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 2020, at 37.8%. Jefferson County had the lowest, at 9.1%. The median was 21.4% and the figure for West Virginia was 20.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest37.8McDowell County
Lowest9.1Jefferson County
Median21.455 counties
West Virginia20.3History

Map of counties, 2020

Barbour County: 26.5 %Berkeley County: 13.7 %Boone County: 23.4 %Braxton County: 23 %Brooke County: 16.8 %Cabell County: 21 %Calhoun County: 25.9 %Clay County: 33.2 %Doddridge County: 20.7 %Fayette County: 28 %Gilmer County: 20.1 %Grant County: 19.1 %Greenbrier County: 25.2 %Hampshire County: 22.8 %Hancock County: 17.8 %Hardy County: 19.4 %Harrison County: 17.8 %Jackson County: 19.1 %Jefferson County: 9.1 %Kanawha County: 20.3 %Lewis County: 19.1 %Lincoln County: 26.3 %Logan County: 29.4 %McDowell County: 37.8 %Marion County: 16.4 %Marshall County: 18.7 %Mason County: 24.4 %Mercer County: 24.3 %Mineral County: 18.4 %Mingo County: 30.3 %Monongalia County: 12.9 %Monroe County: 22.7 %Morgan County: 16.1 %Nicholas County: 24.1 %Ohio County: 21.4 %Pendleton County: 18.7 %Pleasants County: 15.7 %Pocahontas County: 23.4 %Preston County: 19.1 %Putnam County: 13.1 %Raleigh County: 25.6 %Randolph County: 21.1 %Ritchie County: 23.2 %Roane County: 30.1 %Summers County: 29.6 %Taylor County: 16.9 %Tucker County: 19.1 %Tyler County: 20 %Upshur County: 22.8 %Wayne County: 22.7 %Webster County: 32.4 %Wetzel County: 22.2 %Wirt County: 27.7 %Wood County: 21 %Wyoming County: 25.3 %
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 to 23
  • 23 to 27
  • 27 and over
%, 2020. 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, 2020

McDowell County: 37.8 %McDowell County37.8Clay County: 33.2 %Clay County33.2Webster County: 32.4 %Webster County32.4Mingo County: 30.3 %Mingo County30.3Roane County: 30.1 %Roane County30.1Summers County: 29.6 %Summers County29.6Logan County: 29.4 %Logan County29.4Fayette County: 28 %Fayette County28Wirt County: 27.7 %Wirt County27.7Barbour County: 26.5 %Barbour County26.5Lincoln County: 26.3 %Lincoln County26.3Calhoun County: 25.9 %Calhoun County25.9Raleigh County: 25.6 %Raleigh County25.6Wyoming County: 25.3 %Wyoming County25.3Greenbrier County: 25.2 %Greenbrier County25.2Mason County: 24.4 %Mason County24.4Mercer County: 24.3 %Mercer County24.3Nicholas County: 24.1 %Nicholas County24.1Boone County: 23.4 %Boone County23.4Pocahontas County: 23.4 %Pocahontas County23.4Ritchie County: 23.2 %Ritchie County23.2Braxton County: 23 %Braxton County23Hampshire County: 22.8 %Hampshire County22.8Upshur County: 22.8 %Upshur County22.8Monroe County: 22.7 %Monroe County22.7Wayne County: 22.7 %Wayne County22.7Wetzel County: 22.2 %Wetzel County22.2Ohio County: 21.4 %Ohio County21.4Randolph County: 21.1 %Randolph County21.1Cabell County: 21 %Cabell County21Wood County: 21 %Wood County21Doddridge County: 20.7 %Doddridge County20.7Kanawha County: 20.3 %Kanawha County20.3Gilmer County: 20.1 %Gilmer County20.1Tyler County: 20 %Tyler County20Hardy County: 19.4 %Hardy County19.4Grant County: 19.1 %Grant County19.1Jackson County: 19.1 %Jackson County19.1Lewis County: 19.1 %Lewis County19.1Preston County: 19.1 %Preston County19.1Tucker County: 19.1 %Tucker County19.1Marshall County: 18.7 %Marshall County18.7Pendleton County: 18.7 %Pendleton County18.7Mineral County: 18.4 %Mineral County18.4Hancock County: 17.8 %Hancock County17.8Harrison County: 17.8 %Harrison County17.8Taylor County: 16.9 %Taylor County16.9Brooke County: 16.8 %Brooke County16.8Marion County: 16.4 %Marion County16.4Morgan County: 16.1 %Morgan County16.1Pleasants County: 15.7 %Pleasants County15.7Berkeley County: 13.7 %Berkeley County13.7Putnam County: 13.1 %Putnam County13.1Monongalia County: 12.9 %Monongalia County12.9Jefferson County: 9.1 %Jefferson County9.1McDowell County: 37.8 %McDowell County37.8Clay County: 33.2 %Clay County33.2Webster County: 32.4 %Webster County32.4Mingo County: 30.3 %Mingo County30.3Roane County: 30.1 %Roane County30.1Summers County: 29.6 %Summers County29.6Logan County: 29.4 %Logan County29.4Fayette County: 28 %Fayette County28Wirt County: 27.7 %Wirt County27.7Barbour County: 26.5 %Barbour County26.5Lincoln County: 26.3 %Lincoln County26.3Calhoun County: 25.9 %Calhoun County25.9Raleigh County: 25.6 %Raleigh County25.6Wyoming County: 25.3 %Wyoming County25.3Greenbrier County: 25.2 %Greenbrier County25.2Mason County: 24.4 %Mason County24.4Mercer County: 24.3 %Mercer County24.3Nicholas County: 24.1 %Nicholas County24.1Boone County: 23.4 %Boone County23.4Pocahontas County: 23.4 %Pocahontas County23.4Ritchie County: 23.2 %Ritchie County23.2Braxton County: 23 %Braxton County23Hampshire County: 22.8 %Hampshire County22.8Upshur County: 22.8 %Upshur County22.8Monroe County: 22.7 %Monroe County22.7Wayne County: 22.7 %Wayne County22.7Wetzel County: 22.2 %Wetzel County22.2Ohio County: 21.4 %Ohio County21.4Randolph County: 21.1 %Randolph County21.1Cabell County: 21 %Cabell County21Wood County: 21 %Wood County21Doddridge County: 20.7 %Doddridge County20.7Kanawha County: 20.3 %Kanawha County20.3Gilmer County: 20.1 %Gilmer County20.1Tyler County: 20 %Tyler County20Hardy County: 19.4 %Hardy County19.4Grant County: 19.1 %Grant County19.1Jackson County: 19.1 %Jackson County19.1Lewis County: 19.1 %Lewis County19.1Preston County: 19.1 %Preston County19.1Tucker County: 19.1 %Tucker County19.1Marshall County: 18.7 %Marshall County18.7Pendleton County: 18.7 %Pendleton County18.7Mineral County: 18.4 %Mineral County18.4Hancock County: 17.8 %Hancock County17.8Harrison County: 17.8 %Harrison County17.8Taylor County: 16.9 %Taylor County16.9Brooke County: 16.8 %Brooke County16.8Marion County: 16.4 %Marion County16.4Morgan County: 16.1 %Morgan County16.1Pleasants County: 15.7 %Pleasants County15.7Berkeley County: 13.7 %Berkeley County13.7Putnam County: 13.1 %Putnam County13.1Monongalia County: 12.9 %Monongalia County12.9Jefferson County: 9.1 %Jefferson County9.1
%. 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

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1McDowell County37.8-6.4 pts
2Clay County33.2+2.7 pts
3Webster County32.4-1.7 pts
4Mingo County30.3-3.2 pts
5Roane County30.1+3.6 pts
6Summers County29.6-2.3 pts
7Logan County29.4+2.8 pts
8Fayette County28+1.2 pts
9Wirt County27.7+3.1 pts
10Barbour County26.5+1.4 pts
11Lincoln County26.3+0.4 pts
12Calhoun County25.9+0.8 pts
13Raleigh County25.6+2.7 pts
14Wyoming County25.3-5.1 pts
15Greenbrier County25.2-0.4 pts
16Mason County24.4+2.3 pts
17Mercer County24.3-1.3 pts
18Nicholas County24.1-1 pts
19Boone County23.4-1.4 pts
19Pocahontas County23.4-0.7 pts
21Ritchie County23.2-2.7 pts
22Braxton County23-1.7 pts
23Hampshire County22.8-0.1 pts
23Upshur County22.8-0.1 pts
25Monroe County22.7-0.2 pts
25Wayne County22.7-2 pts
27Wetzel County22.2-0.7 pts
28Ohio County21.4+3.8 pts
29Randolph County21.1-1.3 pts
30Cabell County21-1.1 pts
30Wood County21+1.8 pts
32Doddridge County20.7-1.7 pts
33Kanawha County20.3-0.9 pts
34Gilmer County20.1-0.7 pts
35Tyler County20-0.8 pts
36Hardy County19.4-1.2 pts
37Grant County19.1-0.5 pts
37Jackson County19.1-3.9 pts
37Lewis County19.1-8.9 pts
37Preston County19.1+1 pts
37Tucker County19.1-3 pts
42Marshall County18.7-0.5 pts
42Pendleton County18.7-0.6 pts
44Mineral County18.4-0.7 pts
45Hancock County17.8+0.3 pts
45Harrison County17.8+1.3 pts
47Taylor County16.9-3.4 pts
48Brooke County16.8+0.7 pts
49Marion County16.4-3 pts
50Morgan County16.1-0.3 pts
51Pleasants County15.7+0.5 pts
52Berkeley County13.7-1 pts
53Putnam County13.1+1.7 pts
54Monongalia County12.9-1.3 pts
55Jefferson County9.1-3.4 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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 37.8% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Jefferson County, with 9.1% in 2020.

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