Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Kansas
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Kansas
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 Kansas 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. Kansas has a child food insecurity rate of 14.6%, which ranks #21 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 Kansas.
#50. Hodgeman County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (170 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $83,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#49. Lyon County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (3,450 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,662,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#48. Anderson County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (920 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $487,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#47. Osborne County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (380 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $202,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#46. Lane County
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (160 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $75,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#45. Stevens County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (530 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $252,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#44. Cheyenne County
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (250 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $130,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#43. Wallace County
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (180 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $84,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#42. Graham County
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (260 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $138,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#41. Rice County
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (1,050 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $524,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#40. Kearny County
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (410 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $189,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87
#39. Barton County
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (3,020 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,533,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#38. Pawnee County
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (740 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $379,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#37. Saline County
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (6,170 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,997,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#36. Atchison County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (1,970 total)
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $987,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#35. Greeley County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (110 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $51,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#34. Seward County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.0% (1,760 total)
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $840,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#33. Reno County
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (7,040 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,511,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#32. Shawnee County
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (18,610 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,336,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#31. Brown County
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (1,190 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $595,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#30. Coffey County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (950 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $453,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#29. Jackson County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (1,460 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $734,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#28. Osage County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (1,850 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $927,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#27. Greenwood County
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (740 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $358,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.01
#26. Riley County
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (9,380 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,042,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.00
#25. Harper County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (690 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $344,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#24. Russell County
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (760 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $406,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#23. Woodson County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (410 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $197,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#22. Morton County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (320 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $155,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.01
#21. Elk County
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (340 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $171,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#20. Bourbon County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (1,860 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $933,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#19. Cherokee County
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (2,690 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,495,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45
#18. Linn County
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (1,320 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $760,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#17. Sumner County
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (3,030 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,524,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#16. Phillips County
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (600 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $316,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#15. Jewell County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (340 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $177,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#14. Cowley County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (4,470 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,181,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#13. Allen County
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (1,660 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $809,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#12. Labette County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (2,750 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,524,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44
#11. Wilson County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (1,210 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $602,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#10. Crawford County
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (5,560 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,703,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#9. Stanton County
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (200 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $93,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#8. Decatur County
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (380 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $195,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#7. Sedgwick County
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (66,610 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $33,725,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#6. Barber County
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (610 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $307,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#5. Neosho County
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (2,220 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,123,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#4. Chautauqua County
--- 7.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (530 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $282,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#3. Geary County
--- 7.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (4,430 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,229,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#2. Montgomery County
--- 7.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (4,820 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,400,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#1. Wyandotte County
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (21,330 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,546,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07