Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Kentucky
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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. Kentucky has a child food insecurity rate of 16.1%, which ranks #13 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 Kentucky.
#50. Trigg County
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (2,040 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $965,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#49. Clinton County
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (1,620 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $733,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.81
#48. Pulaski County
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (10,790 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,928,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
#47. Boyd County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (7,590 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,530,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#46. Morgan County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (2,230 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,039,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#45. Monroe County
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (1,780 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $829,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#44. Rockcastle County
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (2,760 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,226,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76
#43. Fleming County
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (2,370 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,104,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#42. Greenup County
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (5,350 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,731,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#41. Webster County
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (2,180 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,016,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#40. Green County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (1,910 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $859,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.79
#39. Powell County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (2,120 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $998,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#38. Rowan County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.4% (4,260 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,984,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#37. Wayne County
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (3,300 total)
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,492,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.81
#36. Casey County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (2,760 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,226,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76
#35. Lawrence County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.5% (2,890 total)
--- 6.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,277,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.74
#34. Caldwell County
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (1,970 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $918,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#33. Hopkins County
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (7,050 total)
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,286,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#32. Hickman County
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (640 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $291,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#31. Marion County
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (3,120 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,404,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.79
#30. Carroll County
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (1,730 total)
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $807,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#29. McCreary County
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.2% (3,500 total)
--- 8.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,630,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#28. Grayson County
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.6% (4,640 total)
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,960,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.62
#27. Metcalfe County
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.8% (1,690 total)
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $751,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76
#26. Bath County
--- 6.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.6% (2,310 total)
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,088,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#25. Christian County
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (11,010 total)
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,206,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#24. Martin County
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.8% (2,150 total)
--- 7.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $996,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
#23. Perry County
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.1% (4,750 total)
--- 6.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,272,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.97
#22. Carter County
--- 6.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.4% (4,970 total)
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,649,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#21. Barren County
--- 7.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.8% (7,860 total)
--- 6.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,493,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76
#20. Pike County
--- 7.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.2% (11,260 total)
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,405,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#19. Knox County
--- 7.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.6% (6,450 total)
--- 8.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,962,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#18. Jackson County
--- 7.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.9% (2,920 total)
--- 10.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,284,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73
#17. Lewis County
--- 7.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.6% (2,610 total)
--- 7.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,143,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.72
#16. Menifee County
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.5% (1,130 total)
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $526,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#15. Owsley County
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.7% (960 total)
--- 9.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $422,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73
#14. Estill County
--- 9.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.2% (2,870 total)
--- 8.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,346,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
#13. Floyd County
--- 9.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.8% (7,470 total)
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,665,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#12. Bell County
--- 10.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.9% (5,790 total)
--- 10.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,667,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#11. Elliott County
--- 10.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.8% (1,550 total)
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $826,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#10. Lee County
--- 11.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.8% (1,550 total)
--- 10.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $682,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73
#9. Letcher County
--- 11.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.6% (4,950 total)
--- 10.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,336,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#8. Wolfe County
--- 11.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 25.9% (1,860 total)
--- 14.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $866,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#7. Fulton County
--- 12.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (1,040 total)
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $473,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#6. Knott County
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.2% (3,340 total)
--- 10.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,576,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#5. Clay County
--- 13.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 23.5% (4,720 total)
--- 11.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,075,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73
#4. Leslie County
--- 13.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.9% (2,310 total)
--- 11.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,105,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.97
#3. Breathitt County
--- 14.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 24.5% (3,140 total)
--- 12.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,502,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.97
#2. Harlan County
--- 15.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 25.4% (6,680 total)
--- 13.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,171,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#1. Magoffin County
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 25.1% (3,100 total)
--- 13.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,437,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88