Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Tennessee
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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. Tennessee has a child food insecurity rate of 15.5%, which ranks #17 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 Tennessee.
#50. Marion County
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (4,460 total)
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,311,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#49. Coffee County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (8,200 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,375,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#48. Sullivan County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (23,290 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,606,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#47. Hamblen County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (9,440 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,656,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#46. McNairy County
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (4,070 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,978,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#45. Fentress County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (2,990 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,613,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#44. Decatur County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (1,780 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $891,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#43. Gibson County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (6,850 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,360,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#42. Grainger County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (3,650 total)
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,971,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#41. Lewis County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (1,980 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,094,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#40. Van Buren County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (970 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $489,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#39. Carroll County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (4,150 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,090,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#38. Fayette County
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (4,350 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,339,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#37. Franklin County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (6,360 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,251,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#36. Jackson County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (1,860 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $968,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.23
#35. Benton County
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.4% (2,800 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,414,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#34. Weakley County
--- 2.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (4,990 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,427,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#33. Morgan County
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (3,660 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,987,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.37
#32. Sevier County
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.0% (14,660 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,358,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.54
#31. Union County
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.5% (3,060 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,644,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#30. Dyer County
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (5,880 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,065,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#29. Unicoi County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.1% (2,880 total)
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,533,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#28. Pickett County
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (800 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $433,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#27. Davidson County
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (85,410 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $50,442,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.67
#26. Carter County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (9,300 total)
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,060,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#25. Monroe County
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (7,330 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,891,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.30
#24. Hawkins County
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.0% (9,100 total)
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,812,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#23. Claiborne County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (5,810 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,976,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#22. DeKalb County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (3,430 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,774,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#21. Clay County
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.6% (1,420 total)
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $768,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#20. Greene County
--- 4.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (11,240 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,865,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#19. Rhea County
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.6% (5,480 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,894,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#18. Bledsoe County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.2% (2,720 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,430,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#17. Obion County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (4,910 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,386,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#16. Campbell County
--- 5.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.4% (7,350 total)
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,798,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21
#15. Warren County
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (6,960 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,442,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#14. Grundy County
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.9% (2,390 total)
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,233,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20
#13. Henry County
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (5,240 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,646,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14
#12. Scott County
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.6% (4,330 total)
--- 7.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,142,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#11. Johnson County
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (3,020 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,664,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.42
#10. Sequatchie County
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.2% (2,560 total)
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,485,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#9. Perry County
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.8% (1,500 total)
--- 7.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $829,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#8. Madison County
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (13,620 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,898,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#7. Cocke County
--- 9.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.8% (6,730 total)
--- 7.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,409,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#6. Hardeman County
--- 9.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (3,670 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,736,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#5. Lauderdale County
--- 10.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (4,370 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,085,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#4. Shelby County
--- 10.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (128,190 total)
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $70,058,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39
#3. Hancock County
--- 11.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.7% (1,420 total)
--- 9.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $692,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#2. Lake County
--- 11.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.2% (1,540 total)
--- 9.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $803,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#1. Haywood County
--- 12.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (2,530 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,207,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96