Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Oregon
Every county in the United States is home to people experiencing food insecurity, defined by the nonprofit Feeding America as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life."
The USDA estimates that 89.5% of U.S. households were food secure throughout 2019—that's 116.0 million people. The COVID-19 pandemic put further strain on households already experiencing food hardship, with Feeding America estimating that 42 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, may experience food insecurity in 2021. This is a slight improvement from 2020 numbers but still represents an enormous burden for millions of children and adults.
Stacker compiled a list of counties in Oregon with the highest rate of food insecurity using data from Feeding America. Counties are ranked by highest percent of population with food insecurity as of 2019.
#36. Hood River County
- Food insecurity rate: 6.6% (1,540 total)
--- 39.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.7% (430 total)
--- 47.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $996,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.78
#35. Clackamas County
- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (34,620 total)
--- 22.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.4% (9,300 total)
--- 28.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,029,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.55
#34. Washington County
- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (49,270 total)
--- 22.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.0% (13,740 total)
--- 31.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $28,562,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#33. Morrow County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (1,160 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.0% (500 total)
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $612,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#32. Yamhill County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (10,670 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.3% (3,360 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,291,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.45
#31. Deschutes County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (19,030 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.8% (5,240 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,627,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
#30. Polk County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (8,740 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.9% (2,630 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,934,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#29. Benton County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (9,870 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.1% (1,810 total)
--- 17.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,843,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#28. Marion County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (37,990 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.0% (12,640 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,149,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#27. Multnomah County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (89,810 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (20,830 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $55,798,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.63
#26. Columbia County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (5,840 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.7% (1,720 total)
--- 7.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,709,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.71
#25. Wasco County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (3,080 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (930 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,973,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.75
#24. Clatsop County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (4,610 total)
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (1,010 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,533,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#23. Gilliam County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (230 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.0% (50 total)
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $143,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.64
#22. Union County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (3,300 total)
--- 14.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (1,010 total)
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,804,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#21. Tillamook County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (3,360 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (930 total)
--- 26.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,154,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.75
#20. Linn County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (15,860 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (4,790 total)
--- 15.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,441,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#19. Jackson County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (27,520 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (7,830 total)
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,358,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#18. Harney County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (930 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (260 total)
--- 19.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $523,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.29
#17. Umatilla County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (9,890 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (3,620 total)
--- 26.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,213,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#16. Baker County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (2,110 total)
--- 20.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.1% (600 total)
--- 30.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,146,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#15. Crook County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (3,010 total)
--- 20.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.9% (950 total)
--- 43.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,387,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.64
#14. Sherman County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (220 total)
--- 22.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.8% (50 total)
--- 28.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $144,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.83
#13. Wheeler County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (190 total)
--- 24.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.3% (50 total)
--- 39.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $108,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#12. Lane County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (50,680 total)
--- 24.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (12,090 total)
--- 19.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $28,796,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#11. Wallowa County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (960 total)
--- 25.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (260 total)
--- 37.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $513,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#10. Curry County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (3,110 total)
--- 26.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.9% (590 total)
--- 22.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,009,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.78
#9. Jefferson County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (3,260 total)
--- 26.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.2% (1,070 total)
--- 31.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,097,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.76
#8. Malheur County
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (4,230 total)
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.1% (1,480 total)
--- 30.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,944,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.69
#7. Douglas County
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (15,280 total)
--- 28.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.8% (4,410 total)
--- 42.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,211,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#6. Lincoln County
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (7,010 total)
--- 32.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.1% (1,730 total)
--- 44.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,460,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.72
#5. Josephine County
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (12,960 total)
--- 37.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.5% (3,640 total)
--- 47.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,229,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#4. Coos County
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (9,650 total)
--- 39.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.9% (2,580 total)
--- 50.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,486,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#3. Klamath County
- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (10,340 total)
--- 41.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.1% (3,210 total)
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,881,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.33
#2. Lake County
- Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (1,230 total)
--- 44.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.5% (320 total)
--- 47.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $683,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#1. Grant County
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (1,190 total)
--- 52.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.8% (310 total)
--- 63.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $643,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
