Counties in Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Richmond city had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 133 counties in 2016, at 38.9%. Falls Church city had the lowest, at 3.4%. The median was 19.6% and the figure for Virginia was 14.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest38.9Richmond city
Median19.6133 counties
Virginia14.3History

Map of counties, 2016

Accomack County: 31.8 %Albemarle County: 9.4 %Alleghany County: 21.7 %Amelia County: 15.5 %Amherst County: 20.9 %Appomattox County: 19.6 %Arlington County: 8.4 %Augusta County: 12.4 %Bath County: 17.7 %Bedford County: 12.7 %Bland County: 16.7 %Botetourt County: 9.4 %Brunswick County: 30 %Buchanan County: 30.7 %Buckingham County: 24.3 %Campbell County: 18.4 %Caroline County: 15 %Carroll County: 22.6 %Charles City County: 20 %Charlotte County: 29.3 %Chesterfield County: 9.3 %Clarke County: 9.1 %Craig County: 22.3 %Culpeper County: 13.4 %Cumberland County: 26.4 %Dickenson County: 29.9 %Dinwiddie County: 18.4 %Essex County: 24 %Fairfax County: 7.2 %Fauquier County: 7.2 %Floyd County: 17.2 %Fluvanna County: 9.8 %Franklin County: 18.4 %Frederick County: 9.9 %Giles County: 17.7 %Gloucester County: 13.7 %Goochland County: 8.6 %Grayson County: 25.9 %Greene County: 12.8 %Greensville County: 26.6 %Halifax County: 25.8 %Hanover County: 6.5 %Henrico County: 11.8 %Henry County: 28.3 %Highland County: 19.2 %Isle of Wight County: 12.4 %James City County: 9.4 %King and Queen County: 18.7 %King George County: 8.9 %King William County: 11.5 %Lancaster County: 27 %Lee County: 37.5 %Loudoun County: 3.5 %Louisa County: 16 %Lunenburg County: 26.1 %Madison County: 17.9 %Mathews County: 17.7 %Mecklenburg County: 26 %Middlesex County: 24.9 %Montgomery County: 13.4 %Nelson County: 20.6 %New Kent County: 8.3 %Northampton County: 29.4 %Northumberland County: 26.2 %Nottoway County: 29.1 %Orange County: 13.7 %Page County: 23.9 %Patrick County: 27.5 %Pittsylvania County: 19 %Powhatan County: 8.2 %Prince Edward County: 28 %Prince George County: 11.6 %Prince William County: 9.7 %Pulaski County: 20 %Rappahannock County: 16.8 %Richmond County: 23.7 %Roanoke County: 9.2 %Rockbridge County: 17.9 %Rockingham County: 12.9 %Russell County: 23.7 %Scott County: 24 %Shenandoah County: 15 %Smyth County: 24.2 %Southampton County: 21.1 %Spotsylvania County: 10.7 %Stafford County: 7 %Surry County: 21.8 %Sussex County: 30.2 %Tazewell County: 24.8 %Warren County: 14.4 %Washington County: 18.9 %Westmoreland County: 27.8 %Wise County: 28.6 %Wythe County: 20.9 %York County: 6.6 %Alexandria city: 16.4 %Bristol city: 38.2 %Buena Vista city: 23.9 %Charlottesville city: 19.8 %Chesapeake city: 12.9 %Colonial Heights city: 17 %Covington city: 26.5 %Danville city: 37.6 %Emporia city: 38.6 %Fairfax city: 7.5 %Falls Church city: 3.4 %Franklin city: 33.8 %Fredericksburg city: 20.2 %Galax city: 34.3 %Hampton city: 23.5 %Harrisonburg city: 21.8 %Hopewell city: 31 %Lexington city: 15.8 %Lynchburg city: 24.5 %Manassas city: 15.7 %Manassas Park city: 12.8 %Martinsville city: 34.8 %Newport News city: 21.1 %Norfolk city: 31.2 %Norton city: 33.8 %Petersburg city: 36.7 %Poquoson city: 6.7 %Portsmouth city: 30.1 %Radford city: 19.1 %Richmond city: 38.9 %Roanoke city: 30.6 %Salem city: 12.4 %Staunton city: 20.8 %Suffolk city: 16.8 %Virginia Beach city: 11.5 %Waynesboro city: 24.1 %Williamsburg city: 23.1 %Winchester city: 22 %
  • Under 9.9
  • 9.9 to 16
  • 16 to 20
  • 20 to 24
  • 24 to 29
  • 29 and over
%, 2016. 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, 2016

Richmond city: 38.9 %Richmond city38.9Emporia city: 38.6 %Emporia city38.6Bristol city: 38.2 %Bristol city38.2Danville city: 37.6 %Danville city37.6Lee County: 37.5 %Lee County37.5Petersburg city: 36.7 %Petersburg city36.7Martinsville city: 34.8 %Martinsville city34.8Galax city: 34.3 %Galax city34.3Franklin city: 33.8 %Franklin city33.8Norton city: 33.8 %Norton city33.8Accomack County: 31.8 %Accomack County31.8Norfolk city: 31.2 %Norfolk city31.2Hopewell city: 31 %Hopewell city31Buchanan County: 30.7 %Buchanan County30.7Roanoke city: 30.6 %Roanoke city30.6Sussex County: 30.2 %Sussex County30.2Portsmouth city: 30.1 %Portsmouth city30.1Brunswick County: 30 %Brunswick County30Dickenson County: 29.9 %Dickenson County29.9Northampton County: 29.4 %Northampton County29.4Charlotte County: 29.3 %Charlotte County29.3Nottoway County: 29.1 %Nottoway County29.1Wise County: 28.6 %Wise County28.6Henry County: 28.3 %Henry County28.3Prince Edward County: 28 %Prince Edward County28Westmoreland County: 27.8 %Westmoreland County27.8Patrick County: 27.5 %Patrick County27.5Lancaster County: 27 %Lancaster County27Greensville County: 26.6 %Greensville County26.6Covington city: 26.5 %Covington city26.5Cumberland County: 26.4 %Cumberland County26.4Northumberland County: 26.2 %Northumberland County26.2Lunenburg County: 26.1 %Lunenburg County26.1Mecklenburg County: 26 %Mecklenburg County26Grayson County: 25.9 %Grayson County25.9Halifax County: 25.8 %Halifax County25.8Middlesex County: 24.9 %Middlesex County24.9Tazewell County: 24.8 %Tazewell County24.8Lynchburg city: 24.5 %Lynchburg city24.5Buckingham County: 24.3 %Buckingham County24.3Richmond city: 38.9 %Richmond city38.9Emporia city: 38.6 %Emporia city38.6Bristol city: 38.2 %Bristol city38.2Danville city: 37.6 %Danville city37.6Lee County: 37.5 %Lee County37.5Petersburg city: 36.7 %Petersburg city36.7Martinsville city: 34.8 %Martinsville city34.8Galax city: 34.3 %Galax city34.3Franklin city: 33.8 %Franklin city33.8Norton city: 33.8 %Norton city33.8Accomack County: 31.8 %Accomack County31.8Norfolk city: 31.2 %Norfolk city31.2Hopewell city: 31 %Hopewell city31Buchanan County: 30.7 %Buchanan County30.7Roanoke city: 30.6 %Roanoke city30.6Sussex County: 30.2 %Sussex County30.2Portsmouth city: 30.1 %Portsmouth city30.1Brunswick County: 30 %Brunswick County30Dickenson County: 29.9 %Dickenson County29.9Northampton County: 29.4 %Northampton County29.4Charlotte County: 29.3 %Charlotte County29.3Nottoway County: 29.1 %Nottoway County29.1Wise County: 28.6 %Wise County28.6Henry County: 28.3 %Henry County28.3Prince Edward County: 28 %Prince Edward County28Westmoreland County: 27.8 %Westmoreland County27.8Patrick County: 27.5 %Patrick County27.5Lancaster County: 27 %Lancaster County27Greensville County: 26.6 %Greensville County26.6Covington city: 26.5 %Covington city26.5Cumberland County: 26.4 %Cumberland County26.4Northumberland County: 26.2 %Northumberland County26.2Lunenburg County: 26.1 %Lunenburg County26.1Mecklenburg County: 26 %Mecklenburg County26Grayson County: 25.9 %Grayson County25.9Halifax County: 25.8 %Halifax County25.8Middlesex County: 24.9 %Middlesex County24.9Tazewell County: 24.8 %Tazewell County24.8Lynchburg city: 24.5 %Lynchburg city24.5Buckingham County: 24.3 %Buckingham County24.3
%. 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

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Richmond city38.9+2.6 pts
2Emporia city38.6+0.3 pts
3Bristol city38.2+4.8 pts
4Danville city37.6-1.8 pts
5Lee County37.5+1.2 pts
6Petersburg city36.7-6.3 pts
7Martinsville city34.8-2.3 pts
8Galax city34.3-2.2 pts
9Franklin city33.8-1.4 pts
9Norton city33.8-3.7 pts
11Accomack County31.8+0.8 pts
12Norfolk city31.2+1.6 pts
13Hopewell city31-2.7 pts
14Buchanan County30.7-2.9 pts
15Roanoke city30.6-2.3 pts
16Sussex County30.2+1.2 pts
17Portsmouth city30.1-0.4 pts
18Brunswick County30+0.8 pts
19Dickenson County29.9-3.1 pts
20Northampton County29.4-4.3 pts
21Charlotte County29.3+0.9 pts
22Nottoway County29.1+0.4 pts
23Wise County28.6-2.3 pts
24Henry County28.3-2.2 pts
25Prince Edward County28-1.1 pts
26Westmoreland County27.8-1.1 pts
27Patrick County27.5+2 pts
28Lancaster County27+0.8 pts
29Greensville County26.6-2.1 pts
30Covington city26.5-2.1 pts
31Cumberland County26.4-4.4 pts
32Northumberland County26.2-2.8 pts
33Lunenburg County26.1-2.9 pts
34Mecklenburg County26-1.5 pts
35Grayson County25.9-3.5 pts
36Halifax County25.8+0.2 pts
37Middlesex County24.9-0.2 pts
38Tazewell County24.8+0.7 pts
39Lynchburg city24.5-3.9 pts
40Buckingham County24.3-3.2 pts
41Smyth County24.2-3.4 pts
42Waynesboro city24.1-2.1 pts
43Essex County24-2.7 pts
43Scott County24-0.5 pts
45Buena Vista city23.9-0.7 pts
45Page County23.9+0.7 pts
47Richmond County23.7+0.7 pts
47Russell County23.7-4.5 pts
49Hampton city23.50 pts
50Williamsburg city23.1-2 pts
51Carroll County22.6-1.7 pts
52Craig County22.3+0.6 pts
53Winchester city22-3.6 pts
54Harrisonburg city21.8-1.9 pts
54Surry County21.8+1.8 pts
56Alleghany County21.7-2.3 pts
57Newport News city21.1-4.6 pts
57Southampton County21.1+0.2 pts
59Amherst County20.9+0.3 pts
59Wythe County20.9-0.4 pts
61Staunton city20.8-2.2 pts
62Nelson County20.6-2.6 pts
63Fredericksburg city20.2-2.6 pts
64Charles City County20+0.5 pts
64Pulaski County20-2.1 pts
66Charlottesville city19.8-2.8 pts
67Appomattox County19.6-1.3 pts
68Highland County19.2-5 pts
69Radford city19.1-2.4 pts
70Pittsylvania County19-6.6 pts
71Washington County18.9-3.8 pts
72King and Queen County18.7-1.8 pts
73Campbell County18.4+2.1 pts
73Dinwiddie County18.4+0.9 pts
73Franklin County18.4-0.7 pts
76Madison County17.9-0.3 pts
76Rockbridge County17.9-0.7 pts
78Bath County17.7+3.1 pts
78Giles County17.7+0.1 pts
78Mathews County17.7-0.2 pts
81Floyd County17.2-1 pts
82Colonial Heights city17+0.3 pts
83Rappahannock County16.8+1.2 pts
83Suffolk city16.8-1.2 pts
85Bland County16.7-1.1 pts
86Alexandria city16.4+1.9 pts
87Louisa County16-0.7 pts
88Lexington city15.8+2.4 pts
89Manassas city15.7+0.3 pts
90Amelia County15.5-1.5 pts
91Caroline County15-2.2 pts
91Shenandoah County15-2.7 pts
93Warren County14.4-0.7 pts
94Gloucester County13.7-1 pts
94Orange County13.7-1.5 pts
96Culpeper County13.4-1.5 pts
96Montgomery County13.4-1.8 pts
98Chesapeake city12.9-1 pts
98Rockingham County12.9-1.1 pts
100Greene County12.8-1.1 pts
100Manassas Park city12.8+0.1 pts
102Bedford County12.7-0.1 pts
103Augusta County12.4-0.5 pts
103Isle of Wight County12.4-0.7 pts
103Salem city12.4-1.4 pts
106Henrico County11.8-1.2 pts
107Prince George County11.6-0.7 pts
108King William County11.5-0.7 pts
108Virginia Beach city11.5-0.9 pts
110Spotsylvania County10.7-0.2 pts
111Frederick County9.9-0.8 pts
112Fluvanna County9.8-0.6 pts
113Prince William County9.7+0.7 pts
114Albemarle County9.4-0.2 pts
114Botetourt County9.4+0.1 pts
114James City County9.4-0.8 pts
117Chesterfield County9.3-0.2 pts
118Roanoke County9.2-0.2 pts
119Clarke County9.1-1.3 pts
120King George County8.9-0.7 pts
121Goochland County8.6-1.2 pts
122Arlington County8.4-0.4 pts
123New Kent County8.3-1.9 pts
124Powhatan County8.2-0.3 pts
125Fairfax city7.5-0.3 pts
126Fairfax County7.2-0.3 pts
126Fauquier County7.2-1.1 pts
128Stafford County7-0.1 pts
129Poquoson city6.7+0.1 pts
130York County6.6-0.2 pts
131Hanover County6.5-0.6 pts
132Loudoun County3.5-0.5 pts
133Falls Church city3.4+0.1 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2016. 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 Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2016.

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 Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2016,
  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 Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2016. 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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.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 Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2016.
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/2016/2016-state-and-county/est16all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Richmond city, with 38.9% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Falls Church city, with 3.4% in 2016.

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 Virginia: more rankings