Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in North Dakota
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in North Dakota
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 North Dakota 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. North Dakota has a child food insecurity rate of 8.1%, which ranks #1 lowest 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 North Dakota.
#53. Logan County
--- 11.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.1% (50 total)
--- 8.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $25,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#52. Dickey County
--- 11.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 2.7% (130 total)
--- 9.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $67,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#51. Billings County
--- 11.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.4% (50 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $27,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#50. Traill County
--- 10.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 2.8% (230 total)
--- 9.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $118,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#49. Bowman County
--- 10.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 2.6% (80 total)
--- 9.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $43,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#48. Griggs County
--- 10.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 2.8% (60 total)
--- 9.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $31,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#47. Foster County
--- 10.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.5% (140 total)
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $71,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#46. Sargent County
--- 9.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.4% (130 total)
--- 8.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $71,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#45. Slope County
--- 9.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.6% (30 total)
--- 8.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $16,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#44. Renville County
--- 9.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.2% (80 total)
--- 8.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $43,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#43. McLean County
--- 9.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.7% (360 total)
--- 8.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $184,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#42. Divide County
--- 9.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.0% (90 total)
--- 7.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $50,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#41. Morton County
--- 9.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.0% (1,240 total)
--- 7.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $635,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#40. Burleigh County
--- 8.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.2% (4,010 total)
--- 7.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,128,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#39. Grant County
--- 8.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.4% (100 total)
--- 7.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $51,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#38. Steele County
--- 8.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.5% (60 total)
--- 8.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $31,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#37. Towner County
--- 8.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.9% (110 total)
--- 6.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $59,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#36. Burke County
--- 8.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.5% (70 total)
--- 8.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $39,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#35. Dunn County
--- 8.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.2% (180 total)
--- 7.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $97,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#34. Emmons County
--- 8.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.4% (180 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $96,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#33. Golden Valley County
--- 8.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 3.8% (70 total)
--- 8.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $38,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#32. McIntosh County
--- 7.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.2% (130 total)
--- 6.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $66,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#31. Richland County
--- 7.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.3% (870 total)
--- 6.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $480,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#30. McHenry County
--- 7.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.0% (290 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $155,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#29. Wells County
--- 7.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.3% (200 total)
--- 6.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $106,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#28. Sheridan County
--- 7.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.6% (60 total)
--- 7.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $32,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#27. Pembina County
--- 7.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.0% (340 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $175,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#26. Pierce County
--- 7.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.2% (210 total)
--- 6.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $112,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#25. Walsh County
--- 7.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.1% (540 total)
--- 6.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $278,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#24. Adams County
--- 7.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.4% (150 total)
--- 5.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $81,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#23. Cavalier County
--- 7.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.2% (200 total)
--- 6.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $103,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#22. Barnes County
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.7% (500 total)
--- 7.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $254,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#21. Cass County
--- 6.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.4% (9,750 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,309,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#20. Hettinger County
--- 6.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.8% (120 total)
--- 7.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $65,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#19. LaMoure County
--- 6.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.0% (210 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $107,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#18. Ward County
--- 6.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.6% (3,880 total)
--- 6.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,074,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#17. Stark County
--- 6.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.4% (1,990 total)
--- 5.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,078,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#16. Grand Forks County
--- 5.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.6% (4,670 total)
--- 5.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,402,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#15. Ransom County
--- 5.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.7% (300 total)
--- 6.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $163,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#14. Oliver County
--- 5.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.8% (90 total)
--- 7.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $46,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#13. Bottineau County
--- 5.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.7% (370 total)
--- 6.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $198,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#12. Kidder County
--- 5.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.3% (130 total)
--- 6.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $69,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#11. Mercer County
--- 5.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 4.3% (360 total)
--- 7.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $184,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#10. Stutsman County
--- 5.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.1% (1,470 total)
--- 4.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $748,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#9. Eddy County
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.3% (160 total)
--- 4.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $81,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#8. Nelson County
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.8% (200 total)
--- 5.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $103,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#7. Mountrail County
--- 3.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.7% (690 total)
--- 5.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $369,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#6. McKenzie County
--- 3.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.0% (960 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $534,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#5. Williams County
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.8% (2,440 total)
--- 5.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,358,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#4. Ramsey County
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (1,100 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $566,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#3. Sioux County
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (640 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $340,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#2. Benson County
--- 8.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (1,040 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $529,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#1. Rolette County
--- 10.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (2,310 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,235,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32