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)

McDowell County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 55 counties in 2015, at 46.8%. Putnam County had the lowest, at 13%. The median was 26.3% and the figure for West Virginia was 24.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest46.8McDowell County
Lowest13Putnam County
Median26.355 counties
West Virginia24.7History

Map of counties, 2015

Barbour County: 28.2 %Berkeley County: 18.5 %Boone County: 30.6 %Braxton County: 33.3 %Brooke County: 20.3 %Cabell County: 26.5 %Calhoun County: 30 %Clay County: 37.4 %Doddridge County: 25.8 %Fayette County: 28.9 %Gilmer County: 26.3 %Grant County: 24.4 %Greenbrier County: 27.1 %Hampshire County: 27.9 %Hancock County: 21.5 %Hardy County: 23.9 %Harrison County: 21.9 %Jackson County: 22.8 %Jefferson County: 13.8 %Kanawha County: 24.8 %Lewis County: 27.5 %Lincoln County: 36.6 %Logan County: 29.9 %McDowell County: 46.8 %Marion County: 22.1 %Marshall County: 20.6 %Mason County: 30.2 %Mercer County: 29.9 %Mineral County: 21.5 %Mingo County: 38.7 %Monongalia County: 15.5 %Monroe County: 24.7 %Morgan County: 22 %Nicholas County: 27 %Ohio County: 19.5 %Pendleton County: 25.7 %Pleasants County: 19.8 %Pocahontas County: 30.1 %Preston County: 23.2 %Putnam County: 13 %Raleigh County: 27.9 %Randolph County: 28.4 %Ritchie County: 25.6 %Roane County: 30.1 %Summers County: 35.9 %Taylor County: 22.8 %Tucker County: 24.1 %Tyler County: 23.3 %Upshur County: 26.1 %Wayne County: 31.1 %Webster County: 41 %Wetzel County: 29.1 %Wirt County: 27 %Wood County: 25.3 %Wyoming County: 31.6 %
  • Under 22
  • 22 to 24
  • 24 to 26
  • 26 to 28
  • 28 to 31
  • 31 and over
%, 2015. 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, 2015

McDowell County: 46.8 %McDowell County46.8Webster County: 41 %Webster County41Mingo County: 38.7 %Mingo County38.7Clay County: 37.4 %Clay County37.4Lincoln County: 36.6 %Lincoln County36.6Summers County: 35.9 %Summers County35.9Braxton County: 33.3 %Braxton County33.3Wyoming County: 31.6 %Wyoming County31.6Wayne County: 31.1 %Wayne County31.1Boone County: 30.6 %Boone County30.6Mason County: 30.2 %Mason County30.2Pocahontas County: 30.1 %Pocahontas County30.1Roane County: 30.1 %Roane County30.1Calhoun County: 30 %Calhoun County30Logan County: 29.9 %Logan County29.9Mercer County: 29.9 %Mercer County29.9Wetzel County: 29.1 %Wetzel County29.1Fayette County: 28.9 %Fayette County28.9Randolph County: 28.4 %Randolph County28.4Barbour County: 28.2 %Barbour County28.2Hampshire County: 27.9 %Hampshire County27.9Raleigh County: 27.9 %Raleigh County27.9Lewis County: 27.5 %Lewis County27.5Greenbrier County: 27.1 %Greenbrier County27.1Nicholas County: 27 %Nicholas County27Wirt County: 27 %Wirt County27Cabell County: 26.5 %Cabell County26.5Gilmer County: 26.3 %Gilmer County26.3Upshur County: 26.1 %Upshur County26.1Doddridge County: 25.8 %Doddridge County25.8Pendleton County: 25.7 %Pendleton County25.7Ritchie County: 25.6 %Ritchie County25.6Wood County: 25.3 %Wood County25.3Kanawha County: 24.8 %Kanawha County24.8Monroe County: 24.7 %Monroe County24.7Grant County: 24.4 %Grant County24.4Tucker County: 24.1 %Tucker County24.1Hardy County: 23.9 %Hardy County23.9Tyler County: 23.3 %Tyler County23.3Preston County: 23.2 %Preston County23.2Jackson County: 22.8 %Jackson County22.8Taylor County: 22.8 %Taylor County22.8Marion County: 22.1 %Marion County22.1Morgan County: 22 %Morgan County22Harrison County: 21.9 %Harrison County21.9Hancock County: 21.5 %Hancock County21.5Mineral County: 21.5 %Mineral County21.5Marshall County: 20.6 %Marshall County20.6Brooke County: 20.3 %Brooke County20.3Pleasants County: 19.8 %Pleasants County19.8Ohio County: 19.5 %Ohio County19.5Berkeley County: 18.5 %Berkeley County18.5Monongalia County: 15.5 %Monongalia County15.5Jefferson County: 13.8 %Jefferson County13.8Putnam County: 13 %Putnam County13McDowell County: 46.8 %McDowell County46.8Webster County: 41 %Webster County41Mingo County: 38.7 %Mingo County38.7Clay County: 37.4 %Clay County37.4Lincoln County: 36.6 %Lincoln County36.6Summers County: 35.9 %Summers County35.9Braxton County: 33.3 %Braxton County33.3Wyoming County: 31.6 %Wyoming County31.6Wayne County: 31.1 %Wayne County31.1Boone County: 30.6 %Boone County30.6Mason County: 30.2 %Mason County30.2Pocahontas County: 30.1 %Pocahontas County30.1Roane County: 30.1 %Roane County30.1Calhoun County: 30 %Calhoun County30Logan County: 29.9 %Logan County29.9Mercer County: 29.9 %Mercer County29.9Wetzel County: 29.1 %Wetzel County29.1Fayette County: 28.9 %Fayette County28.9Randolph County: 28.4 %Randolph County28.4Barbour County: 28.2 %Barbour County28.2Hampshire County: 27.9 %Hampshire County27.9Raleigh County: 27.9 %Raleigh County27.9Lewis County: 27.5 %Lewis County27.5Greenbrier County: 27.1 %Greenbrier County27.1Nicholas County: 27 %Nicholas County27Wirt County: 27 %Wirt County27Cabell County: 26.5 %Cabell County26.5Gilmer County: 26.3 %Gilmer County26.3Upshur County: 26.1 %Upshur County26.1Doddridge County: 25.8 %Doddridge County25.8Pendleton County: 25.7 %Pendleton County25.7Ritchie County: 25.6 %Ritchie County25.6Wood County: 25.3 %Wood County25.3Kanawha County: 24.8 %Kanawha County24.8Monroe County: 24.7 %Monroe County24.7Grant County: 24.4 %Grant County24.4Tucker County: 24.1 %Tucker County24.1Hardy County: 23.9 %Hardy County23.9Tyler County: 23.3 %Tyler County23.3Preston County: 23.2 %Preston County23.2Jackson County: 22.8 %Jackson County22.8Taylor County: 22.8 %Taylor County22.8Marion County: 22.1 %Marion County22.1Morgan County: 22 %Morgan County22Harrison County: 21.9 %Harrison County21.9Hancock County: 21.5 %Hancock County21.5Mineral County: 21.5 %Mineral County21.5Marshall County: 20.6 %Marshall County20.6Brooke County: 20.3 %Brooke County20.3Pleasants County: 19.8 %Pleasants County19.8Ohio County: 19.5 %Ohio County19.5Berkeley County: 18.5 %Berkeley County18.5Monongalia County: 15.5 %Monongalia County15.5Jefferson County: 13.8 %Jefferson County13.8Putnam County: 13 %Putnam County13
%. 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

RankCounties2015 (%)Change on 2014
1McDowell County46.8+0.6 pts
2Webster County41+1.4 pts
3Mingo County38.7+1.8 pts
4Clay County37.4+1.5 pts
5Lincoln County36.6+4.6 pts
6Summers County35.9+1.5 pts
7Braxton County33.3+2.7 pts
8Wyoming County31.6+1.1 pts
9Wayne County31.1+3.1 pts
10Boone County30.6+2.2 pts
11Mason County30.2+2.2 pts
12Pocahontas County30.1+2.6 pts
12Roane County30.1+0.1 pts
14Calhoun County30+0.2 pts
15Logan County29.9+1.5 pts
15Mercer County29.9-1.1 pts
17Wetzel County29.1+2.3 pts
18Fayette County28.9-2.5 pts
19Randolph County28.4+0.9 pts
20Barbour County28.2-0.2 pts
21Hampshire County27.9-1.6 pts
21Raleigh County27.9+2.9 pts
23Lewis County27.5-0.6 pts
24Greenbrier County27.1-1.4 pts
25Nicholas County27+0.3 pts
25Wirt County27-2.5 pts
27Cabell County26.5-0.5 pts
28Gilmer County26.3-1.9 pts
29Upshur County26.1-1.2 pts
30Doddridge County25.8+0.9 pts
31Pendleton County25.7-0.1 pts
32Ritchie County25.6-0.1 pts
33Wood County25.3-2.1 pts
34Kanawha County24.8-1 pts
35Monroe County24.7-4.3 pts
36Grant County24.4-1.1 pts
37Tucker County24.1-0.8 pts
38Hardy County23.9-0.6 pts
39Tyler County23.3-0.3 pts
40Preston County23.2+0.2 pts
41Jackson County22.8-1.9 pts
41Taylor County22.8-0.1 pts
43Marion County22.1-1.2 pts
44Morgan County22+1.4 pts
45Harrison County21.9+3.4 pts
46Hancock County21.5+0.5 pts
46Mineral County21.5-0.7 pts
48Marshall County20.6-0.1 pts
49Brooke County20.3-2.2 pts
50Pleasants County19.8-2 pts
51Ohio County19.5-6.4 pts
52Berkeley County18.5-0.9 pts
53Monongalia County15.5-1.8 pts
54Jefferson County13.8+0.7 pts
55Putnam County13-0.2 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2015. 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), 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2015.

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), 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2015,
  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), 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2015. 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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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), 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2015.
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/2015/2015-state-and-county/est15all.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 46.8% in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Putnam County, with 13% in 2015.

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