: 25.2 %Jackson County: 34.2 %Jefferson County: 25.6 %Johnson County: 34.9 %Knox County: 19.8 %Lake County: 47.9 %Lauderdale County: 35.1 %Lawrence County: 28.7 %Lewis County: 29.7 %Lincoln County: 25.3 %Loudon County: 22 %McMinn County: 31.6 %McNairy County: 27.6 %Macon County: 30 %Madison County: 28.8 %Marion County: 28.5 %Marshall County: 20.5 %Maury County: 19.4 %Meigs County: 30.2 %Monroe County: 28.9 %Montgomery County: 18.4 %Moore County: 18.8 %Morgan County: 29.4 %Obion County: 27.3 %Overton County: 26.2 %Perry County: 33.6 %Pickett County: 29.3 %Polk County: 28.3 %Putnam County: 23.8 %Rhea County: 32.8 %Roane County: 25.2 %Robertson County: 18.4 %Rutherford County: 13.5 %Scott County: 34.2 %Sequatchie County: 28.6 %Sevier County: 23.5 %Shelby County: 31.4 %Smith County: 25.2 %Stewart County: 25.2 %Sullivan County: 24.6 %Sumner County: 13.9 %Tipton County: 21 %Trousdale County: 24.7 %Unicoi County: 27.5 %Union County: 33.9 %Van Buren County: 30.9 %Warren County: 30.1 %Washington County: 22.1 %Wayne County: 32.5 %Weakley County: 24.6 %White County: 28.4 %Williamson County: 5.3 %Wilson County: 11.7 %
  • Under 22
  • 22 to 25
  • 25 to 28
  • 28 to 30
  • 30 to 33
  • 33 and over
%, 2015. 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, 2015

Lake County: 47.9 %Lake County47.9Hancock County: 44.3 %Hancock County44.3Cocke County: 40.1 %Cocke County40.1Campbell County: 39.4 %Campbell County39.4Grundy County: 36.6 %Grundy County36.6Fentress County: 36.3 %Fentress County36.3Lauderdale County: 35.1 %Lauderdale County35.1Johnson County: 34.9 %Johnson County34.9Clay County: 34.8 %Clay County34.8Bledsoe County: 34.5 %Bledsoe County34.5Jackson County: 34.2 %Jackson County34.2Scott County: 34.2 %Scott County34.2Union County: 33.9 %Union County33.9Perry County: 33.6 %Perry County33.6Carter County: 33.1 %Carter County33.1Claiborne County: 33.1 %Claiborne County33.1Haywood County: 33.1 %Haywood County33.1Rhea County: 32.8 %Rhea County32.8Wayne County: 32.5 %Wayne County32.5Benton County: 32.2 %Benton County32.2Hardin County: 31.9 %Hardin County31.9McMinn County: 31.6 %McMinn County31.6Shelby County: 31.4 %Shelby County31.4Dyer County: 31.3 %Dyer County31.3Carroll County: 31.1 %Carroll County31.1Hardeman County: 31.1 %Hardeman County31.1DeKalb County: 30.9 %DeKalb County30.9Van Buren County: 30.9 %Van Buren County30.9Henry County: 30.8 %Henry County30.8Hawkins County: 30.6 %Hawkins County30.6Meigs County: 30.2 %Meigs County30.2Warren County: 30.1 %Warren County30.1Anderson County: 30 %Anderson County30Macon County: 30 %Macon County30Houston County: 29.9 %Houston County29.9Lewis County: 29.7 %Lewis County29.7Morgan County: 29.4 %Morgan County29.4Hickman County: 29.3 %Hickman County29.3Pickett County: 29.3 %Pickett County29.3Monroe County: 28.9 %Monroe County28.9Lake County: 47.9 %Lake County47.9Hancock County: 44.3 %Hancock County44.3Cocke County: 40.1 %Cocke County40.1Campbell County: 39.4 %Campbell County39.4Grundy County: 36.6 %Grundy County36.6Fentress County: 36.3 %Fentress County36.3Lauderdale County: 35.1 %Lauderdale County35.1Johnson County: 34.9 %Johnson County34.9Clay County: 34.8 %Clay County34.8Bledsoe County: 34.5 %Bledsoe County34.5Jackson County: 34.2 %Jackson County34.2Scott County: 34.2 %Scott County34.2Union County: 33.9 %Union County33.9Perry County: 33.6 %Perry County33.6Carter County: 33.1 %Carter County33.1Claiborne County: 33.1 %Claiborne County33.1Haywood County: 33.1 %Haywood County33.1Rhea County: 32.8 %Rhea County32.8Wayne County: 32.5 %Wayne County32.5Benton County: 32.2 %Benton County32.2Hardin County: 31.9 %Hardin County31.9McMinn County: 31.6 %McMinn County31.6Shelby County: 31.4 %Shelby County31.4Dyer County: 31.3 %Dyer County31.3Carroll County: 31.1 %Carroll County31.1Hardeman County: 31.1 %Hardeman County31.1DeKalb County: 30.9 %DeKalb County30.9Van Buren County: 30.9 %Van Buren County30.9Henry County: 30.8 %Henry County30.8Hawkins County: 30.6 %Hawkins County30.6Meigs County: 30.2 %Meigs County30.2Warren County: 30.1 %Warren County30.1Anderson County: 30 %Anderson County30Macon County: 30 %Macon County30Houston County: 29.9 %Houston County29.9Lewis County: 29.7 %Lewis County29.7Morgan County: 29.4 %Morgan County29.4Hickman County: 29.3 %Hickman County29.3Pickett County: 29.3 %Pickett County29.3Monroe County: 28.9 %Monroe County28.9
%. 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

RankCounties2015 (%)Change on 2014
1Lake County47.9+3.9 pts
2Hancock County44.3+1.5 pts
3Cocke County40.1-0.3 pts
4Campbell County39.4+5.1 pts
5Grundy County36.6-0.6 pts
6Fentress County36.3-1.4 pts
7Lauderdale County35.1+3.4 pts
8Johnson County34.9-0.4 pts
9Clay County34.8-0.2 pts
10Bledsoe County34.5-0.9 pts
11Jackson County34.2-0.9 pts
11Scott County34.2+2.4 pts
13Union County33.9+0.6 pts
14Perry County33.6+0.2 pts
15Carter County33.1-0.1 pts
15Claiborne County33.1-1 pts
15Haywood County33.1-1.4 pts
18Rhea County32.8+1.8 pts
19Wayne County32.5+1.6 pts
20Benton County32.2-0.8 pts
21Hardin County31.9+1.6 pts
22McMinn County31.6+6.4 pts
23Shelby County31.4-3.1 pts
24Dyer County31.3+2.9 pts
25Carroll County31.1+2.9 pts
25Hardeman County31.1-1.5 pts
27DeKalb County30.9+1.5 pts
27Van Buren County30.9-0.6 pts
29Henry County30.8+0.1 pts
30Hawkins County30.6+3 pts
31Meigs County30.2+1.5 pts
32Warren County30.1+1.9 pts
33Anderson County30+6.2 pts
33Macon County30+0.6 pts
35Houston County29.9+2.5 pts
36Lewis County29.7-2.1 pts
37Morgan County29.4+0.4 pts
38Hickman County29.30 pts
38Pickett County29.3-0.4 pts
40Monroe County28.9-1.1 pts
41Madison County28.8-0.4 pts
42Decatur County28.7+1 pts
42Lawrence County28.7-0.5 pts
44Sequatchie County28.6-0.9 pts
45Marion County28.5-2.3 pts
46White County28.4-1.3 pts
47Polk County28.3+0.5 pts
48Grainger County27.9-3.5 pts
49McNairy County27.6-1.3 pts
50Cumberland County27.5-1.7 pts
50Unicoi County27.5-1.8 pts
52Obion County27.3-4.3 pts
53Chester County26.5+1.2 pts
53Davidson County26.5-5 pts
55Hamblen County26.3-7.4 pts
56Overton County26.2-0.3 pts
57Crockett County25.8-0.4 pts
58Jefferson County25.60 pts
59Lincoln County25.3+2.9 pts
60Greene County25.2+0.3 pts
60Humphreys County25.2-1.1 pts
60Roane County25.2-0.3 pts
60Smith County25.2+3.4 pts
60Stewart County25.2-1.3 pts
65Henderson County25-2.4 pts
66Bedford County24.7-3.7 pts
66Trousdale County24.7-1.2 pts
68Sullivan County24.6-3.6 pts
68Weakley County24.6-2.1 pts
70Giles County24.3-1.1 pts
71Coffee County24.2-1.4 pts
72Bradley County23.8-0.2 pts
72Putnam County23.8-2.1 pts
74Sevier County23.5-3 pts
75Cannon County23.4+0.2 pts
75Gibson County23.4-3.6 pts
77Dickson County23.3+2.2 pts
78Washington County22.1+0.1 pts
79Loudon County220 pts
80Franklin County21.7-2.1 pts
80Hamilton County21.7-0.3 pts
82Fayette County21.5+0.3 pts
83Tipton County21+0.3 pts
84Marshall County20.5-1.5 pts
85Knox County19.8-3.2 pts
86Maury County19.4-3 pts
87Blount County19.3-2.5 pts
88Moore County18.8-1.8 pts
89Montgomery County18.4+1.1 pts
89Robertson County18.4-0.2 pts
91Cheatham County16.3-2.9 pts
92Sumner County13.9-3 pts
93Rutherford County13.5-2.7 pts
94Wilson County11.7-2.3 pts
95Williamson County5.3-0.7 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2015. 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), 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2015.

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), 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2015,
  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), 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2015. 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2015.
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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Lake County, with 47.9% in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 5.3% in 2015.

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