More than 40 million Americans live below the poverty line – an income threshold of about $35 per day, or $1,073 a month. Of those facing such extreme financial hardship, children are disproportionately affected, as the United States has one of the worst child poverty rates among wealthy, developed countries. Nearly 12.6 million Americans under age 18 live in households with poverty level income.
Not only are children at higher risk of poverty, they are also especially vulnerable to poverty’s harmful effects, both in the immediate and long-term.
Childhood poverty can negatively impact brain development and has been linked with a greater likelihood of chronic illness, shorter life expectancy, and poor emotional and behavioral health. Those who spend some or all of their childhood in poverty are also less likely to be successful academically, or, later in life, economically.
Nationwide, an estimated 17.5% of children under age 18 live below the poverty line. This share varies from place to place, however, and in some parts of the country, child poverty is far more common than average. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 U.S. counties and county equivalents with the highest child poverty rates.
Among the counties on this list, child poverty rates range from 46% to over 70%. The majority of counties on this list are in the South, including 11 in Mississippi alone. Here is a look at the income a family needs to cover normal living expenses in every state.
Children raised in mother-only households are far more likely to live in poverty than those in two-adult households, and in nearly every county on this list, the share of households with children headed by single mothers exceeds the 11.7% share nationwide. Additionally, in the counties on this list, families are more likely to depend on government assistance to afford basic necessities. In each of these 50 counties, the share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits, or food stamps, exceeds the 18.2% national share. Here is a look at the cities with the most people on food stamps.
Click here to see the counties with the highest child poverty rates
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Terrell County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 46.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $26,523 — 26th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 52.4% — 20th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 24.7% — 46th highest of 2,931 counties
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49. Apache County, Arizona
> Child poverty rate: 46.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $34,141 — 91st lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 41.4% — 114th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 20.2% — 122nd highest of 2,931 counties
48. Tunica County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 46.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $32,969 — 71st lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 49.1% — 39th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 28.9% — 20th highest of 2,931 counties
47. Barbour County, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 46.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $34,611 — 100th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 42.9% — 95th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 22.7% — 62nd highest of 2,931 counties
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46. Sumter County, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 46.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $36,038 — 119th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 40.4% — 129th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 19.1% — 164th highest of 2,931 counties
45. Dallas County, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 46.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $31,554 — 51st lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 48.2% — 44th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 21.7% — 85th highest of 2,931 counties
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44. Monroe County, Arkansas
> Child poverty rate: 46.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $38,696 — 146th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 52.2% — 22nd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 21.5% — 90th highest of 2,931 counties
43. Bienville Parish, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 46.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $31,250 — 49th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 34.7% — 249th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 20.5% — 115th highest of 2,931 counties
42. Kemper County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 46.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $21,740 — 5th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 45.0% — 72nd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 25.8% — 35th highest of 2,931 counties
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41. Phillips County, Arkansas
> Child poverty rate: 46.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $29,652 — 41st lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 45.4% — 69th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 26.5% — 30th highest of 2,931 counties
40. Jackson County, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 47.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $22,167 — 8th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 32.5% — 330th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 32.0% — 7th highest of 2,931 counties
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39. Clay County, Kentucky
> Child poverty rate: 47.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $33,358 — 80th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 49.9% — 36th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 15.5% — 402nd highest of 2,931 counties
38. Dooly County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 47.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $63,512 — 1,444th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 25.3% — 855th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 13.6% — 631st highest of 2,931 counties
37. Washington County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 47.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $32,138 — 65th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 40.6% — 126th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 25.1% — 40th highest of 2,931 counties
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36. Hancock County, Tennessee
> Child poverty rate: 47.5%
> Median family income, households with children: $29,620 — 40th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 56.3% — 8th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 11.1% — 1,216th highest of 2,931 counties
35. Benson County, North Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 47.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $31,917 — 59th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 39.4% — 144th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 21.5% — 89th highest of 2,931 counties
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34. Barnwell County, South Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 47.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $31,107 — 48th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 39.2% — 150th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 20.9% — 102nd highest of 2,931 counties
33. Real County, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 48.1%
> Median family income, households with children: N/A
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 25.8% — 791st highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 8.4% — 850th lowest of 2,931 counties
32. Macon County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 48.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $25,723 — 19th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 43.1% — 91st highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 21.2% — 94th highest of 2,931 counties
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31. Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 48.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $31,875 — 55th lowest of 2,924 counties (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 63.6% — 4th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 40.6% — the highest of 2,931 counties
30. Holmes County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 48.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $22,917 — 10th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 46.4% — 62nd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 35.1% — 4th highest of 2,931 counties
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29. Crisp County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 48.8%
> Median family income, households with children: $29,198 — 37th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 48.5% — 40th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 23.5% — 55th highest of 2,931 counties
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28. Madison Parish, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 49.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $25,745 — 20th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.1% — 28th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.6% — 12th highest of 2,931 counties
27. Treutlen County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 49.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $49,856 — 516th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 34.7% — 250th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 14.8% — 472nd highest of 2,931 counties
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26. Bullock County, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 49.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $28,438 — 34th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 35.9% — 220th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 26.6% — 29th highest of 2,931 counties
25. Jefferson County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 50.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $19,435 — 3rd lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 52.1% — 24th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 34.6% — 5th highest of 2,931 counties
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24. Jim Hogg County, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 51.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $33,317 — 79th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 52.9% — 17th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 22.0% — 76th highest of 2,931 counties
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23. Atkinson County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 51.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $29,098 — 35th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 29.7% — 482nd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 15.5% — 401st highest of 2,931 counties
22. Coahoma County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 52.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $25,768 — 21st lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 55.9% — 10th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 32.3% — 6th highest of 2,931 counties
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21. Montgomery County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 52.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $26,301 — 24th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 39.2% — 149th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 20.0% — 131st highest of 2,931 counties
20. Humphreys County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 52.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $24,964 — 13th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.0% — 3rd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 29.9% — 16th highest of 2,931 counties
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19. Adams County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 52.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $30,056 — 42nd lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 32.3% — 342nd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 22.5% — 68th highest of 2,931 counties
18. Corson County, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 53.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $26,875 — 28th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 41.0% — 120th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 22.7% — 64th highest of 2,931 counties
17. Quitman County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 53.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $25,804 — 22nd lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.0% — 34th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 27.9% — 23rd highest of 2,931 counties
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16. Claiborne County, Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 54.5%
> Median family income, households with children: $19,716 — 4th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 56.4% — 7th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 23.5% — 56th highest of 2,931 counties
15. Greene County, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 54.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $26,217 — 23rd lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 48.2% — 46th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 18.1% — 204th highest of 2,931 counties
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14. Tensas Parish, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 55.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $31,875 — 55th lowest of 2,924 counties (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 41.2% — 117th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 8.6% — 923rd lowest of 2,931 counties
13. Clay County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 55.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $21,875 — 6th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 64.6% — 2nd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 19.5% — 153rd highest of 2,931 counties
12. Early County, Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 55.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $25,000 — 14th lowest of 2,924 counties (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.0% — 35th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 21.8% — 84th highest of 2,931 counties
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11. Claiborne Parish, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 55.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $27,429 — 30th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 42.7% — 96th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 15.9% — 360th highest of 2,931 counties
10. Brooks County, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 59.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $25,069 — 16th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 50.4% — 31st highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 20.5% — 114th highest of 2,931 counties
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9. Ziebach County, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 59.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $33,409 — 81st lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 51.0% — 29th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 28.7% — 21st highest of 2,931 counties
8. Mellette County, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 61.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $44,583 — 293rd lowest of 2,924 counties (tied)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 42.3% — 101st highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 16.4% — 324th highest of 2,931 counties
7. Dimmit County, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 62.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $18,841 — 2nd lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 29.8% — 473rd highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 30.2% — 13th highest of 2,931 counties
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6. Perry County, Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 62.8%
> Median family income, households with children: $22,117 — 7th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 52.3% — 21st highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 22.6% — 65th highest of 2,931 counties
5. Zavala County, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 64.8%
> Median family income, households with children: $23,006 — 11th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 47.1% — 56th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 16.4% — 327th highest of 2,931 counties
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4. Culberson County, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 65.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $27,552 — 31st lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 44.9% — 75th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 26.0% — 33rd highest of 2,931 counties
3. Presidio County, Texas
> Child poverty rate: 65.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $17,177 — the lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 43.4% — 86th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 12.7% — 808th highest of 2,931 counties
2. Todd County, South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 69.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $22,686 — 9th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 47.7% — 50th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 39.6% — 2nd highest of 2,931 counties
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1. East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 71.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $25,208 — 18th lowest of 2,924 counties
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 55.5% — 12th highest of 2,931 counties
> Households headed by single mothers: 24.7% — 45th highest of 2,931 counties
Methodology
To determine the counties where the most children live in poverty, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of child poverty rates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
Counties were excluded if the child poverty rate was not available in the 2020 ACS, if the number of children for whom poverty status was determined was lower than 500, or if the sampling error associated with a county’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a county’s child poverty rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ child poverty rates. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Counties and county equivalents were ranked based on the share of children living in poverty. To break ties, we used the number of children living in poverty.
Additional information on median income for families with children, the share of households with children receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the share of households headed by single mothers are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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