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

Petersburg city had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 133 counties in 2018, at 38.9%. Falls Church city had the lowest, at 2.9%. The median was 19.3% and the figure for Virginia was 13.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest38.9Petersburg city
Median19.3133 counties
Virginia13.8History

Map of counties, 2018

Accomack County: 27 %Albemarle County: 9.6 %Alleghany County: 21.1 %Amelia County: 13.2 %Amherst County: 18.5 %Appomattox County: 19.4 %Arlington County: 7.3 %Augusta County: 12.2 %Bath County: 14.8 %Bedford County: 13.1 %Bland County: 15 %Botetourt County: 8.6 %Brunswick County: 27 %Buchanan County: 32.4 %Buckingham County: 24.9 %Campbell County: 16.6 %Caroline County: 15.2 %Carroll County: 23 %Charles City County: 18.8 %Charlotte County: 29.7 %Chesterfield County: 9.9 %Clarke County: 8 %Craig County: 21.2 %Culpeper County: 11.3 %Cumberland County: 25.2 %Dickenson County: 28.7 %Dinwiddie County: 17.8 %Essex County: 23.4 %Fairfax County: 7.2 %Fauquier County: 6.8 %Floyd County: 18.3 %Fluvanna County: 9 %Franklin County: 23 %Frederick County: 9.8 %Giles County: 18 %Gloucester County: 13.4 %Goochland County: 7.9 %Grayson County: 27.5 %Greene County: 12.2 %Greensville County: 27.2 %Halifax County: 22.4 %Hanover County: 6.2 %Henrico County: 12.6 %Henry County: 28 %Highland County: 21.2 %Isle of Wight County: 12.1 %James City County: 9.3 %King and Queen County: 19.3 %King George County: 9.1 %King William County: 10.2 %Lancaster County: 24.1 %Lee County: 32.5 %Loudoun County: 3.6 %Louisa County: 14.9 %Lunenburg County: 24.8 %Madison County: 16.1 %Mathews County: 16.6 %Mecklenburg County: 29.8 %Middlesex County: 22.9 %Montgomery County: 14.6 %Nelson County: 19.9 %New Kent County: 7.3 %Northampton County: 30 %Northumberland County: 27 %Nottoway County: 27.9 %Orange County: 12.9 %Page County: 19 %Patrick County: 22.7 %Pittsylvania County: 22.3 %Powhatan County: 8.1 %Prince Edward County: 27.9 %Prince George County: 11.3 %Prince William County: 8.7 %Pulaski County: 20.5 %Rappahannock County: 13.6 %Richmond County: 22.5 %Roanoke County: 8.4 %Rockbridge County: 16.7 %Rockingham County: 9.3 %Russell County: 21.7 %Scott County: 24.5 %Shenandoah County: 14.9 %Smyth County: 25.2 %Southampton County: 20.2 %Spotsylvania County: 10.1 %Stafford County: 6.5 %Surry County: 20.2 %Sussex County: 29.6 %Tazewell County: 24.1 %Warren County: 13.9 %Washington County: 20.5 %Westmoreland County: 26.8 %Wise County: 32.5 %Wythe County: 23.8 %York County: 6.6 %Alexandria city: 16.1 %Bristol city: 33.1 %Buena Vista city: 20.2 %Charlottesville city: 18.3 %Chesapeake city: 11.9 %Colonial Heights city: 17.4 %Covington city: 26.1 %Danville city: 38.1 %Emporia city: 37.4 %Fairfax city: 6.9 %Falls Church city: 2.9 %Franklin city: 34.1 %Fredericksburg city: 21.2 %Galax city: 34.7 %Hampton city: 23.7 %Harrisonburg city: 19.8 %Hopewell city: 30.9 %Lexington city: 13.7 %Lynchburg city: 25.1 %Manassas city: 14.7 %Manassas Park city: 11.9 %Martinsville city: 33.7 %Newport News city: 21.7 %Norfolk city: 28.2 %Norton city: 31.3 %Petersburg city: 38.9 %Poquoson city: 5.4 %Portsmouth city: 29.1 %Radford city: 18 %Richmond city: 34.5 %Roanoke city: 32.3 %Salem city: 11.9 %Staunton city: 19 %Suffolk city: 16.1 %Virginia Beach city: 10.4 %Waynesboro city: 25 %Williamsburg city: 28.2 %Winchester city: 22 %
  • Under 9.8
  • 9.8 to 15
  • 15 to 19
  • 19 to 23
  • 23 to 28
  • 28 and over
%, 2018. 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, 2018

Petersburg city: 38.9 %Petersburg city38.9Danville city: 38.1 %Danville city38.1Emporia city: 37.4 %Emporia city37.4Galax city: 34.7 %Galax city34.7Richmond city: 34.5 %Richmond city34.5Franklin city: 34.1 %Franklin city34.1Martinsville city: 33.7 %Martinsville city33.7Bristol city: 33.1 %Bristol city33.1Lee County: 32.5 %Lee County32.5Wise County: 32.5 %Wise County32.5Buchanan County: 32.4 %Buchanan County32.4Roanoke city: 32.3 %Roanoke city32.3Norton city: 31.3 %Norton city31.3Hopewell city: 30.9 %Hopewell city30.9Northampton County: 30 %Northampton County30Mecklenburg County: 29.8 %Mecklenburg County29.8Charlotte County: 29.7 %Charlotte County29.7Sussex County: 29.6 %Sussex County29.6Portsmouth city: 29.1 %Portsmouth city29.1Dickenson County: 28.7 %Dickenson County28.7Norfolk city: 28.2 %Norfolk city28.2Williamsburg city: 28.2 %Williamsburg city28.2Henry County: 28 %Henry County28Nottoway County: 27.9 %Nottoway County27.9Prince Edward County: 27.9 %Prince Edward County27.9Grayson County: 27.5 %Grayson County27.5Greensville County: 27.2 %Greensville County27.2Accomack County: 27 %Accomack County27Brunswick County: 27 %Brunswick County27Northumberland County: 27 %Northumberland County27Westmoreland County: 26.8 %Westmoreland County26.8Covington city: 26.1 %Covington city26.1Cumberland County: 25.2 %Cumberland County25.2Smyth County: 25.2 %Smyth County25.2Lynchburg city: 25.1 %Lynchburg city25.1Waynesboro city: 25 %Waynesboro city25Buckingham County: 24.9 %Buckingham County24.9Lunenburg County: 24.8 %Lunenburg County24.8Scott County: 24.5 %Scott County24.5Lancaster County: 24.1 %Lancaster County24.1Petersburg city: 38.9 %Petersburg city38.9Danville city: 38.1 %Danville city38.1Emporia city: 37.4 %Emporia city37.4Galax city: 34.7 %Galax city34.7Richmond city: 34.5 %Richmond city34.5Franklin city: 34.1 %Franklin city34.1Martinsville city: 33.7 %Martinsville city33.7Bristol city: 33.1 %Bristol city33.1Lee County: 32.5 %Lee County32.5Wise County: 32.5 %Wise County32.5Buchanan County: 32.4 %Buchanan County32.4Roanoke city: 32.3 %Roanoke city32.3Norton city: 31.3 %Norton city31.3Hopewell city: 30.9 %Hopewell city30.9Northampton County: 30 %Northampton County30Mecklenburg County: 29.8 %Mecklenburg County29.8Charlotte County: 29.7 %Charlotte County29.7Sussex County: 29.6 %Sussex County29.6Portsmouth city: 29.1 %Portsmouth city29.1Dickenson County: 28.7 %Dickenson County28.7Norfolk city: 28.2 %Norfolk city28.2Williamsburg city: 28.2 %Williamsburg city28.2Henry County: 28 %Henry County28Nottoway County: 27.9 %Nottoway County27.9Prince Edward County: 27.9 %Prince Edward County27.9Grayson County: 27.5 %Grayson County27.5Greensville County: 27.2 %Greensville County27.2Accomack County: 27 %Accomack County27Brunswick County: 27 %Brunswick County27Northumberland County: 27 %Northumberland County27Westmoreland County: 26.8 %Westmoreland County26.8Covington city: 26.1 %Covington city26.1Cumberland County: 25.2 %Cumberland County25.2Smyth County: 25.2 %Smyth County25.2Lynchburg city: 25.1 %Lynchburg city25.1Waynesboro city: 25 %Waynesboro city25Buckingham County: 24.9 %Buckingham County24.9Lunenburg County: 24.8 %Lunenburg County24.8Scott County: 24.5 %Scott County24.5Lancaster County: 24.1 %Lancaster County24.1
%. 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

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Petersburg city38.9+4.4 pts
2Danville city38.1-0.4 pts
3Emporia city37.4+0.7 pts
4Galax city34.7-0.7 pts
5Richmond city34.5-0.7 pts
6Franklin city34.1-1 pts
7Martinsville city33.7-0.7 pts
8Bristol city33.1+2.3 pts
9Lee County32.5-0.5 pts
9Wise County32.5+3 pts
11Buchanan County32.4-7.9 pts
12Roanoke city32.3+2.9 pts
13Norton city31.3-2.2 pts
14Hopewell city30.9-1.6 pts
15Northampton County30+1.2 pts
16Mecklenburg County29.8+3.4 pts
17Charlotte County29.7+3.5 pts
18Sussex County29.6+0.3 pts
19Portsmouth city29.1-1.5 pts
20Dickenson County28.7-2 pts
21Norfolk city28.2+0.3 pts
21Williamsburg city28.2+5.2 pts
23Henry County28+3.1 pts
24Nottoway County27.9+2.6 pts
24Prince Edward County27.9+0.8 pts
26Grayson County27.5+0.9 pts
27Greensville County27.2+1.6 pts
28Accomack County27-1 pts
28Brunswick County27-3.1 pts
28Northumberland County27-0.8 pts
31Westmoreland County26.8+0.5 pts
32Covington city26.1+1.1 pts
33Cumberland County25.2+1.5 pts
33Smyth County25.2+0.1 pts
35Lynchburg city25.1+0.1 pts
36Waynesboro city25+3.3 pts
37Buckingham County24.9+2.2 pts
38Lunenburg County24.8-2.1 pts
39Scott County24.5+1.4 pts
40Lancaster County24.1+0.4 pts
40Tazewell County24.1-1.5 pts
42Wythe County23.8+3.7 pts
43Hampton city23.7+0.2 pts
44Essex County23.40 pts
45Carroll County23+0.3 pts
45Franklin County23+4.6 pts
47Middlesex County22.9-0.7 pts
48Patrick County22.7+0.4 pts
49Richmond County22.5-0.5 pts
50Halifax County22.4-2 pts
51Pittsylvania County22.3+3.5 pts
52Winchester city22+2.3 pts
53Newport News city21.7-3.5 pts
53Russell County21.7-3.3 pts
55Craig County21.2+1.9 pts
55Fredericksburg city21.2+0.9 pts
55Highland County21.2+3.2 pts
58Alleghany County21.1+0.4 pts
59Pulaski County20.5-0.6 pts
59Washington County20.5+2 pts
61Buena Vista city20.2-0.7 pts
61Southampton County20.2-0.3 pts
61Surry County20.2+0.5 pts
64Nelson County19.9-0.7 pts
65Harrisonburg city19.8-0.5 pts
66Appomattox County19.4+1.9 pts
67King and Queen County19.3+1.2 pts
68Page County19-3.1 pts
68Staunton city19-2 pts
70Charles City County18.8+1.3 pts
71Amherst County18.5+0.2 pts
72Charlottesville city18.3-1.1 pts
72Floyd County18.3+0.6 pts
74Giles County18+1.8 pts
74Radford city18+0.5 pts
76Dinwiddie County17.8+1.8 pts
77Colonial Heights city17.4+1 pts
78Rockbridge County16.7-0.3 pts
79Campbell County16.6+0.8 pts
79Mathews County16.6+0.4 pts
81Alexandria city16.1-0.9 pts
81Madison County16.1+1.1 pts
81Suffolk city16.1-0.5 pts
84Caroline County15.2+0.2 pts
85Bland County15-2.2 pts
86Louisa County14.9+0.4 pts
86Shenandoah County14.9+1 pts
88Bath County14.8+0.6 pts
89Manassas city14.7+0.5 pts
90Montgomery County14.6-0.5 pts
91Warren County13.9+1.2 pts
92Lexington city13.7+0.6 pts
93Rappahannock County13.6-1.6 pts
94Gloucester County13.4-0.4 pts
95Amelia County13.2-1.2 pts
96Bedford County13.1+0.6 pts
97Orange County12.9+0.3 pts
98Henrico County12.6-1.3 pts
99Augusta County12.2+0.7 pts
99Greene County12.2-0.1 pts
101Isle of Wight County12.1+0.9 pts
102Chesapeake city11.9-2.1 pts
102Manassas Park city11.9+0.5 pts
102Salem city11.9-1.5 pts
105Culpeper County11.3-1.9 pts
105Prince George County11.3-1.4 pts
107Virginia Beach city10.4-0.8 pts
108King William County10.2+0.4 pts
109Spotsylvania County10.1+0.1 pts
110Chesterfield County9.9+1.2 pts
111Frederick County9.8+1 pts
112Albemarle County9.6+0.8 pts
113James City County9.3+0.2 pts
113Rockingham County9.3-2.2 pts
115King George County9.1+0.6 pts
116Fluvanna County90 pts
117Prince William County8.7+0.7 pts
118Botetourt County8.6+0.3 pts
119Roanoke County8.4-0.2 pts
120Powhatan County8.1+1.3 pts
121Clarke County8-0.1 pts
122Goochland County7.90 pts
123Arlington County7.30 pts
123New Kent County7.3-0.3 pts
125Fairfax County7.2-1.4 pts
126Fairfax city6.9-0.3 pts
127Fauquier County6.8+0.2 pts
128York County6.6+0.7 pts
129Stafford County6.5+0.7 pts
130Hanover County6.2+0.3 pts
131Poquoson city5.4-0.3 pts
132Loudoun County3.6+0.6 pts
133Falls Church city2.9-0.2 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2018. 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), 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2018.

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), 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2018,
  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), 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2018. 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2018.
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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Petersburg city, with 38.9% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Falls Church city, with 2.9% in 2018.

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