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

Lee County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 133 counties in 2019, at 42.8%. Loudoun County had the lowest, at 3.2%. The median was 18% and the figure for Virginia was 13.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest42.8Lee County
Median18133 counties
Virginia13.3History

Map of counties, 2019

Accomack County: 28.5 %Albemarle County: 7.3 %Alleghany County: 18.8 %Amelia County: 13.8 %Amherst County: 16.9 %Appomattox County: 18.5 %Arlington County: 9.1 %Augusta County: 10.6 %Bath County: 13.6 %Bedford County: 11 %Bland County: 15.6 %Botetourt County: 7.9 %Brunswick County: 26.7 %Buchanan County: 31.3 %Buckingham County: 22.2 %Campbell County: 14.3 %Caroline County: 14.1 %Carroll County: 20.3 %Charles City County: 18.7 %Charlotte County: 29.5 %Chesterfield County: 9.1 %Clarke County: 7.6 %Craig County: 19.1 %Culpeper County: 11.2 %Cumberland County: 23.4 %Dickenson County: 27.6 %Dinwiddie County: 15.1 %Essex County: 26.9 %Fairfax County: 7.9 %Fauquier County: 7 %Floyd County: 16.5 %Fluvanna County: 9.4 %Franklin County: 17.8 %Frederick County: 9 %Giles County: 16.5 %Gloucester County: 12.9 %Goochland County: 7.2 %Grayson County: 25.5 %Greene County: 11.1 %Greensville County: 26 %Halifax County: 23.6 %Hanover County: 5.8 %Henrico County: 12.9 %Henry County: 22.9 %Highland County: 19.7 %Isle of Wight County: 13.7 %James City County: 8.3 %King and Queen County: 18 %King George County: 7.7 %King William County: 10 %Lancaster County: 23.9 %Lee County: 42.8 %Loudoun County: 3.2 %Louisa County: 14.5 %Lunenburg County: 26.7 %Madison County: 14.6 %Mathews County: 15.7 %Mecklenburg County: 24.3 %Middlesex County: 23.8 %Montgomery County: 13.8 %Nelson County: 18 %New Kent County: 7.3 %Northampton County: 29.6 %Northumberland County: 26.1 %Nottoway County: 27 %Orange County: 14 %Page County: 17.3 %Patrick County: 22.8 %Pittsylvania County: 23.8 %Powhatan County: 6.7 %Prince Edward County: 24.9 %Prince George County: 10.2 %Prince William County: 8.4 %Pulaski County: 20.4 %Rappahannock County: 13.7 %Richmond County: 20.2 %Roanoke County: 7.8 %Rockbridge County: 16.6 %Rockingham County: 11.5 %Russell County: 22.7 %Scott County: 20.4 %Shenandoah County: 15.2 %Smyth County: 23 %Southampton County: 19.4 %Spotsylvania County: 9.5 %Stafford County: 6.9 %Surry County: 20.2 %Sussex County: 28.4 %Tazewell County: 29.3 %Warren County: 13.6 %Washington County: 17.2 %Westmoreland County: 26.6 %Wise County: 28.7 %Wythe County: 18.6 %York County: 5.8 %Alexandria city: 14.2 %Bristol city: 38.3 %Buena Vista city: 26 %Charlottesville city: 21.6 %Chesapeake city: 11.9 %Colonial Heights city: 16.2 %Covington city: 23.4 %Danville city: 37.1 %Emporia city: 33.9 %Fairfax city: 6.6 %Falls Church city: 3.5 %Franklin city: 33.3 %Fredericksburg city: 23.8 %Galax city: 33.1 %Hampton city: 21 %Harrisonburg city: 19.4 %Hopewell city: 30.9 %Lexington city: 13 %Lynchburg city: 21 %Manassas city: 13.4 %Manassas Park city: 11.4 %Martinsville city: 31.6 %Newport News city: 23.6 %Norfolk city: 28.5 %Norton city: 30.7 %Petersburg city: 34.6 %Poquoson city: 6.3 %Portsmouth city: 28.6 %Radford city: 18.5 %Richmond city: 27.6 %Roanoke city: 30.5 %Salem city: 12.8 %Staunton city: 17.8 %Suffolk city: 14.7 %Virginia Beach city: 9.8 %Waynesboro city: 20.3 %Williamsburg city: 22.4 %Winchester city: 19.9 %
  • Under 9.4
  • 9.4 to 14
  • 14 to 18
  • 18 to 23
  • 23 to 27
  • 27 and over
%, 2019. 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, 2019

Lee County: 42.8 %Lee County42.8Bristol city: 38.3 %Bristol city38.3Danville city: 37.1 %Danville city37.1Petersburg city: 34.6 %Petersburg city34.6Emporia city: 33.9 %Emporia city33.9Franklin city: 33.3 %Franklin city33.3Galax city: 33.1 %Galax city33.1Martinsville city: 31.6 %Martinsville city31.6Buchanan County: 31.3 %Buchanan County31.3Hopewell city: 30.9 %Hopewell city30.9Norton city: 30.7 %Norton city30.7Roanoke city: 30.5 %Roanoke city30.5Northampton County: 29.6 %Northampton County29.6Charlotte County: 29.5 %Charlotte County29.5Tazewell County: 29.3 %Tazewell County29.3Wise County: 28.7 %Wise County28.7Portsmouth city: 28.6 %Portsmouth city28.6Accomack County: 28.5 %Accomack County28.5Norfolk city: 28.5 %Norfolk city28.5Sussex County: 28.4 %Sussex County28.4Dickenson County: 27.6 %Dickenson County27.6Richmond city: 27.6 %Richmond city27.6Nottoway County: 27 %Nottoway County27Essex County: 26.9 %Essex County26.9Brunswick County: 26.7 %Brunswick County26.7Lunenburg County: 26.7 %Lunenburg County26.7Westmoreland County: 26.6 %Westmoreland County26.6Northumberland County: 26.1 %Northumberland County26.1Buena Vista city: 26 %Buena Vista city26Greensville County: 26 %Greensville County26Grayson County: 25.5 %Grayson County25.5Prince Edward County: 24.9 %Prince Edward County24.9Mecklenburg County: 24.3 %Mecklenburg County24.3Lancaster County: 23.9 %Lancaster County23.9Fredericksburg city: 23.8 %Fredericksburg city23.8Middlesex County: 23.8 %Middlesex County23.8Pittsylvania County: 23.8 %Pittsylvania County23.8Halifax County: 23.6 %Halifax County23.6Newport News city: 23.6 %Newport News city23.6Covington city: 23.4 %Covington city23.4Lee County: 42.8 %Lee County42.8Bristol city: 38.3 %Bristol city38.3Danville city: 37.1 %Danville city37.1Petersburg city: 34.6 %Petersburg city34.6Emporia city: 33.9 %Emporia city33.9Franklin city: 33.3 %Franklin city33.3Galax city: 33.1 %Galax city33.1Martinsville city: 31.6 %Martinsville city31.6Buchanan County: 31.3 %Buchanan County31.3Hopewell city: 30.9 %Hopewell city30.9Norton city: 30.7 %Norton city30.7Roanoke city: 30.5 %Roanoke city30.5Northampton County: 29.6 %Northampton County29.6Charlotte County: 29.5 %Charlotte County29.5Tazewell County: 29.3 %Tazewell County29.3Wise County: 28.7 %Wise County28.7Portsmouth city: 28.6 %Portsmouth city28.6Accomack County: 28.5 %Accomack County28.5Norfolk city: 28.5 %Norfolk city28.5Sussex County: 28.4 %Sussex County28.4Dickenson County: 27.6 %Dickenson County27.6Richmond city: 27.6 %Richmond city27.6Nottoway County: 27 %Nottoway County27Essex County: 26.9 %Essex County26.9Brunswick County: 26.7 %Brunswick County26.7Lunenburg County: 26.7 %Lunenburg County26.7Westmoreland County: 26.6 %Westmoreland County26.6Northumberland County: 26.1 %Northumberland County26.1Buena Vista city: 26 %Buena Vista city26Greensville County: 26 %Greensville County26Grayson County: 25.5 %Grayson County25.5Prince Edward County: 24.9 %Prince Edward County24.9Mecklenburg County: 24.3 %Mecklenburg County24.3Lancaster County: 23.9 %Lancaster County23.9Fredericksburg city: 23.8 %Fredericksburg city23.8Middlesex County: 23.8 %Middlesex County23.8Pittsylvania County: 23.8 %Pittsylvania County23.8Halifax County: 23.6 %Halifax County23.6Newport News city: 23.6 %Newport News city23.6Covington city: 23.4 %Covington city23.4
%. 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

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Lee County42.8+10.3 pts
2Bristol city38.3+5.2 pts
3Danville city37.1-1 pts
4Petersburg city34.6-4.3 pts
5Emporia city33.9-3.5 pts
6Franklin city33.3-0.8 pts
7Galax city33.1-1.6 pts
8Martinsville city31.6-2.1 pts
9Buchanan County31.3-1.1 pts
10Hopewell city30.90 pts
11Norton city30.7-0.6 pts
12Roanoke city30.5-1.8 pts
13Northampton County29.6-0.4 pts
14Charlotte County29.5-0.2 pts
15Tazewell County29.3+5.2 pts
16Wise County28.7-3.8 pts
17Portsmouth city28.6-0.5 pts
18Accomack County28.5+1.5 pts
18Norfolk city28.5+0.3 pts
20Sussex County28.4-1.2 pts
21Dickenson County27.6-1.1 pts
21Richmond city27.6-6.9 pts
23Nottoway County27-0.9 pts
24Essex County26.9+3.5 pts
25Brunswick County26.7-0.3 pts
25Lunenburg County26.7+1.9 pts
27Westmoreland County26.6-0.2 pts
28Northumberland County26.1-0.9 pts
29Buena Vista city26+5.8 pts
29Greensville County26-1.2 pts
31Grayson County25.5-2 pts
32Prince Edward County24.9-3 pts
33Mecklenburg County24.3-5.5 pts
34Lancaster County23.9-0.2 pts
35Fredericksburg city23.8+2.6 pts
35Middlesex County23.8+0.9 pts
35Pittsylvania County23.8+1.5 pts
38Halifax County23.6+1.2 pts
38Newport News city23.6+1.9 pts
40Covington city23.4-2.7 pts
40Cumberland County23.4-1.8 pts
42Smyth County23-2.2 pts
43Henry County22.9-5.1 pts
44Patrick County22.8+0.1 pts
45Russell County22.7+1 pts
46Williamsburg city22.4-5.8 pts
47Buckingham County22.2-2.7 pts
48Charlottesville city21.6+3.3 pts
49Hampton city21-2.7 pts
49Lynchburg city21-4.1 pts
51Pulaski County20.4-0.1 pts
51Scott County20.4-4.1 pts
53Carroll County20.3-2.7 pts
53Waynesboro city20.3-4.7 pts
55Richmond County20.2-2.3 pts
55Surry County20.20 pts
57Winchester city19.9-2.1 pts
58Highland County19.7-1.5 pts
59Harrisonburg city19.4-0.4 pts
59Southampton County19.4-0.8 pts
61Craig County19.1-2.1 pts
62Alleghany County18.8-2.3 pts
63Charles City County18.7-0.1 pts
64Wythe County18.6-5.2 pts
65Appomattox County18.5-0.9 pts
65Radford city18.5+0.5 pts
67King and Queen County18-1.3 pts
67Nelson County18-1.9 pts
69Franklin County17.8-5.2 pts
69Staunton city17.8-1.2 pts
71Page County17.3-1.7 pts
72Washington County17.2-3.3 pts
73Amherst County16.9-1.6 pts
74Rockbridge County16.6-0.1 pts
75Floyd County16.5-1.8 pts
75Giles County16.5-1.5 pts
77Colonial Heights city16.2-1.2 pts
78Mathews County15.7-0.9 pts
79Bland County15.6+0.6 pts
80Shenandoah County15.2+0.3 pts
81Dinwiddie County15.1-2.7 pts
82Suffolk city14.7-1.4 pts
83Madison County14.6-1.5 pts
84Louisa County14.5-0.4 pts
85Campbell County14.3-2.3 pts
86Alexandria city14.2-1.9 pts
87Caroline County14.1-1.1 pts
88Orange County14+1.1 pts
89Amelia County13.8+0.6 pts
89Montgomery County13.8-0.8 pts
91Isle of Wight County13.7+1.6 pts
91Rappahannock County13.7+0.1 pts
93Bath County13.6-1.2 pts
93Warren County13.6-0.3 pts
95Manassas city13.4-1.3 pts
96Lexington city13-0.7 pts
97Gloucester County12.9-0.5 pts
97Henrico County12.9+0.3 pts
99Salem city12.8+0.9 pts
100Chesapeake city11.90 pts
101Rockingham County11.5+2.2 pts
102Manassas Park city11.4-0.5 pts
103Culpeper County11.2-0.1 pts
104Greene County11.1-1.1 pts
105Bedford County11-2.1 pts
106Augusta County10.6-1.6 pts
107Prince George County10.2-1.1 pts
108King William County10-0.2 pts
109Virginia Beach city9.8-0.6 pts
110Spotsylvania County9.5-0.6 pts
111Fluvanna County9.4+0.4 pts
112Arlington County9.1+1.8 pts
112Chesterfield County9.1-0.8 pts
114Frederick County9-0.8 pts
115Prince William County8.4-0.3 pts
116James City County8.3-1 pts
117Botetourt County7.9-0.7 pts
117Fairfax County7.9+0.7 pts
119Roanoke County7.8-0.6 pts
120King George County7.7-1.4 pts
121Clarke County7.6-0.4 pts
122Albemarle County7.3-2.3 pts
122New Kent County7.30 pts
124Goochland County7.2-0.7 pts
125Fauquier County7+0.2 pts
126Stafford County6.9+0.4 pts
127Powhatan County6.7-1.4 pts
128Fairfax city6.6-0.3 pts
129Poquoson city6.3+0.9 pts
130Hanover County5.8-0.4 pts
130York County5.8-0.8 pts
132Falls Church city3.5+0.6 pts
133Loudoun County3.2-0.4 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2019. 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), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2019.

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), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2019,
  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), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Lee County, with 42.8% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Loudoun County, with 3.2% in 2019.

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