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 2022, at 42.9%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 3.6%. The median was 21.2% and the figure for Tennessee was 17.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest42.9Lake County
Median21.295 counties
Tennessee17.8History

Map of counties, 2022

Anderson County: 15.9 %Bedford County: 17.9 %Benton County: 24.8 %Bledsoe County: 32.1 %Blount County: 12 %Bradley County: 17.4 %Campbell County: 26.8 %Cannon County: 17.1 %Carroll County: 23 %Carter County: 24.3 %Cheatham County: 11.7 %Chester County: 22.4 %Claiborne County: 25.7 %Clay County: 26.9 %Cocke County: 33.7 %Coffee County: 21.8 %Crockett County: 22.4 %Cumberland County: 20.9 %Davidson County: 20.8 %Decatur County: 23 %DeKalb County: 21.8 %Dickson County: 14.2 %Dyer County: 23.2 %Fayette County: 16.2 %Fentress County: 33.8 %Franklin County: 18.7 %Gibson County: 17.9 %Giles County: 22.3 %Grainger County: 23.3 %Greene County: 22.9 %Grundy County: 27 %Hamblen County: 18.9 %Hamilton County: 16.8 %Hancock County: 36.8 %Hardeman County: 25.4 %Hardin County: 31.1 %Hawkins County: 21.9 %Haywood County: 31.8 %Henderson County: 22 %Henry County: 25.1 %Hickman County: 20.4 %Houston County: 23.9 %Humphreys County: 17.6 %Jackson County: 24.8 %Jefferson County: 16.7 %Johnson County: 29.5 %Knox County: 12.1 %Lake County: 42.9 %Lauderdale County: 25.2 %Lawrence County: 16.9 %Lewis County: 19 %Lincoln County: 18.7 %Loudon County: 16.5 %McMinn County: 21 %McNairy County: 22 %Macon County: 19.5 %Madison County: 20.4 %Marion County: 21.2 %Marshall County: 14.9 %Maury County: 14.4 %Meigs County: 22 %Monroe County: 20.8 %Montgomery County: 14.9 %Moore County: 13.9 %Morgan County: 21.8 %Obion County: 23.1 %Overton County: 19.7 %Perry County: 23.4 %Pickett County: 22.9 %Polk County: 19.8 %Putnam County: 22.9 %Rhea County: 20.5 %Roane County: 19.5 %Robertson County: 13.1 %Rutherford County: 10.7 %Scott County: 26.9 %Sequatchie County: 24.7 %Sevier County: 16.1 %Shelby County: 23.5 %Smith County: 15.8 %Stewart County: 18 %Sullivan County: 23.1 %Sumner County: 8.9 %Tipton County: 18.6 %Trousdale County: 17.1 %Unicoi County: 21.4 %Union County: 20.8 %Van Buren County: 24.1 %Warren County: 20.6 %Washington County: 17.4 %Wayne County: 24 %Weakley County: 22.9 %White County: 21.7 %Williamson County: 3.6 %Wilson County: 8.7 %
  • Under 16
  • 16 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2022. 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, 2022

Lake County: 42.9 %Lake County42.9Hancock County: 36.8 %Hancock County36.8Fentress County: 33.8 %Fentress County33.8Cocke County: 33.7 %Cocke County33.7Bledsoe County: 32.1 %Bledsoe County32.1Haywood County: 31.8 %Haywood County31.8Hardin County: 31.1 %Hardin County31.1Johnson County: 29.5 %Johnson County29.5Grundy County: 27 %Grundy County27Clay County: 26.9 %Clay County26.9Scott County: 26.9 %Scott County26.9Campbell County: 26.8 %Campbell County26.8Claiborne County: 25.7 %Claiborne County25.7Hardeman County: 25.4 %Hardeman County25.4Lauderdale County: 25.2 %Lauderdale County25.2Henry County: 25.1 %Henry County25.1Benton County: 24.8 %Benton County24.8Jackson County: 24.8 %Jackson County24.8Sequatchie County: 24.7 %Sequatchie County24.7Carter County: 24.3 %Carter County24.3Van Buren County: 24.1 %Van Buren County24.1Wayne County: 24 %Wayne County24Houston County: 23.9 %Houston County23.9Shelby County: 23.5 %Shelby County23.5Perry County: 23.4 %Perry County23.4Grainger County: 23.3 %Grainger County23.3Dyer County: 23.2 %Dyer County23.2Obion County: 23.1 %Obion County23.1Sullivan County: 23.1 %Sullivan County23.1Carroll County: 23 %Carroll County23Decatur County: 23 %Decatur County23Greene County: 22.9 %Greene County22.9Pickett County: 22.9 %Pickett County22.9Putnam County: 22.9 %Putnam County22.9Weakley County: 22.9 %Weakley County22.9Chester County: 22.4 %Chester County22.4Crockett County: 22.4 %Crockett County22.4Giles County: 22.3 %Giles County22.3Henderson County: 22 %Henderson County22McNairy County: 22 %McNairy County22Lake County: 42.9 %Lake County42.9Hancock County: 36.8 %Hancock County36.8Fentress County: 33.8 %Fentress County33.8Cocke County: 33.7 %Cocke County33.7Bledsoe County: 32.1 %Bledsoe County32.1Haywood County: 31.8 %Haywood County31.8Hardin County: 31.1 %Hardin County31.1Johnson County: 29.5 %Johnson County29.5Grundy County: 27 %Grundy County27Clay County: 26.9 %Clay County26.9Scott County: 26.9 %Scott County26.9Campbell County: 26.8 %Campbell County26.8Claiborne County: 25.7 %Claiborne County25.7Hardeman County: 25.4 %Hardeman County25.4Lauderdale County: 25.2 %Lauderdale County25.2Henry County: 25.1 %Henry County25.1Benton County: 24.8 %Benton County24.8Jackson County: 24.8 %Jackson County24.8Sequatchie County: 24.7 %Sequatchie County24.7Carter County: 24.3 %Carter County24.3Van Buren County: 24.1 %Van Buren County24.1Wayne County: 24 %Wayne County24Houston County: 23.9 %Houston County23.9Shelby County: 23.5 %Shelby County23.5Perry County: 23.4 %Perry County23.4Grainger County: 23.3 %Grainger County23.3Dyer County: 23.2 %Dyer County23.2Obion County: 23.1 %Obion County23.1Sullivan County: 23.1 %Sullivan County23.1Carroll County: 23 %Carroll County23Decatur County: 23 %Decatur County23Greene County: 22.9 %Greene County22.9Pickett County: 22.9 %Pickett County22.9Putnam County: 22.9 %Putnam County22.9Weakley County: 22.9 %Weakley County22.9Chester County: 22.4 %Chester County22.4Crockett County: 22.4 %Crockett County22.4Giles County: 22.3 %Giles County22.3Henderson County: 22 %Henderson County22McNairy County: 22 %McNairy County22
%. 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

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Lake County42.9+4 pts
2Hancock County36.8-5.8 pts
3Fentress County33.8+7.3 pts
4Cocke County33.7+0.7 pts
5Bledsoe County32.1+3.2 pts
6Haywood County31.8+0.4 pts
7Hardin County31.1+4.9 pts
8Johnson County29.5-4.6 pts
9Grundy County27-2.3 pts
10Clay County26.9-0.4 pts
10Scott County26.9-2.3 pts
12Campbell County26.8+1.5 pts
13Claiborne County25.7+1.2 pts
14Hardeman County25.4-1.9 pts
15Lauderdale County25.2-4.1 pts
16Henry County25.1+1.1 pts
17Benton County24.8-4.3 pts
17Jackson County24.8-2 pts
19Sequatchie County24.7+2 pts
20Carter County24.3-0.8 pts
21Van Buren County24.1-2.6 pts
22Wayne County24+2.2 pts
23Houston County23.9+0.6 pts
24Shelby County23.5-0.4 pts
25Perry County23.4-1.4 pts
26Grainger County23.3+0.2 pts
27Dyer County23.2+0.5 pts
28Obion County23.1+0.5 pts
28Sullivan County23.1-2.2 pts
30Carroll County23+0.9 pts
30Decatur County23-1.3 pts
32Greene County22.9+2.7 pts
32Pickett County22.9-2.5 pts
32Putnam County22.9+5 pts
32Weakley County22.9+1.5 pts
36Chester County22.4-0.9 pts
36Crockett County22.4+1.7 pts
38Giles County22.3+2.4 pts
39Henderson County22+2.1 pts
39McNairy County22+0.3 pts
39Meigs County22-2.6 pts
42Hawkins County21.9-0.8 pts
43Coffee County21.8+1.3 pts
43DeKalb County21.8+0.5 pts
43Morgan County21.8-1.1 pts
46White County21.7-1.3 pts
47Unicoi County21.4-0.6 pts
48Marion County21.2-1.6 pts
49McMinn County21-0.3 pts
50Cumberland County20.9-3 pts
51Davidson County20.8-0.3 pts
51Monroe County20.8-0.5 pts
51Union County20.8-2.7 pts
54Warren County20.6-2 pts
55Rhea County20.5-2.5 pts
56Hickman County20.4-1.3 pts
56Madison County20.4-4.6 pts
58Polk County19.8-1.2 pts
59Overton County19.7+0.5 pts
60Macon County19.5-3.4 pts
60Roane County19.50 pts
62Lewis County19-3 pts
63Hamblen County18.9-6.3 pts
64Franklin County18.7+2.8 pts
64Lincoln County18.7-2.4 pts
66Tipton County18.6+1.7 pts
67Stewart County18-2.5 pts
68Bedford County17.9-2.4 pts
68Gibson County17.9-1.5 pts
70Humphreys County17.6-1.7 pts
71Bradley County17.4+2.2 pts
71Washington County17.4-0.9 pts
73Cannon County17.1-4 pts
73Trousdale County17.1-1.4 pts
75Lawrence County16.9-2.8 pts
76Hamilton County16.80 pts
77Jefferson County16.7-4.5 pts
78Loudon County16.5+1 pts
79Fayette County16.2-2.4 pts
80Sevier County16.1-3.1 pts
81Anderson County15.9-2.8 pts
82Smith County15.8-1 pts
83Marshall County14.9-1.1 pts
83Montgomery County14.9+0.4 pts
85Maury County14.4-1.8 pts
86Dickson County14.2-3 pts
87Moore County13.9-0.7 pts
88Robertson County13.1-0.2 pts
89Knox County12.1-0.5 pts
90Blount County12-1.9 pts
91Cheatham County11.7-1.2 pts
92Rutherford County10.7+0.1 pts
93Sumner County8.9-1.5 pts
94Wilson County8.7+0.4 pts
95Williamson County3.6-0.3 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2022. 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), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2022.

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), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2022,
  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), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2022. 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2022.
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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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 42.9% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 3.6% in 2022.

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