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 2023, at 45.2%. Williamson County had the lowest, at 4.7%. The median was 21.4% and the figure for Tennessee was 18.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest45.2Lake County
Lowest4.7Williamson County
Median21.495 counties
Tennessee18.9History

Map of counties, 2023

Anderson County: 18.2 %Bedford County: 19 %Benton County: 27.3 %Bledsoe County: 28.1 %Blount County: 13.1 %Bradley County: 19.3 %Campbell County: 25.7 %Cannon County: 21.8 %Carroll County: 21.9 %Carter County: 23 %Cheatham County: 12.4 %Chester County: 21.3 %Claiborne County: 27 %Clay County: 29.8 %Cocke County: 28.7 %Coffee County: 19.4 %Crockett County: 20.5 %Cumberland County: 24.3 %Davidson County: 17.3 %Decatur County: 24 %DeKalb County: 22 %Dickson County: 13.6 %Dyer County: 23.9 %Fayette County: 18.5 %Fentress County: 26.6 %Franklin County: 19.1 %Gibson County: 19.2 %Giles County: 21.9 %Grainger County: 21.7 %Greene County: 19.8 %Grundy County: 26.9 %Hamblen County: 21.7 %Hamilton County: 19 %Hancock County: 36 %Hardeman County: 29.5 %Hardin County: 24.2 %Hawkins County: 22.2 %Haywood County: 28.9 %Henderson County: 18.2 %Henry County: 26.2 %Hickman County: 21.8 %Houston County: 22.6 %Humphreys County: 20.1 %Jackson County: 27.4 %Jefferson County: 18.1 %Johnson County: 28 %Knox County: 15.8 %Lake County: 45.2 %Lauderdale County: 36.6 %Lawrence County: 20.1 %Lewis County: 21.4 %Lincoln County: 18.9 %Loudon County: 15.9 %McMinn County: 19.5 %McNairy County: 21.2 %Macon County: 22.4 %Madison County: 27.7 %Marion County: 21.5 %Marshall County: 15.2 %Maury County: 13.8 %Meigs County: 23.1 %Monroe County: 21.2 %Montgomery County: 15.7 %Moore County: 12.8 %Morgan County: 19.6 %Obion County: 27 %Overton County: 19.1 %Perry County: 26.1 %Pickett County: 25 %Polk County: 19.8 %Putnam County: 18.6 %Rhea County: 21.4 %Roane County: 16.5 %Robertson County: 13.6 %Rutherford County: 11.5 %Scott County: 25.1 %Sequatchie County: 21.9 %Sevier County: 18.3 %Shelby County: 28.1 %Smith County: 16.5 %Stewart County: 17.5 %Sullivan County: 19 %Sumner County: 11.9 %Tipton County: 24.7 %Trousdale County: 16.5 %Unicoi County: 22 %Union County: 23.4 %Van Buren County: 23.6 %Warren County: 22.5 %Washington County: 18.1 %Wayne County: 23.5 %Weakley County: 20.9 %White County: 19.7 %Williamson County: 4.7 %Wilson County: 8.4 %
  • Under 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 to 27
  • 27 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Lake County: 45.2 %Lake County45.2Lauderdale County: 36.6 %Lauderdale County36.6Hancock County: 36 %Hancock County36Clay County: 29.8 %Clay County29.8Hardeman County: 29.5 %Hardeman County29.5Haywood County: 28.9 %Haywood County28.9Cocke County: 28.7 %Cocke County28.7Bledsoe County: 28.1 %Bledsoe County28.1Shelby County: 28.1 %Shelby County28.1Johnson County: 28 %Johnson County28Madison County: 27.7 %Madison County27.7Jackson County: 27.4 %Jackson County27.4Benton County: 27.3 %Benton County27.3Claiborne County: 27 %Claiborne County27Obion County: 27 %Obion County27Grundy County: 26.9 %Grundy County26.9Fentress County: 26.6 %Fentress County26.6Henry County: 26.2 %Henry County26.2Perry County: 26.1 %Perry County26.1Campbell County: 25.7 %Campbell County25.7Scott County: 25.1 %Scott County25.1Pickett County: 25 %Pickett County25Tipton County: 24.7 %Tipton County24.7Cumberland County: 24.3 %Cumberland County24.3Hardin County: 24.2 %Hardin County24.2Decatur County: 24 %Decatur County24Dyer County: 23.9 %Dyer County23.9Van Buren County: 23.6 %Van Buren County23.6Wayne County: 23.5 %Wayne County23.5Union County: 23.4 %Union County23.4Meigs County: 23.1 %Meigs County23.1Carter County: 23 %Carter County23Houston County: 22.6 %Houston County22.6Warren County: 22.5 %Warren County22.5Macon County: 22.4 %Macon County22.4Hawkins County: 22.2 %Hawkins County22.2DeKalb County: 22 %DeKalb County22Unicoi County: 22 %Unicoi County22Carroll County: 21.9 %Carroll County21.9Giles County: 21.9 %Giles County21.9Lake County: 45.2 %Lake County45.2Lauderdale County: 36.6 %Lauderdale County36.6Hancock County: 36 %Hancock County36Clay County: 29.8 %Clay County29.8Hardeman County: 29.5 %Hardeman County29.5Haywood County: 28.9 %Haywood County28.9Cocke County: 28.7 %Cocke County28.7Bledsoe County: 28.1 %Bledsoe County28.1Shelby County: 28.1 %Shelby County28.1Johnson County: 28 %Johnson County28Madison County: 27.7 %Madison County27.7Jackson County: 27.4 %Jackson County27.4Benton County: 27.3 %Benton County27.3Claiborne County: 27 %Claiborne County27Obion County: 27 %Obion County27Grundy County: 26.9 %Grundy County26.9Fentress County: 26.6 %Fentress County26.6Henry County: 26.2 %Henry County26.2Perry County: 26.1 %Perry County26.1Campbell County: 25.7 %Campbell County25.7Scott County: 25.1 %Scott County25.1Pickett County: 25 %Pickett County25Tipton County: 24.7 %Tipton County24.7Cumberland County: 24.3 %Cumberland County24.3Hardin County: 24.2 %Hardin County24.2Decatur County: 24 %Decatur County24Dyer County: 23.9 %Dyer County23.9Van Buren County: 23.6 %Van Buren County23.6Wayne County: 23.5 %Wayne County23.5Union County: 23.4 %Union County23.4Meigs County: 23.1 %Meigs County23.1Carter County: 23 %Carter County23Houston County: 22.6 %Houston County22.6Warren County: 22.5 %Warren County22.5Macon County: 22.4 %Macon County22.4Hawkins County: 22.2 %Hawkins County22.2DeKalb County: 22 %DeKalb County22Unicoi County: 22 %Unicoi County22Carroll County: 21.9 %Carroll County21.9Giles County: 21.9 %Giles County21.9
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Lake County45.2+2.3 pts
2Lauderdale County36.6+11.4 pts
3Hancock County36-0.8 pts
4Clay County29.8+2.9 pts
5Hardeman County29.5+4.1 pts
6Haywood County28.9-2.9 pts
7Cocke County28.7-5 pts
8Bledsoe County28.1-4 pts
8Shelby County28.1+4.6 pts
10Johnson County28-1.5 pts
11Madison County27.7+7.3 pts
12Jackson County27.4+2.6 pts
13Benton County27.3+2.5 pts
14Claiborne County27+1.3 pts
14Obion County27+3.9 pts
16Grundy County26.9-0.1 pts
17Fentress County26.6-7.2 pts
18Henry County26.2+1.1 pts
19Perry County26.1+2.7 pts
20Campbell County25.7-1.1 pts
21Scott County25.1-1.8 pts
22Pickett County25+2.1 pts
23Tipton County24.7+6.1 pts
24Cumberland County24.3+3.4 pts
25Hardin County24.2-6.9 pts
26Decatur County24+1 pts
27Dyer County23.9+0.7 pts
28Van Buren County23.6-0.5 pts
29Wayne County23.5-0.5 pts
30Union County23.4+2.6 pts
31Meigs County23.1+1.1 pts
32Carter County23-1.3 pts
33Houston County22.6-1.3 pts
34Warren County22.5+1.9 pts
35Macon County22.4+2.9 pts
36Hawkins County22.2+0.3 pts
37DeKalb County22+0.2 pts
37Unicoi County22+0.6 pts
39Carroll County21.9-1.1 pts
39Giles County21.9-0.4 pts
39Sequatchie County21.9-2.8 pts
42Cannon County21.8+4.7 pts
42Hickman County21.8+1.4 pts
44Grainger County21.7-1.6 pts
44Hamblen County21.7+2.8 pts
46Marion County21.5+0.3 pts
47Lewis County21.4+2.4 pts
47Rhea County21.4+0.9 pts
49Chester County21.3-1.1 pts
50McNairy County21.2-0.8 pts
50Monroe County21.2+0.4 pts
52Weakley County20.9-2 pts
53Crockett County20.5-1.9 pts
54Humphreys County20.1+2.5 pts
54Lawrence County20.1+3.2 pts
56Greene County19.8-3.1 pts
56Polk County19.80 pts
58White County19.7-2 pts
59Morgan County19.6-2.2 pts
60McMinn County19.5-1.5 pts
61Coffee County19.4-2.4 pts
62Bradley County19.3+1.9 pts
63Gibson County19.2+1.3 pts
64Franklin County19.1+0.4 pts
64Overton County19.1-0.6 pts
66Bedford County19+1.1 pts
66Hamilton County19+2.2 pts
66Sullivan County19-4.1 pts
69Lincoln County18.9+0.2 pts
70Putnam County18.6-4.3 pts
71Fayette County18.5+2.3 pts
72Sevier County18.3+2.2 pts
73Anderson County18.2+2.3 pts
73Henderson County18.2-3.8 pts
75Jefferson County18.1+1.4 pts
75Washington County18.1+0.7 pts
77Stewart County17.5-0.5 pts
78Davidson County17.3-3.5 pts
79Roane County16.5-3 pts
79Smith County16.5+0.7 pts
79Trousdale County16.5-0.6 pts
82Loudon County15.9-0.6 pts
83Knox County15.8+3.7 pts
84Montgomery County15.7+0.8 pts
85Marshall County15.2+0.3 pts
86Maury County13.8-0.6 pts
87Dickson County13.6-0.6 pts
87Robertson County13.6+0.5 pts
89Blount County13.1+1.1 pts
90Moore County12.8-1.1 pts
91Cheatham County12.4+0.7 pts
92Sumner County11.9+3 pts
93Rutherford County11.5+0.8 pts
94Wilson County8.4-0.3 pts
95Williamson County4.7+1.1 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_tennessee_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/tennessee-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 45.2% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Williamson County, with 4.7% in 2023.

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