Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Pennsylvania

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February 5, 2022
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Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania 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.

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#50. Pike County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (5,460 total)
--- 9.2% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (1,580 total)
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,181,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41

#49. Lehigh County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (36,680 total)
--- 8.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.1% (11,690 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,017,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35

#48. Union County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (4,550 total)
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.7% (1,020 total)
--- 13.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,687,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46

#47. Washington County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (20,950 total)
--- 7.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.0% (5,260 total)
--- 11.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,819,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30

#46. Westmoreland County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (36,690 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.9% (9,080 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,034,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19

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#45. Allegheny County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.4% (126,660 total)
--- 4.6% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.9% (31,950 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $72,238,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34

#44. Montour County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (1,910 total)
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.4% (490 total)
--- 8.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,035,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#43. Wyoming County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (2,900 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.4% (770 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,576,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18

#42. Juniata County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (2,640 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.5% (810 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,516,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36

#41. Elk County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (3,260 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.0% (880 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,797,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22

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#40. Snyder County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (4,400 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.4% (1,310 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,275,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02

#39. Beaver County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (18,180 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (5,130 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,373,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02

#38. Wayne County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (5,780 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (1,340 total)
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,336,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38

#37. Fulton County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (1,640 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.4% (450 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $881,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14

#36. Susquehanna County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (4,650 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.3% (1,250 total)
--- 11.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,926,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.68

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#35. Bedford County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (5,560 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.2% (1,450 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,323,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.50

#34. Bradford County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (7,080 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (2,140 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,552,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93

#33. Warren County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (4,670 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.2% (1,330 total)
--- 17.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,311,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89

#32. Carbon County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (7,490 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.1% (2,120 total)
--- 17.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,857,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.01

#31. Columbia County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (7,720 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (1,810 total)
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,197,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18

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#30. Somerset County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (8,860 total)
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (2,420 total)
--- 21.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,490,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96

#29. Schuylkill County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (17,140 total)
--- 10.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (4,670 total)
--- 13.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,105,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11

#28. Sullivan County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (740 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (130 total)
--- 20.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $406,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21

#27. Armstrong County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (7,940 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.3% (2,070 total)
--- 11.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,843,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83

#26. Lycoming County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (13,790 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.2% (4,040 total)
--- 17.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,536,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20

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#25. Huntingdon County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.2% (5,520 total)
--- 11.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (1,510 total)
--- 24.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,071,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25

#24. Mifflin County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (5,730 total)
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.7% (1,840 total)
--- 21.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,819,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88

#23. Crawford County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (10,640 total)
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (3,040 total)
--- 15.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,512,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03

#22. Indiana County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (10,600 total)
--- 14.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (2,570 total)
--- 15.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,689,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14

#21. Erie County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (34,340 total)
--- 14.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (10,510 total)
--- 21.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,552,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16

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#20. Luzerne County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (39,670 total)
--- 14.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.8% (11,770 total)
--- 28.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,695,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20

#19. Mercer County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (14,030 total)
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.9% (4,130 total)
--- 29.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,851,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86

#18. Tioga County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (5,210 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (1,380 total)
--- 15.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,823,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#17. Lawrence County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (11,030 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.0% (3,120 total)
--- 23.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,896,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13

#16. Northumberland County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (11,610 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.7% (3,190 total)
--- 21.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,753,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90

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#15. Lackawanna County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (26,750 total)
--- 16.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.8% (7,240 total)
--- 15.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,203,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32

#14. Venango County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (6,630 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.6% (1,790 total)
--- 20.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,280,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89

#13. Greene County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (4,750 total)
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.7% (1,260 total)
--- 21.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,339,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88

#12. Jefferson County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (5,660 total)
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (1,700 total)
--- 24.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,742,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83

#11. Clearfield County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (10,420 total)
--- 19.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.8% (2,940 total)
--- 35.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,430,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05

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#10. Blair County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (16,000 total)
--- 19.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (4,400 total)
--- 19.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,665,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17

#9. Clarion County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (5,140 total)
--- 22.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (1,270 total)
--- 19.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,451,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.79

#8. Clinton County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (5,160 total)
--- 22.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.1% (1,350 total)
--- 17.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,742,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11

#7. Potter County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (2,250 total)
--- 22.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (670 total)
--- 32.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,176,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06

#6. Cambria County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (17,900 total)
--- 23.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.0% (5,130 total)
--- 37.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,246,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02

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#5. McKean County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (5,670 total)
--- 25.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.2% (1,650 total)
--- 38.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,785,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87

#4. Cameron County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.2% (660 total)
--- 30.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.1% (170 total)
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $343,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04

#3. Philadelphia County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (226,890 total)
--- 32.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 24.2% (83,460 total)
--- 65.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $136,179,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51

#2. Fayette County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (19,190 total)
--- 33.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.6% (5,460 total)
--- 47.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,904,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02

#1. Forest County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (1,080 total)
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.4% (210 total)
--- 80.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $539,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92

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