Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Connecticut
Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Connecticut
Every county in the United States is home to people experiencing food insecurity, defined by the nonprofit Feeding America as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."
The USDA estimates that 89.5% of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2019—that's 116.0 million people. The COVID-19 pandemic put further strain on households already experiencing food hardship, with Feeding America estimating that 42 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, may experience food insecurity in 2021. This is a slight improvement from 2020 numbers but still represents an enormous burden for millions of children and adults.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Connecticut with the highest rate of food insecurity using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of population with food insecurity as of 2019.
#8. Fairfield County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (91,810 total)
--- 11.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.1% (23,800 total)
--- 24.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $62,433,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.98
#7. Tolland County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (14,810 total)
--- 10.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.8% (2,610 total)
--- 32.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,506,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.15
#6. Middlesex County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (16,320 total)
--- 8.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.1% (3,260 total)
--- 24.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,800,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.87
#5. Litchfield County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (18,880 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.8% (3,980 total)
--- 19.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,899,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.69
#4. Hartford County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (101,420 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.1% (26,740 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $60,126,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47
#3. New London County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (31,300 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.9% (7,810 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,424,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44
#2. New Haven County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (101,640 total)
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.4% (26,840 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $60,206,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47
#1. Windham County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (14,720 total)
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (3,580 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,873,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
