Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in California
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in California
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 California 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. California has a child food insecurity rate of 13.0%, which ranks #33 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 California.
#58. Marin County
--- 10.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.5% (19,470 total)
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,475,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.94
#57. San Mateo County
--- 10.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.1% (53,990 total)
--- 4.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $37,033,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.26
#56. Santa Clara County
--- 9.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.5% (144,140 total)
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $95,298,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.11
#55. Placer County
--- 8.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.0% (31,360 total)
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $20,600,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.08
#54. San Francisco
--- 7.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (95,890 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $76,010,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.92
#53. El Dorado County
--- 5.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (18,100 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,173,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.52
#52. Nevada County
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (10,230 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,174,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.96
#51. Alameda County
--- 4.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (154,830 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $105,872,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.25
#50. San Luis Obispo County
--- 4.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (25,600 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $16,082,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.90
#49. Contra Costa County
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.5% (97,160 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $64,482,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.12
#48. Napa County
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.7% (12,070 total)
--- 3.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,495,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.37
#47. Sonoma County
--- 4.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (46,040 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $31,858,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.30
#46. Orange County
--- 3.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (296,470 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $180,052,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.77
#45. Yolo County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (23,210 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $13,646,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.65
#44. Ventura County
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.5% (72,180 total)
--- 3.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $43,297,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.73
#43. Santa Cruz County
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (27,360 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $19,869,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.51
#42. Sierra County
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (330 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $264,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.96
#41. Inyo County
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (1,910 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,032,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#40. San Diego County
--- 1.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.1% (336,190 total)
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $200,073,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.70
#39. Santa Barbara County
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.2% (41,140 total)
--- 2.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $23,774,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
#38. Amador County
--- 1.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (4,160 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,825,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.22
#37. San Benito County
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (5,100 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,677,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.48
#36. Alpine County
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (140 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $83,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.68
#35. Lassen County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (3,430 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,096,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.80
#34. Plumas County
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (2,470 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,510,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.80
#33. Solano County
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (41,840 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $23,888,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.55
#32. Riverside County
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (237,110 total)
--- 2.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $130,098,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#31. Calaveras County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (5,240 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,779,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.48
#30. Tuolumne County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (7,050 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,568,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.02
#29. Mono County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (1,540 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $998,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.02
#28. Glenn County
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (3,520 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,840,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.25
#27. Sacramento County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (179,280 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $102,961,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.57
#26. Humboldt County
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (20,400 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,859,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.92
#25. Monterey County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (44,380 total)
--- 1.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $26,411,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.70
#24. Butte County
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (31,330 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,980,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.76
#23. Shasta County
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (24,670 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,144,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.56
#22. Modoc County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (1,210 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $740,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.80
#21. San Bernardino County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (228,340 total)
--- 1.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $122,692,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#20. Sutter County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (12,060 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,356,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#19. Yuba County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (10,260 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,298,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#18. Stanislaus County
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (64,320 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $37,385,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.61
#17. San Joaquin County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (90,820 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $51,570,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.53
#16. Siskiyou County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (6,510 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,684,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.51
#15. Del Norte County
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (3,990 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,174,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#14. Mendocino County
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (12,130 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,250,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.71
#13. Los Angeles County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (1,271,040 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $755,450,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.69
#12. Tehama County
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (9,310 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,086,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#11. Kings County
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (19,010 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $9,761,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#10. Madera County
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (19,680 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,674,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.00
#9. Trinity County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.9% (2,000 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,147,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.56
#8. Lake County
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (9,610 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,175,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.99
#7. Colusa County
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (2,760 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,541,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47
#6. Kern County
--- 6.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (127,510 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $65,451,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#5. Mariposa County
--- 6.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (2,580 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,662,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.00
#4. Fresno County
--- 6.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (142,780 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $76,283,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#3. Merced County
--- 6.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (38,150 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,049,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#2. Tulare County
--- 8.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (69,330 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $37,453,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#1. Imperial County
--- 16.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.0% (34,270 total)
--- 7.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $15,746,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85