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

Danville city had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 133 counties in 2020, at 37.4%. Falls Church city had the lowest, at 2.8%. The median was 16.2% and the figure for Virginia was 12.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest37.4Danville city
Median16.2133 counties
Virginia12.2History

Map of counties, 2020

Accomack County: 24.1 %Albemarle County: 7 %Alleghany County: 17.9 %Amelia County: 12.1 %Amherst County: 16.1 %Appomattox County: 18 %Arlington County: 6.6 %Augusta County: 11.5 %Bath County: 15.6 %Bedford County: 8.7 %Bland County: 14.3 %Botetourt County: 7.5 %Brunswick County: 25.4 %Buchanan County: 29.9 %Buckingham County: 22 %Campbell County: 12.9 %Caroline County: 13.9 %Carroll County: 19.2 %Charles City County: 16 %Charlotte County: 25.6 %Chesterfield County: 8.7 %Clarke County: 7 %Craig County: 16.2 %Culpeper County: 11.6 %Cumberland County: 22 %Dickenson County: 23.4 %Dinwiddie County: 15.5 %Essex County: 20.1 %Fairfax County: 7 %Fauquier County: 6.4 %Floyd County: 14 %Fluvanna County: 8.3 %Franklin County: 17 %Frederick County: 9.4 %Giles County: 15.7 %Gloucester County: 11.7 %Goochland County: 7.3 %Grayson County: 22.4 %Greene County: 12.3 %Greensville County: 21.8 %Halifax County: 22.2 %Hanover County: 5.3 %Henrico County: 12.3 %Henry County: 20.3 %Highland County: 19.7 %Isle of Wight County: 9.5 %James City County: 8 %King and Queen County: 15.7 %King George County: 7 %King William County: 8.8 %Lancaster County: 21.2 %Lee County: 34.1 %Loudoun County: 3.1 %Louisa County: 12.3 %Lunenburg County: 22.8 %Madison County: 14 %Mathews County: 14.6 %Mecklenburg County: 22.9 %Middlesex County: 19.3 %Montgomery County: 11.9 %Nelson County: 17.6 %New Kent County: 6.5 %Northampton County: 26.7 %Northumberland County: 24.7 %Nottoway County: 22.8 %Orange County: 13.7 %Page County: 17 %Patrick County: 20.6 %Pittsylvania County: 17.8 %Powhatan County: 6.1 %Prince Edward County: 28 %Prince George County: 10 %Prince William County: 6.7 %Pulaski County: 15.8 %Rappahannock County: 13.5 %Richmond County: 17.9 %Roanoke County: 7.2 %Rockbridge County: 15.9 %Rockingham County: 10.6 %Russell County: 20.8 %Scott County: 22 %Shenandoah County: 15.1 %Smyth County: 21.4 %Southampton County: 17.4 %Spotsylvania County: 9.8 %Stafford County: 6.7 %Surry County: 18.6 %Sussex County: 24.9 %Tazewell County: 20.3 %Warren County: 15.3 %Washington County: 17.1 %Westmoreland County: 22.4 %Wise County: 26.7 %Wythe County: 17.5 %York County: 5.7 %Alexandria city: 12.7 %Bristol city: 30.7 %Buena Vista city: 20.4 %Charlottesville city: 15.4 %Chesapeake city: 9.7 %Colonial Heights city: 14.8 %Covington city: 24 %Danville city: 37.4 %Emporia city: 31.8 %Fairfax city: 6.2 %Falls Church city: 2.8 %Franklin city: 30.5 %Fredericksburg city: 19 %Galax city: 28.5 %Hampton city: 20.7 %Harrisonburg city: 16.7 %Hopewell city: 29.4 %Lexington city: 9.5 %Lynchburg city: 21.4 %Manassas city: 13.7 %Manassas Park city: 11.4 %Martinsville city: 31.2 %Newport News city: 20.2 %Norfolk city: 27.2 %Norton city: 29.4 %Petersburg city: 36.4 %Poquoson city: 5.6 %Portsmouth city: 24.4 %Radford city: 14.2 %Richmond city: 27.3 %Roanoke city: 20.8 %Salem city: 11.4 %Staunton city: 16.4 %Suffolk city: 13.7 %Virginia Beach city: 12.4 %Waynesboro city: 18.9 %Williamsburg city: 20 %Winchester city: 18.8 %
  • Under 8.7
  • 8.7 to 14
  • 14 to 16
  • 16 to 20
  • 20 to 24
  • 24 and over
%, 2020. 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, 2020

Danville city: 37.4 %Danville city37.4Petersburg city: 36.4 %Petersburg city36.4Lee County: 34.1 %Lee County34.1Emporia city: 31.8 %Emporia city31.8Martinsville city: 31.2 %Martinsville city31.2Bristol city: 30.7 %Bristol city30.7Franklin city: 30.5 %Franklin city30.5Buchanan County: 29.9 %Buchanan County29.9Hopewell city: 29.4 %Hopewell city29.4Norton city: 29.4 %Norton city29.4Galax city: 28.5 %Galax city28.5Prince Edward County: 28 %Prince Edward County28Richmond city: 27.3 %Richmond city27.3Norfolk city: 27.2 %Norfolk city27.2Northampton County: 26.7 %Northampton County26.7Wise County: 26.7 %Wise County26.7Charlotte County: 25.6 %Charlotte County25.6Brunswick County: 25.4 %Brunswick County25.4Sussex County: 24.9 %Sussex County24.9Northumberland County: 24.7 %Northumberland County24.7Portsmouth city: 24.4 %Portsmouth city24.4Accomack County: 24.1 %Accomack County24.1Covington city: 24 %Covington city24Dickenson County: 23.4 %Dickenson County23.4Mecklenburg County: 22.9 %Mecklenburg County22.9Lunenburg County: 22.8 %Lunenburg County22.8Nottoway County: 22.8 %Nottoway County22.8Grayson County: 22.4 %Grayson County22.4Westmoreland County: 22.4 %Westmoreland County22.4Halifax County: 22.2 %Halifax County22.2Buckingham County: 22 %Buckingham County22Cumberland County: 22 %Cumberland County22Scott County: 22 %Scott County22Greensville County: 21.8 %Greensville County21.8Lynchburg city: 21.4 %Lynchburg city21.4Smyth County: 21.4 %Smyth County21.4Lancaster County: 21.2 %Lancaster County21.2Roanoke city: 20.8 %Roanoke city20.8Russell County: 20.8 %Russell County20.8Hampton city: 20.7 %Hampton city20.7Danville city: 37.4 %Danville city37.4Petersburg city: 36.4 %Petersburg city36.4Lee County: 34.1 %Lee County34.1Emporia city: 31.8 %Emporia city31.8Martinsville city: 31.2 %Martinsville city31.2Bristol city: 30.7 %Bristol city30.7Franklin city: 30.5 %Franklin city30.5Buchanan County: 29.9 %Buchanan County29.9Hopewell city: 29.4 %Hopewell city29.4Norton city: 29.4 %Norton city29.4Galax city: 28.5 %Galax city28.5Prince Edward County: 28 %Prince Edward County28Richmond city: 27.3 %Richmond city27.3Norfolk city: 27.2 %Norfolk city27.2Northampton County: 26.7 %Northampton County26.7Wise County: 26.7 %Wise County26.7Charlotte County: 25.6 %Charlotte County25.6Brunswick County: 25.4 %Brunswick County25.4Sussex County: 24.9 %Sussex County24.9Northumberland County: 24.7 %Northumberland County24.7Portsmouth city: 24.4 %Portsmouth city24.4Accomack County: 24.1 %Accomack County24.1Covington city: 24 %Covington city24Dickenson County: 23.4 %Dickenson County23.4Mecklenburg County: 22.9 %Mecklenburg County22.9Lunenburg County: 22.8 %Lunenburg County22.8Nottoway County: 22.8 %Nottoway County22.8Grayson County: 22.4 %Grayson County22.4Westmoreland County: 22.4 %Westmoreland County22.4Halifax County: 22.2 %Halifax County22.2Buckingham County: 22 %Buckingham County22Cumberland County: 22 %Cumberland County22Scott County: 22 %Scott County22Greensville County: 21.8 %Greensville County21.8Lynchburg city: 21.4 %Lynchburg city21.4Smyth County: 21.4 %Smyth County21.4Lancaster County: 21.2 %Lancaster County21.2Roanoke city: 20.8 %Roanoke city20.8Russell County: 20.8 %Russell County20.8Hampton city: 20.7 %Hampton city20.7
%. 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

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Danville city37.4+0.3 pts
2Petersburg city36.4+1.8 pts
3Lee County34.1-8.7 pts
4Emporia city31.8-2.1 pts
5Martinsville city31.2-0.4 pts
6Bristol city30.7-7.6 pts
7Franklin city30.5-2.8 pts
8Buchanan County29.9-1.4 pts
9Hopewell city29.4-1.5 pts
9Norton city29.4-1.3 pts
11Galax city28.5-4.6 pts
12Prince Edward County28+3.1 pts
13Richmond city27.3-0.3 pts
14Norfolk city27.2-1.3 pts
15Northampton County26.7-2.9 pts
15Wise County26.7-2 pts
17Charlotte County25.6-3.9 pts
18Brunswick County25.4-1.3 pts
19Sussex County24.9-3.5 pts
20Northumberland County24.7-1.4 pts
21Portsmouth city24.4-4.2 pts
22Accomack County24.1-4.4 pts
23Covington city24+0.6 pts
24Dickenson County23.4-4.2 pts
25Mecklenburg County22.9-1.4 pts
26Lunenburg County22.8-3.9 pts
26Nottoway County22.8-4.2 pts
28Grayson County22.4-3.1 pts
28Westmoreland County22.4-4.2 pts
30Halifax County22.2-1.4 pts
31Buckingham County22-0.2 pts
31Cumberland County22-1.4 pts
31Scott County22+1.6 pts
34Greensville County21.8-4.2 pts
35Lynchburg city21.4+0.4 pts
35Smyth County21.4-1.6 pts
37Lancaster County21.2-2.7 pts
38Roanoke city20.8-9.7 pts
38Russell County20.8-1.9 pts
40Hampton city20.7-0.3 pts
41Patrick County20.6-2.2 pts
42Buena Vista city20.4-5.6 pts
43Henry County20.3-2.6 pts
43Tazewell County20.3-9 pts
45Newport News city20.2-3.4 pts
46Essex County20.1-6.8 pts
47Williamsburg city20-2.4 pts
48Highland County19.70 pts
49Middlesex County19.3-4.5 pts
50Carroll County19.2-1.1 pts
51Fredericksburg city19-4.8 pts
52Waynesboro city18.9-1.4 pts
53Winchester city18.8-1.1 pts
54Surry County18.6-1.6 pts
55Appomattox County18-0.5 pts
56Alleghany County17.9-0.9 pts
56Richmond County17.9-2.3 pts
58Pittsylvania County17.8-6 pts
59Nelson County17.6-0.4 pts
60Wythe County17.5-1.1 pts
61Southampton County17.4-2 pts
62Washington County17.1-0.1 pts
63Franklin County17-0.8 pts
63Page County17-0.3 pts
65Harrisonburg city16.7-2.7 pts
66Staunton city16.4-1.4 pts
67Craig County16.2-2.9 pts
68Amherst County16.1-0.8 pts
69Charles City County16-2.7 pts
70Rockbridge County15.9-0.7 pts
71Pulaski County15.8-4.6 pts
72Giles County15.7-0.8 pts
72King and Queen County15.7-2.3 pts
74Bath County15.6+2 pts
75Dinwiddie County15.5+0.4 pts
76Charlottesville city15.4-6.2 pts
77Warren County15.3+1.7 pts
78Shenandoah County15.1-0.1 pts
79Colonial Heights city14.8-1.4 pts
80Mathews County14.6-1.1 pts
81Bland County14.3-1.3 pts
82Radford city14.2-4.3 pts
83Floyd County14-2.5 pts
83Madison County14-0.6 pts
85Caroline County13.9-0.2 pts
86Manassas city13.7+0.3 pts
86Orange County13.7-0.3 pts
86Suffolk city13.7-1 pts
89Rappahannock County13.5-0.2 pts
90Campbell County12.9-1.4 pts
91Alexandria city12.7-1.5 pts
92Virginia Beach city12.4+2.6 pts
93Greene County12.3+1.2 pts
93Henrico County12.3-0.6 pts
93Louisa County12.3-2.2 pts
96Amelia County12.1-1.7 pts
97Montgomery County11.9-1.9 pts
98Gloucester County11.7-1.2 pts
99Culpeper County11.6+0.4 pts
100Augusta County11.5+0.9 pts
101Manassas Park city11.40 pts
101Salem city11.4-1.4 pts
103Rockingham County10.6-0.9 pts
104Prince George County10-0.2 pts
105Spotsylvania County9.8+0.3 pts
106Chesapeake city9.7-2.2 pts
107Isle of Wight County9.5-4.2 pts
107Lexington city9.5-3.5 pts
109Frederick County9.4+0.4 pts
110King William County8.8-1.2 pts
111Bedford County8.7-2.3 pts
111Chesterfield County8.7-0.4 pts
113Fluvanna County8.3-1.1 pts
114James City County8-0.3 pts
115Botetourt County7.5-0.4 pts
116Goochland County7.3+0.1 pts
117Roanoke County7.2-0.6 pts
118Albemarle County7-0.3 pts
118Clarke County7-0.6 pts
118Fairfax County7-0.9 pts
118King George County7-0.7 pts
122Prince William County6.7-1.7 pts
122Stafford County6.7-0.2 pts
124Arlington County6.6-2.5 pts
125New Kent County6.5-0.8 pts
126Fauquier County6.4-0.6 pts
127Fairfax city6.2-0.4 pts
128Powhatan County6.1-0.6 pts
129York County5.7-0.1 pts
130Poquoson city5.6-0.7 pts
131Hanover County5.3-0.5 pts
132Loudoun County3.1-0.1 pts
133Falls Church city2.8-0.7 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Danville city, with 37.4% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Falls Church city, with 2.8% in 2020.

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