US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Owsley County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 3132 counties in 2015, at 61.6%. Falls Church city had the lowest, at 3.3%. The median was 22.4% and the figure for the United States was 20.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest61.6Owsley County

Lowest3.3Falls Church city

Median22.43132 counties

United States20.7History

Map of counties, 2015

%, 2015. Hatched areas have no value for this period. 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, 2015

%. 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

Rank	Counties	2015 (%)	Change on 2014
1	Owsley County	61.6	+6.8 pts
2	Humphreys County	60.2	+3.5 pts
3	Corson County	59.8	+14.6 pts
4	Bell County	56.8	+11.7 pts
4	Quitman County	56.8	+5.6 pts
6	Phillips County	56.4	+5.5 pts
7	East Carroll Parish	56.1	+1.8 pts
8	Terrell County	55.7	+9.6 pts
9	Leflore County	55.3	+1.2 pts
10	Greene County	54.7	+9 pts
11	Perry County	54.4	-11.5 pts
11	Taliaferro County	54.4	+5.4 pts
13	Claiborne County	54	+4 pts
13	Ziebach County	54	+5.1 pts
15	Sharkey County	53.7	-0.4 pts
16	Holmes County	53.6	-4.4 pts
17	Clay County	53	+6.2 pts
18	Madison Parish	52.7	+1.8 pts
19	Tensas Parish	52.6	+8 pts
20	Todd County	52.3	-0.5 pts
21	Alexander County	52.2	+0.2 pts
22	Clay County	52	-4.4 pts
23	McCreary County	51.9	+1.7 pts
24	Washington County	51.4	+3.9 pts
25	Bullock County	51.2	+8.1 pts
26	Menominee County	50.9	+6.7 pts
27	Allendale County	50.6	+1.9 pts
27	Sunflower County	50.6	+5.7 pts
29	Wolfe County	50.4	+0.1 pts
30	Lee County	50.2	+5.1 pts
31	Dallas County	50.1	+0.6 pts
32	Morehouse Parish	50	+5.3 pts
33	Coahoma County	49.3	+1 pts
33	Saguache County	49.3	+8.9 pts
35	Wilcox County	49.2	+2.1 pts
36	Lee County	48.7	+2.2 pts
37	Stewart County	48.4	+3.7 pts
38	Sumter County	48.1	+0.5 pts
39	Lake County	47.9	+3.9 pts
39	Quitman County	47.9	-0.5 pts
41	Bolivar County	47.8	+4.8 pts
42	Harlan County	47.7	+5.1 pts
43	Fulton County	47.6	+2.7 pts
44	Crisp County	47.4	+1.5 pts
45	Jenkins County	47.3	+2.3 pts
46	Bennett County	47	+1.5 pts
46	Oglala Lakota County	47	-6.5 pts
48	Ben Hill County	46.9	+6.5 pts
48	Noxubee County	46.9	+2.2 pts
50	McDowell County	46.8	+0.6 pts
51	Lowndes County	46.7	+4 pts
51	Monroe County	46.7	+8 pts
53	Brooks County	46.5	+1 pts
54	Forest County	46.4	+5.2 pts
54	Knott County	46.4	+2.3 pts
56	Tunica County	46.2	+4.3 pts
57	Macon County	46.1	+1.7 pts
58	Issaquena County	46	-1.8 pts
59	Cameron County	45.9	-1.1 pts
60	Desha County	45.7	+7.4 pts
61	Ware County	45.6	+5.1 pts
62	Dooly County	45.4	+5.9 pts
63	Martin County	45.3	+2.4 pts
63	Northampton County	45.3	+7.2 pts
65	Barbour County	45.2	+7.1 pts
65	Jackson County	45.2	+1.9 pts
65	Knox County	45.2	-3.8 pts
65	Lake County	45.2	+0.8 pts
65	Tallahatchie County	45.2	-2.5 pts
65	Zapata County	45.2	+0.4 pts
71	Magoffin County	45.1	+4.1 pts
71	Sioux County	45.1	+3.1 pts
73	Catron County	44.9	+2.1 pts
74	Turner County	44.8	-1.8 pts
75	Apache County	44.7	+5.2 pts
76	Hamilton County	44.6	+4.7 pts
76	Jefferson County	44.6	-0.6 pts
78	Scotland County	44.4	+2.8 pts
79	Hancock County	44.3	+1.5 pts
79	St. Francis County	44.3	-1.5 pts
81	Jefferson Davis County	44.2	+0.8 pts
81	Mellette County	44.2	+0.9 pts
81	Sumter County	44.2	-6.9 pts
84	Randolph County	44.1	-7.3 pts
85	Bamberg County	43.9	+2.9 pts
85	Warren County	43.9	+1.1 pts
87	Adams County	43.8	-3.3 pts
88	Hancock County	43.7	-0.2 pts
89	Macon County	43.6	+2.8 pts
89	Sierra County	43.6	+3.6 pts
89	Wheeler County	43.6	+4.1 pts
92	Buffalo County	43.5	-4 pts
92	Menifee County	43.5	+1.5 pts
94	Kusilvak Census Area	43.4	-0.3 pts
94	Yazoo County	43.4	+4.7 pts
96	Candler County	43.3	-0.3 pts
96	Costilla County	43.3	+3.1 pts
96	Williamsburg County	43.3	-0.9 pts
99	Chicot County	43.2	+0.1 pts
100	Floyd County	43.1	-1.2 pts
100	Kemper County	43.1	+6 pts
100	Pike County	43.1	+2.3 pts
103	Petersburg city	43	+5.5 pts
103	Willacy County	43	-2.9 pts
105	Breathitt County	42.9	-1.2 pts
105	Hidalgo County	42.9	-2.6 pts
107	Dillon County	42.8	+1 pts
107	Richmond County	42.8	+5.6 pts
109	Adair County	42.7	+6 pts
109	Seminole County	42.7	0 pts
111	Bronx County	42.6	-0.4 pts
111	Edgecombe County	42.6	+4.5 pts
111	Shannon County	42.6	-5.2 pts
114	Starr County	42.5	-1.9 pts
115	Calhoun County	42.4	-2.3 pts
115	Wilkinson County	42.4	+2.7 pts
117	Telfair County	42.2	+0.6 pts
117	Zavala County	42.2	+1.2 pts
119	Clay County	42.1	-0.2 pts
119	Dougherty County	42.1	-5.3 pts
119	Walthall County	42.1	+2.3 pts
122	Baker County	41.9	+0.6 pts
122	Letcher County	41.9	+4.8 pts
122	Robeson County	41.9	-4.7 pts
122	Webb County	41.9	-0.4 pts
126	Evans County	41.8	+3.3 pts
126	Talbot County	41.8	+4.6 pts
128	Bibb County	41.6	-1 pts
128	Clarke County	41.6	+2.6 pts
128	Concordia Parish	41.6	-1.8 pts
128	Early County	41.6	+1 pts
128	Huerfano County	41.6	+3.7 pts
128	Treutlen County	41.6	+1.8 pts
134	DeSoto County	41.3	+0.2 pts
134	Ozark County	41.3	+6.3 pts
134	Pemiscot County	41.3	+1.1 pts
137	Luna County	41.2	+2.9 pts
138	Grady County	41.1	+3.1 pts
138	Marion County	41.1	-6.9 pts
138	Putnam County	41.1	-3.2 pts
138	Taylor County	41.1	+5.7 pts
142	Adair County	41	+2.7 pts
142	Conecuh County	41	-0.2 pts
142	Jackson County	41	+5 pts
142	Webster County	41	+1.4 pts
146	Morgan County	40.9	+1.2 pts
146	Washington County	40.9	-2.4 pts
148	Franklin Parish	40.7	-3.5 pts
148	Socorro County	40.7	-1.9 pts
150	Atkinson County	40.5	+2.8 pts
150	McDuffie County	40.5	-1.6 pts
152	Blaine County	40.4	+8.6 pts
152	Wilcox County	40.4	+0.6 pts
154	Bent County	40.3	+5.9 pts
154	Elliott County	40.3	+0.1 pts
154	Roscommon County	40.3	+5.9 pts
154	Wayne County	40.3	+2.6 pts
158	Bradley County	40.2	+1.1 pts
158	Choctaw County	40.2	+2.6 pts
158	Emanuel County	40.2	-4.8 pts
161	Cocke County	40.1	-0.3 pts
161	Jasper County	40.1	-1.1 pts
161	Marion County	40.1	+0.6 pts
164	Screven County	40	-0.2 pts
164	Webster Parish	40	+8.1 pts
166	Decatur County	39.9	-0.7 pts
166	Pulaski County	39.9	+4 pts
168	Hall County	39.8	+1.2 pts
168	Oregon County	39.8	+1.6 pts
168	Tift County	39.8	-0.6 pts
171	Jackson County	39.7	+6.1 pts
171	Jefferson County	39.7	+2.2 pts
173	Clinch County	39.6	-1 pts
173	Clinton County	39.6	+2.1 pts
173	Edwards County	39.6	+2.2 pts
176	Big Horn County	39.5	+3.2 pts
177	Campbell County	39.4	+5.1 pts
177	Danville city	39.4	+2.8 pts
177	Leslie County	39.4	+1 pts
180	Echols County	39.3	+2.2 pts
180	Hickory County	39.3	-0.2 pts
180	McIntosh County	39.3	+3.2 pts
180	Powell County	39.3	+0.6 pts
180	Ripley County	39.3	+2.4 pts
180	St. Louis city	39.3	-3.6 pts
180	Woodruff County	39.3	+3.4 pts
187	McKinley County	39.2	-3.7 pts
187	Sharp County	39.2	+5.7 pts
187	Wheeler County	39.2	+1.8 pts
190	Copiah County	39.1	+1.2 pts
190	Halifax County	39.1	+4.5 pts
190	Searcy County	39.1	+1 pts
193	Benson County	39	-2.3 pts
193	Dunklin County	39	-2.5 pts
193	Toombs County	39	+1.1 pts
196	Brooks County	38.9	-3.1 pts
196	Leake County	38.9	-3.7 pts
196	Whitley County	38.9	+0.4 pts
196	Winston County	38.9	-1.3 pts
200	Chickasaw County	38.8	+3.8 pts
200	Clare County	38.8	0 pts
200	Doña Ana County	38.8	-0.6 pts
200	Estill County	38.8	+0.8 pts
204	De Soto Parish	38.7	+7.3 pts
204	Hinds County	38.7	+4 pts
204	Mingo County	38.7	+1.8 pts
207	Hale County	38.6	+1.8 pts
207	Lee County	38.6	+2.3 pts
209	Crowley County	38.5	+0.5 pts
209	Franklin County	38.5	+1.4 pts
209	Panola County	38.5	-0.9 pts
212	Gadsden County	38.4	-1.3 pts
212	Hudspeth County	38.4	-0.4 pts
212	Metcalfe County	38.4	+0.9 pts
212	Philadelphia County	38.4	+1.5 pts
216	Benton County	38.3	+0.5 pts
216	Emporia city	38.3	-3.5 pts
216	Montgomery County	38.3	+2.4 pts
219	Barnwell County	38.2	-4.1 pts
219	Casey County	38.2	-4.4 pts
219	Dixie County	38.2	+1.9 pts
219	Menard County	38.2	-1.6 pts
219	Orleans Parish	38.2	-5.1 pts
224	Clarendon County	38.1	-1 pts
224	Dodge County	38.1	+1.2 pts
224	Highlands County	38.1	+6 pts
224	Mitchell County	38.1	-1.1 pts
228	Chester County	38	+4.5 pts
228	Mississippi County	38	-2.1 pts
230	Burke County	37.9	-4.5 pts
230	Cibola County	37.9	+0.3 pts
230	Greene County	37.9	-1.4 pts
230	Marlboro County	37.9	-8.6 pts
230	Red River Parish	37.9	+3.4 pts
235	Bath County	37.8	+4 pts
235	Jefferson County	37.8	-2 pts
235	Miller County	37.8	+0.6 pts
235	Monroe County	37.8	-1.3 pts
239	Charlton County	37.7	+3.7 pts
239	Richmond County	37.7	-0.2 pts
239	Wayne County	37.7	-3.1 pts
242	Hertford County	37.6	+2.3 pts
242	Mississippi County	37.6	+0.4 pts
244	Glacier County	37.5	+1.7 pts
244	Norton city	37.5	+4.6 pts
244	Wright County	37.5	+3.8 pts
247	Bienville Parish	37.4	-0.1 pts
247	Clay County	37.4	+1.5 pts
247	Duval County	37.4	+3.5 pts
250	Crittenden County	37.3	-3.7 pts

Showing the top 250 of 3132. The Excel download has every row.

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. 11 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2015 and are left out rather than filled from another source. 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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 (US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2015. 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. US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2015.

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, US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_counties_by_child_2015,
  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: US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2015. 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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: US counties by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/us-counties?period=2015.
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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Owsley County, with 61.6% in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Falls Church city, with 3.3% in 2015.

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. 11 counties have no value for 2015 and are not ranked.