Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Pennsylvania
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania has a child food insecurity rate of 13.1%, which ranks #32 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 Pennsylvania.
#50. Wyoming County
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (2,800 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,401,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#49. Columbia County
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (7,400 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,982,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#48. Franklin County
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (15,010 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,225,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
#47. Bradford County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (6,770 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,499,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#46. Lebanon County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.8% (13,750 total)
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,498,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#45. Bedford County
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (5,460 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,163,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#44. Susquehanna County
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (4,360 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,639,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.76
#43. Clarion County
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (4,780 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,294,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#42. Warren County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (4,470 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,277,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#41. Allegheny County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (131,440 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $77,691,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.67
#40. Delaware County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (51,730 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $33,231,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.99
#39. Somerset County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (8,330 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,306,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#38. Sullivan County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (660 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $341,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#37. Wayne County
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (5,800 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,243,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47
#36. Armstrong County
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (7,920 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,857,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#35. Clinton County
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (5,000 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,568,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#34. Indiana County
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (10,650 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,678,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#33. Tioga County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,010 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,628,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#32. Berks County
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (42,640 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $23,383,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#31. Blair County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (15,390 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,212,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#30. Beaver County
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (18,690 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,980,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#29. Huntingdon County
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (5,230 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,813,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#28. Mifflin County
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (5,580 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,792,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#27. Crawford County
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (10,510 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,395,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#26. Jefferson County
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,360 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,656,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#25. Potter County
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (2,020 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,205,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.70
#24. Pike County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (5,710 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,238,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52
#23. Greene County
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (4,650 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,371,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#22. Schuylkill County
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (17,520 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,350,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#21. Elk County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (3,740 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,906,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#20. Fulton County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (1,810 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $992,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.40
#19. Lehigh County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (38,970 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $22,401,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
#18. Northumberland County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (11,340 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,795,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#17. Venango County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (6,660 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,342,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12
#16. Carbon County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (7,670 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,015,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#15. Lycoming County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (13,830 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,547,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#14. Lackawanna County
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (26,690 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,000,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.49
#13. Lawrence County
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (10,980 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,989,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#12. Dauphin County
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (28,100 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,647,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#11. Clearfield County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (10,260 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,318,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#10. Monroe County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (17,580 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,922,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51
#9. Cambria County
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (17,350 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,120,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.26
#8. Erie County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (35,210 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,981,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#7. McKean County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (5,840 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,985,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#6. Mercer County
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (14,740 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,495,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#5. Luzerne County
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (41,060 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $22,592,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.42
#4. Fayette County
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (19,880 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,065,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#3. Forest County
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (1,070 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $514,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#2. Cameron County
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (770 total)
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $392,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#1. Philadelphia County
--- 14.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (249,890 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $152,010,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.78