There are more than 40 million Americans living below the poverty line – an income threshold of about $35 per day. 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. There are nearly 12.6 million Americans under age 18 who live in households with poverty level income.
Not only are children at higher than average risk of poverty, they are also especially vulnerable to poverty’s harmful effects, both in the immediate and long-term.Â
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.Â
Nationwide, an estimated 17.5% of children under age 18 live below the poverty line. This share varies by state, 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 states with the highest child poverty rates.Â
Among the 50 states, child poverty rates range from 8.9% to over 25%. While states with the lowest child poverty rates span the country, those with the highest child poverty rates are overwhelmingly concentrated in the South. Here is a look at the income a family needs to cover normal living expenses in every state.Â
Families in states with the highest child poverty rates are far more likely than the average American family to depend on government assistance to afford basic necessities. In each of the 15 states with the highest child poverty rates, the share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits, or food stamps, exceeds the 5.6% national share. Here is a look at the cities with the most people on food stamps.Â
Click here to see the states where the most children live in poverty
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
50. New Hampshire
> Child poverty rate: 8.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $100,798 (4th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 3.1% (3rd lowest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
49. Utah
> Child poverty rate: 9.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $84,298 (14th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 3.8% (8th lowest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
48. North Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 11.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $86,414 (12th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 3.0% (2nd lowest)
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
47. Colorado
> Child poverty rate: 11.5%
> Median family income, households with children: $91,425 (9th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 3.5% (5th lowest)
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Source: Davel5957 / E+ via Getty Images
46. Minnesota
> Child poverty rate: 11.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $95,628 (6th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 3.5% (4th lowest)
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
45. Maryland
> Child poverty rate: 11.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $103,641 (3rd highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.9% (21st lowest)
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Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images
44. Hawaii
> Child poverty rate: 11.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $91,696 (8th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.4% (24th lowest)
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Source: Meindert van der Haven / iStock via Getty Images
43. Nebraska
> Child poverty rate: 12.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $77,982 (25th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.4% (12th lowest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
42. Massachusetts
> Child poverty rate: 12.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $109,908 (the highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.5% (14th lowest)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
41. Wyoming
> Child poverty rate: 12.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $80,825 (21st highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 2.7% (the lowest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
40. Vermont
> Child poverty rate: 12.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $81,902 (18th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 3.8% (7th lowest)
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Source: roman_slavik / iStock via Getty Images
39. Washington
> Child poverty rate: 12.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $90,447 (10th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.9% (18th lowest)
Source: Jon Bilous / iStock via Getty Images
38. Connecticut
> Child poverty rate: 13.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $100,115 (5th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.5% (13th lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
37. Virginia
> Child poverty rate: 13.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $93,828 (7th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.1% (10th lowest)
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Source: dangarneau / iStock via Getty Images
36. Iowa
> Child poverty rate: 13.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $79,139 (23rd highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.9% (22nd lowest)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
35. New Jersey
> Child poverty rate: 13.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $106,937 (2nd highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.1% (9th lowest)
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Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
34. Alaska
> Child poverty rate: 13.8%
> Median family income, households with children: $88,245 (11th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.4% (25th lowest)
Source: LawrenceSawyer / E+ via Getty Images
33. Kansas
> Child poverty rate: 13.9%
> Median family income, households with children: $74,882 (23rd lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 3.6% (6th lowest)
Source: Daniel Hanscom / iStock via Getty Images
32. Maine
> Child poverty rate: 14.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $76,852 (25th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.6% (15th lowest)
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Source: JamesBrey / iStock via Getty Images
31. Wisconsin
> Child poverty rate: 14.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $81,197 (20th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.6% (16th lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
30. Idaho
> Child poverty rate: 14.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $69,851 (15th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.9% (19th lowest)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
29. Oregon
> Child poverty rate: 15.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $78,939 (24th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.1% (11th highest)
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
28. Montana
> Child poverty rate: 15.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $71,986 (19th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.3% (11th lowest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
27. Rhode Island
> Child poverty rate: 15.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $83,161 (17th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.9% (14th highest)
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Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
26. South Dakota
> Child poverty rate: 16.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $76,789 (24th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.7% (17th lowest)
Source: JaySi / iStock via Getty Images
25. Illinois
> Child poverty rate: 16.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $83,907 (15th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.8% (17th highest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
24. Pennsylvania
> Child poverty rate: 16.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $81,257 (19th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.7% (21st highest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
23. California
> Child poverty rate: 16.8%
> Median family income, households with children: $84,790 (13th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.5% (25th highest)
Source: sframephoto / iStock via Getty Images
22. Delaware
> Child poverty rate: 17.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $79,268 (22nd highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.5% (24th highest)
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
21. Missouri
> Child poverty rate: 17.4%
> Median family income, households with children: $72,033 (20th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.1% (23rd lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
20. Indiana
> Child poverty rate: 17.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $70,859 (17th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 4.9% (20th lowest)
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
19. Nevada
> Child poverty rate: 17.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $67,738 (12th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.7% (20th highest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
18. Florida
> Child poverty rate: 18.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $65,053 (9th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.1% (12th highest)
Source: Eloi_Omella / iStock via Getty Images
17. New York
> Child poverty rate: 18.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $83,272 (16th highest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.6% (22nd highest)
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Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
16. Michigan
> Child poverty rate: 18.8%
> Median family income, households with children: $73,187 (22nd lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.6% (23rd highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
15. Ohio
> Child poverty rate: 19.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $72,130 (21st lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.7% (19th highest)
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Source: 4kodiak / E+ via Getty Images
14. Arizona
> Child poverty rate: 20.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $69,758 (14th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.9% (16th highest)
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
13. North Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 20.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $68,688 (13th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.1% (13th highest)
Source: Barbara Smyers / iStock via Getty Images
12. Texas
> Child poverty rate: 20.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $71,693 (18th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 7.0% (5th highest)
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Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
11. Georgia
> Child poverty rate: 20.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $70,326 (16th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.5% (8th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
10. Oklahoma
> Child poverty rate: 20.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $62,535 (6th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6% (7th highest)
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Source: Dee / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
9. Tennessee
> Child poverty rate: 20.8%
> Median family income, households with children: $65,852 (11th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.3% (10th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
8. South Carolina
> Child poverty rate: 21.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $64,942 (8th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.8% (18th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
7. Arkansas
> Child poverty rate: 22.0%
> Median family income, households with children: $59,204 (3rd lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 5.9% (15th highest)
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
6. Kentucky
> Child poverty rate: 22.2%
> Median family income, households with children: $65,096 (10th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.4% (9th highest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
5. Alabama
> Child poverty rate: 22.7%
> Median family income, households with children: $64,790 (7th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6% (6th highest)
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Source: hkim39 / iStock via Getty Images
4. West Virginia
> Child poverty rate: 23.1%
> Median family income, households with children: $59,938 (4th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 7.3% (4th highest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
3. New Mexico
> Child poverty rate: 25.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $54,886 (2nd lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 8.3% (the highest)
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
2. Louisiana
> Child poverty rate: 26.3%
> Median family income, households with children: $61,722 (5th lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 7.7% (3rd highest)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
1. Mississippi
> Child poverty rate: 27.6%
> Median family income, households with children: $54,822 (the lowest)
> Share of households with children receiving SNAP benefits: 7.8% (2nd highest)
Methodology
To determine the states 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.
States 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 and the share of households with children receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.
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