Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in Vermont
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 Vermont 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.
#14. Grand Isle County
- Food insecurity rate: 7.9% (550 total)
--- 27.5% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.2% (140 total)
--- 23.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $347,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.69
#13. Addison County
- Food insecurity rate: 8.8% (3,230 total)
--- 19.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.1% (770 total)
--- 17.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,397,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.34
#12. Franklin County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (4,550 total)
--- 14.7% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.3% (1,240 total)
--- 22.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,058,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.93
#11. Chittenden County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.7% (15,850 total)
--- 11.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.7% (3,400 total)
--- 19.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $10,496,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.87
#10. Windsor County
- Food insecurity rate: 9.9% (5,470 total)
--- 9.2% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 12.7% (1,280 total)
--- 13.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,138,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.42
#9. Orange County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.0% (2,900 total)
--- 8.3% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.5% (780 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,106,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.25
#8. Washington County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.2% (5,970 total)
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.2% (1,580 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,329,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.24
#7. Lamoille County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (2,700 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.0% (820 total)
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,985,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.30
#6. Rutland County
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (6,330 total)
--- 1.8% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 14.1% (1,480 total)
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,916,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.62
#5. Bennington County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (4,090 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (1,080 total)
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,350,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.36
#4. Caledonia County
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (3,520 total)
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.1% (1,020 total)
--- 17.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,437,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.05
#3. Essex County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (760 total)
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.5% (210 total)
--- 33.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $509,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.92
#2. Windham County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,280 total)
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.9% (1,300 total)
--- 15.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,121,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.46
#1. Orleans County
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (3,330 total)
--- 13.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.2% (900 total)
--- 17.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,043,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.59
