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 2022, at 46.2%. Jefferson County had the lowest, at 11.7%. The median was 25% and the figure for West Virginia was 22.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest46.2McDowell County
Lowest11.7Jefferson County
Median2555 counties
West Virginia22.7History

Map of counties, 2022

Barbour County: 27.5 %Berkeley County: 13 %Boone County: 26 %Braxton County: 27.2 %Brooke County: 17.2 %Cabell County: 22.2 %Calhoun County: 27.3 %Clay County: 34.3 %Doddridge County: 25.4 %Fayette County: 27.5 %Gilmer County: 24.8 %Grant County: 19.7 %Greenbrier County: 23.3 %Hampshire County: 23.3 %Hancock County: 16.8 %Hardy County: 18.6 %Harrison County: 20.4 %Jackson County: 26 %Jefferson County: 11.7 %Kanawha County: 25.8 %Lewis County: 25.3 %Lincoln County: 33.7 %Logan County: 32.9 %McDowell County: 46.2 %Marion County: 20.2 %Marshall County: 26.5 %Mason County: 25 %Mercer County: 28 %Mineral County: 22.3 %Mingo County: 39 %Monongalia County: 14.6 %Monroe County: 20.5 %Morgan County: 21.9 %Nicholas County: 25.5 %Ohio County: 19.4 %Pendleton County: 22.4 %Pleasants County: 17.9 %Pocahontas County: 29.1 %Preston County: 18 %Putnam County: 12.6 %Raleigh County: 27 %Randolph County: 22.5 %Ritchie County: 28.3 %Roane County: 28 %Summers County: 34.6 %Taylor County: 20 %Tucker County: 24 %Tyler County: 21.6 %Upshur County: 24.5 %Wayne County: 24.8 %Webster County: 35.4 %Wetzel County: 26.7 %Wirt County: 28.3 %Wood County: 25.7 %Wyoming County: 33.3 %
  • Under 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 25
  • 25 to 27
  • 27 to 28
  • 28 and over
%, 2022. 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, 2022

McDowell County: 46.2 %McDowell County46.2Mingo County: 39 %Mingo County39Webster County: 35.4 %Webster County35.4Summers County: 34.6 %Summers County34.6Clay County: 34.3 %Clay County34.3Lincoln County: 33.7 %Lincoln County33.7Wyoming County: 33.3 %Wyoming County33.3Logan County: 32.9 %Logan County32.9Pocahontas County: 29.1 %Pocahontas County29.1Ritchie County: 28.3 %Ritchie County28.3Wirt County: 28.3 %Wirt County28.3Mercer County: 28 %Mercer County28Roane County: 28 %Roane County28Barbour County: 27.5 %Barbour County27.5Fayette County: 27.5 %Fayette County27.5Calhoun County: 27.3 %Calhoun County27.3Braxton County: 27.2 %Braxton County27.2Raleigh County: 27 %Raleigh County27Wetzel County: 26.7 %Wetzel County26.7Marshall County: 26.5 %Marshall County26.5Boone County: 26 %Boone County26Jackson County: 26 %Jackson County26Kanawha County: 25.8 %Kanawha County25.8Wood County: 25.7 %Wood County25.7Nicholas County: 25.5 %Nicholas County25.5Doddridge County: 25.4 %Doddridge County25.4Lewis County: 25.3 %Lewis County25.3Mason County: 25 %Mason County25Gilmer County: 24.8 %Gilmer County24.8Wayne County: 24.8 %Wayne County24.8Upshur County: 24.5 %Upshur County24.5Tucker County: 24 %Tucker County24Greenbrier County: 23.3 %Greenbrier County23.3Hampshire County: 23.3 %Hampshire County23.3Randolph County: 22.5 %Randolph County22.5Pendleton County: 22.4 %Pendleton County22.4Mineral County: 22.3 %Mineral County22.3Cabell County: 22.2 %Cabell County22.2Morgan County: 21.9 %Morgan County21.9Tyler County: 21.6 %Tyler County21.6Monroe County: 20.5 %Monroe County20.5Harrison County: 20.4 %Harrison County20.4Marion County: 20.2 %Marion County20.2Taylor County: 20 %Taylor County20Grant County: 19.7 %Grant County19.7Ohio County: 19.4 %Ohio County19.4Hardy County: 18.6 %Hardy County18.6Preston County: 18 %Preston County18Pleasants County: 17.9 %Pleasants County17.9Brooke County: 17.2 %Brooke County17.2Hancock County: 16.8 %Hancock County16.8Monongalia County: 14.6 %Monongalia County14.6Berkeley County: 13 %Berkeley County13Putnam County: 12.6 %Putnam County12.6Jefferson County: 11.7 %Jefferson County11.7McDowell County: 46.2 %McDowell County46.2Mingo County: 39 %Mingo County39Webster County: 35.4 %Webster County35.4Summers County: 34.6 %Summers County34.6Clay County: 34.3 %Clay County34.3Lincoln County: 33.7 %Lincoln County33.7Wyoming County: 33.3 %Wyoming County33.3Logan County: 32.9 %Logan County32.9Pocahontas County: 29.1 %Pocahontas County29.1Ritchie County: 28.3 %Ritchie County28.3Wirt County: 28.3 %Wirt County28.3Mercer County: 28 %Mercer County28Roane County: 28 %Roane County28Barbour County: 27.5 %Barbour County27.5Fayette County: 27.5 %Fayette County27.5Calhoun County: 27.3 %Calhoun County27.3Braxton County: 27.2 %Braxton County27.2Raleigh County: 27 %Raleigh County27Wetzel County: 26.7 %Wetzel County26.7Marshall County: 26.5 %Marshall County26.5Boone County: 26 %Boone County26Jackson County: 26 %Jackson County26Kanawha County: 25.8 %Kanawha County25.8Wood County: 25.7 %Wood County25.7Nicholas County: 25.5 %Nicholas County25.5Doddridge County: 25.4 %Doddridge County25.4Lewis County: 25.3 %Lewis County25.3Mason County: 25 %Mason County25Gilmer County: 24.8 %Gilmer County24.8Wayne County: 24.8 %Wayne County24.8Upshur County: 24.5 %Upshur County24.5Tucker County: 24 %Tucker County24Greenbrier County: 23.3 %Greenbrier County23.3Hampshire County: 23.3 %Hampshire County23.3Randolph County: 22.5 %Randolph County22.5Pendleton County: 22.4 %Pendleton County22.4Mineral County: 22.3 %Mineral County22.3Cabell County: 22.2 %Cabell County22.2Morgan County: 21.9 %Morgan County21.9Tyler County: 21.6 %Tyler County21.6Monroe County: 20.5 %Monroe County20.5Harrison County: 20.4 %Harrison County20.4Marion County: 20.2 %Marion County20.2Taylor County: 20 %Taylor County20Grant County: 19.7 %Grant County19.7Ohio County: 19.4 %Ohio County19.4Hardy County: 18.6 %Hardy County18.6Preston County: 18 %Preston County18Pleasants County: 17.9 %Pleasants County17.9Brooke County: 17.2 %Brooke County17.2Hancock County: 16.8 %Hancock County16.8Monongalia County: 14.6 %Monongalia County14.6Berkeley County: 13 %Berkeley County13Putnam County: 12.6 %Putnam County12.6Jefferson County: 11.7 %Jefferson County11.7
%. 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

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1McDowell County46.2+6 pts
2Mingo County39+3.2 pts
3Webster County35.4-0.9 pts
4Summers County34.6+4.7 pts
5Clay County34.3+3.3 pts
6Lincoln County33.7+7 pts
7Wyoming County33.3+4.9 pts
8Logan County32.9+2.7 pts
9Pocahontas County29.1+2.3 pts
10Ritchie County28.3+2.7 pts
10Wirt County28.3+0.2 pts
12Mercer County28+2 pts
12Roane County28+1.7 pts
14Barbour County27.50 pts
14Fayette County27.5+3.9 pts
16Calhoun County27.3-4.7 pts
17Braxton County27.2-1.8 pts
18Raleigh County27+1.2 pts
19Wetzel County26.7+2 pts
20Marshall County26.5+4.1 pts
21Boone County26-2.2 pts
21Jackson County26+4.4 pts
23Kanawha County25.8+5.2 pts
24Wood County25.7+5.6 pts
25Nicholas County25.5+0.4 pts
26Doddridge County25.4+2 pts
27Lewis County25.3+1.1 pts
28Mason County25+0.3 pts
29Gilmer County24.8+1 pts
29Wayne County24.8+1.7 pts
31Upshur County24.5-0.7 pts
32Tucker County24+3.4 pts
33Greenbrier County23.3-1.2 pts
33Hampshire County23.3-1.9 pts
35Randolph County22.5-1.3 pts
36Pendleton County22.4-0.2 pts
37Mineral County22.3+2.5 pts
38Cabell County22.2-1.7 pts
39Morgan County21.9+3.9 pts
40Tyler County21.6-0.3 pts
41Monroe County20.5-1.2 pts
42Harrison County20.4+0.2 pts
43Marion County20.2+0.9 pts
44Taylor County20+0.7 pts
45Grant County19.7-2.2 pts
46Ohio County19.4+0.5 pts
47Hardy County18.6-3.4 pts
48Preston County18-1.5 pts
49Pleasants County17.9-0.2 pts
50Brooke County17.2-1.6 pts
51Hancock County16.8-3.3 pts
52Monongalia County14.6-0.8 pts
53Berkeley County13+0.3 pts
54Putnam County12.6+0.3 pts
55Jefferson County11.7+0.8 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2022. 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), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2022.

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), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2022,
  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), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2022. 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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2022.
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/2022/2022-state-and-county/est22all.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 46.2% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Jefferson County, with 11.7% in 2022.

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