Key Indicators – Highlands County
Source: flhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Updated 09/01/25 1425
Maps – Food Security
Maps – Food Insecurity (All Ages)
The food insecurity rate is the percent of the population with poor access to grocery stores and other healthy food outlets.
Highlands County’s food insecurity rate is 15.6%, higher than 60% of the counties in the state, but lower than many of the surrounding counties.
Map – Childhood Food Insecurity (0-18 years)
The childhood food insecurity rate is the percentage of children that live in a household without adequate access to grocery stores, produce stands, or other healthy food sources.
At 22.7%, Highlands County’s food insecurity rate is significantly higher than Florida’s statewide rate of 19.1% and exceeds that of 69% of other counties statewide. Despite this, it remains lower than many neighboring counties.
Source: Child Food Insecurity Rate, FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Population Living within 0.5 Mile of Healthy Food Source
10.3% of Highlands County’s population lives within 0.5 miles of a healthy food source. This rate is identical to the statewide median rate of 10.3%.
Source: Population Living Within One-Half Mile of a Healthy Food Source, FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Limited Access to Healthy Food
In Highlands County, 17.7% of residents face limited access to healthy food. This rate is considerably higher than the statewide median of 9.4% and represents one of the highest percentages in Florida.
Source: Health Data, Highlands, FL, countyhealthrankings.org, 2025
Map – Cash Assistance / SNAP Benefits
Highlands County’s government assistance rate for food stamps, SNAP benefits, and cash assistance, is 15.7%. This figure is higher than 60% of Florida counties and surpasses the statewide median rate of 14.0%.
Source: Households Receiving Cash Public Assistance or Food Stamps (Census ACS), FL healthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Free & Reduced Lunch
Highlands County has one of Florida’s highest rates of students eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch, at 69.3%. This figure is well above the statewide median rate of 54.1%.
Source: Health Data, Highlands, FL, countyhealthrankings.org, 2025