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)

Hancock County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 95 counties in 2021, at 42.6%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 3.9%. The median was 21.7% and the figure for Tennessee was 18.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest42.6Hancock County
Lowest3.9Williamson County
Median21.795 counties
Tennessee18.4History

Map of counties, 2021

Anderson County: 18.7 %Bedford County: 20.3 %Benton County: 29.1 %Bledsoe County: 28.9 %Blount County: 13.9 %Bradley County: 15.2 %Campbell County: 25.3 %Cannon County: 21.1 %Carroll County: 22.1 %Carter County: 25.1 %Cheatham County: 12.9 %Chester County: 23.3 %Claiborne County: 24.5 %Clay County: 27.3 %Cocke County: 33 %Coffee County: 20.5 %Crockett County: 20.7 %Cumberland County: 23.9 %Davidson County: 21.1 %Decatur County: 24.3 %DeKalb County: 21.3 %Dickson County: 17.2 %Dyer County: 22.7 %Fayette County: 18.6 %Fentress County: 26.5 %Franklin County: 15.9 %Gibson County: 19.4 %Giles County: 19.9 %Grainger County: 23.1 %Greene County: 20.2 %Grundy County: 29.3 %Hamblen County: 25.2 %Hamilton County: 16.8 %Hancock County: 42.6 %Hardeman County: 27.3 %Hardin County: 26.2 %Hawkins County: 22.7 %Haywood County: 31.4 %Henderson County: 19.9 %Henry County: 24 %Hickman County: 21.7 %Houston County: 23.3 %Humphreys County: 19.3 %Jackson County: 26.8 %Jefferson County: 21.2 %Johnson County: 34.1 %Knox County: 12.6 %Lake County: 38.9 %Lauderdale County: 29.3 %Lawrence County: 19.7 %Lewis County: 22 %Lincoln County: 21.1 %Loudon County: 15.5 %McMinn County: 21.3 %McNairy County: 21.7 %Macon County: 22.9 %Madison County: 25 %Marion County: 22.8 %Marshall County: 16 %Maury County: 16.2 %Meigs County: 24.6 %Monroe County: 21.3 %Montgomery County: 14.5 %Moore County: 14.6 %Morgan County: 22.9 %Obion County: 22.6 %Overton County: 19.2 %Perry County: 24.8 %Pickett County: 25.4 %Polk County: 21 %Putnam County: 17.9 %Rhea County: 23 %Roane County: 19.5 %Robertson County: 13.3 %Rutherford County: 10.6 %Scott County: 29.2 %Sequatchie County: 22.7 %Sevier County: 19.2 %Shelby County: 23.9 %Smith County: 16.8 %Stewart County: 20.5 %Sullivan County: 25.3 %Sumner County: 10.4 %Tipton County: 16.9 %Trousdale County: 18.5 %Unicoi County: 22 %Union County: 23.5 %Van Buren County: 26.7 %Warren County: 22.6 %Washington County: 18.3 %Wayne County: 21.8 %Weakley County: 21.4 %White County: 23 %Williamson County: 3.9 %Wilson County: 8.3 %
  • Under 17
  • 17 to 20
  • 20 to 22
  • 22 to 23
  • 23 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Hancock County: 42.6 %Hancock County42.6Lake County: 38.9 %Lake County38.9Johnson County: 34.1 %Johnson County34.1Cocke County: 33 %Cocke County33Haywood County: 31.4 %Haywood County31.4Grundy County: 29.3 %Grundy County29.3Lauderdale County: 29.3 %Lauderdale County29.3Scott County: 29.2 %Scott County29.2Benton County: 29.1 %Benton County29.1Bledsoe County: 28.9 %Bledsoe County28.9Clay County: 27.3 %Clay County27.3Hardeman County: 27.3 %Hardeman County27.3Jackson County: 26.8 %Jackson County26.8Van Buren County: 26.7 %Van Buren County26.7Fentress County: 26.5 %Fentress County26.5Hardin County: 26.2 %Hardin County26.2Pickett County: 25.4 %Pickett County25.4Campbell County: 25.3 %Campbell County25.3Sullivan County: 25.3 %Sullivan County25.3Hamblen County: 25.2 %Hamblen County25.2Carter County: 25.1 %Carter County25.1Madison County: 25 %Madison County25Perry County: 24.8 %Perry County24.8Meigs County: 24.6 %Meigs County24.6Claiborne County: 24.5 %Claiborne County24.5Decatur County: 24.3 %Decatur County24.3Henry County: 24 %Henry County24Cumberland County: 23.9 %Cumberland County23.9Shelby County: 23.9 %Shelby County23.9Union County: 23.5 %Union County23.5Chester County: 23.3 %Chester County23.3Houston County: 23.3 %Houston County23.3Grainger County: 23.1 %Grainger County23.1Rhea County: 23 %Rhea County23White County: 23 %White County23Macon County: 22.9 %Macon County22.9Morgan County: 22.9 %Morgan County22.9Marion County: 22.8 %Marion County22.8Dyer County: 22.7 %Dyer County22.7Hawkins County: 22.7 %Hawkins County22.7Hancock County: 42.6 %Hancock County42.6Lake County: 38.9 %Lake County38.9Johnson County: 34.1 %Johnson County34.1Cocke County: 33 %Cocke County33Haywood County: 31.4 %Haywood County31.4Grundy County: 29.3 %Grundy County29.3Lauderdale County: 29.3 %Lauderdale County29.3Scott County: 29.2 %Scott County29.2Benton County: 29.1 %Benton County29.1Bledsoe County: 28.9 %Bledsoe County28.9Clay County: 27.3 %Clay County27.3Hardeman County: 27.3 %Hardeman County27.3Jackson County: 26.8 %Jackson County26.8Van Buren County: 26.7 %Van Buren County26.7Fentress County: 26.5 %Fentress County26.5Hardin County: 26.2 %Hardin County26.2Pickett County: 25.4 %Pickett County25.4Campbell County: 25.3 %Campbell County25.3Sullivan County: 25.3 %Sullivan County25.3Hamblen County: 25.2 %Hamblen County25.2Carter County: 25.1 %Carter County25.1Madison County: 25 %Madison County25Perry County: 24.8 %Perry County24.8Meigs County: 24.6 %Meigs County24.6Claiborne County: 24.5 %Claiborne County24.5Decatur County: 24.3 %Decatur County24.3Henry County: 24 %Henry County24Cumberland County: 23.9 %Cumberland County23.9Shelby County: 23.9 %Shelby County23.9Union County: 23.5 %Union County23.5Chester County: 23.3 %Chester County23.3Houston County: 23.3 %Houston County23.3Grainger County: 23.1 %Grainger County23.1Rhea County: 23 %Rhea County23White County: 23 %White County23Macon County: 22.9 %Macon County22.9Morgan County: 22.9 %Morgan County22.9Marion County: 22.8 %Marion County22.8Dyer County: 22.7 %Dyer County22.7Hawkins County: 22.7 %Hawkins County22.7
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Hancock County42.6+3.6 pts
2Lake County38.9-1.1 pts
3Johnson County34.1+7.2 pts
4Cocke County33+2.7 pts
5Haywood County31.4+2.4 pts
6Grundy County29.3+3.1 pts
6Lauderdale County29.3+3.1 pts
8Scott County29.2+4 pts
9Benton County29.1+4.6 pts
10Bledsoe County28.9+3.1 pts
11Clay County27.3-2.8 pts
11Hardeman County27.3-0.7 pts
13Jackson County26.8+2.1 pts
14Van Buren County26.7+0.6 pts
15Fentress County26.5+2.1 pts
16Hardin County26.2+5.8 pts
17Pickett County25.4+1.5 pts
18Campbell County25.3+0.3 pts
18Sullivan County25.3+4.6 pts
20Hamblen County25.2+4.1 pts
21Carter County25.1+4.2 pts
22Madison County25-7.3 pts
23Perry County24.8+0.3 pts
24Meigs County24.6+2.3 pts
25Claiborne County24.5+2.5 pts
26Decatur County24.3-0.1 pts
27Henry County24-3.2 pts
28Cumberland County23.9+3.4 pts
28Shelby County23.9-3.2 pts
30Union County23.5-4.1 pts
31Chester County23.3+2.7 pts
31Houston County23.3+0.6 pts
33Grainger County23.1+3.1 pts
34Rhea County23+3.2 pts
34White County23+3.6 pts
36Macon County22.9-0.1 pts
36Morgan County22.9+0.5 pts
38Marion County22.8+1.6 pts
39Dyer County22.7+0.3 pts
39Hawkins County22.7-0.8 pts
39Sequatchie County22.7-2.6 pts
42Obion County22.6+0.5 pts
42Warren County22.6-0.2 pts
44Carroll County22.1-0.8 pts
45Lewis County22+1.3 pts
45Unicoi County220 pts
47Wayne County21.8-2.4 pts
48Hickman County21.7+1.7 pts
48McNairy County21.7+3.4 pts
50Weakley County21.4+0.7 pts
51DeKalb County21.3-1.2 pts
51McMinn County21.3+2.1 pts
51Monroe County21.3+0.6 pts
54Jefferson County21.2+2.7 pts
55Cannon County21.1+2.8 pts
55Davidson County21.1+3.8 pts
55Lincoln County21.1+3.5 pts
58Polk County21+0.6 pts
59Crockett County20.7+0.3 pts
60Coffee County20.5+0.6 pts
60Stewart County20.5-0.6 pts
62Bedford County20.3+0.1 pts
63Greene County20.2-0.8 pts
64Giles County19.9+0.8 pts
64Henderson County19.9+1 pts
66Lawrence County19.7+1 pts
67Roane County19.5+0.4 pts
68Gibson County19.4+0.8 pts
69Humphreys County19.3-2.2 pts
70Overton County19.2-3.7 pts
70Sevier County19.2-0.7 pts
72Anderson County18.7+1.2 pts
73Fayette County18.6+2.4 pts
74Trousdale County18.5+2.5 pts
75Washington County18.3+3.2 pts
76Putnam County17.9-5 pts
77Dickson County17.2+1.6 pts
78Tipton County16.9-3.2 pts
79Hamilton County16.8-1.8 pts
79Smith County16.8+0.7 pts
81Maury County16.2+3.7 pts
82Marshall County16+0.4 pts
83Franklin County15.9-3.9 pts
84Loudon County15.5-1.2 pts
85Bradley County15.2-1.8 pts
86Moore County14.6+1.5 pts
87Montgomery County14.5-0.9 pts
88Blount County13.9+1.1 pts
89Robertson County13.3+1.6 pts
90Cheatham County12.9+0.4 pts
91Knox County12.6-0.5 pts
92Rutherford County10.6+0.9 pts
93Sumner County10.4-2 pts
94Wilson County8.3-0.9 pts
95Williamson County3.9+0.3 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Hancock County, with 42.6% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 3.9% in 2021.

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