Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Indiana
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Indiana
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 Indiana 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. Indiana has a child food insecurity rate of 14.4%, which ranks #23 highest 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 Indiana.
#50. Ripley County
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (3,320 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,498,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.80
#49. Tippecanoe County
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (24,180 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,069,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#48. Wabash County
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (3,670 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,712,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#47. Ohio County
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (690 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $323,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#46. Bartholomew County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (10,110 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,848,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#45. Clark County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (13,150 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,214,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#44. Perry County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (2,360 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,180,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#43. Warren County
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (910 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $444,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#42. Lawrence County
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,600 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,446,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71
#41. Shelby County
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (5,350 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,483,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
#40. Randolph County
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (3,090 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,350,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71
#39. Parke County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (2,130 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $994,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#38. Rush County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (2,200 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,021,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
#37. Cass County
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (4,620 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,977,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.66
#36. Washington County
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (3,730 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,600,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.66
#35. Clay County
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (3,320 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,549,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#34. Elkhart County
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (23,190 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,306,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#33. Fulton County
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (2,600 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,254,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00
#32. Greene County
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (4,280 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,884,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73
#31. Jackson County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (5,870 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,609,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76
#30. Sullivan County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (2,700 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,242,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#29. Jennings County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (3,480 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,523,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.72
#28. Henry County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (6,510 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,985,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#27. Newton County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (1,730 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $926,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#26. Allen County
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (44,920 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,920,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#25. Jay County
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (2,770 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,232,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76
#24. Benton County
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (1,100 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $549,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#23. Owen County
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (2,820 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,382,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04
#22. Knox County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (5,310 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,470,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#21. Starke County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (3,300 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,614,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04
#20. Jefferson County
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (4,590 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,140,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#19. Vermillion County
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (2,240 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,027,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#18. St. Joseph County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (35,660 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,386,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#17. Vanderburgh County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (25,330 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,363,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#16. Wayne County
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (9,690 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,564,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#15. Scott County
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (3,960 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,811,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
#14. Blackford County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (1,930 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $853,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.74
#13. Delaware County
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (17,320 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,928,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
#12. Crawford County
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (1,630 total)
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $751,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#11. Vigo County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (16,390 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,516,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#10. Madison County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (18,820 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,982,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#9. Miami County
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (5,100 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,416,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#8. Howard County
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (11,850 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,556,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
#7. Grant County
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (9,870 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,362,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.74
#6. LaPorte County
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (15,240 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,516,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#5. Switzerland County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.4% (1,870 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $872,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#4. Orange County
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (3,190 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,393,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71
#3. Fayette County
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (3,920 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,750,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.77
#2. Marion County
--- 6.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (128,270 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $62,927,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#1. Lake County
--- 7.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (63,560 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $32,926,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22