Counties With the Highest Rate of Food Insecure Children in Maine

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Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Maine

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 Maine 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. Maine has a child food insecurity rate of 15.9%, which ranks #14 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 Maine.

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#16. Cumberland County

- Child food insecurity rate: 13.5% (7,400 total)
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (27,140 total)
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,463,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.23

#15. Sagadahoc County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.7% (990 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (3,410 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,431,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.43

#14. York County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (5,720 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (19,670 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,042,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.12

#13. Hancock County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (1,560 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (5,740 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,744,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.05

#12. Knox County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.1% (1,200 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (3,960 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,640,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.14

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#11. Kennebec County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (4,120 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (14,170 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,565,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.75

#10. Waldo County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (1,290 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (4,450 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,975,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.15

#9. Franklin County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (980 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (3,360 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,019,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.73

#8. Lincoln County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (1,070 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (3,690 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,587,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.35

#7. Penobscot County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (5,080 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (18,570 total)
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,959,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.67

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#6. Androscoggin County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.1% (4,470 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (12,920 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,897,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.80

#5. Aroostook County

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.4% (2,530 total)
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (9,140 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,370,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.65

#4. Oxford County

- Child food insecurity rate: 21.0% (2,230 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (7,330 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,298,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.64

#3. Piscataquis County

- Child food insecurity rate: 23.1% (660 total)
--- 7.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (2,560 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,511,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.67

#2. Washington County

- Child food insecurity rate: 23.4% (1,400 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (4,700 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,748,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.63

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#1. Somerset County

- Child food insecurity rate: 24.3% (2,330 total)
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (7,820 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,370,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47