Counties With the Highest Rate of Food Insecure Children in Nevada

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Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Nevada

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 Nevada 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. Nevada has a child food insecurity rate of 16.9%, which ranks #10 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 Nevada.

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#17. Lander County

- Child food insecurity rate: 11.5% (170 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (510 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $282,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

#16. Lincoln County

- Child food insecurity rate: 11.8% (120 total)
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (500 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $255,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16

#15. Pershing County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.0% (130 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (600 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $321,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32

#14. Elko County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.5% (1,760 total)
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (5,050 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,794,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

#13. White Pine County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.5% (230 total)
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (960 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $531,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

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#12. Humboldt County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.7% (570 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (1,750 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $968,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

#11. Eureka County

- Child food insecurity rate: 13.8% (70 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (230 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $127,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

#10. Storey County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.2% (100 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (440 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $265,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.74

#9. Churchill County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (820 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (2,840 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,517,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32

#8. Washoe County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.0% (15,020 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (51,800 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $31,222,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.74

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#7. Douglas County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.2% (1,220 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (5,150 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,050,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.68

#6. Esmeralda County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (20 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (140 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $73,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23

#5. Lyon County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.4% (1,940 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (6,620 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,670,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

#4. Carson City

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (2,040 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (6,780 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,754,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

#3. Mineral County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.9% (140 total)
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (620 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $331,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32

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#2. Nye County

- Child food insecurity rate: 23.5% (1,810 total)
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (7,400 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,846,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23

#1. Clark County

- Child food insecurity rate: 24.8% (128,320 total)
--- 8.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (333,140 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $181,722,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39