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 2021, at 37.8%. Falls Church city had the lowest, at 3.6%. 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.
Highest37.8Danville city
Median18133 counties
Virginia13.3History

Map of counties, 2021

Accomack County: 25.7 %Albemarle County: 8.2 %Alleghany County: 19.7 %Amelia County: 13.8 %Amherst County: 17.4 %Appomattox County: 16.1 %Arlington County: 9.5 %Augusta County: 11.4 %Bath County: 17 %Bedford County: 12 %Bland County: 17.4 %Botetourt County: 8 %Brunswick County: 30.5 %Buchanan County: 34.2 %Buckingham County: 21.7 %Campbell County: 15.5 %Caroline County: 15.5 %Carroll County: 23.8 %Charles City County: 19 %Charlotte County: 25.8 %Chesterfield County: 9.7 %Clarke County: 7.9 %Craig County: 18.5 %Culpeper County: 12 %Cumberland County: 23.9 %Dickenson County: 27.7 %Dinwiddie County: 16.2 %Essex County: 20.5 %Fairfax County: 8.8 %Fauquier County: 7.2 %Floyd County: 16.7 %Fluvanna County: 9.3 %Franklin County: 16.8 %Frederick County: 9.9 %Giles County: 17.3 %Gloucester County: 12.2 %Goochland County: 8.1 %Grayson County: 24.4 %Greene County: 11.8 %Greensville County: 25.4 %Halifax County: 22.4 %Hanover County: 8.5 %Henrico County: 9.9 %Henry County: 24.6 %Highland County: 21.6 %Isle of Wight County: 11.4 %James City County: 10.3 %King and Queen County: 22.5 %King George County: 8.4 %King William County: 10 %Lancaster County: 23.1 %Lee County: 33.9 %Loudoun County: 3.7 %Louisa County: 14.1 %Lunenburg County: 24.7 %Madison County: 15.8 %Mathews County: 15.3 %Mecklenburg County: 22.9 %Middlesex County: 21.1 %Montgomery County: 14 %Nelson County: 18.8 %New Kent County: 7.2 %Northampton County: 29.2 %Northumberland County: 24.2 %Nottoway County: 21.1 %Orange County: 12.9 %Page County: 18 %Patrick County: 22.5 %Pittsylvania County: 18.3 %Powhatan County: 7.3 %Prince Edward County: 25.1 %Prince George County: 12.7 %Prince William County: 8.4 %Pulaski County: 20 %Rappahannock County: 15.9 %Richmond County: 20.1 %Roanoke County: 8.7 %Rockbridge County: 16.8 %Rockingham County: 10.6 %Russell County: 24 %Scott County: 24 %Shenandoah County: 14.9 %Smyth County: 23.2 %Southampton County: 19.2 %Spotsylvania County: 10.5 %Stafford County: 6.7 %Surry County: 20.1 %Sussex County: 26.9 %Tazewell County: 27.8 %Warren County: 13.4 %Washington County: 17.6 %Westmoreland County: 24.2 %Wise County: 25.7 %Wythe County: 25.4 %York County: 6.1 %Alexandria city: 15.1 %Bristol city: 31.6 %Buena Vista city: 21.7 %Charlottesville city: 20.4 %Chesapeake city: 9.8 %Colonial Heights city: 16.4 %Covington city: 29.3 %Danville city: 37.8 %Emporia city: 33.8 %Fairfax city: 7.7 %Falls Church city: 3.6 %Franklin city: 33.4 %Fredericksburg city: 20.8 %Galax city: 36.7 %Hampton city: 19.3 %Harrisonburg city: 18.3 %Hopewell city: 30.8 %Lexington city: 13.1 %Lynchburg city: 21.6 %Manassas city: 15.2 %Manassas Park city: 13.3 %Martinsville city: 32.2 %Newport News city: 23 %Norfolk city: 23.1 %Norton city: 31.9 %Petersburg city: 35.6 %Poquoson city: 5.9 %Portsmouth city: 25.8 %Radford city: 17.9 %Richmond city: 32 %Roanoke city: 27.4 %Salem city: 13.6 %Staunton city: 17.5 %Suffolk city: 13.7 %Virginia Beach city: 11.9 %Waynesboro city: 19.2 %Williamsburg city: 21.9 %Winchester city: 18.9 %
  • Under 9.9
  • 9.9 to 14
  • 14 to 18
  • 18 to 22
  • 22 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Danville city: 37.8 %Danville city37.8Galax city: 36.7 %Galax city36.7Petersburg city: 35.6 %Petersburg city35.6Buchanan County: 34.2 %Buchanan County34.2Lee County: 33.9 %Lee County33.9Emporia city: 33.8 %Emporia city33.8Franklin city: 33.4 %Franklin city33.4Martinsville city: 32.2 %Martinsville city32.2Richmond city: 32 %Richmond city32Norton city: 31.9 %Norton city31.9Bristol city: 31.6 %Bristol city31.6Hopewell city: 30.8 %Hopewell city30.8Brunswick County: 30.5 %Brunswick County30.5Covington city: 29.3 %Covington city29.3Northampton County: 29.2 %Northampton County29.2Tazewell County: 27.8 %Tazewell County27.8Dickenson County: 27.7 %Dickenson County27.7Roanoke city: 27.4 %Roanoke city27.4Sussex County: 26.9 %Sussex County26.9Charlotte County: 25.8 %Charlotte County25.8Portsmouth city: 25.8 %Portsmouth city25.8Accomack County: 25.7 %Accomack County25.7Wise County: 25.7 %Wise County25.7Greensville County: 25.4 %Greensville County25.4Wythe County: 25.4 %Wythe County25.4Prince Edward County: 25.1 %Prince Edward County25.1Lunenburg County: 24.7 %Lunenburg County24.7Henry County: 24.6 %Henry County24.6Grayson County: 24.4 %Grayson County24.4Northumberland County: 24.2 %Northumberland County24.2Westmoreland County: 24.2 %Westmoreland County24.2Russell County: 24 %Russell County24Scott County: 24 %Scott County24Cumberland County: 23.9 %Cumberland County23.9Carroll County: 23.8 %Carroll County23.8Smyth County: 23.2 %Smyth County23.2Lancaster County: 23.1 %Lancaster County23.1Norfolk city: 23.1 %Norfolk city23.1Newport News city: 23 %Newport News city23Mecklenburg County: 22.9 %Mecklenburg County22.9Danville city: 37.8 %Danville city37.8Galax city: 36.7 %Galax city36.7Petersburg city: 35.6 %Petersburg city35.6Buchanan County: 34.2 %Buchanan County34.2Lee County: 33.9 %Lee County33.9Emporia city: 33.8 %Emporia city33.8Franklin city: 33.4 %Franklin city33.4Martinsville city: 32.2 %Martinsville city32.2Richmond city: 32 %Richmond city32Norton city: 31.9 %Norton city31.9Bristol city: 31.6 %Bristol city31.6Hopewell city: 30.8 %Hopewell city30.8Brunswick County: 30.5 %Brunswick County30.5Covington city: 29.3 %Covington city29.3Northampton County: 29.2 %Northampton County29.2Tazewell County: 27.8 %Tazewell County27.8Dickenson County: 27.7 %Dickenson County27.7Roanoke city: 27.4 %Roanoke city27.4Sussex County: 26.9 %Sussex County26.9Charlotte County: 25.8 %Charlotte County25.8Portsmouth city: 25.8 %Portsmouth city25.8Accomack County: 25.7 %Accomack County25.7Wise County: 25.7 %Wise County25.7Greensville County: 25.4 %Greensville County25.4Wythe County: 25.4 %Wythe County25.4Prince Edward County: 25.1 %Prince Edward County25.1Lunenburg County: 24.7 %Lunenburg County24.7Henry County: 24.6 %Henry County24.6Grayson County: 24.4 %Grayson County24.4Northumberland County: 24.2 %Northumberland County24.2Westmoreland County: 24.2 %Westmoreland County24.2Russell County: 24 %Russell County24Scott County: 24 %Scott County24Cumberland County: 23.9 %Cumberland County23.9Carroll County: 23.8 %Carroll County23.8Smyth County: 23.2 %Smyth County23.2Lancaster County: 23.1 %Lancaster County23.1Norfolk city: 23.1 %Norfolk city23.1Newport News city: 23 %Newport News city23Mecklenburg County: 22.9 %Mecklenburg County22.9
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Danville city37.8+0.4 pts
2Galax city36.7+8.2 pts
3Petersburg city35.6-0.8 pts
4Buchanan County34.2+4.3 pts
5Lee County33.9-0.2 pts
6Emporia city33.8+2 pts
7Franklin city33.4+2.9 pts
8Martinsville city32.2+1 pts
9Richmond city32+4.7 pts
10Norton city31.9+2.5 pts
11Bristol city31.6+0.9 pts
12Hopewell city30.8+1.4 pts
13Brunswick County30.5+5.1 pts
14Covington city29.3+5.3 pts
15Northampton County29.2+2.5 pts
16Tazewell County27.8+7.5 pts
17Dickenson County27.7+4.3 pts
18Roanoke city27.4+6.6 pts
19Sussex County26.9+2 pts
20Charlotte County25.8+0.2 pts
20Portsmouth city25.8+1.4 pts
22Accomack County25.7+1.6 pts
22Wise County25.7-1 pts
24Greensville County25.4+3.6 pts
24Wythe County25.4+7.9 pts
26Prince Edward County25.1-2.9 pts
27Lunenburg County24.7+1.9 pts
28Henry County24.6+4.3 pts
29Grayson County24.4+2 pts
30Northumberland County24.2-0.5 pts
30Westmoreland County24.2+1.8 pts
32Russell County24+3.2 pts
32Scott County24+2 pts
34Cumberland County23.9+1.9 pts
35Carroll County23.8+4.6 pts
36Smyth County23.2+1.8 pts
37Lancaster County23.1+1.9 pts
37Norfolk city23.1-4.1 pts
39Newport News city23+2.8 pts
40Mecklenburg County22.90 pts
41King and Queen County22.5+6.8 pts
41Patrick County22.5+1.9 pts
43Halifax County22.4+0.2 pts
44Williamsburg city21.9+1.9 pts
45Buckingham County21.7-0.3 pts
45Buena Vista city21.7+1.3 pts
47Highland County21.6+1.9 pts
47Lynchburg city21.6+0.2 pts
49Middlesex County21.1+1.8 pts
49Nottoway County21.1-1.7 pts
51Fredericksburg city20.8+1.8 pts
52Essex County20.5+0.4 pts
53Charlottesville city20.4+5 pts
54Richmond County20.1+2.2 pts
54Surry County20.1+1.5 pts
56Pulaski County20+4.2 pts
57Alleghany County19.7+1.8 pts
58Hampton city19.3-1.4 pts
59Southampton County19.2+1.8 pts
59Waynesboro city19.2+0.3 pts
61Charles City County19+3 pts
62Winchester city18.9+0.1 pts
63Nelson County18.8+1.2 pts
64Craig County18.5+2.3 pts
65Harrisonburg city18.3+1.6 pts
65Pittsylvania County18.3+0.5 pts
67Page County18+1 pts
68Radford city17.9+3.7 pts
69Washington County17.6+0.5 pts
70Staunton city17.5+1.1 pts
71Amherst County17.4+1.3 pts
71Bland County17.4+3.1 pts
73Giles County17.3+1.6 pts
74Bath County17+1.4 pts
75Franklin County16.8-0.2 pts
75Rockbridge County16.8+0.9 pts
77Floyd County16.7+2.7 pts
78Colonial Heights city16.4+1.6 pts
79Dinwiddie County16.2+0.7 pts
80Appomattox County16.1-1.9 pts
81Rappahannock County15.9+2.4 pts
82Madison County15.8+1.8 pts
83Campbell County15.5+2.6 pts
83Caroline County15.5+1.6 pts
85Mathews County15.3+0.7 pts
86Manassas city15.2+1.5 pts
87Alexandria city15.1+2.4 pts
88Shenandoah County14.9-0.2 pts
89Louisa County14.1+1.8 pts
90Montgomery County14+2.1 pts
91Amelia County13.8+1.7 pts
92Suffolk city13.70 pts
93Salem city13.6+2.2 pts
94Warren County13.4-1.9 pts
95Manassas Park city13.3+1.9 pts
96Lexington city13.1+3.6 pts
97Orange County12.9-0.8 pts
98Prince George County12.7+2.7 pts
99Gloucester County12.2+0.5 pts
100Bedford County12+3.3 pts
100Culpeper County12+0.4 pts
102Virginia Beach city11.9-0.5 pts
103Greene County11.8-0.5 pts
104Augusta County11.4-0.1 pts
104Isle of Wight County11.4+1.9 pts
106Rockingham County10.60 pts
107Spotsylvania County10.5+0.7 pts
108James City County10.3+2.3 pts
109King William County10+1.2 pts
110Frederick County9.9+0.5 pts
110Henrico County9.9-2.4 pts
112Chesapeake city9.8+0.1 pts
113Chesterfield County9.7+1 pts
114Arlington County9.5+2.9 pts
115Fluvanna County9.3+1 pts
116Fairfax County8.8+1.8 pts
117Roanoke County8.7+1.5 pts
118Hanover County8.5+3.2 pts
119King George County8.4+1.4 pts
119Prince William County8.4+1.7 pts
121Albemarle County8.2+1.2 pts
122Goochland County8.1+0.8 pts
123Botetourt County8+0.5 pts
124Clarke County7.9+0.9 pts
125Fairfax city7.7+1.5 pts
126Powhatan County7.3+1.2 pts
127Fauquier County7.2+0.8 pts
127New Kent County7.2+0.7 pts
129Stafford County6.70 pts
130York County6.1+0.4 pts
131Poquoson city5.9+0.3 pts
132Loudoun County3.7+0.6 pts
133Falls Church city3.6+0.8 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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 37.8% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Falls Church city, with 3.6% in 2021.

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