Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in West Virginia
Counties with the highest rate of food insecurity in West Virginia
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 West Virginia 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.
#50. Ohio County
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 13.5% (1,090 total)
--- 7.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,461,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#49. Hardy County
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.7% (560 total)
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $795,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#48. Preston County
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.0% (1,110 total)
--- 16.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,852,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
#47. Monongalia County
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 11.9% (2,060 total)
--- 18.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,187,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.08
#46. Pendleton County
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.8% (230 total)
--- 21.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $416,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04
#45. Brooke County
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (650 total)
--- 13.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,382,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#44. Pleasants County
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (240 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $423,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#43. Gilmer County
--- 7.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.2% (200 total)
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $459,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#42. Doddridge County
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.1% (220 total)
--- 10.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $497,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88
#41. Hancock County
--- 8.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 17.9% (1,010 total)
--- 22.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,748,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.95
#40. Harrison County
--- 11.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 16.0% (2,320 total)
--- 9.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,003,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85
#39. Tucker County
--- 11.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (200 total)
--- 24.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $433,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98
#38. Marion County
--- 11.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (2,080 total)
--- 26.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,636,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.09
#37. Marshall County
--- 12.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.6% (1,140 total)
--- 27.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,995,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03
#36. Mineral County
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.3% (1,000 total)
--- 25.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,753,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#35. Kanawha County
--- 15.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (6,820 total)
--- 26.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,562,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#34. Mason County
--- 17.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.5% (1,120 total)
--- 33.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,658,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
#33. Taylor County
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.2% (690 total)
--- 38.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,109,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.99
#32. Greenbrier County
--- 18.3% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (1,270 total)
--- 26.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,337,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#31. Jackson County
--- 22.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.4% (1,150 total)
--- 26.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,883,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.87
#30. Monroe County
--- 22.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.5% (510 total)
--- 33.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $929,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.02
#29. Wood County
--- 22.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (3,460 total)
--- 32.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,430,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.78
#28. Tyler County
--- 25.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.9% (350 total)
--- 36.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $606,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#27. Upshur County
--- 26.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.2% (1,020 total)
--- 38.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,694,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#26. Raleigh County
--- 26.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.4% (3,350 total)
--- 46.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,871,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.74
#25. Hampshire County
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 20.9% (940 total)
--- 43.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,689,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06
#24. Randolph County
--- 27.5% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 19.6% (1,090 total)
--- 34.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,048,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.97
#23. Nicholas County
--- 29.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 22.5% (1,150 total)
--- 54.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,741,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89
#22. Pocahontas County
--- 31.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.1% (340 total)
--- 58.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $604,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#21. Ritchie County
--- 32.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.5% (460 total)
--- 61.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $690,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
#20. Barbour County
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 21.5% (720 total)
--- 47.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,216,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.92
#19. Cabell County
--- 34.9% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (3,460 total)
--- 26.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,784,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#18. Wirt County
--- 37.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.0% (280 total)
--- 57.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $421,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.83
#17. Lewis County
--- 40.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.6% (810 total)
--- 61.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,232,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
#16. Wetzel County
--- 44.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 24.5% (780 total)
--- 67.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,229,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#15. Fayette County
--- 45.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.9% (2,150 total)
--- 63.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,374,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#14. Mercer County
--- 46.8% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.6% (2,900 total)
--- 61.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,844,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96
#13. Braxton County
--- 47.7% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.7% (720 total)
--- 76.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,114,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86
#12. Summers County
--- 51.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.7% (550 total)
--- 76.0% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,031,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84
#11. Lincoln County
--- 54.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.3% (1,190 total)
--- 73.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,887,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.15
#10. Boone County
--- 54.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 24.2% (1,170 total)
--- 65.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,776,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76
#9. Wayne County
--- 55.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 23.4% (1,970 total)
--- 60.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $3,169,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71
#8. Webster County
--- 56.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.0% (420 total)
--- 71.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $717,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93
#7. Roane County
--- 56.0% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 24.3% (730 total)
--- 66.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,183,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91
#6. Wyoming County
--- 66.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 26.5% (1,180 total)
--- 81.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,078,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.16
#5. Logan County
--- 70.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 25.8% (1,750 total)
--- 76.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,866,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.72
#4. Calhoun County
--- 82.6% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 29.3% (420 total)
--- 100.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $686,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.77
#3. Clay County
--- 86.2% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 28.9% (570 total)
--- 97.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $877,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90
#2. Mingo County
--- 88.1% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 29.6% (1,600 total)
--- 102.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,658,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.13
#1. McDowell County
--- 106.4% higher than national average
- Child food insecurity rate: 34.7% (1,330 total)
--- 137.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,048,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86