The 10 States Where Seniors Struggle With Food Insecurity (2025)
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In 2025, food insecurity will be a major issue for millions of American seniors. While many Americans face challenges accessing a variety of affordable, nutritious foods, factors like limited income, health concerns, and mobility issues can make access even more difficult for older adults.
Nearly 3.1 million U.S. seniors, or 5.6% of the population aged 65 and older, reported experiencing food insecurity in the second half of 2024.
Key Insights
Over 3 million U.S. seniors, or 5.6%, reported sometimes or often not having enough to eat.
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North Carolina has the worst reported food insecurity, with 9.3% of seniors saying they often or sometimes struggle with getting enough to eat.
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Nebraska has the highest food security on our list, with only 1.8% of seniors struggling with food access.
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With average grocery prices of $243 per week, Oklahoma has the most expensive food among the bottom 10 states.
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Southern states dominate the list, with 7 of the top 10 reporting the highest percentages of seniors facing food insecurity.
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Why does this matter? These challenges affect not only the physical health of seniors — heightening risks of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease — but can also exacerbate feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression.
To understand where these challenges are most pronounced, our team at Retirement Living analyzed the latest Census data. We identified the 10 states where seniors struggle the most with food insecurity based on access to food variety and affordability. Read on to discover where your state ranked.
Food Insecurity in America
Food insecurity is a major concern for Americans across the country, especially seniors. Whether due to debilitating health conditions, transportation issues, or a low fixed income, millions struggle with food insecurity each year.
Without enough nutritious food, older adults are more likely to experience chronic health conditions or exacerbate existing ones (diabetes, asthma, etc.) A lack of adequate or nutritional food can also affect mental health, causing worsening symptoms of anxiety and depression over time. With that in mind, access to nutritious food not only improves senior quality of life but is also vital for mental and physical health.1
Over 3 Million Seniors Say They Struggled with Food Insecurity in 2024
Food security continues to be an ongoing issue for older adults — a group particularly vulnerable to rising costs. The U.S. Census surveyed 55,531,536 million Americans aged 65 and older, asking if they’ve faced food insecurity in the past 7 days, and the results were concerning.2
As of 2024, nearly 3.1 million seniors (5.6% of the population) said they struggle to access enough food regularly. Approximately 4.5% say they sometimes do not have enough to eat, while 1.1% say they often don’t. Even for those with enough food, 25% said it’s not always the kind they want.2
Rising rent and grocery prices are also a significant concern for seniors, who are regularly on fixed incomes. Even in states where food access isn’t an issue, the cost of living can be a major setback in getting enough food.1,2
States Where Seniors Report Struggling with Food Access
While 5.6% of seniors struggle with food security nationally, certain states pose more challenges than others. The lack of food access and high grocery costs earned the following states their unfortunate spot on our list.
North Carolina stands out for having the highest share of seniors reporting food insecurity, while Alabama has the highest grocery prices among the bottom ten.
Read on to learn which cities made the list and why.
1. North Carolina
North Carolina ranks as the worst state for reported senior food security, with 9.3% of older adults (162,942 people) saying they struggle to find something to eat at least sometimes. More specifically, nearly 7.5% sometimes struggle, while 1.8% often struggle. While weekly grocery prices here are the second lowest among the worst states, an influx of movers over the past few years has increased costs for existing residents.3
2. Louisiana
Louisiana has the second-highest share of seniors reporting that they sometimes or often don’t have enough to eat (9.1%). It also has the highest rate of older adults struggling with food variety, with 39.6% saying they don’t have access to the kinds of foods they want. Many of the state’s food access issues relate to poverty, as it has the highest senior poverty rate (14.2%) on our list and the second highest in the nation.4,5
3. Tennessee
Tennessee ranks as the third worst state for senior food security, with 9% of older adults saying they sometimes or often don’t have enough to eat. Approximately 28.4% also say they don’t have access to the kinds of foods they want. While the senior poverty rate here is lower than in Louisiana, at 12.5%, it’s the second highest on our list.4,5
4. Connecticut
Despite having the lowest senior poverty rate on our list, the second-highest median gross rent among the bottom ten ($1,463) and the 12th-highest cost of living index in the U.S. can make it difficult for seniors on fixed incomes to afford high-quality foods in Connecticut. In total, 7.8% of seniors struggle with food insecurity in this state.4,6
5. Georgia
An estimated 7.7% of Georgia seniors sometimes or often don’t have enough food to eat. Food variety is a noteworthy issue, as 27.6% of older adults lack access to the foods they want. Georgia also has the third highest senior poverty rate (12.1%) and median gross rent prices ($1,400) among our bottom 10 states, meaning that many seniors may also struggle with food affordability.4
6. Ohio
Lack of food variety is the primary issue, placing Ohio fifth on our list. Approximately 26.8% of older adults also struggle to find the kinds of foods they want to eat. Despite a lower-than-average senior poverty rate (10.7%) and low median gross rent prices ($1,014), Ohio has the third largest number of seniors who say they sometimes or often don’t have enough to eat — 158,314 people or 7.4% of the population.4
7. Oregon
Though food variety is less of an issue in Oregon, an estimated 7.4% of the senior population struggles to get enough to eat sometimes or often. The combination of having the highest median gross rent ($1,481) and the seventh-highest cost of living index among the bottom 10 means that seniors on fixed incomes in the state may struggle to afford food.4,6
8. Alabama
Despite low-cost rents and the fifth lowest weekly grocery prices among the bottom 10, many Alabama seniors struggle with access to food variety. Roughly 28.9% of older adults say they don’t have access to the kinds of foods they want — the second highest percentage among the bottom 10. In total, 7% of seniors in the state say they sometimes or often don’t have enough food to eat.4
9. Oklahoma
With the highest average weekly grocery costs ($243.33) among the bottom 10 and a senior poverty rate above the national average (11.7%), many Oklahoma seniors struggle to afford high-quality foods. Approximately 7% of all seniors in the state say they sometimes or often don’t have enough food to eat.4
10. Texas
With 270,829 seniors saying they sometimes or often don’t have enough food to eat (6.8% of the population), Texas has the second-highest number of food-insecure seniors on our list. Being a popular move-in destination, rising median rent prices (currently $1,413) and a high senior poverty rate of 12.3% can also cause affordability issues.4
Where Seniors Are Struggling To Eat
The table below highlights the states where seniors reported not having enough to eat. While food insecurity varies by location, the data reveals concerning trends impacting older adults.
Food Assistance for Older Adults
If you’re a senior facing food insecurity, there are several resources you can utilize to improve your quality of life. If you’re struggling financially, we recommend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal programs to help you gain access to the foods you need. You can also check your state’s official website for more local initiatives.7
If you struggle with food variety, consider exploring delivery options and other senior food programs on the Feeding America website.8
Methodology
The Retirement Living Research Team analyzed the most recent U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey data from August 20 to September 16, 2024. This analysis focused on responses from individuals aged 65 and older.
Fair Use Statement
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Sources
- “Senior Hunger Facts.” Feeding America. Evaluated Dec. 30, 2023.
Link - “Phase 4.2 Cycle 09 Household Pulse Survey: August 20 – September 16.” United States Census Bureau. Evaluated Dec. 30, 2023.
Link - “State-to-State Migration Flows.” United States Census Bureau. Evaluated Dec. 31, 2024.
Link - “United States.” United States Census Bureau. Evaluated Dec. 31, 2023.
Link - “Child Poverty Rates Dropped in 8 States While Poverty Rates for Older Population Rose in 10 States.” United States Census Bureau. Evaluated Dec. 31, 2023.
Link - “Cost of Living Index by State 2024.” World Population Review. Evaluated Dec. 31, 2024.
Link - “Assistance for Older Adults.” U.S. Department of Agriculture. Evaluated Dec. 31, 2024.
Link - “Senior Food Programs.” Feeding America. Evaluated Dec. 30, 2023.
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