Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Maine
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 Maine 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.
#16. Cumberland County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (29,660 total)
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (7,500 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,434,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.23
#15. Sagadahoc County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (3,630 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (1,060 total)
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,753,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.44
#14. York County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (21,050 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (5,740 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,713,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.09
#13. Knox County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (4,390 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (1,300 total)
--- 24.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,112,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.15
#12. Franklin County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (3,540 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (1,000 total)
--- 26.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,266,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.74
#11. Hancock County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (6,420 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.9% (1,690 total)
--- 22.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,472,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.07
#10. Lincoln County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (4,180 total)
--- 11.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.9% (1,140 total)
--- 36.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,119,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.36
#9. Waldo County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (5,000 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.5% (1,450 total)
--- 33.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,579,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.19
#8. Androscoggin County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (13,770 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (4,330 total)
--- 26.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,821,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.75
#7. Kennebec County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (15,680 total)
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (4,470 total)
--- 29.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,004,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.73
#6. Oxford County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (7,850 total)
--- 24.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.9% (2,470 total)
--- 56.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,785,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
#5. Penobscot County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (21,160 total)
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.0% (5,570 total)
--- 37.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,185,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.64
#4. Aroostook County
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (10,870 total)
--- 46.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.3% (2,910 total)
--- 59.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,754,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.63
#3. Washington County
- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (5,200 total)
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.7% (1,540 total)
--- 76.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,212,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.61
#2. Piscataquis County
- Food insecurity rate: 16.9% (2,850 total)
--- 55.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.4% (740 total)
--- 74.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,909,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.92
#1. Somerset County
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (8,600 total)
--- 56.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.5% (2,580 total)
--- 81.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,054,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44
