Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Montana
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Montana
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 Montana 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. Montana has a child food insecurity rate of 13.6%, which ranks #28 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 Montana.
#56. McCone County
--- 8.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.5% (80 total)
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $45,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#55. Gallatin County
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.8% (7,590 total)
--- 5.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,382,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
#54. Fallon County
--- 5.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.5% (250 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $135,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#53. Sweet Grass County
--- 5.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.9% (220 total)
--- 5.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $127,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
#52. Stillwater County
--- 5.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.0% (580 total)
--- 5.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $295,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#51. Powder River County
--- 5.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (140 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $76,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#50. Jefferson County
--- 5.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.3% (760 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $419,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#49. Petroleum County
--- 4.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.3% (30 total)
--- 4.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#48. Richland County
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.0% (880 total)
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $490,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#47. Lewis and Clark County
--- 4.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.6% (5,200 total)
--- 4.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,535,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#46. Daniels County
--- 4.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.3% (110 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $61,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#45. Madison County
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.2% (610 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $352,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
#44. Sheridan County
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (280 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $156,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#43. Yellowstone County
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (12,290 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,250,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#42. Broadwater County
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.9% (480 total)
--- 3.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $234,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#41. Phillips County
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.7% (350 total)
--- 3.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $175,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#40. Missoula County
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (11,330 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,180,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#39. Chouteau County
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (520 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $260,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#38. Custer County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (1,150 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $631,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#37. Park County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (1,520 total)
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $877,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
#36. Beaverhead County
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (920 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $508,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#35. Garfield County
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.4% (60 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $31,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#34. Carter County
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.9% (120 total)
--- 2.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $65,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#33. Dawson County
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (860 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $466,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#32. Carbon County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (960 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $488,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#31. Granite County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (340 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $230,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.19
#30. Flathead County
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (9,170 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,948,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#29. Prairie County
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (120 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $65,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#28. Teton County
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (570 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $285,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#27. Meagher County
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (160 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $78,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#26. Toole County
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (460 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $230,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#25. Valley County
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (710 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $395,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#24. Fergus County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (1,170 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $585,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#23. Cascade County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (8,130 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,062,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#22. Wibaux County
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (80 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $43,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#21. Hill County
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (1,750 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $874,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#20. Judith Basin County
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (210 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $105,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#19. Rosebud County
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (1,060 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $582,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#18. Powell County
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (750 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $414,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#17. Ravalli County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (4,340 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,930,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.19
#16. Liberty County
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (320 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $160,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#15. Golden Valley County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (80 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $41,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#14. Musselshell County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (450 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $229,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#13. Treasure County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (60 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $31,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#12. Silver Bow County
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (4,050 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,235,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#11. Pondera County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (670 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $335,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#10. Lake County
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (3,540 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,886,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#9. Wheatland County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (270 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $137,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#8. Big Horn County
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (1,960 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $997,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#7. Sanders County
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (1,520 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $810,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#6. Roosevelt County
--- 6.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (1,710 total)
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $951,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#5. Deer Lodge County
--- 8.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (1,360 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $750,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#4. Glacier County
--- 8.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.2% (2,360 total)
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,273,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#3. Blaine County
--- 9.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (1,140 total)
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $570,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#2. Mineral County
--- 9.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (620 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $330,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#1. Lincoln County
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (2,870 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,548,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35