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)

Cocke County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 95 counties in 2019, at 41.3%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 4.1%. The median was 22.6% and the figure for Tennessee was 19.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest41.3Cocke County
Lowest4.1Williamson County
Median22.695 counties
Tennessee19.4History

Map of counties, 2019

Anderson County: 21.9 %Bedford County: 19.2 %Benton County: 27.8 %Bledsoe County: 40.6 %Blount County: 14.1 %Bradley County: 17.4 %Campbell County: 31.1 %Cannon County: 19.5 %Carroll County: 23.6 %Carter County: 27.6 %Cheatham County: 12.2 %Chester County: 19.2 %Claiborne County: 26.7 %Clay County: 28.1 %Cocke County: 41.3 %Coffee County: 21 %Crockett County: 23.3 %Cumberland County: 22.9 %Davidson County: 18.1 %Decatur County: 23 %DeKalb County: 26 %Dickson County: 13.8 %Dyer County: 22.6 %Fayette County: 16.7 %Fentress County: 28.4 %Franklin County: 18.2 %Gibson County: 18.1 %Giles County: 20.1 %Grainger County: 25 %Greene County: 24.3 %Grundy County: 28.5 %Hamblen County: 20.9 %Hamilton County: 18.8 %Hancock County: 35.8 %Hardeman County: 24.1 %Hardin County: 26 %Hawkins County: 30.1 %Haywood County: 29 %Henderson County: 21.9 %Henry County: 28 %Hickman County: 22.4 %Houston County: 24.8 %Humphreys County: 20.7 %Jackson County: 23.8 %Jefferson County: 19.3 %Johnson County: 35.6 %Knox County: 15.7 %Lake County: 40 %Lauderdale County: 24.8 %Lawrence County: 22.6 %Lewis County: 22.8 %Lincoln County: 18.6 %Loudon County: 14.2 %McMinn County: 20.1 %McNairy County: 24.3 %Macon County: 20.6 %Madison County: 28.9 %Marion County: 21.8 %Marshall County: 20.2 %Maury County: 13.2 %Meigs County: 24.7 %Monroe County: 27.3 %Montgomery County: 16.4 %Moore County: 14.5 %Morgan County: 27.4 %Obion County: 23.2 %Overton County: 21.6 %Perry County: 24.4 %Pickett County: 23.4 %Polk County: 23.2 %Putnam County: 19.6 %Rhea County: 22.9 %Roane County: 21.1 %Robertson County: 14.7 %Rutherford County: 12.9 %Scott County: 30.4 %Sequatchie County: 30.8 %Sevier County: 20.4 %Shelby County: 25.7 %Smith County: 22.3 %Stewart County: 18.9 %Sullivan County: 23 %Sumner County: 11.7 %Tipton County: 16.5 %Trousdale County: 17.9 %Unicoi County: 22.3 %Union County: 28.7 %Van Buren County: 23.5 %Warren County: 23.7 %Washington County: 19.4 %Wayne County: 22.6 %Weakley County: 23.4 %White County: 21.5 %Williamson County: 4.1 %Wilson County: 10.1 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 to 24
  • 24 to 28
  • 28 and over
%, 2019. 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, 2019

Cocke County: 41.3 %Cocke County41.3Bledsoe County: 40.6 %Bledsoe County40.6Lake County: 40 %Lake County40Hancock County: 35.8 %Hancock County35.8Johnson County: 35.6 %Johnson County35.6Campbell County: 31.1 %Campbell County31.1Sequatchie County: 30.8 %Sequatchie County30.8Scott County: 30.4 %Scott County30.4Hawkins County: 30.1 %Hawkins County30.1Haywood County: 29 %Haywood County29Madison County: 28.9 %Madison County28.9Union County: 28.7 %Union County28.7Grundy County: 28.5 %Grundy County28.5Fentress County: 28.4 %Fentress County28.4Clay County: 28.1 %Clay County28.1Henry County: 28 %Henry County28Benton County: 27.8 %Benton County27.8Carter County: 27.6 %Carter County27.6Morgan County: 27.4 %Morgan County27.4Monroe County: 27.3 %Monroe County27.3Claiborne County: 26.7 %Claiborne County26.7DeKalb County: 26 %DeKalb County26Hardin County: 26 %Hardin County26Shelby County: 25.7 %Shelby County25.7Grainger County: 25 %Grainger County25Houston County: 24.8 %Houston County24.8Lauderdale County: 24.8 %Lauderdale County24.8Meigs County: 24.7 %Meigs County24.7Perry County: 24.4 %Perry County24.4Greene County: 24.3 %Greene County24.3McNairy County: 24.3 %McNairy County24.3Hardeman County: 24.1 %Hardeman County24.1Jackson County: 23.8 %Jackson County23.8Warren County: 23.7 %Warren County23.7Carroll County: 23.6 %Carroll County23.6Van Buren County: 23.5 %Van Buren County23.5Pickett County: 23.4 %Pickett County23.4Weakley County: 23.4 %Weakley County23.4Crockett County: 23.3 %Crockett County23.3Obion County: 23.2 %Obion County23.2Cocke County: 41.3 %Cocke County41.3Bledsoe County: 40.6 %Bledsoe County40.6Lake County: 40 %Lake County40Hancock County: 35.8 %Hancock County35.8Johnson County: 35.6 %Johnson County35.6Campbell County: 31.1 %Campbell County31.1Sequatchie County: 30.8 %Sequatchie County30.8Scott County: 30.4 %Scott County30.4Hawkins County: 30.1 %Hawkins County30.1Haywood County: 29 %Haywood County29Madison County: 28.9 %Madison County28.9Union County: 28.7 %Union County28.7Grundy County: 28.5 %Grundy County28.5Fentress County: 28.4 %Fentress County28.4Clay County: 28.1 %Clay County28.1Henry County: 28 %Henry County28Benton County: 27.8 %Benton County27.8Carter County: 27.6 %Carter County27.6Morgan County: 27.4 %Morgan County27.4Monroe County: 27.3 %Monroe County27.3Claiborne County: 26.7 %Claiborne County26.7DeKalb County: 26 %DeKalb County26Hardin County: 26 %Hardin County26Shelby County: 25.7 %Shelby County25.7Grainger County: 25 %Grainger County25Houston County: 24.8 %Houston County24.8Lauderdale County: 24.8 %Lauderdale County24.8Meigs County: 24.7 %Meigs County24.7Perry County: 24.4 %Perry County24.4Greene County: 24.3 %Greene County24.3McNairy County: 24.3 %McNairy County24.3Hardeman County: 24.1 %Hardeman County24.1Jackson County: 23.8 %Jackson County23.8Warren County: 23.7 %Warren County23.7Carroll County: 23.6 %Carroll County23.6Van Buren County: 23.5 %Van Buren County23.5Pickett County: 23.4 %Pickett County23.4Weakley County: 23.4 %Weakley County23.4Crockett County: 23.3 %Crockett County23.3Obion County: 23.2 %Obion County23.2
%. 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

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Cocke County41.3+5.6 pts
2Bledsoe County40.6+5.6 pts
3Lake County40-1.2 pts
4Hancock County35.8-5.3 pts
5Johnson County35.6+7.7 pts
6Campbell County31.1+3.3 pts
7Sequatchie County30.8+5.2 pts
8Scott County30.4+3.8 pts
9Hawkins County30.1+2.5 pts
10Haywood County29-1.8 pts
11Madison County28.90 pts
12Union County28.7+1.2 pts
13Grundy County28.5+0.7 pts
14Fentress County28.4-1.6 pts
15Clay County28.1-2.6 pts
16Henry County28-1.4 pts
17Benton County27.8-2.2 pts
18Carter County27.6-1.8 pts
19Morgan County27.4+0.5 pts
20Monroe County27.3+4.3 pts
21Claiborne County26.7-8.5 pts
22DeKalb County26+1.6 pts
22Hardin County26-3.3 pts
24Shelby County25.7-7.5 pts
25Grainger County25-0.2 pts
26Houston County24.8-0.4 pts
26Lauderdale County24.8-9.8 pts
28Meigs County24.7-1.9 pts
29Perry County24.4-2 pts
30Greene County24.3+0.4 pts
30McNairy County24.3+2 pts
32Hardeman County24.1-4.7 pts
33Jackson County23.8-5.8 pts
34Warren County23.7-11.6 pts
35Carroll County23.6-3.9 pts
36Van Buren County23.5-4.2 pts
37Pickett County23.4-0.9 pts
37Weakley County23.4+1.1 pts
39Crockett County23.3-2.1 pts
40Obion County23.2-2.4 pts
40Polk County23.2+0.8 pts
42Decatur County23-1.3 pts
42Sullivan County23-1.6 pts
44Cumberland County22.9-1.5 pts
44Rhea County22.9-4.3 pts
46Lewis County22.8-2 pts
47Dyer County22.6-3.4 pts
47Lawrence County22.6-2.1 pts
47Wayne County22.6-5 pts
50Hickman County22.4-1.8 pts
51Smith County22.3+3.5 pts
51Unicoi County22.3-1.8 pts
53Anderson County21.90 pts
53Henderson County21.9-1.3 pts
55Marion County21.8-1.7 pts
56Overton County21.6+0.8 pts
57White County21.5-3.1 pts
58Roane County21.1-0.9 pts
59Coffee County21-4.1 pts
60Hamblen County20.9-3.3 pts
61Humphreys County20.7+0.4 pts
62Macon County20.6-5.4 pts
63Sevier County20.4-2.6 pts
64Marshall County20.2+0.3 pts
65Giles County20.1-2.6 pts
65McMinn County20.1-1.7 pts
67Putnam County19.6+0.9 pts
68Cannon County19.5-2.5 pts
69Washington County19.4+1.4 pts
70Jefferson County19.3-1.6 pts
71Bedford County19.2-3.6 pts
71Chester County19.2-2.8 pts
73Stewart County18.9-3.3 pts
74Hamilton County18.8+0.7 pts
75Lincoln County18.6+0.2 pts
76Franklin County18.2-3.2 pts
77Davidson County18.1-7.3 pts
77Gibson County18.1-4.7 pts
79Trousdale County17.9-2.6 pts
80Bradley County17.4-3.5 pts
81Fayette County16.7-4.2 pts
82Tipton County16.5-2 pts
83Montgomery County16.4-0.2 pts
84Knox County15.7+0.5 pts
85Robertson County14.7-0.7 pts
86Moore County14.5+0.4 pts
87Loudon County14.2-1.8 pts
88Blount County14.1+0.6 pts
89Dickson County13.8-6.4 pts
90Maury County13.2-2 pts
91Rutherford County12.9+1.1 pts
92Cheatham County12.2-1.2 pts
93Sumner County11.70 pts
94Wilson County10.1+0.2 pts
95Williamson County4.1+0.6 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2019. 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), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2019.

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), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2019,
  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), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Cocke County, with 41.3% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 4.1% in 2019.

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