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 2016, at 49.1%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 5.2%. The median was 26.1% and the figure for Tennessee was 22.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest49.1Lake County
Lowest5.2Williamson County
Median26.195 counties
Tennessee22.6History

Map of counties, 2016

Anderson County: 21.6 %Bedford County: 22.5 %Benton County: 30.1 %Bledsoe County: 33.3 %Blount County: 16.1 %Bradley County: 19.6 %Campbell County: 35 %Cannon County: 21.8 %Carroll County: 26.6 %Carter County: 30.2 %Cheatham County: 16.4 %Chester County: 23.4 %Claiborne County: 33.1 %Clay County: 33.8 %Cocke County: 38.7 %Coffee County: 22.5 %Crockett County: 25.1 %Cumberland County: 27.3 %Davidson County: 22.2 %Decatur County: 26.9 %DeKalb County: 30.1 %Dickson County: 20 %Dyer County: 28.2 %Fayette County: 21.9 %Fentress County: 33.8 %Franklin County: 20.6 %Gibson County: 22.8 %Giles County: 23 %Grainger County: 30.1 %Greene County: 24.5 %Grundy County: 33.4 %Hamblen County: 24.9 %Hamilton County: 19.1 %Hancock County: 42.6 %Hardeman County: 31.3 %Hardin County: 31.7 %Hawkins County: 27 %Haywood County: 31.9 %Henderson County: 24 %Henry County: 29.7 %Hickman County: 28.3 %Houston County: 26.5 %Humphreys County: 27.3 %Jackson County: 31.5 %Jefferson County: 23.7 %Johnson County: 33.4 %Knox County: 17.3 %Lake County: 49.1 %Lauderdale County: 34.5 %Lawrence County: 22.5 %Lewis County: 29.1 %Lincoln County: 23 %Loudon County: 18.5 %McMinn County: 22.6 %McNairy County: 32.2 %Macon County: 25.2 %Madison County: 26.9 %Marion County: 26.2 %Marshall County: 18.8 %Maury County: 17.5 %Meigs County: 27.4 %Monroe County: 26.1 %Montgomery County: 16.9 %Moore County: 17.7 %Morgan County: 28.6 %Obion County: 27.6 %Overton County: 25.6 %Perry County: 32.6 %Pickett County: 27.3 %Polk County: 25.3 %Putnam County: 24 %Rhea County: 25.8 %Roane County: 22.1 %Robertson County: 16 %Rutherford County: 13.1 %Scott County: 28.5 %Sequatchie County: 27.3 %Sevier County: 24.6 %Shelby County: 33 %Smith County: 20.6 %Stewart County: 25.4 %Sullivan County: 24 %Sumner County: 13.2 %Tipton County: 23.3 %Trousdale County: 24.6 %Unicoi County: 27 %Union County: 32.4 %Van Buren County: 31.9 %Warren County: 31.7 %Washington County: 20.5 %Wayne County: 28.2 %Weakley County: 26.3 %White County: 26.1 %Williamson County: 5.2 %Wilson County: 10.9 %
  • Under 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 to 26
  • 26 to 28
  • 28 to 32
  • 32 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.

Top 40 counties, 2016

Lake County: 49.1 %Lake County49.1Hancock County: 42.6 %Hancock County42.6Cocke County: 38.7 %Cocke County38.7Campbell County: 35 %Campbell County35Lauderdale County: 34.5 %Lauderdale County34.5Clay County: 33.8 %Clay County33.8Fentress County: 33.8 %Fentress County33.8Grundy County: 33.4 %Grundy County33.4Johnson County: 33.4 %Johnson County33.4Bledsoe County: 33.3 %Bledsoe County33.3Claiborne County: 33.1 %Claiborne County33.1Shelby County: 33 %Shelby County33Perry County: 32.6 %Perry County32.6Union County: 32.4 %Union County32.4McNairy County: 32.2 %McNairy County32.2Haywood County: 31.9 %Haywood County31.9Van Buren County: 31.9 %Van Buren County31.9Hardin County: 31.7 %Hardin County31.7Warren County: 31.7 %Warren County31.7Jackson County: 31.5 %Jackson County31.5Hardeman County: 31.3 %Hardeman County31.3Carter County: 30.2 %Carter County30.2Benton County: 30.1 %Benton County30.1DeKalb County: 30.1 %DeKalb County30.1Grainger County: 30.1 %Grainger County30.1Henry County: 29.7 %Henry County29.7Lewis County: 29.1 %Lewis County29.1Morgan County: 28.6 %Morgan County28.6Scott County: 28.5 %Scott County28.5Hickman County: 28.3 %Hickman County28.3Dyer County: 28.2 %Dyer County28.2Wayne County: 28.2 %Wayne County28.2Obion County: 27.6 %Obion County27.6Meigs County: 27.4 %Meigs County27.4Cumberland County: 27.3 %Cumberland County27.3Humphreys County: 27.3 %Humphreys County27.3Pickett County: 27.3 %Pickett County27.3Sequatchie County: 27.3 %Sequatchie County27.3Hawkins County: 27 %Hawkins County27Unicoi County: 27 %Unicoi County27Lake County: 49.1 %Lake County49.1Hancock County: 42.6 %Hancock County42.6Cocke County: 38.7 %Cocke County38.7Campbell County: 35 %Campbell County35Lauderdale County: 34.5 %Lauderdale County34.5Clay County: 33.8 %Clay County33.8Fentress County: 33.8 %Fentress County33.8Grundy County: 33.4 %Grundy County33.4Johnson County: 33.4 %Johnson County33.4Bledsoe County: 33.3 %Bledsoe County33.3Claiborne County: 33.1 %Claiborne County33.1Shelby County: 33 %Shelby County33Perry County: 32.6 %Perry County32.6Union County: 32.4 %Union County32.4McNairy County: 32.2 %McNairy County32.2Haywood County: 31.9 %Haywood County31.9Van Buren County: 31.9 %Van Buren County31.9Hardin County: 31.7 %Hardin County31.7Warren County: 31.7 %Warren County31.7Jackson County: 31.5 %Jackson County31.5Hardeman County: 31.3 %Hardeman County31.3Carter County: 30.2 %Carter County30.2Benton County: 30.1 %Benton County30.1DeKalb County: 30.1 %DeKalb County30.1Grainger County: 30.1 %Grainger County30.1Henry County: 29.7 %Henry County29.7Lewis County: 29.1 %Lewis County29.1Morgan County: 28.6 %Morgan County28.6Scott County: 28.5 %Scott County28.5Hickman County: 28.3 %Hickman County28.3Dyer County: 28.2 %Dyer County28.2Wayne County: 28.2 %Wayne County28.2Obion County: 27.6 %Obion County27.6Meigs County: 27.4 %Meigs County27.4Cumberland County: 27.3 %Cumberland County27.3Humphreys County: 27.3 %Humphreys County27.3Pickett County: 27.3 %Pickett County27.3Sequatchie County: 27.3 %Sequatchie County27.3Hawkins County: 27 %Hawkins County27Unicoi County: 27 %Unicoi County27
%. 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
1Lake County49.1+1.2 pts
2Hancock County42.6-1.7 pts
3Cocke County38.7-1.4 pts
4Campbell County35-4.4 pts
5Lauderdale County34.5-0.6 pts
6Clay County33.8-1 pts
6Fentress County33.8-2.5 pts
8Grundy County33.4-3.2 pts
8Johnson County33.4-1.5 pts
10Bledsoe County33.3-1.2 pts
11Claiborne County33.10 pts
12Shelby County33+1.6 pts
13Perry County32.6-1 pts
14Union County32.4-1.5 pts
15McNairy County32.2+4.6 pts
16Haywood County31.9-1.2 pts
16Van Buren County31.9+1 pts
18Hardin County31.7-0.2 pts
18Warren County31.7+1.6 pts
20Jackson County31.5-2.7 pts
21Hardeman County31.3+0.2 pts
22Carter County30.2-2.9 pts
23Benton County30.1-2.1 pts
23DeKalb County30.1-0.8 pts
23Grainger County30.1+2.2 pts
26Henry County29.7-1.1 pts
27Lewis County29.1-0.6 pts
28Morgan County28.6-0.8 pts
29Scott County28.5-5.7 pts
30Hickman County28.3-1 pts
31Dyer County28.2-3.1 pts
31Wayne County28.2-4.3 pts
33Obion County27.6+0.3 pts
34Meigs County27.4-2.8 pts
35Cumberland County27.3-0.2 pts
35Humphreys County27.3+2.1 pts
35Pickett County27.3-2 pts
35Sequatchie County27.3-1.3 pts
39Hawkins County27-3.6 pts
39Unicoi County27-0.5 pts
41Decatur County26.9-1.8 pts
41Madison County26.9-1.9 pts
43Carroll County26.6-4.5 pts
44Houston County26.5-3.4 pts
45Weakley County26.3+1.7 pts
46Marion County26.2-2.3 pts
47Monroe County26.1-2.8 pts
47White County26.1-2.3 pts
49Rhea County25.8-7 pts
50Overton County25.6-0.6 pts
51Stewart County25.4+0.2 pts
52Polk County25.3-3 pts
53Macon County25.2-4.8 pts
54Crockett County25.1-0.7 pts
55Hamblen County24.9-1.4 pts
56Sevier County24.6+1.1 pts
56Trousdale County24.6-0.1 pts
58Greene County24.5-0.7 pts
59Henderson County24-1 pts
59Putnam County24+0.2 pts
59Sullivan County24-0.6 pts
62Jefferson County23.7-1.9 pts
63Chester County23.4-3.1 pts
64Tipton County23.3+2.3 pts
65Giles County23-1.3 pts
65Lincoln County23-2.3 pts
67Gibson County22.8-0.6 pts
68McMinn County22.6-9 pts
69Bedford County22.5-2.2 pts
69Coffee County22.5-1.7 pts
69Lawrence County22.5-6.2 pts
72Davidson County22.2-4.3 pts
73Roane County22.1-3.1 pts
74Fayette County21.9+0.4 pts
75Cannon County21.8-1.6 pts
76Anderson County21.6-8.4 pts
77Franklin County20.6-1.1 pts
77Smith County20.6-4.6 pts
79Washington County20.5-1.6 pts
80Dickson County20-3.3 pts
81Bradley County19.6-4.2 pts
82Hamilton County19.1-2.6 pts
83Marshall County18.8-1.7 pts
84Loudon County18.5-3.5 pts
85Moore County17.7-1.1 pts
86Maury County17.5-1.9 pts
87Knox County17.3-2.5 pts
88Montgomery County16.9-1.5 pts
89Cheatham County16.4+0.1 pts
90Blount County16.1-3.2 pts
91Robertson County16-2.4 pts
92Sumner County13.2-0.7 pts
93Rutherford County13.1-0.4 pts
94Wilson County10.9-0.8 pts
95Williamson County5.2-0.1 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/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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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/tennessee-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 Tennessee 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/tennessee-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 Tennessee 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/tennessee-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_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 Tennessee 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/tennessee-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 Tennessee 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/tennessee-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-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)?

Lake County, with 49.1% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 5.2% 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 Tennessee: more rankings