Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Colorado
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Colorado
Food insecurity is a widespread problem in the United States, with people experiencing food insecurity in every single county in the nation. The nonprofit Feeding America describes food insecurity as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."
Food insecurity hits children particularly hard. The USDA estimates that more than 5.5 million children lived in food-insecure households in 2021. Not having consistent access to enough food can affect cognitive abilities, overall health, moods, and attention spans—not to mention the psychological effects of living with scarcity.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Colorado with the highest rate of food insecure children using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of children with food insecurity as of 2020. Colorado has a child food insecurity rate of 11.2%, which ranks #9 lowest among all states.
States with the highest rate of food insecure children
#1. Louisiana: 21.5%
#2. New Mexico: 20.5%
#3. Mississippi: 20.4%
#4. Alabama: 19.8%
#5. Arkansas: 19.7%
States with the lowest rate of food insecure children
#1. North Dakota: 8.1%
#2. Massachusetts: 8.8%
#3. New Jersey: 9.0%
#4. Minnesota: 9.3%
#5. New Hampshire: 9.5%
Read on to see where food insecurity is most prevalent in Colorado.
#50. Yuma County
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.1% (810 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $389,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#49. Garfield County
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.0% (4,780 total)
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,738,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.56
#48. Park County
--- 4.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (1,410 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,020,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.49
#47. Grand County
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (1,500 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,099,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.55
#46. Washington County
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (450 total)
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $224,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#45. Pitkin County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (1,820 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,226,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.18
#44. Teller County
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (2,540 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,430,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.50
#43. Custer County
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (430 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $226,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#42. Logan County
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (2,320 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,126,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#41. Rio Blanco County
--- 3.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (650 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $386,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.69
#40. La Plata County
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (5,460 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,505,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.99
#39. Weld County
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (28,190 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,816,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48
#38. Lake County
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (920 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $692,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.67
#37. Morgan County
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (2,560 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,272,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#36. Ouray County
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (490 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $287,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.64
#35. Baca County
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (460 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $207,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.80
#34. Hinsdale County
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (80 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $48,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.73
#33. Arapahoe County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (58,220 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $33,667,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
#32. Lincoln County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (610 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $351,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
#31. Summit County
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (2,970 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,207,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.62
#30. Chaffee County
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (2,250 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,216,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#29. Mineral County
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (100 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $64,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.99
#28. Eagle County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (4,970 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,231,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.04
#27. Dolores County
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (190 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $99,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#26. Archuleta County
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (1,430 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $936,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.07
#25. El Paso County
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (72,680 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $40,482,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#24. San Miguel County
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (990 total)
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $566,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.55
#23. Adams County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (47,260 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $25,549,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#22. Montrose County
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (4,580 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,645,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
#21. Prowers County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (1,420 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $621,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.72
#20. Jackson County
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (120 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $90,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.64
#19. Moffat County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (1,730 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,268,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.55
#18. Denver
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (79,290 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $48,499,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.80
#17. Mesa County
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (18,470 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,882,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#16. Montezuma County
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (3,250 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,700,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#15. Sedgwick County
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (290 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $144,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#14. Rio Grande County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (1,420 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $762,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#13. Fremont County
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,870 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,088,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#12. Alamosa County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (2,050 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,348,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.08
#11. Saguache County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (800 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $421,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#10. Conejos County
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (1,000 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $638,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.97
#9. Delta County
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (4,320 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,306,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#8. Crowley County
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (950 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $480,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#7. Otero County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (2,670 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,323,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#6. Bent County
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (810 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $405,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#5. Pueblo County
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (22,720 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,259,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#4. Las Animas County
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (1,980 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $996,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#3. San Juan County
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (80 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $54,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.16
#2. Huerfano County
--- 10.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (980 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $500,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#1. Costilla County
--- 10.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (630 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $406,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.01