Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Utah

Written by:
February 5, 2022
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Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Utah

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 Utah 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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#29. Morgan County

- Food insecurity rate: 7.7% (900 total)
--- 29.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 8.5% (350 total)
--- 41.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $480,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12

#28. Summit County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.2% (3,370 total)
--- 24.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 7.7% (780 total)
--- 47.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,653,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.61

#27. Daggett County

- Food insecurity rate: 8.4% (50 total)
--- 22.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (20 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $30,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.52

#26. Davis County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (31,440 total)
--- 16.5% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.7% (11,970 total)
--- 26.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $16,944,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15

#25. Wasatch County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (2,990 total)
--- 13.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 10.1% (1,020 total)
--- 30.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,760,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44

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#24. Tooele County

- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (6,500 total)
--- 11.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.5% (2,570 total)
--- 21.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,336,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00

#23. Utah County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.6% (63,950 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.2% (22,920 total)
--- 23.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $33,348,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05

#22. Salt Lake County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (120,770 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.8% (36,720 total)
--- 19.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $64,295,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11

#21. Box Elder County

- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (5,820 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.2% (2,270 total)
--- 9.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,090,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11

#20. Weber County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (28,280 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.6% (9,710 total)
--- 6.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $14,368,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.97

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#19. Beaver County

- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (760 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (310 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $410,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15

#18. Cache County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (15,230 total)
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.8% (5,240 total)
--- 5.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,754,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98

#17. Juab County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (1,410 total)
--- 14.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (620 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $746,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10

#16. Millard County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (1,610 total)
--- 14.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (650 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $855,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11

#15. Washington County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (20,820 total)
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (6,980 total)
--- 8.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,427,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.21

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#14. Sanpete County

- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (3,820 total)
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.3% (1,260 total)
--- 11.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,865,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86

#13. Grand County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (1,270 total)
--- 21.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (320 total)
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $740,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41

#12. Uintah County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (4,820 total)
--- 22.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.4% (1,970 total)
--- 12.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,555,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10

#11. Emery County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (1,390 total)
--- 25.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.7% (530 total)
--- 21.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $746,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.14

#10. Sevier County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.7% (2,920 total)
--- 25.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (1,160 total)
--- 24.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,457,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92

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#9. Wayne County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (370 total)
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (120 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $200,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16

#8. Duchesne County

- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (2,800 total)
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (1,150 total)
--- 15.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,824,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.81

#7. Kane County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (1,050 total)
--- 28.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (270 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $608,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.39

#6. Iron County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (7,170 total)
--- 28.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.0% (2,350 total)
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,771,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08

#5. Rich County

- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (350 total)
--- 33.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.1% (130 total)
--- 24.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $186,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.12

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#4. Carbon County

- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (3,090 total)
--- 39.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.3% (970 total)
--- 25.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,570,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.97

#3. Garfield County

- Food insecurity rate: 16.5% (820 total)
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 24.8% (300 total)
--- 69.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $442,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15

#2. Piute County

- Food insecurity rate: 17.5% (330 total)
--- 60.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.3% (110 total)
--- 59.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $166,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94

#1. San Juan County

- Food insecurity rate: 18.8% (2,880 total)
--- 72.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.6% (1,110 total)
--- 61.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,649,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35

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