Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in West Virginia
Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in West 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 West 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. West Virginia has a child food insecurity rate of 17.3%, which ranks #8 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 West Virginia.
#55. Morgan County
--- 6.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 6.6% (1,180 total)
--- 5.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $607,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#54. Jefferson County
--- 6.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 7.0% (4,000 total)
--- 4.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,209,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.43
#53. Monongalia County
--- 4.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (11,470 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,885,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#52. Putnam County
--- 4.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.6% (4,860 total)
--- 3.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,431,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.11
#51. Doddridge County
--- 3.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (800 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $370,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87
#50. Grant County
--- 3.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.4% (1,090 total)
--- 2.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $541,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#49. Berkeley County
--- 2.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 8.3% (9,730 total)
--- 3.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,003,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#48. Pendleton County
--- 2.0% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 9.5% (660 total)
--- 2.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $348,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#47. Pleasants County
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.8% (810 total)
--- 1.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $402,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#46. Gilmer County
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 10.5% (840 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $395,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#45. Preston County
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.0% (3,710 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,754,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94
#44. Harrison County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (8,090 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,737,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87
#43. Mineral County
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (2,990 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,483,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#42. Ohio County
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.9% (5,000 total)
--- 0.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,662,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.31
#41. Brooke County
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.6% (2,580 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,313,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#40. Tucker County
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (780 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $374,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#39. Hampshire County
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.4% (2,670 total)
--- 0.4% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,354,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#38. Jackson County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (3,880 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,798,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
#37. Mason County
--- 1.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.5% (3,060 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,402,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#36. Tyler County
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (1,090 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $536,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#35. Wood County
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (10,830 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,965,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#34. Marion County
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (6,910 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,484,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#33. Cabell County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (13,820 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,803,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#32. Hancock County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (3,660 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,796,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#31. Randolph County
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.0% (3,740 total)
--- 1.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,794,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#30. Monroe County
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (1,560 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $768,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#29. Taylor County
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (2,080 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,049,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#28. Wayne County
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (6,050 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,674,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.74
#27. Marshall County
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.8% (3,960 total)
--- 1.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,946,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#26. Greenbrier County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.6% (4,760 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,343,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#25. Pocahontas County
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (1,270 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $625,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#24. Kanawha County
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (23,650 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,532,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#23. Ritchie County
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (1,280 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $587,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#22. Barbour County
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (2,320 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,092,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#21. Upshur County
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.8% (3,370 total)
--- 2.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,586,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#20. Wetzel County
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (2,220 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,091,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05
#19. Lewis County
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (2,310 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,087,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#18. Hardy County
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (1,540 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $781,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#17. Boone County
--- 5.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.6% (3,420 total)
--- 3.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,574,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#16. Braxton County
--- 6.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (2,080 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $988,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#15. Raleigh County
--- 6.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.2% (11,340 total)
--- 3.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,176,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#14. Nicholas County
--- 7.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.8% (3,690 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,753,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#13. Mercer County
--- 7.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (9,100 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,372,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#12. Lincoln County
--- 8.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (3,390 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,759,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22
#11. Wirt County
--- 8.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.2% (990 total)
--- 5.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $454,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#10. Fayette County
--- 8.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.4% (7,070 total)
--- 4.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,319,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#9. Summers County
--- 9.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.8% (2,000 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $913,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#8. Webster County
--- 9.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.0% (1,490 total)
--- 6.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $708,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#7. Wyoming County
--- 10.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.9% (3,730 total)
--- 6.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,972,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#6. Roane County
--- 11.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 18.5% (2,560 total)
--- 6.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,186,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
#5. Clay County
--- 13.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.6% (1,770 total)
--- 8.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $841,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#4. Logan County
--- 13.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 19.9% (6,490 total)
--- 8.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,900,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.78
#3. McDowell County
--- 15.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.0% (3,970 total)
--- 10.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,098,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.28
#2. Mingo County
--- 15.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 22.5% (5,350 total)
--- 10.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,751,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.19
#1. Calhoun County
--- 17.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 20.3% (1,460 total)
--- 8.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $677,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88