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

Emporia city had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 133 counties in 2023, at 33.4%. Loudoun County had the lowest, at 4%. The median was 17.5% and the figure for Virginia was 12.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest33.4Emporia city
Median17.5133 counties
Virginia12.7History

Map of counties, 2023

Accomack County: 24.1 %Albemarle County: 8.7 %Alleghany County: 19.4 %Amelia County: 14.1 %Amherst County: 16.2 %Appomattox County: 15.8 %Arlington County: 8 %Augusta County: 10.3 %Bath County: 15.1 %Bedford County: 12.1 %Bland County: 15.5 %Botetourt County: 7.6 %Brunswick County: 26.7 %Buchanan County: 26.4 %Buckingham County: 22.6 %Campbell County: 17.8 %Caroline County: 12 %Carroll County: 22.2 %Charles City County: 17.5 %Charlotte County: 32.2 %Chesterfield County: 8.5 %Clarke County: 7.9 %Craig County: 19 %Culpeper County: 11.9 %Cumberland County: 22 %Dickenson County: 23.2 %Dinwiddie County: 17.2 %Essex County: 20.8 %Fairfax County: 7.3 %Fauquier County: 6.6 %Floyd County: 15.2 %Fluvanna County: 9.3 %Franklin County: 15.9 %Frederick County: 8.3 %Giles County: 15 %Gloucester County: 11 %Goochland County: 8.2 %Grayson County: 23 %Greene County: 11.5 %Greensville County: 26.9 %Halifax County: 27.3 %Hanover County: 5.8 %Henrico County: 12.3 %Henry County: 24.9 %Highland County: 21 %Isle of Wight County: 9.7 %James City County: 8.4 %King and Queen County: 18.4 %King George County: 7.5 %King William County: 8.6 %Lancaster County: 21.7 %Lee County: 28.5 %Loudoun County: 4 %Louisa County: 13.2 %Lunenburg County: 23.2 %Madison County: 13.3 %Mathews County: 14.6 %Mecklenburg County: 20.8 %Middlesex County: 19.3 %Montgomery County: 12.7 %Nelson County: 17.8 %New Kent County: 6.9 %Northampton County: 27 %Northumberland County: 22.7 %Nottoway County: 23.3 %Orange County: 12.1 %Page County: 17.2 %Patrick County: 19.3 %Pittsylvania County: 16.7 %Powhatan County: 6.7 %Prince Edward County: 28.5 %Prince George County: 11.4 %Prince William County: 8.3 %Pulaski County: 23.4 %Rappahannock County: 14.2 %Richmond County: 21.9 %Roanoke County: 8.2 %Rockbridge County: 14.9 %Rockingham County: 11.8 %Russell County: 21.6 %Scott County: 22.5 %Shenandoah County: 12.3 %Smyth County: 19.5 %Southampton County: 17.7 %Spotsylvania County: 9.4 %Stafford County: 6.9 %Surry County: 19.7 %Sussex County: 27.5 %Tazewell County: 27.3 %Warren County: 10.4 %Washington County: 15.7 %Westmoreland County: 21 %Wise County: 20 %Wythe County: 19.4 %York County: 6.7 %Alexandria city: 13.4 %Bristol city: 31 %Buena Vista city: 18.3 %Charlottesville city: 17.9 %Chesapeake city: 12.3 %Colonial Heights city: 15.4 %Covington city: 25 %Danville city: 29.1 %Emporia city: 33.4 %Fairfax city: 7.1 %Falls Church city: 4 %Franklin city: 31 %Fredericksburg city: 19.4 %Galax city: 28.9 %Hampton city: 18.7 %Harrisonburg city: 17 %Hopewell city: 32.5 %Lexington city: 10.9 %Lynchburg city: 22.5 %Manassas city: 18.9 %Manassas Park city: 13.6 %Martinsville city: 29.6 %Newport News city: 22.5 %Norfolk city: 25.2 %Norton city: 29.7 %Petersburg city: 31.5 %Poquoson city: 6.6 %Portsmouth city: 25 %Radford city: 17.9 %Richmond city: 27.5 %Roanoke city: 26.3 %Salem city: 12.9 %Staunton city: 16.5 %Suffolk city: 14.9 %Virginia Beach city: 11.2 %Waynesboro city: 19 %Williamsburg city: 20.6 %Winchester city: 21.9 %
  • Under 8.7
  • 8.7 to 13
  • 13 to 18
  • 18 to 21
  • 21 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Emporia city: 33.4 %Emporia city33.4Hopewell city: 32.5 %Hopewell city32.5Charlotte County: 32.2 %Charlotte County32.2Petersburg city: 31.5 %Petersburg city31.5Bristol city: 31 %Bristol city31Franklin city: 31 %Franklin city31Norton city: 29.7 %Norton city29.7Martinsville city: 29.6 %Martinsville city29.6Danville city: 29.1 %Danville city29.1Galax city: 28.9 %Galax city28.9Lee County: 28.5 %Lee County28.5Prince Edward County: 28.5 %Prince Edward County28.5Richmond city: 27.5 %Richmond city27.5Sussex County: 27.5 %Sussex County27.5Halifax County: 27.3 %Halifax County27.3Tazewell County: 27.3 %Tazewell County27.3Northampton County: 27 %Northampton County27Greensville County: 26.9 %Greensville County26.9Brunswick County: 26.7 %Brunswick County26.7Buchanan County: 26.4 %Buchanan County26.4Roanoke city: 26.3 %Roanoke city26.3Norfolk city: 25.2 %Norfolk city25.2Covington city: 25 %Covington city25Portsmouth city: 25 %Portsmouth city25Henry County: 24.9 %Henry County24.9Accomack County: 24.1 %Accomack County24.1Pulaski County: 23.4 %Pulaski County23.4Nottoway County: 23.3 %Nottoway County23.3Dickenson County: 23.2 %Dickenson County23.2Lunenburg County: 23.2 %Lunenburg County23.2Grayson County: 23 %Grayson County23Northumberland County: 22.7 %Northumberland County22.7Buckingham County: 22.6 %Buckingham County22.6Lynchburg city: 22.5 %Lynchburg city22.5Newport News city: 22.5 %Newport News city22.5Scott County: 22.5 %Scott County22.5Carroll County: 22.2 %Carroll County22.2Cumberland County: 22 %Cumberland County22Richmond County: 21.9 %Richmond County21.9Winchester city: 21.9 %Winchester city21.9Emporia city: 33.4 %Emporia city33.4Hopewell city: 32.5 %Hopewell city32.5Charlotte County: 32.2 %Charlotte County32.2Petersburg city: 31.5 %Petersburg city31.5Bristol city: 31 %Bristol city31Franklin city: 31 %Franklin city31Norton city: 29.7 %Norton city29.7Martinsville city: 29.6 %Martinsville city29.6Danville city: 29.1 %Danville city29.1Galax city: 28.9 %Galax city28.9Lee County: 28.5 %Lee County28.5Prince Edward County: 28.5 %Prince Edward County28.5Richmond city: 27.5 %Richmond city27.5Sussex County: 27.5 %Sussex County27.5Halifax County: 27.3 %Halifax County27.3Tazewell County: 27.3 %Tazewell County27.3Northampton County: 27 %Northampton County27Greensville County: 26.9 %Greensville County26.9Brunswick County: 26.7 %Brunswick County26.7Buchanan County: 26.4 %Buchanan County26.4Roanoke city: 26.3 %Roanoke city26.3Norfolk city: 25.2 %Norfolk city25.2Covington city: 25 %Covington city25Portsmouth city: 25 %Portsmouth city25Henry County: 24.9 %Henry County24.9Accomack County: 24.1 %Accomack County24.1Pulaski County: 23.4 %Pulaski County23.4Nottoway County: 23.3 %Nottoway County23.3Dickenson County: 23.2 %Dickenson County23.2Lunenburg County: 23.2 %Lunenburg County23.2Grayson County: 23 %Grayson County23Northumberland County: 22.7 %Northumberland County22.7Buckingham County: 22.6 %Buckingham County22.6Lynchburg city: 22.5 %Lynchburg city22.5Newport News city: 22.5 %Newport News city22.5Scott County: 22.5 %Scott County22.5Carroll County: 22.2 %Carroll County22.2Cumberland County: 22 %Cumberland County22Richmond County: 21.9 %Richmond County21.9Winchester city: 21.9 %Winchester city21.9
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Emporia city33.4+0.2 pts
2Hopewell city32.5+6.4 pts
3Charlotte County32.2+7.5 pts
4Petersburg city31.5-1.8 pts
5Bristol city31+3.7 pts
5Franklin city31+0.4 pts
7Norton city29.7+0.7 pts
8Martinsville city29.6+2.1 pts
9Danville city29.1-6.2 pts
10Galax city28.9-2.9 pts
11Lee County28.5-2.8 pts
11Prince Edward County28.5+3.9 pts
13Richmond city27.5-2.6 pts
13Sussex County27.5-2.5 pts
15Halifax County27.3+6.1 pts
15Tazewell County27.3+3.6 pts
17Northampton County27-3.4 pts
18Greensville County26.9+4.8 pts
19Brunswick County26.7-1.4 pts
20Buchanan County26.4-3.3 pts
21Roanoke city26.3-0.1 pts
22Norfolk city25.2+0.1 pts
23Covington city25+1.2 pts
23Portsmouth city25-1.2 pts
25Henry County24.9+4.1 pts
26Accomack County24.1+1.5 pts
27Pulaski County23.4+4 pts
28Nottoway County23.3-0.9 pts
29Dickenson County23.2-4.7 pts
29Lunenburg County23.2-4 pts
31Grayson County23-1.7 pts
32Northumberland County22.7-0.4 pts
33Buckingham County22.60 pts
34Lynchburg city22.5-1.4 pts
34Newport News city22.5-1.2 pts
34Scott County22.5-0.2 pts
37Carroll County22.2+1.2 pts
38Cumberland County22-0.4 pts
39Richmond County21.9+2 pts
39Winchester city21.9+0.2 pts
41Lancaster County21.7-2.4 pts
42Russell County21.6-2.2 pts
43Highland County21+3.3 pts
43Westmoreland County21-1.7 pts
45Essex County20.8-0.3 pts
45Mecklenburg County20.8-12.1 pts
47Williamsburg city20.6+0.4 pts
48Wise County20-6.6 pts
49Surry County19.7+0.5 pts
50Smyth County19.5-4 pts
51Alleghany County19.4+0.6 pts
51Fredericksburg city19.4-0.4 pts
51Wythe County19.4+1.2 pts
54Middlesex County19.3-0.7 pts
54Patrick County19.3-2.4 pts
56Craig County19-0.9 pts
56Waynesboro city19+0.5 pts
58Manassas city18.9+5 pts
59Hampton city18.7-2.1 pts
60King and Queen County18.4-2.4 pts
61Buena Vista city18.3-2.2 pts
62Charlottesville city17.9+0.5 pts
62Radford city17.9+1.8 pts
64Campbell County17.8+1.9 pts
64Nelson County17.8+0.2 pts
66Southampton County17.7-2.4 pts
67Charles City County17.5-1.2 pts
68Dinwiddie County17.2+0.6 pts
68Page County17.2-0.5 pts
70Harrisonburg city17-3.7 pts
71Pittsylvania County16.7-2.2 pts
72Staunton city16.5-0.4 pts
73Amherst County16.2-1 pts
74Franklin County15.9-3 pts
75Appomattox County15.8-0.3 pts
76Washington County15.7+1.5 pts
77Bland County15.5-1.2 pts
78Colonial Heights city15.4+1.2 pts
79Floyd County15.2-0.2 pts
80Bath County15.1-0.2 pts
81Giles County15-1.7 pts
82Rockbridge County14.9-2.1 pts
82Suffolk city14.9+0.2 pts
84Mathews County14.6-0.1 pts
85Rappahannock County14.2-1 pts
86Amelia County14.1-0.8 pts
87Manassas Park city13.6-1.7 pts
88Alexandria city13.40 pts
89Madison County13.3-0.4 pts
90Louisa County13.2-0.8 pts
91Salem city12.9+0.4 pts
92Montgomery County12.7+0.6 pts
93Chesapeake city12.3+1.8 pts
93Henrico County12.3+0.7 pts
93Shenandoah County12.3-2.5 pts
96Bedford County12.1+2.2 pts
96Orange County12.1-1.1 pts
98Caroline County12-2.2 pts
99Culpeper County11.9+1.2 pts
100Rockingham County11.8+0.3 pts
101Greene County11.5+0.8 pts
102Prince George County11.4-0.5 pts
103Virginia Beach city11.2-1.4 pts
104Gloucester County11-0.8 pts
105Lexington city10.9+0.4 pts
106Warren County10.4-1.2 pts
107Augusta County10.3+0.2 pts
108Isle of Wight County9.7+0.7 pts
109Spotsylvania County9.4-0.7 pts
110Fluvanna County9.3+0.1 pts
111Albemarle County8.7+0.2 pts
112King William County8.6-0.8 pts
113Chesterfield County8.5-0.1 pts
114James City County8.4-0.4 pts
115Frederick County8.3-0.8 pts
115Prince William County8.3-0.5 pts
117Goochland County8.2+0.4 pts
117Roanoke County8.2-0.5 pts
119Arlington County8+0.9 pts
120Clarke County7.9-0.3 pts
121Botetourt County7.6-0.1 pts
122King George County7.5-0.5 pts
123Fairfax County7.3+1.1 pts
124Fairfax city7.1+0.6 pts
125New Kent County6.9+0.4 pts
125Stafford County6.9+0.2 pts
127Powhatan County6.7-0.5 pts
127York County6.7+0.8 pts
129Fauquier County6.6-0.5 pts
129Poquoson city6.6+0.4 pts
131Hanover County5.8-0.1 pts
132Falls Church city4+0.9 pts
132Loudoun County4+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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/virginia-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Emporia city, with 33.4% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Loudoun County, with 4% in 2023.

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