Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Indiana

Written by:
September 13, 2022
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Counties with the highest rate of food insecure children in Indiana

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 Indiana 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. Indiana has a child food insecurity rate of 14.4%, which ranks #23 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 Indiana.

#50. Ripley County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (990 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.7% (3,320 total)
--- 0.1% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,498,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.80

#49. Tippecanoe County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (5,790 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (24,180 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,069,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10

#48. Wabash County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.6% (940 total)
--- 1.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (3,670 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,712,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90

#47. Ohio County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.7% (170 total)
--- 1.4% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.8% (690 total)
--- 0.0% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $323,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90

#46. Bartholomew County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (2,950 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.1% (10,110 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,848,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.98

#45. Clark County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (3,900 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.2% (13,150 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $6,214,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93

#44. Perry County

- Child food insecurity rate: 14.8% (600 total)
--- 1.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (2,360 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,180,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10

#43. Warren County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.0% (260 total)
--- 1.1% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.1% (910 total)
--- 0.7% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $444,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03

#42. Lawrence County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.2% (1,500 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (5,600 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,446,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71

#41. Shelby County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.2% (1,540 total)
--- 0.9% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (5,350 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,483,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88

#40. Randolph County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.3% (860 total)
--- 0.8% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.5% (3,090 total)
--- 0.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,350,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71

#39. Parke County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.5% (580 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (2,130 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $994,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90

#38. Rush County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.5% (570 total)
--- 0.6% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (2,200 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,021,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.88

#37. Cass County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (1,360 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.3% (4,620 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,977,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.66

#36. Washington County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.6% (1,000 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (3,730 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,600,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.66

#35. Clay County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (970 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (3,320 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,549,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90

#34. Elkhart County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (8,930 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 11.3% (23,190 total)
--- 0.5% lower than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $11,306,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03

#33. Fulton County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (750 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.9% (2,600 total)
--- 1.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,254,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.00

#32. Greene County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.8% (1,100 total)
--- 0.3% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (4,280 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,884,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.73

#31. Jackson County

- Child food insecurity rate: 15.9% (1,700 total)
--- 0.2% lower than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.3% (5,870 total)
--- 1.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,609,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76

#30. Sullivan County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.4% (660 total)
--- 0.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (2,700 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,242,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86

#29. Jennings County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.6% (1,070 total)
--- 0.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.6% (3,480 total)
--- 0.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,523,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.72

#28. Henry County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.7% (1,660 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (6,510 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,985,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85

#27. Newton County

- Child food insecurity rate: 16.7% (500 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.4% (1,730 total)
--- 0.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $926,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.32

#26. Allen County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (16,760 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.0% (44,920 total)
--- 0.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $21,920,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03

#25. Jay County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.4% (900 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (2,770 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,232,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.76

#24. Benton County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.5% (380 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 12.7% (1,100 total)
--- 0.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $549,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.10

#23. Owen County

- Child food insecurity rate: 17.9% (780 total)
--- 1.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.5% (2,820 total)
--- 1.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,382,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04

#22. Knox County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (1,430 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (5,310 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,470,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.89

#21. Starke County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.2% (990 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (3,300 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,614,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.04

#20. Jefferson County

- Child food insecurity rate: 18.5% (1,220 total)
--- 2.4% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (4,590 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,140,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90

#19. Vermillion County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.1% (650 total)
--- 3.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (2,240 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,027,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85

#18. St. Joseph County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (12,350 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.2% (35,660 total)
--- 1.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $18,386,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.20

#17. Vanderburgh County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.3% (7,570 total)
--- 3.2% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.0% (25,330 total)
--- 2.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $12,363,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.03

#16. Wayne County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.7% (2,890 total)
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.6% (9,690 total)
--- 2.8% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,564,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.93

#15. Scott County

- Child food insecurity rate: 19.8% (1,040 total)
--- 3.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.7% (3,960 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,811,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84

#14. Blackford County

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.1% (530 total)
--- 4.0% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.2% (1,930 total)
--- 4.4% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $853,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.74

#13. Delaware County

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.2% (4,230 total)
--- 4.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.1% (17,320 total)
--- 3.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,928,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.84

#12. Crawford County

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.4% (480 total)
--- 4.3% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.4% (1,630 total)
--- 3.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $751,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.86

#11. Vigo County

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.8% (4,550 total)
--- 4.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 15.3% (16,390 total)
--- 3.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,516,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.85

#10. Madison County

- Child food insecurity rate: 20.9% (5,850 total)
--- 4.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.5% (18,820 total)
--- 2.7% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $8,982,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.96

#9. Miami County

- Child food insecurity rate: 21.0% (1,590 total)
--- 4.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.3% (5,100 total)
--- 2.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $2,416,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.94

#8. Howard County

- Child food insecurity rate: 21.2% (3,980 total)
--- 5.1% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.4% (11,850 total)
--- 2.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $5,556,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.91

#7. Grant County

- Child food insecurity rate: 21.6% (2,970 total)
--- 5.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 14.9% (9,870 total)
--- 3.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $4,362,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.74

#6. LaPorte County

- Child food insecurity rate: 21.7% (5,150 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.9% (15,240 total)
--- 2.1% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $7,516,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.06

#5. Switzerland County

- Child food insecurity rate: 21.8% (580 total)
--- 5.7% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.4% (1,870 total)
--- 5.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $872,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.90

#4. Orange County

- Child food insecurity rate: 22.0% (980 total)
--- 5.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 16.3% (3,190 total)
--- 4.5% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,393,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.71

#3. Fayette County

- Child food insecurity rate: 22.6% (1,150 total)
--- 6.5% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 17.0% (3,920 total)
--- 5.2% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $1,750,000
--- Cost per meal: $2.77

#2. Marion County

- Child food insecurity rate: 23.0% (54,440 total)
--- 6.9% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.4% (128,270 total)
--- 1.6% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $62,927,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.05

#1. Lake County

- Child food insecurity rate: 23.9% (27,260 total)
--- 7.8% higher than national average
- Food insecurity rate: 13.1% (63,560 total)
--- 1.3% higher than national average
- Annual food budget shortfall: $32,926,000
--- Cost per meal: $3.22

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