Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in West Virginia

Counties in West Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024

McDowell County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 55 counties in 2024, at 41.7%. Jefferson County had the lowest, at 9%. The median was 21.3% and the figure for West Virginia was 20.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest41.7McDowell County
Lowest9Jefferson County
Median21.355 counties
West Virginia20.1History

Map of counties, 2024

Barbour County: 24.3 %Berkeley County: 14.7 %Boone County: 24.2 %Braxton County: 22.5 %Brooke County: 16.4 %Cabell County: 21 %Calhoun County: 25.5 %Clay County: 26.6 %Doddridge County: 17.3 %Fayette County: 28.4 %Gilmer County: 22.4 %Grant County: 19.8 %Greenbrier County: 20.8 %Hampshire County: 21 %Hancock County: 20.5 %Hardy County: 19 %Harrison County: 17.3 %Jackson County: 19.4 %Jefferson County: 9 %Kanawha County: 21.8 %Lewis County: 21.7 %Lincoln County: 26.3 %Logan County: 25.9 %McDowell County: 41.7 %Marion County: 16.1 %Marshall County: 25.1 %Mason County: 20.8 %Mercer County: 24.3 %Mineral County: 18.3 %Mingo County: 33.7 %Monongalia County: 12.7 %Monroe County: 19 %Morgan County: 14.2 %Nicholas County: 22 %Ohio County: 22 %Pendleton County: 17.7 %Pleasants County: 21.1 %Pocahontas County: 23.7 %Preston County: 19 %Putnam County: 10.6 %Raleigh County: 26.1 %Randolph County: 21.3 %Ritchie County: 19.9 %Roane County: 25.6 %Summers County: 28.6 %Taylor County: 20 %Tucker County: 16.3 %Tyler County: 22.6 %Upshur County: 23.5 %Wayne County: 19.5 %Webster County: 32.9 %Wetzel County: 22.6 %Wirt County: 22.5 %Wood County: 19.1 %Wyoming County: 27.9 %
  • Under 17
  • 17 to 20
  • 20 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 to 26
  • 26 and over
%, 2024. 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.

All counties, 2024

McDowell County: 41.7 %McDowell County41.7Mingo County: 33.7 %Mingo County33.7Webster County: 32.9 %Webster County32.9Summers County: 28.6 %Summers County28.6Fayette County: 28.4 %Fayette County28.4Wyoming County: 27.9 %Wyoming County27.9Clay County: 26.6 %Clay County26.6Lincoln County: 26.3 %Lincoln County26.3Raleigh County: 26.1 %Raleigh County26.1Logan County: 25.9 %Logan County25.9Roane County: 25.6 %Roane County25.6Calhoun County: 25.5 %Calhoun County25.5Marshall County: 25.1 %Marshall County25.1Barbour County: 24.3 %Barbour County24.3Mercer County: 24.3 %Mercer County24.3Boone County: 24.2 %Boone County24.2Pocahontas County: 23.7 %Pocahontas County23.7Upshur County: 23.5 %Upshur County23.5Tyler County: 22.6 %Tyler County22.6Wetzel County: 22.6 %Wetzel County22.6Braxton County: 22.5 %Braxton County22.5Wirt County: 22.5 %Wirt County22.5Gilmer County: 22.4 %Gilmer County22.4Nicholas County: 22 %Nicholas County22Ohio County: 22 %Ohio County22Kanawha County: 21.8 %Kanawha County21.8Lewis County: 21.7 %Lewis County21.7Randolph County: 21.3 %Randolph County21.3Pleasants County: 21.1 %Pleasants County21.1Cabell County: 21 %Cabell County21Hampshire County: 21 %Hampshire County21Greenbrier County: 20.8 %Greenbrier County20.8Mason County: 20.8 %Mason County20.8Hancock County: 20.5 %Hancock County20.5Taylor County: 20 %Taylor County20Ritchie County: 19.9 %Ritchie County19.9Grant County: 19.8 %Grant County19.8Wayne County: 19.5 %Wayne County19.5Jackson County: 19.4 %Jackson County19.4Wood County: 19.1 %Wood County19.1Hardy County: 19 %Hardy County19Monroe County: 19 %Monroe County19Preston County: 19 %Preston County19Mineral County: 18.3 %Mineral County18.3Pendleton County: 17.7 %Pendleton County17.7Doddridge County: 17.3 %Doddridge County17.3Harrison County: 17.3 %Harrison County17.3Brooke County: 16.4 %Brooke County16.4Tucker County: 16.3 %Tucker County16.3Marion County: 16.1 %Marion County16.1Berkeley County: 14.7 %Berkeley County14.7Morgan County: 14.2 %Morgan County14.2Monongalia County: 12.7 %Monongalia County12.7Putnam County: 10.6 %Putnam County10.6Jefferson County: 9 %Jefferson County9McDowell County: 41.7 %McDowell County41.7Mingo County: 33.7 %Mingo County33.7Webster County: 32.9 %Webster County32.9Summers County: 28.6 %Summers County28.6Fayette County: 28.4 %Fayette County28.4Wyoming County: 27.9 %Wyoming County27.9Clay County: 26.6 %Clay County26.6Lincoln County: 26.3 %Lincoln County26.3Raleigh County: 26.1 %Raleigh County26.1Logan County: 25.9 %Logan County25.9Roane County: 25.6 %Roane County25.6Calhoun County: 25.5 %Calhoun County25.5Marshall County: 25.1 %Marshall County25.1Barbour County: 24.3 %Barbour County24.3Mercer County: 24.3 %Mercer County24.3Boone County: 24.2 %Boone County24.2Pocahontas County: 23.7 %Pocahontas County23.7Upshur County: 23.5 %Upshur County23.5Tyler County: 22.6 %Tyler County22.6Wetzel County: 22.6 %Wetzel County22.6Braxton County: 22.5 %Braxton County22.5Wirt County: 22.5 %Wirt County22.5Gilmer County: 22.4 %Gilmer County22.4Nicholas County: 22 %Nicholas County22Ohio County: 22 %Ohio County22Kanawha County: 21.8 %Kanawha County21.8Lewis County: 21.7 %Lewis County21.7Randolph County: 21.3 %Randolph County21.3Pleasants County: 21.1 %Pleasants County21.1Cabell County: 21 %Cabell County21Hampshire County: 21 %Hampshire County21Greenbrier County: 20.8 %Greenbrier County20.8Mason County: 20.8 %Mason County20.8Hancock County: 20.5 %Hancock County20.5Taylor County: 20 %Taylor County20Ritchie County: 19.9 %Ritchie County19.9Grant County: 19.8 %Grant County19.8Wayne County: 19.5 %Wayne County19.5Jackson County: 19.4 %Jackson County19.4Wood County: 19.1 %Wood County19.1Hardy County: 19 %Hardy County19Monroe County: 19 %Monroe County19Preston County: 19 %Preston County19Mineral County: 18.3 %Mineral County18.3Pendleton County: 17.7 %Pendleton County17.7Doddridge County: 17.3 %Doddridge County17.3Harrison County: 17.3 %Harrison County17.3Brooke County: 16.4 %Brooke County16.4Tucker County: 16.3 %Tucker County16.3Marion County: 16.1 %Marion County16.1Berkeley County: 14.7 %Berkeley County14.7Morgan County: 14.2 %Morgan County14.2Monongalia County: 12.7 %Monongalia County12.7Putnam County: 10.6 %Putnam County10.6Jefferson County: 9 %Jefferson County9
%. 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

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1McDowell County41.7+4.8 pts
2Mingo County33.7+2.3 pts
3Webster County32.9-3.9 pts
4Summers County28.6-0.7 pts
5Fayette County28.4+6 pts
6Wyoming County27.9+2 pts
7Clay County26.6-3.9 pts
8Lincoln County26.3+3.1 pts
9Raleigh County26.1+5.1 pts
10Logan County25.9+2.6 pts
11Roane County25.6-0.2 pts
12Calhoun County25.5+0.9 pts
13Marshall County25.1+5.9 pts
14Barbour County24.3-0.8 pts
14Mercer County24.3-1.3 pts
16Boone County24.2-1.1 pts
17Pocahontas County23.7-1.1 pts
18Upshur County23.5-1.1 pts
19Tyler County22.6-4.5 pts
19Wetzel County22.6-1 pts
21Braxton County22.5-1.8 pts
21Wirt County22.5-2 pts
23Gilmer County22.4-2 pts
24Nicholas County22-0.8 pts
24Ohio County22+4.7 pts
26Kanawha County21.8+3.1 pts
27Lewis County21.7+1.5 pts
28Randolph County21.3-3.3 pts
29Pleasants County21.1+4.2 pts
30Cabell County21-2.9 pts
30Hampshire County21+1.6 pts
32Greenbrier County20.8-0.9 pts
32Mason County20.8-2.3 pts
34Hancock County20.5+3.3 pts
35Taylor County20+2.3 pts
36Ritchie County19.9-4.6 pts
37Grant County19.8-0.7 pts
38Wayne County19.5-2 pts
39Jackson County19.4-0.2 pts
40Wood County19.1+0.4 pts
41Hardy County19+2.6 pts
41Monroe County19-1.5 pts
41Preston County19-2.9 pts
44Mineral County18.3+1.2 pts
45Pendleton County17.7-3.2 pts
46Doddridge County17.3-2.9 pts
46Harrison County17.3+1.7 pts
48Brooke County16.4-1.1 pts
49Tucker County16.3-7.1 pts
50Marion County16.1-3.9 pts
51Berkeley County14.7+1.2 pts
52Morgan County14.2-1.7 pts
53Monongalia County12.7-0.2 pts
54Putnam County10.6-0.9 pts
55Jefferson County9-1 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 West Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in West Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties. 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 West Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties.

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 West Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2024,
  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 West Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties. 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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.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 West Virginia by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties.
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/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

McDowell County, with 41.7% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Jefferson County, with 9% in 2024.

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 West Virginia: more rankings