Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in New York

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

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 New York 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. New York has a child food insecurity rate of 14.6%, which ranks #21 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 New York.

#50. Warren County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.8% (1,490 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (6,810 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,919,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57

#49. Genesee County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.9% (1,510 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (6,130 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,249,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29

#48. Livingston County

- Child food insecurity rate: 12.9% (1,440 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (5,960 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,271,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41

#47. Columbia County

- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (1,410 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (5,740 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,556,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.85

#46. Greene County

- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (1,060 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (5,000 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,064,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.81

#45. Schoharie County

- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (750 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (3,350 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,772,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29

#44. Wayne County

- Child food insecurity rate: 13.7% (2,640 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (9,230 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,921,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31

#43. Otsego County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.0% (1,330 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (6,570 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,709,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51

#42. Washington County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.1% (1,630 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (6,580 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,237,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.00

#41. Yates County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.2% (800 total)
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (2,580 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,384,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33

#40. Rensselaer County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.3% (4,430 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (16,260 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,932,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.79

#39. Albany County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (8,120 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (31,690 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $19,357,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.79

#38. Essex County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (890 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (3,960 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,377,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.73

#37. Orange County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (14,390 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (35,990 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,706,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.75

#36. Cayuga County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (2,280 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (8,770 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,787,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39

#35. Chenango County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (1,490 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (5,630 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,790,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08

#34. Clinton County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (2,170 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (9,600 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,359,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47

#33. Cortland County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (1,360 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (5,460 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,913,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31

#32. Seneca County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (1,030 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (4,030 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,970,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04

#31. Ulster County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.1% (4,750 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (20,210 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,299,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.78

#30. Lewis County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.2% (920 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (2,920 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,492,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#29. Staten Island

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.4% (15,960 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (48,010 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $31,445,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.07

#28. Schenectady County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.4% (5,160 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (16,560 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,553,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58

#27. Rockland County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (14,510 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (31,590 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $19,260,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.79

#26. Steuben County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (3,360 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (11,370 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,063,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31

#25. Herkimer County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.3% (2,070 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (7,530 total)
--- 0.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,912,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23

#24. Oneida County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (8,100 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (26,940 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,615,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37

#23. Schuyler County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (580 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (2,330 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,187,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#22. Niagara County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (7,400 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (25,870 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,987,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36

#21. Onondaga County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (17,310 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (53,290 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $29,739,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47

#20. Orleans County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (1,380 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (4,840 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,452,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15

#19. St. Lawrence County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.7% (3,850 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (14,660 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,704,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26

#18. Allegany County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (1,640 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (5,970 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,560,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.70

#17. Manhattan

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (41,460 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (220,780 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $224,281,000
--- Cost per meal: $6.31

#16. Chemung County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (3,270 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (10,960 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,585,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#15. Sullivan County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.3% (2,930 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (8,690 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,907,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51

#14. Fulton County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (1,990 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (7,040 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,747,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31

#13. Jefferson County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (4,940 total)
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (14,690 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,670,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24

#12. Delaware County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (1,380 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (5,640 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,676,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.05

#11. Erie County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (34,510 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (110,390 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $63,692,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58

#10. Franklin County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.8% (1,830 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (6,760 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,576,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29

#9. Cattaraugus County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (3,230 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (10,710 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,414,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14

#8. Monroe County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (29,300 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (86,040 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $48,199,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48

#7. Oswego County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (4,690 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (15,640 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,931,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15

#6. Broome County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.4% (7,210 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (26,490 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,670,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

#5. Chautauqua County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.6% (5,100 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (17,860 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,563,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33

#4. Queens

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.5% (93,840 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (274,120 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $173,083,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.92

#3. Montgomery County

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.9% (2,360 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (6,770 total)
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,686,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38

#2. Brooklyn

- Child food insecurity rate: 26.0% (152,960 total)
--- 9.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (399,210 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $273,678,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.26

#1. Bronx

- Child food insecurity rate: 36.3% (128,740 total)
--- 20.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.7% (281,040 total)
--- 7.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $167,616,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.70

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