County food-access profile · South Carolina
Aiken County, SC
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Aiken County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).
- 29.1%
- low-access pop.
- 5
- food-desert tracts
- 10.8%
- on SNAP
- 174K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
29.1% of Aiken County residents live in a low-access area, and 5 of its 32 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 15
- low-access tracts
- 15K
- food-desert residents
- 5.9%
- households, no vehicle
- 14.3%
- below poverty line
Low access = living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket. Food deserts add a low-income condition (USDA LILA, 1-and-10-mile measure).
USDA data puts Aiken County's low-access share at 29.1%, above the national share. 15 of the county's 32 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 46,635 people. 5 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 14,774 low-income residents.
How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts
The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.
How Aiken County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Aiken County's 29.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 68% of them and ranked #999 most-affected nationwide.
Aiken County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 32 census tracts in Aiken County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Aiken County vs. other South Carolina counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in South Carolina
- Aiken
Aiken County, SC
29.1 % low-access
- Abbeville
Abbeville County, SC
20.4 % low-access
- Allendale 2.3
Allendale County, SC
2.3 % low-access
- Anderson
Anderson County, SC
36.1 % low-access
- Bamberg
Bamberg County, SC
27.1 % low-access
- Barnwell 0
Barnwell County, SC
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 32 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 160,099 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 15 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 5 |
| Low-Access Population | 46,635 |
| Low-Access Share | 29.1%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 14,774 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 174,160 |
| Median Household Income | $70,609 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.3%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 7,543 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 10.8%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.9%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.5% |
About 10.8% of Aiken County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 29.1% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 10.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 7,543 households here.
- 5.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 5 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).
USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).
What the food-access data shows for Aiken County
above the national share
5 of Aiken County's 32 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 15.6% of all its tracts.
A further 10 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 15.
An estimated 46,635 residents, roughly 29.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 14,774 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 17 tracts (53.1%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Aiken County
Aiken County has 178 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 90 locations (51% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 90
- 3 way food mart #21, aiken
- 7-eleven #42345a 42345a, aiken
- ampm food express, north augusta
- b & t express, beech island
- balls food mart, warrenville
- bapa's food mart., aiken
- blue bell mini mart, north augusta
- breezy hill curb market, graniteville
- circle k 2664, wagener
- circle k 2703295, aiken
- circle k 2723243, aiken
- circle k 2723245, north augusta
- circle k 2723246, aiken
- circle k 2723247, warrenville
- circle k 2723249, north augusta
- circle k 2723250, aiken
- circle k 2723251, bath
- circle k 2723252, aiken
- circle k 2723253, jackson
- circle k 2751, aiken
- circle k 3081, aiken
- circle k 3096, aiken
- circle k 3117, graniteville
- circle k 3129, aiken
- circle k 5350, north augusta
- circle k 5368, aiken
- circle k 5580, north augusta
- circle k 5588, north augusta
- circle k store 3172, north augusta
- circle k store 5348, n augusta
- circle k store 5351, aiken
- circle k store 5377, aiken
- ez trip 1, aiken
- gas express llc 268, north augusta
- gill and grill, ridge spring
- h&a sales company, graniteville
- high power 1, north augusta
- hot spot 3003, new ellenton
- in & out shop, aiken
- mexicali, aiken
- minit shop, gloverville
- mo convenience tobacco store, beech island
- monetta quick stop, monetta
- montmorenci junction, montmorenci
- murphy usa 6900, north augusta
- murphy usa 8665, aiken
- nouria 1318 edgefield highway 860, aiken
- nouria 2461 charleston highway 861, aiken
- nouria 441 walker road 895, salley
- nouria 502 york street 899, aiken
- palmpantry2, aiken
- parker's 109, aiken
- parker's 116, north augusta
- parker's 117, north augusta
- patel & shah 2023, aiken
- phoenix mini mart 1, aiken
- pilot travel center 4568, graniteville
- pops 305, new ellenton
- quick store 3, aiken
- quiktrip 1196, graniteville
- quiktrip 1197, north augusta
- racers food store, aiken
- racers gas, gloverville
- ridge crest quick shop, aiken
- robby's convenience store, warrenville
- salley mini mart, salley
- save and shop, north augusta
- shivshambu llc 1, wagener
- sprint 900723, aiken
- sprint 900724, clearwater
- sprint 900725, beech island
- sprint 900729, beech island
- sprint 900730, aiken
- sprint 900734, north augusta
- sprint 900736, north augusta
- sprint 900737, north augusta
- sprint 900738, aiken
- sprint 900739, north augusta
- sprint 900742, north augusta
- sprint 900743, graniteville
- sprint 900744, north augusta
- sprint 900745, north augusta
- sprint 900746, north augusta
- sprint 900746, aiken
- super food, north augusta
- todd's convenience store, inc 1, beech island
- todd's convenience stores, inc 2, new ellenton
- twin lakes mart, trenton
- windsor shell, windsor
- ye olde grocery, beech island
Combination Grocery/Other · 62
- bethel market international, north augusta
- cvs pharmacy 4295, aiken
- cvs pharmacy 4388, beech island
- cvs pharmacy 4523, aiken
- cvs pharmacy 5529, aiken
- cvs pharmacy 5575, north augusta
- dollar general 0306, beech island
- dollar general 0317, north augusta
- dollar general 1307, wagener
- dollar general 1761, aiken
- dollar general 18729, aiken
- dollar general 18837, perry
- dollar general 2855, aiken
- dollar general 3516, new ellenton
- dollar general 4091, north augusta
- dollar general 6244, graniteville
- dollar general 6273, aiken
- dollar general 9706, jackson
- dollar tree 0341, north augusta
- dollar tree 3174, aiken
- dollartree 10302, aiken
- dollartree 9808, aiken
- dollar general 11289, aiken
- dollar general 12324, aiken
- dollar general 15580, aiken
- dollar general 16133, monetta
- dollar general 16441, aiken
- dollar general 18323, warrenville
- dollar general 20549, aiken
- dollar general 22330, warrenville
- dollar general 22354, graniteville
- dollar general 23212, beech island
- dollar general 24425, aiken
- dollar general 24822, salley
- dollar general 25347, gloverville
- dollar general 30255, beech island
- dollar general 30316, batesburg
- dollar general 30789, aiken
- dollar general 30825, aiken
- dollar general 30940, wagener
- dollar general 8314, aiken
- dollar general 8852, warrenville
- dollar general store 17094, windsor
- dollar tree 5037, aiken
- dollar tree 6821, new ellenton
- dollar tree 7347, north augusta
- dollar tree 7493, beech island
- dollar tree 7658, aiken
- dollar tree 8350, graniteville
- family dollar 10390, north augusta
- family dollar 10560, warrenville
- family dollar 12713, jackson
- family dollar 7545, wagener
- family dollar store 10118, langley
- family dollar store 10119, aiken
- family dollar store 1528, aiken
- family dollar store 174, north augusta
- family dollar store 7639, beech island
- feasters foods, aiken
- walgreens 10581, north augusta
- walgreens 11432, beech island
- walgreens 11849, aiken
Supermarket · 12
- aldi 60050 60050, aiken
- aldi 76025 76025, north augusta
- food lion 2251, warrenville
- food lion 245, aiken
- food lion 2666, north augusta
- food lion 589, aiken
- lowes foods 285, aiken
- publix 0486, north augusta
- publix 506, aiken
- publix super markets, inc. 2040, aiken
- the fresh market 136, aiken
- tyler bros piggly wiggly 72, wagener
Super Store · 11
- kroger 675, aiken
- kj's market-aiken 607, aiken
- kj's market-new ellenton 611, new ellenton
- kj;s market-clearwater 604, clearwater
- kroger 640, north augusta
- sam's club 4879, aiken
- target store t-1310, aiken
- walmart 4487, aiken
- walmart 514, aiken
- walmart store 1270, north augusta
- walmart supercenter 6576, north augusta
Farmers' Market · 1
- aiken county farmers market, aiken
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- mccurley farms, aiken
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- la escondida, graniteville
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in South Carolina
Compare Aiken County vs Abbeville County → · All South Carolina counties →
Food access nationally, South Carolina in context
Aiken County sits inside South Carolina (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
Understand the Data
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of Aiken County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Aiken County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Aiken County? ▼
Is Aiken County a food desert? ▼
What share of Aiken County households lack a vehicle? ▼
Data Sources & Methodology
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →
Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).
Note: This page presents public USDA and Census data for informational purposes and is not professional advice. Figures reflect the cited dataset vintages and may differ from the most recent local conditions. How this data is sourced & verified.