PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Virginia

Alexandria city, VA

Most of Alexandria city sits within reach of a supermarket, better than most U.S. counties. This profile covers who, if anyone, qualifies as a food desert here, plus the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

0.0%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
5.1%
on SNAP
157K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 VA

The food-access picture

0.0% of Alexandria city residents live in a low-access area, though none of its tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold.

0
low-access tracts
0
food-desert residents
11.4%
households, no vehicle
7.9%
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).

By the USDA's measure, Alexandria city fares better than most: just 0.0% of residents live in a low-access tract, below the national share. Still, 0 of the county's 38 tracts meet that threshold, covering about 0 people who live far from a supermarket, and none of them meet the low-income condition that would additionally classify them as food deserts.

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 Alexandria city compares nationally

Food access in Alexandria city compares favorably nationally: its 0.0% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 0% of them (rank #3,133).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Alexandria city: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 38 census tracts in Alexandria city, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Alexandria city, VA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 38 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 38 tracts evaluated. 38 tracts adequate (100.0%) Adequate 100% Limited 0% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Alexandria city, VA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Alexandria city vs. other Virginia counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Virginia

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Alexandria city
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts38
Atlas Population (2010 basis)139,966
Low-Access Tracts0
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population0
Low-Access Share0.0%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population0

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Alexandria city
IndicatorValue
Population156,976
Median Household Income$119,681
Poverty Rate7.9%well below the national average
SNAP Households3,899
SNAP Participation Rate5.1%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle11.4%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.0%
SNAP participation in Alexandria city 5.1%

About 5.1% of Alexandria city households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 0.0% of residents are low-access, below the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 5.1% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 3,899 households here.
  • 11.4% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • Median household income is $119,681 with a 7.9% poverty rate.

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 Alexandria city

below the national share

The remaining 38 tracts (100.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

None of Alexandria city's tracts meet the USDA low-access threshold, so the county is not flagged for a food-access gap in the 2019 Atlas.

SNAP retailers in Alexandria city

Alexandria city has 77 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 21 locations (27% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 21

  • 24 express food store, alexandria
  • 7-eleven #10732c 10732c, alexandria
  • 7-eleven 10760b, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 10719a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 10725a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 10733b, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 10764a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 10765a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 10769a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 10784a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven inc f 34269a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven store 37029a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven store 40318h, alexandria
  • 7-eleven #10780a 10780a, alexandria
  • 7-eleven 10695b, alexandria
  • 7-eleven 10779c, alexandria
  • colonial market, alexandria
  • friendly mart, alexandria
  • jagreet inc dba 7-eleven 10778b, alexandria
  • old town mini mart llc, alexandria
  • tiger market & bakery, alexandria

Combination Grocery/Other · 15

  • cvs pharmacy 1373, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 1382, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 1385, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 1408, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 1410, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 2149, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 2343, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 10876, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 10900, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy 1384, alexandria
  • cvs pharmacy cvs10768, alexandria
  • dollartree 9353, alexandria
  • kare baltena international market, alexandria
  • walgreens 12359, alexandria
  • walgreens 18330, alexandria

Super Store · 13

  • amazon fresh mal0, alexandria
  • b js wholesale club 46, alexandria
  • food star, alexandria
  • giant food 261, alexandria
  • giant food 2742, alexandria
  • global food alexandria inc, alexandria
  • harris teeter 413, alexandria
  • harris teeter 133, alexandria
  • harris teeter 398, alexandria
  • mom's organic market 3, alexandria
  • target store 1076, alexandria
  • test store, alexandria
  • whole foods market 10185, alexandria

Supermarket · 12

  • aldi 71063, alexandria
  • aldi 71065 71065, alexandria
  • aldi 71067 71067, alexandria
  • afghan market, alexandria
  • balduccis 3601, alexandria
  • fair price, alexandria
  • la mart, alexandria
  • safeway 1428, alexandria
  • safeway 866, alexandria
  • safeway 3250, alexandria
  • the fresh market 174, alexandria
  • trader joe's 647, alexandria

Medium Grocery Store · 6

  • el paisa grocery, alexandria
  • global foods warehouse, alexandria
  • hanna market, alexandria
  • jano mart, alexandria
  • tsedey market, alexandria
  • world food int 1, alexandria

Farmers' Market · 4

  • alexandria old town farmers' market, alexandria
  • four mile run farmers market, alexandria
  • old town north farmers market, alexandria
  • southern towers farmers' market, alexandria

Small Grocery Store · 3

  • kabul bazaar, alexandria
  • la feria latina, alexandria
  • mercadito ramos va 3, alexandria

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • mediterranean bakery & cafe, alexandria
  • nazret market 2, alexandria

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • dc poultry market corporation, alexandria

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Virginia

Accomack County
2.2% low-access · 12.5% SNAP
Albemarle County
11.9% low-access · 4.6% SNAP
Alleghany County
16.4% low-access · 8.1% SNAP
Amelia County
16.5% low-access · 13.4% SNAP
Amherst County
11.3% low-access · 10.5% SNAP
Appomattox County
7.4% low-access · 15.3% SNAP

Compare Alexandria city vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →

Food access nationally, Virginia in context

Alexandria city sits inside Virginia (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Alexandria city has low food access? ▼
0.0% of residents in Alexandria city, VA live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Alexandria city? ▼
5.1% of households in Alexandria city receive SNAP, covering 3,899 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Alexandria city? ▼
The poverty rate in Alexandria city, VA is 7.9%, with a median household income of $119,681 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Alexandria city a food desert? ▼
0 of Alexandria city's 38 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). No tracts here meet both conditions in the 2019 Atlas.
What share of Alexandria city households lack a vehicle? ▼
11.4% of households in Alexandria city have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.