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 2023, at 36.9%. Jefferson County had the lowest, at 10%. The median was 21.9% and the figure for West Virginia was 19.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest36.9McDowell County
Lowest10Jefferson County
Median21.955 counties
West Virginia19.6History

Map of counties, 2023

Barbour County: 25.1 %Berkeley County: 13.5 %Boone County: 25.3 %Braxton County: 24.3 %Brooke County: 17.5 %Cabell County: 23.9 %Calhoun County: 24.6 %Clay County: 30.5 %Doddridge County: 20.2 %Fayette County: 22.4 %Gilmer County: 24.4 %Grant County: 20.5 %Greenbrier County: 21.7 %Hampshire County: 19.4 %Hancock County: 17.2 %Hardy County: 16.4 %Harrison County: 15.6 %Jackson County: 19.6 %Jefferson County: 10 %Kanawha County: 18.7 %Lewis County: 20.2 %Lincoln County: 23.2 %Logan County: 23.3 %McDowell County: 36.9 %Marion County: 20 %Marshall County: 19.2 %Mason County: 23.1 %Mercer County: 25.6 %Mineral County: 17.1 %Mingo County: 31.4 %Monongalia County: 12.9 %Monroe County: 20.5 %Morgan County: 15.9 %Nicholas County: 22.8 %Ohio County: 17.3 %Pendleton County: 20.9 %Pleasants County: 16.9 %Pocahontas County: 24.8 %Preston County: 21.9 %Putnam County: 11.5 %Raleigh County: 21 %Randolph County: 24.6 %Ritchie County: 24.5 %Roane County: 25.8 %Summers County: 29.3 %Taylor County: 17.7 %Tucker County: 23.4 %Tyler County: 27.1 %Upshur County: 24.6 %Wayne County: 21.5 %Webster County: 36.8 %Wetzel County: 23.6 %Wirt County: 24.5 %Wood County: 18.7 %Wyoming County: 25.9 %
  • Under 17
  • 17 to 20
  • 20 to 22
  • 22 to 24
  • 24 to 25
  • 25 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

McDowell County: 36.9 %McDowell County36.9Webster County: 36.8 %Webster County36.8Mingo County: 31.4 %Mingo County31.4Clay County: 30.5 %Clay County30.5Summers County: 29.3 %Summers County29.3Tyler County: 27.1 %Tyler County27.1Wyoming County: 25.9 %Wyoming County25.9Roane County: 25.8 %Roane County25.8Mercer County: 25.6 %Mercer County25.6Boone County: 25.3 %Boone County25.3Barbour County: 25.1 %Barbour County25.1Pocahontas County: 24.8 %Pocahontas County24.8Calhoun County: 24.6 %Calhoun County24.6Randolph County: 24.6 %Randolph County24.6Upshur County: 24.6 %Upshur County24.6Ritchie County: 24.5 %Ritchie County24.5Wirt County: 24.5 %Wirt County24.5Gilmer County: 24.4 %Gilmer County24.4Braxton County: 24.3 %Braxton County24.3Cabell County: 23.9 %Cabell County23.9Wetzel County: 23.6 %Wetzel County23.6Tucker County: 23.4 %Tucker County23.4Logan County: 23.3 %Logan County23.3Lincoln County: 23.2 %Lincoln County23.2Mason County: 23.1 %Mason County23.1Nicholas County: 22.8 %Nicholas County22.8Fayette County: 22.4 %Fayette County22.4Preston County: 21.9 %Preston County21.9Greenbrier County: 21.7 %Greenbrier County21.7Wayne County: 21.5 %Wayne County21.5Raleigh County: 21 %Raleigh County21Pendleton County: 20.9 %Pendleton County20.9Grant County: 20.5 %Grant County20.5Monroe County: 20.5 %Monroe County20.5Doddridge County: 20.2 %Doddridge County20.2Lewis County: 20.2 %Lewis County20.2Marion County: 20 %Marion County20Jackson County: 19.6 %Jackson County19.6Hampshire County: 19.4 %Hampshire County19.4Marshall County: 19.2 %Marshall County19.2Kanawha County: 18.7 %Kanawha County18.7Wood County: 18.7 %Wood County18.7Taylor County: 17.7 %Taylor County17.7Brooke County: 17.5 %Brooke County17.5Ohio County: 17.3 %Ohio County17.3Hancock County: 17.2 %Hancock County17.2Mineral County: 17.1 %Mineral County17.1Pleasants County: 16.9 %Pleasants County16.9Hardy County: 16.4 %Hardy County16.4Morgan County: 15.9 %Morgan County15.9Harrison County: 15.6 %Harrison County15.6Berkeley County: 13.5 %Berkeley County13.5Monongalia County: 12.9 %Monongalia County12.9Putnam County: 11.5 %Putnam County11.5Jefferson County: 10 %Jefferson County10McDowell County: 36.9 %McDowell County36.9Webster County: 36.8 %Webster County36.8Mingo County: 31.4 %Mingo County31.4Clay County: 30.5 %Clay County30.5Summers County: 29.3 %Summers County29.3Tyler County: 27.1 %Tyler County27.1Wyoming County: 25.9 %Wyoming County25.9Roane County: 25.8 %Roane County25.8Mercer County: 25.6 %Mercer County25.6Boone County: 25.3 %Boone County25.3Barbour County: 25.1 %Barbour County25.1Pocahontas County: 24.8 %Pocahontas County24.8Calhoun County: 24.6 %Calhoun County24.6Randolph County: 24.6 %Randolph County24.6Upshur County: 24.6 %Upshur County24.6Ritchie County: 24.5 %Ritchie County24.5Wirt County: 24.5 %Wirt County24.5Gilmer County: 24.4 %Gilmer County24.4Braxton County: 24.3 %Braxton County24.3Cabell County: 23.9 %Cabell County23.9Wetzel County: 23.6 %Wetzel County23.6Tucker County: 23.4 %Tucker County23.4Logan County: 23.3 %Logan County23.3Lincoln County: 23.2 %Lincoln County23.2Mason County: 23.1 %Mason County23.1Nicholas County: 22.8 %Nicholas County22.8Fayette County: 22.4 %Fayette County22.4Preston County: 21.9 %Preston County21.9Greenbrier County: 21.7 %Greenbrier County21.7Wayne County: 21.5 %Wayne County21.5Raleigh County: 21 %Raleigh County21Pendleton County: 20.9 %Pendleton County20.9Grant County: 20.5 %Grant County20.5Monroe County: 20.5 %Monroe County20.5Doddridge County: 20.2 %Doddridge County20.2Lewis County: 20.2 %Lewis County20.2Marion County: 20 %Marion County20Jackson County: 19.6 %Jackson County19.6Hampshire County: 19.4 %Hampshire County19.4Marshall County: 19.2 %Marshall County19.2Kanawha County: 18.7 %Kanawha County18.7Wood County: 18.7 %Wood County18.7Taylor County: 17.7 %Taylor County17.7Brooke County: 17.5 %Brooke County17.5Ohio County: 17.3 %Ohio County17.3Hancock County: 17.2 %Hancock County17.2Mineral County: 17.1 %Mineral County17.1Pleasants County: 16.9 %Pleasants County16.9Hardy County: 16.4 %Hardy County16.4Morgan County: 15.9 %Morgan County15.9Harrison County: 15.6 %Harrison County15.6Berkeley County: 13.5 %Berkeley County13.5Monongalia County: 12.9 %Monongalia County12.9Putnam County: 11.5 %Putnam County11.5Jefferson County: 10 %Jefferson County10
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1McDowell County36.9-9.3 pts
2Webster County36.8+1.4 pts
3Mingo County31.4-7.6 pts
4Clay County30.5-3.8 pts
5Summers County29.3-5.3 pts
6Tyler County27.1+5.5 pts
7Wyoming County25.9-7.4 pts
8Roane County25.8-2.2 pts
9Mercer County25.6-2.4 pts
10Boone County25.3-0.7 pts
11Barbour County25.1-2.4 pts
12Pocahontas County24.8-4.3 pts
13Calhoun County24.6-2.7 pts
13Randolph County24.6+2.1 pts
13Upshur County24.6+0.1 pts
16Ritchie County24.5-3.8 pts
16Wirt County24.5-3.8 pts
18Gilmer County24.4-0.4 pts
19Braxton County24.3-2.9 pts
20Cabell County23.9+1.7 pts
21Wetzel County23.6-3.1 pts
22Tucker County23.4-0.6 pts
23Logan County23.3-9.6 pts
24Lincoln County23.2-10.5 pts
25Mason County23.1-1.9 pts
26Nicholas County22.8-2.7 pts
27Fayette County22.4-5.1 pts
28Preston County21.9+3.9 pts
29Greenbrier County21.7-1.6 pts
30Wayne County21.5-3.3 pts
31Raleigh County21-6 pts
32Pendleton County20.9-1.5 pts
33Grant County20.5+0.8 pts
33Monroe County20.50 pts
35Doddridge County20.2-5.2 pts
35Lewis County20.2-5.1 pts
37Marion County20-0.2 pts
38Jackson County19.6-6.4 pts
39Hampshire County19.4-3.9 pts
40Marshall County19.2-7.3 pts
41Kanawha County18.7-7.1 pts
41Wood County18.7-7 pts
43Taylor County17.7-2.3 pts
44Brooke County17.5+0.3 pts
45Ohio County17.3-2.1 pts
46Hancock County17.2+0.4 pts
47Mineral County17.1-5.2 pts
48Pleasants County16.9-1 pts
49Hardy County16.4-2.2 pts
50Morgan County15.9-6 pts
51Harrison County15.6-4.8 pts
52Berkeley County13.5+0.5 pts
53Monongalia County12.9-1.7 pts
54Putnam County11.5-1.1 pts
55Jefferson County10-1.7 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/west-virginia-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 36.9% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Jefferson County, with 10% in 2023.

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