Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Oregon
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Oregon
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 Oregon 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. Oregon has a child food insecurity rate of 13.2%, which ranks #31 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 Oregon.
#36. Hood River County
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 5.9% (1,370 total)
--- 5.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $794,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#35. Clackamas County
--- 5.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (34,480 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,045,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.79
#34. Washington County
--- 5.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.0% (47,560 total)
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $28,536,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.73
#33. Benton County
--- 4.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (9,300 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,722,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.82
#32. Gilliam County
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (220 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $127,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#31. Harney County
--- 3.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (730 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $557,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.74
#30. Deschutes County
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (18,880 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,295,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.72
#29. Polk County
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (8,160 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,585,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.49
#28. Wallowa County
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (770 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $392,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#27. Columbia County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (5,380 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,084,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.56
#26. Yamhill County
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (10,380 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,276,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.76
#25. Morrow County
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (1,070 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $527,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#24. Multnomah County
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (93,380 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $59,061,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.93
#23. Lake County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (1,040 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $556,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#22. Union County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (3,100 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,579,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#21. Wasco County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (2,840 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,638,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#20. Wheeler County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (160 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $123,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.79
#19. Linn County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (14,910 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,839,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#18. Marion County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (36,390 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $19,409,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#17. Umatilla County
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (8,490 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,182,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#16. Jackson County
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (25,240 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,228,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.50
#15. Clatsop County
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (4,960 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,653,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#14. Jefferson County
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (2,920 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,620,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45
#13. Sherman County
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (190 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $110,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#12. Lane County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (49,840 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $28,676,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
#11. Crook County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (2,740 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,926,000
--- Cost per meal: $6.63
#10. Douglas County
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (13,750 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,256,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#9. Curry County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (2,990 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,781,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.70
#8. Tillamook County
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (3,170 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,826,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.58
#7. Malheur County
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (3,790 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,800,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#6. Josephine County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (11,760 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,560,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#5. Baker County
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (2,120 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,080,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#4. Klamath County
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (9,940 total)
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,311,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#3. Coos County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (9,350 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,860,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#2. Grant County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (1,030 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $525,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#1. Lincoln County
--- 8.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (7,580 total)
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,279,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51