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 2018, at 42.5%. Jefferson County had the lowest, at 11.2%. The median was 24.7% and the figure for West Virginia was 23.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest42.5McDowell County
Lowest11.2Jefferson County
Median24.755 counties
West Virginia23.2History

Map of counties, 2018

Barbour County: 26.8 %Berkeley County: 16 %Boone County: 27.6 %Braxton County: 29.8 %Brooke County: 19.5 %Cabell County: 23.1 %Calhoun County: 28.8 %Clay County: 32.7 %Doddridge County: 25.2 %Fayette County: 28.5 %Gilmer County: 24.3 %Grant County: 21.1 %Greenbrier County: 23.1 %Hampshire County: 30.3 %Hancock County: 19.5 %Hardy County: 20.4 %Harrison County: 21.9 %Jackson County: 23.3 %Jefferson County: 11.2 %Kanawha County: 26 %Lewis County: 25 %Lincoln County: 28.9 %Logan County: 31.2 %McDowell County: 42.5 %Marion County: 23.7 %Marshall County: 19.3 %Mason County: 23.9 %Mercer County: 34.9 %Mineral County: 20.2 %Mingo County: 36.5 %Monongalia County: 13.9 %Monroe County: 22.4 %Morgan County: 18.6 %Nicholas County: 25.8 %Ohio County: 17.5 %Pendleton County: 21.7 %Pleasants County: 16.9 %Pocahontas County: 25.6 %Preston County: 23.1 %Putnam County: 12.9 %Raleigh County: 24.7 %Randolph County: 25.9 %Ritchie County: 26 %Roane County: 31.9 %Summers County: 36.5 %Taylor County: 21 %Tucker County: 21.3 %Tyler County: 22.6 %Upshur County: 27.5 %Wayne County: 25.3 %Webster County: 36.8 %Wetzel County: 24.7 %Wirt County: 28.2 %Wood County: 21.7 %Wyoming County: 29.7 %
  • Under 20
  • 20 to 22
  • 22 to 25
  • 25 to 26
  • 26 to 30
  • 30 and over
%, 2018. 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, 2018

McDowell County: 42.5 %McDowell County42.5Webster County: 36.8 %Webster County36.8Mingo County: 36.5 %Mingo County36.5Summers County: 36.5 %Summers County36.5Mercer County: 34.9 %Mercer County34.9Clay County: 32.7 %Clay County32.7Roane County: 31.9 %Roane County31.9Logan County: 31.2 %Logan County31.2Hampshire County: 30.3 %Hampshire County30.3Braxton County: 29.8 %Braxton County29.8Wyoming County: 29.7 %Wyoming County29.7Lincoln County: 28.9 %Lincoln County28.9Calhoun County: 28.8 %Calhoun County28.8Fayette County: 28.5 %Fayette County28.5Wirt County: 28.2 %Wirt County28.2Boone County: 27.6 %Boone County27.6Upshur County: 27.5 %Upshur County27.5Barbour County: 26.8 %Barbour County26.8Kanawha County: 26 %Kanawha County26Ritchie County: 26 %Ritchie County26Randolph County: 25.9 %Randolph County25.9Nicholas County: 25.8 %Nicholas County25.8Pocahontas County: 25.6 %Pocahontas County25.6Wayne County: 25.3 %Wayne County25.3Doddridge County: 25.2 %Doddridge County25.2Lewis County: 25 %Lewis County25Raleigh County: 24.7 %Raleigh County24.7Wetzel County: 24.7 %Wetzel County24.7Gilmer County: 24.3 %Gilmer County24.3Mason County: 23.9 %Mason County23.9Marion County: 23.7 %Marion County23.7Jackson County: 23.3 %Jackson County23.3Cabell County: 23.1 %Cabell County23.1Greenbrier County: 23.1 %Greenbrier County23.1Preston County: 23.1 %Preston County23.1Tyler County: 22.6 %Tyler County22.6Monroe County: 22.4 %Monroe County22.4Harrison County: 21.9 %Harrison County21.9Pendleton County: 21.7 %Pendleton County21.7Wood County: 21.7 %Wood County21.7Tucker County: 21.3 %Tucker County21.3Grant County: 21.1 %Grant County21.1Taylor County: 21 %Taylor County21Hardy County: 20.4 %Hardy County20.4Mineral County: 20.2 %Mineral County20.2Brooke County: 19.5 %Brooke County19.5Hancock County: 19.5 %Hancock County19.5Marshall County: 19.3 %Marshall County19.3Morgan County: 18.6 %Morgan County18.6Ohio County: 17.5 %Ohio County17.5Pleasants County: 16.9 %Pleasants County16.9Berkeley County: 16 %Berkeley County16Monongalia County: 13.9 %Monongalia County13.9Putnam County: 12.9 %Putnam County12.9Jefferson County: 11.2 %Jefferson County11.2McDowell County: 42.5 %McDowell County42.5Webster County: 36.8 %Webster County36.8Mingo County: 36.5 %Mingo County36.5Summers County: 36.5 %Summers County36.5Mercer County: 34.9 %Mercer County34.9Clay County: 32.7 %Clay County32.7Roane County: 31.9 %Roane County31.9Logan County: 31.2 %Logan County31.2Hampshire County: 30.3 %Hampshire County30.3Braxton County: 29.8 %Braxton County29.8Wyoming County: 29.7 %Wyoming County29.7Lincoln County: 28.9 %Lincoln County28.9Calhoun County: 28.8 %Calhoun County28.8Fayette County: 28.5 %Fayette County28.5Wirt County: 28.2 %Wirt County28.2Boone County: 27.6 %Boone County27.6Upshur County: 27.5 %Upshur County27.5Barbour County: 26.8 %Barbour County26.8Kanawha County: 26 %Kanawha County26Ritchie County: 26 %Ritchie County26Randolph County: 25.9 %Randolph County25.9Nicholas County: 25.8 %Nicholas County25.8Pocahontas County: 25.6 %Pocahontas County25.6Wayne County: 25.3 %Wayne County25.3Doddridge County: 25.2 %Doddridge County25.2Lewis County: 25 %Lewis County25Raleigh County: 24.7 %Raleigh County24.7Wetzel County: 24.7 %Wetzel County24.7Gilmer County: 24.3 %Gilmer County24.3Mason County: 23.9 %Mason County23.9Marion County: 23.7 %Marion County23.7Jackson County: 23.3 %Jackson County23.3Cabell County: 23.1 %Cabell County23.1Greenbrier County: 23.1 %Greenbrier County23.1Preston County: 23.1 %Preston County23.1Tyler County: 22.6 %Tyler County22.6Monroe County: 22.4 %Monroe County22.4Harrison County: 21.9 %Harrison County21.9Pendleton County: 21.7 %Pendleton County21.7Wood County: 21.7 %Wood County21.7Tucker County: 21.3 %Tucker County21.3Grant County: 21.1 %Grant County21.1Taylor County: 21 %Taylor County21Hardy County: 20.4 %Hardy County20.4Mineral County: 20.2 %Mineral County20.2Brooke County: 19.5 %Brooke County19.5Hancock County: 19.5 %Hancock County19.5Marshall County: 19.3 %Marshall County19.3Morgan County: 18.6 %Morgan County18.6Ohio County: 17.5 %Ohio County17.5Pleasants County: 16.9 %Pleasants County16.9Berkeley County: 16 %Berkeley County16Monongalia County: 13.9 %Monongalia County13.9Putnam County: 12.9 %Putnam County12.9Jefferson County: 11.2 %Jefferson County11.2
%. 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

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1McDowell County42.5-3.8 pts
2Webster County36.8-5.1 pts
3Mingo County36.5-2 pts
3Summers County36.5-6.5 pts
5Mercer County34.9+4.9 pts
6Clay County32.7-4.7 pts
7Roane County31.9-0.1 pts
8Logan County31.2-6.5 pts
9Hampshire County30.3+4.5 pts
10Braxton County29.8-1.2 pts
11Wyoming County29.7-2.6 pts
12Lincoln County28.9-3.4 pts
13Calhoun County28.8-3.9 pts
14Fayette County28.5-1.6 pts
15Wirt County28.2+0.4 pts
16Boone County27.6-2.1 pts
17Upshur County27.5-0.4 pts
18Barbour County26.8-1.3 pts
19Kanawha County26+1 pts
19Ritchie County26-2.5 pts
21Randolph County25.9-1.4 pts
22Nicholas County25.8-2.3 pts
23Pocahontas County25.6-0.2 pts
24Wayne County25.3-0.6 pts
25Doddridge County25.2-3 pts
26Lewis County25-0.8 pts
27Raleigh County24.7-1.9 pts
27Wetzel County24.7-4.6 pts
29Gilmer County24.3-2.8 pts
30Mason County23.9-4.1 pts
31Marion County23.7+3.6 pts
32Jackson County23.3-0.8 pts
33Cabell County23.1-7.3 pts
33Greenbrier County23.1-3.6 pts
33Preston County23.1-0.2 pts
36Tyler County22.6+1 pts
37Monroe County22.4-3.2 pts
38Harrison County21.9+0.7 pts
39Pendleton County21.7-2.1 pts
39Wood County21.7-4.3 pts
41Tucker County21.3-1.6 pts
42Grant County21.1-0.6 pts
43Taylor County21-1.1 pts
44Hardy County20.4-1.6 pts
45Mineral County20.2-1.3 pts
46Brooke County19.5+0.1 pts
46Hancock County19.5-0.9 pts
48Marshall County19.3-5.5 pts
49Morgan County18.6-0.2 pts
50Ohio County17.5-0.3 pts
51Pleasants County16.9-0.7 pts
52Berkeley County16-0.6 pts
53Monongalia County13.90 pts
54Putnam County12.9+0.7 pts
55Jefferson County11.2-1.2 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2018. 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), 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2018.

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), 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2018,
  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), 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2018. 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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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), 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2018.
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/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.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 42.5% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Jefferson County, with 11.2% in 2018.

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