Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Maryland

Written by:
September 13, 2022
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Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Maryland

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 Maryland 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. Maryland has a child food insecurity rate of 12.5%, which ranks #38 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 Maryland.

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#24. Calvert County

- Child food insecurity rate: 5.4% (1,150 total)
--- 10.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.2% (6,590 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,344,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.09

#23. Carroll County

- Child food insecurity rate: 5.4% (1,980 total)
--- 10.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.5% (14,310 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,374,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.63

#22. Howard County

- Child food insecurity rate: 6.2% (4,900 total)
--- 9.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.3% (23,390 total)
--- 4.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,134,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.02

#21. Queen Anne's County

- Child food insecurity rate: 6.5% (700 total)
--- 9.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (4,440 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,893,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.05

#20. Frederick County

- Child food insecurity rate: 8.3% (4,920 total)
--- 7.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (22,780 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,095,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
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#19. Anne Arundel County

- Child food insecurity rate: 8.9% (11,420 total)
--- 7.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (47,920 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $27,948,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.62

#18. Harford County

- Child food insecurity rate: 8.9% (5,020 total)
--- 7.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (22,480 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,457,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.72

#17. Montgomery County

- Child food insecurity rate: 9.3% (22,590 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (87,190 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $58,650,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.18

#16. St. Mary's County

- Child food insecurity rate: 9.6% (2,630 total)
--- 6.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (10,830 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,144,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52

#15. Cecil County

- Child food insecurity rate: 11.5% (2,690 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (11,470 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,111,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
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#14. Talbot County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.4% (840 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (4,020 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,467,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.81

#13. Garrett County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.9% (700 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (3,840 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,892,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06

#12. Charles County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.5% (5,600 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.2% (11,570 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,324,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39

#11. Kent County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (440 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (2,340 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,525,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.05

#10. Baltimore County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.0% (26,930 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (85,270 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $48,366,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
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#9. Washington County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (4,970 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (19,850 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,209,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19

#8. Caroline County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.4% (1,210 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (4,050 total)
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,074,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18

#7. Allegany County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (2,140 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (11,040 total)
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,796,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26

#6. Worcester County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.1% (1,710 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (7,130 total)
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,092,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.56

#5. Prince George's County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.4% (39,340 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.1% (74,130 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $43,602,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.65
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#4. Wicomico County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.8% (4,480 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (13,680 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,897,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13

#3. Dorchester County

- Child food insecurity rate: 22.6% (1,520 total)
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (4,490 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,261,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13

#2. Somerset County

- Child food insecurity rate: 25.6% (1,120 total)
--- 9.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (3,810 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,016,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29

#1. Baltimore

- Child food insecurity rate: 29.3% (36,110 total)
--- 13.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (93,350 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $60,594,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.03

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