Tri-County
69,520
individuals in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties face hunger each day.4
Food Insecurity Data
Food insecurity indicators across the Lowcountry
This page compiles published data from Feeding America, Trident United Way, and Lowcountry Food Bank relevant to Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.
Regional snapshot
Selected indicators for the tri-county area
The figures below summarize published measures describing hunger, food access, and household financial pressure across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.
Regional context
County estimates remain closely aligned across the region
Feeding America county estimates place Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties within a narrow food insecurity range, from 11.9% to 12.3%. The similarity across all three counties indicates that need is regional rather than isolated to a single county.123
Average meal cost also remains elevated across the three counties, ranging from $3.69 to $4.15. Taken together, these published measures describe a sustained operating environment in which groceries and household essentials remain difficult to secure for a meaningful share of residents.
Interpretation: the county estimates support a regional response focused on reliable food access and household stability.
County comparison
Published county measures
The tables below summarize Feeding America county estimates for food insecurity and average meal cost in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.
Food insecurity rate
Charleston County
Highest published rate among the three counties shown.
12.3%
Dorchester County
Closely aligned with Charleston County.
12.2%
Berkeley County
Slightly lower, but still within the same regional band.
11.9%
Sources: Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester county pages.
Average meal cost
Charleston County
Highest average meal cost among the three counties shown.
$4.15
Dorchester County
Published meal cost remains above $3.80.
$3.81
Berkeley County
Lowest of the three counties, but still substantial.
$3.69
Sources: Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester county pages.
Access and enrollment
Income pressure and program participation do not move in parallel
Trident United Way reports that 33.87% of tri-county residents live with low income, while 4.34% are using SNAP. Its Lowcountry review also identifies 24.43% of residents as low-income and low-access to food. Together, these figures suggest that household strain and food access barriers extend beyond program enrollment alone.5
33.87%
Tri-county residents living with low income
4.34%
Tri-county residents using SNAP
Source: Food Insecurity and the Tri-County Community, Trident United Way.
Regional infrastructure
Published service capacity across the coastal region
10 counties
served by Lowcountry Food Bank across coastal South Carolina.8
240+ agencies
connected through its regional partner network.8
Lowcountry Food Bank reported distributing more than 45 million pounds of food in 2024, indicating the scale of regional demand and distribution activity.7
County reference points
County-specific observations
These county summaries are based directly on Feeding America estimates and highlight the combination of food insecurity rate and meal cost within each county.
Charleston County
Highest meal cost among the three counties
Charleston County reports a 12.3% food insecurity rate and a $4.15 average meal cost, the highest meal cost among the three counties summarized on this page.1
12.3% food insecurity
$4.15 average meal cost
Berkeley County
Lower meal cost, comparable insecurity rate
Berkeley County reports an 11.9% food insecurity rate and a $3.69 average meal cost. While slightly lower than Charleston and Dorchester, the estimates remain within the same regional pattern.2
11.9% food insecurity
$3.69 average meal cost
Dorchester County
Closely aligned with regional averages
Dorchester County reports a 12.2% food insecurity rate and a $3.81 average meal cost, closely tracking the broader tri-county pattern shown in the published estimates.3
12.2% food insecurity
$3.81 average meal cost
References
- Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap: Charleston County, South Carolina (2023 overall county page)
- Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap: Berkeley County, South Carolina (2023 overall county page)
- Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap: Dorchester County, South Carolina (2023 overall county page)
- Trident United Way, "Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation Awards Grant to Trident United Way"
- Trident United Way, "Food Insecurity and the Tri-County Community"
- Trident United Way, United for ALICE
- Lowcountry Food Bank, 2024 Annual Impact Report: Foundation Provides Long-Term Financial Support
- Lowcountry Food Bank, About Us