Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Maryland

Written by:
February 5, 2022
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Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Maryland

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 Maryland 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.

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#24. Charles County

- Food insecurity rate: 6.9% (11,020 total)
--- 36.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.2% (5,060 total)
--- 9.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,147,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26

#23. Prince George's County

- Food insecurity rate: 7.3% (66,420 total)
--- 33.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.5% (29,360 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $37,491,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30

#22. Howard County

- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (24,620 total)
--- 29.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.4% (6,560 total)
--- 42.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,915,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.78

#21. Calvert County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.2% (7,480 total)
--- 24.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.7% (2,070 total)
--- 33.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,181,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.05

#20. Montgomery County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (89,270 total)
--- 21.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 9.5% (23,070 total)
--- 34.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $59,429,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.89

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#19. Anne Arundel County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (51,420 total)
--- 17.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.9% (13,950 total)
--- 25.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $30,508,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47

#18. Queen Anne's County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (4,670 total)
--- 13.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.3% (1,110 total)
--- 29.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,247,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.07

#17. Carroll County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (16,060 total)
--- 11.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.0% (3,650 total)
--- 31.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,546,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48

#16. Frederick County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (24,350 total)
--- 11.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.7% (6,310 total)
--- 26.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,981,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36

#15. Harford County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (24,800 total)
--- 10.1% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.3% (6,980 total)
--- 15.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,684,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46

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#14. Baltimore County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (88,250 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.7% (26,320 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $48,996,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25

#13. St. Mary's County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (12,160 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.2% (3,600 total)
--- 9.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,025,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38

#12. Talbot County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (4,400 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.3% (980 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,592,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45

#11. Cecil County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (12,750 total)
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (3,580 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,807,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12

#10. Kent County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (2,530 total)
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.3% (530 total)
--- 18.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,455,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37

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#9. Caroline County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (4,400 total)
--- 22.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (1,430 total)
--- 24.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,344,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12

#8. Wicomico County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (13,940 total)
--- 24.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.5% (4,380 total)
--- 33.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,148,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00

#7. Garrett County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (4,050 total)
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (910 total)
--- 13.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,145,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10

#6. Worcester County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (7,200 total)
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.8% (1,770 total)
--- 35.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,263,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46

#5. Washington County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.1% (21,170 total)
--- 29.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.7% (5,830 total)
--- 21.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,125,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07

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#4. Dorchester County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (4,730 total)
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.6% (1,540 total)
--- 54.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,487,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08

#3. Baltimore city

- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (96,190 total)
--- 45.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.4% (33,160 total)
--- 80.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $59,235,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60

#2. Somerset County

- Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (4,130 total)
--- 47.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 27.4% (1,220 total)
--- 87.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,237,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#1. Allegany County

- Food insecurity rate: 16.9% (12,090 total)
--- 55.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.9% (2,850 total)
--- 56.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,210,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00

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