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 2021, at 40.2%. Jefferson County had the lowest, at 10.9%. The median was 23.8% and the figure for West Virginia was 21.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest40.2McDowell County
Lowest10.9Jefferson County
Median23.855 counties
West Virginia21.4History

Map of counties, 2021

Barbour County: 27.5 %Berkeley County: 12.7 %Boone County: 28.2 %Braxton County: 29 %Brooke County: 18.8 %Cabell County: 23.9 %Calhoun County: 32 %Clay County: 31 %Doddridge County: 23.4 %Fayette County: 23.6 %Gilmer County: 23.8 %Grant County: 21.9 %Greenbrier County: 24.5 %Hampshire County: 25.2 %Hancock County: 20.1 %Hardy County: 22 %Harrison County: 20.2 %Jackson County: 21.6 %Jefferson County: 10.9 %Kanawha County: 20.6 %Lewis County: 24.2 %Lincoln County: 26.7 %Logan County: 30.2 %McDowell County: 40.2 %Marion County: 19.3 %Marshall County: 22.4 %Mason County: 24.7 %Mercer County: 26 %Mineral County: 19.8 %Mingo County: 35.8 %Monongalia County: 15.4 %Monroe County: 21.7 %Morgan County: 18 %Nicholas County: 25.1 %Ohio County: 18.9 %Pendleton County: 22.6 %Pleasants County: 18.1 %Pocahontas County: 26.8 %Preston County: 19.5 %Putnam County: 12.3 %Raleigh County: 25.8 %Randolph County: 23.8 %Ritchie County: 25.6 %Roane County: 26.3 %Summers County: 29.9 %Taylor County: 19.3 %Tucker County: 20.6 %Tyler County: 21.9 %Upshur County: 25.2 %Wayne County: 23.1 %Webster County: 36.3 %Wetzel County: 24.7 %Wirt County: 28.1 %Wood County: 20.1 %Wyoming County: 28.4 %
  • Under 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 24
  • 24 to 25
  • 25 to 28
  • 28 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

McDowell County: 40.2 %McDowell County40.2Webster County: 36.3 %Webster County36.3Mingo County: 35.8 %Mingo County35.8Calhoun County: 32 %Calhoun County32Clay County: 31 %Clay County31Logan County: 30.2 %Logan County30.2Summers County: 29.9 %Summers County29.9Braxton County: 29 %Braxton County29Wyoming County: 28.4 %Wyoming County28.4Boone County: 28.2 %Boone County28.2Wirt County: 28.1 %Wirt County28.1Barbour County: 27.5 %Barbour County27.5Pocahontas County: 26.8 %Pocahontas County26.8Lincoln County: 26.7 %Lincoln County26.7Roane County: 26.3 %Roane County26.3Mercer County: 26 %Mercer County26Raleigh County: 25.8 %Raleigh County25.8Ritchie County: 25.6 %Ritchie County25.6Hampshire County: 25.2 %Hampshire County25.2Upshur County: 25.2 %Upshur County25.2Nicholas County: 25.1 %Nicholas County25.1Mason County: 24.7 %Mason County24.7Wetzel County: 24.7 %Wetzel County24.7Greenbrier County: 24.5 %Greenbrier County24.5Lewis County: 24.2 %Lewis County24.2Cabell County: 23.9 %Cabell County23.9Gilmer County: 23.8 %Gilmer County23.8Randolph County: 23.8 %Randolph County23.8Fayette County: 23.6 %Fayette County23.6Doddridge County: 23.4 %Doddridge County23.4Wayne County: 23.1 %Wayne County23.1Pendleton County: 22.6 %Pendleton County22.6Marshall County: 22.4 %Marshall County22.4Hardy County: 22 %Hardy County22Grant County: 21.9 %Grant County21.9Tyler County: 21.9 %Tyler County21.9Monroe County: 21.7 %Monroe County21.7Jackson County: 21.6 %Jackson County21.6Kanawha County: 20.6 %Kanawha County20.6Tucker County: 20.6 %Tucker County20.6Harrison County: 20.2 %Harrison County20.2Hancock County: 20.1 %Hancock County20.1Wood County: 20.1 %Wood County20.1Mineral County: 19.8 %Mineral County19.8Preston County: 19.5 %Preston County19.5Marion County: 19.3 %Marion County19.3Taylor County: 19.3 %Taylor County19.3Ohio County: 18.9 %Ohio County18.9Brooke County: 18.8 %Brooke County18.8Pleasants County: 18.1 %Pleasants County18.1Morgan County: 18 %Morgan County18Monongalia County: 15.4 %Monongalia County15.4Berkeley County: 12.7 %Berkeley County12.7Putnam County: 12.3 %Putnam County12.3Jefferson County: 10.9 %Jefferson County10.9McDowell County: 40.2 %McDowell County40.2Webster County: 36.3 %Webster County36.3Mingo County: 35.8 %Mingo County35.8Calhoun County: 32 %Calhoun County32Clay County: 31 %Clay County31Logan County: 30.2 %Logan County30.2Summers County: 29.9 %Summers County29.9Braxton County: 29 %Braxton County29Wyoming County: 28.4 %Wyoming County28.4Boone County: 28.2 %Boone County28.2Wirt County: 28.1 %Wirt County28.1Barbour County: 27.5 %Barbour County27.5Pocahontas County: 26.8 %Pocahontas County26.8Lincoln County: 26.7 %Lincoln County26.7Roane County: 26.3 %Roane County26.3Mercer County: 26 %Mercer County26Raleigh County: 25.8 %Raleigh County25.8Ritchie County: 25.6 %Ritchie County25.6Hampshire County: 25.2 %Hampshire County25.2Upshur County: 25.2 %Upshur County25.2Nicholas County: 25.1 %Nicholas County25.1Mason County: 24.7 %Mason County24.7Wetzel County: 24.7 %Wetzel County24.7Greenbrier County: 24.5 %Greenbrier County24.5Lewis County: 24.2 %Lewis County24.2Cabell County: 23.9 %Cabell County23.9Gilmer County: 23.8 %Gilmer County23.8Randolph County: 23.8 %Randolph County23.8Fayette County: 23.6 %Fayette County23.6Doddridge County: 23.4 %Doddridge County23.4Wayne County: 23.1 %Wayne County23.1Pendleton County: 22.6 %Pendleton County22.6Marshall County: 22.4 %Marshall County22.4Hardy County: 22 %Hardy County22Grant County: 21.9 %Grant County21.9Tyler County: 21.9 %Tyler County21.9Monroe County: 21.7 %Monroe County21.7Jackson County: 21.6 %Jackson County21.6Kanawha County: 20.6 %Kanawha County20.6Tucker County: 20.6 %Tucker County20.6Harrison County: 20.2 %Harrison County20.2Hancock County: 20.1 %Hancock County20.1Wood County: 20.1 %Wood County20.1Mineral County: 19.8 %Mineral County19.8Preston County: 19.5 %Preston County19.5Marion County: 19.3 %Marion County19.3Taylor County: 19.3 %Taylor County19.3Ohio County: 18.9 %Ohio County18.9Brooke County: 18.8 %Brooke County18.8Pleasants County: 18.1 %Pleasants County18.1Morgan County: 18 %Morgan County18Monongalia County: 15.4 %Monongalia County15.4Berkeley County: 12.7 %Berkeley County12.7Putnam County: 12.3 %Putnam County12.3Jefferson County: 10.9 %Jefferson County10.9
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1McDowell County40.2+2.4 pts
2Webster County36.3+3.9 pts
3Mingo County35.8+5.5 pts
4Calhoun County32+6.1 pts
5Clay County31-2.2 pts
6Logan County30.2+0.8 pts
7Summers County29.9+0.3 pts
8Braxton County29+6 pts
9Wyoming County28.4+3.1 pts
10Boone County28.2+4.8 pts
11Wirt County28.1+0.4 pts
12Barbour County27.5+1 pts
13Pocahontas County26.8+3.4 pts
14Lincoln County26.7+0.4 pts
15Roane County26.3-3.8 pts
16Mercer County26+1.7 pts
17Raleigh County25.8+0.2 pts
18Ritchie County25.6+2.4 pts
19Hampshire County25.2+2.4 pts
19Upshur County25.2+2.4 pts
21Nicholas County25.1+1 pts
22Mason County24.7+0.3 pts
22Wetzel County24.7+2.5 pts
24Greenbrier County24.5-0.7 pts
25Lewis County24.2+5.1 pts
26Cabell County23.9+2.9 pts
27Gilmer County23.8+3.7 pts
27Randolph County23.8+2.7 pts
29Fayette County23.6-4.4 pts
30Doddridge County23.4+2.7 pts
31Wayne County23.1+0.4 pts
32Pendleton County22.6+3.9 pts
33Marshall County22.4+3.7 pts
34Hardy County22+2.6 pts
35Grant County21.9+2.8 pts
35Tyler County21.9+1.9 pts
37Monroe County21.7-1 pts
38Jackson County21.6+2.5 pts
39Kanawha County20.6+0.3 pts
39Tucker County20.6+1.5 pts
41Harrison County20.2+2.4 pts
42Hancock County20.1+2.3 pts
42Wood County20.1-0.9 pts
44Mineral County19.8+1.4 pts
45Preston County19.5+0.4 pts
46Marion County19.3+2.9 pts
46Taylor County19.3+2.4 pts
48Ohio County18.9-2.5 pts
49Brooke County18.8+2 pts
50Pleasants County18.1+2.4 pts
51Morgan County18+1.9 pts
52Monongalia County15.4+2.5 pts
53Berkeley County12.7-1 pts
54Putnam County12.3-0.8 pts
55Jefferson County10.9+1.8 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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 40.2% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Jefferson County, with 10.9% in 2021.

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