Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Virginia
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Virginia
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 Virginia 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. Virginia has a child food insecurity rate of 9.7%, which ranks #6 lowest 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 Virginia.
#50. King and Queen County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.5% (530 total)
--- 4.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $307,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#49. Colonial Heights
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.3% (1,780 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $868,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#48. Pulaski County
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (4,590 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,245,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04
#47. Westmoreland County
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.7% (1,920 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,053,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.41
#46. Grayson County
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (1,960 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $989,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#45. Winchester
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (3,510 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,969,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48
#44. Nottoway County
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (1,760 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $865,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#43. Charles City County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.1% (640 total)
--- 2.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $371,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.60
#42. Pittsylvania County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (7,100 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,822,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#41. Covington
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.9% (610 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $341,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.47
#40. Williamsburg
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (1,660 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,076,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.03
#39. Waynesboro
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (2,860 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,465,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.18
#38. Halifax County
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (4,000 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,938,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.01
#37. Tazewell County
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.7% (6,050 total)
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,857,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#36. Smyth County
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.7% (4,800 total)
--- 3.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,435,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#35. Lunenburg County
--- 2.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (1,360 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $673,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#34. Northumberland County
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.0% (1,090 total)
--- 2.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $634,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.61
#33. Galax
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (1,050 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $564,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.34
#32. Buckingham County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (2,000 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $983,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#31. Lynchburg
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (9,970 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,123,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#30. Prince Edward County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (3,060 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,504,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#29. Henry County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (6,610 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,153,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#28. Wise County
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.3% (6,570 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,349,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#27. Roanoke
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (13,120 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,320,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#26. Essex County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (1,210 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $682,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.50
#25. Surry County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (680 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $441,000
--- Cost per meal: $4.03
#24. Dickenson County
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.0% (2,770 total)
--- 7.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,412,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#23. Sussex County
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.6% (1,070 total)
--- 2.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $592,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.44
#22. Accomack County
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (3,840 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,919,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#21. Mecklenburg County
--- 6.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (3,710 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,835,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#20. Northampton County
--- 6.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (1,490 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $744,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10
#19. Newport News
--- 7.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (22,210 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,600,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.24
#18. Lancaster County
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (1,180 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $599,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#17. Greensville County
--- 7.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.3% (1,060 total)
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $515,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#16. Lee County
--- 7.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.1% (4,530 total)
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,133,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#15. Charlotte County
--- 7.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (1,800 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $884,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#14. Bristol
--- 8.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.5% (2,980 total)
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,595,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32
#13. Hampton
--- 8.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (15,320 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,096,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#12. Norfolk
--- 8.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (32,260 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $17,563,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.38
#11. Norton
--- 9.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 21.0% (840 total)
--- 9.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $428,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.17
#10. Buchanan County
--- 10.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.6% (4,180 total)
--- 7.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,990,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#9. Portsmouth
--- 10.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (11,690 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,157,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.27
#8. Richmond
--- 11.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (32,000 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $19,697,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.82
#7. Brunswick County
--- 11.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (1,980 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $980,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.07
#6. Franklin
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (1,030 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $555,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.35
#5. Emporia
--- 14.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (840 total)
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $408,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#4. Danville
--- 15.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (6,630 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,101,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#3. Hopewell
--- 17.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.1% (3,840 total)
--- 5.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,151,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.48
#2. Martinsville
--- 18.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.4% (2,330 total)
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,111,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#1. Petersburg
--- 22.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.3% (5,640 total)
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,752,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03