County food-access profile · Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, PA
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Allegheny 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).
- 26.4%
- low-access pop.
- 38
- food-desert tracts
- 13.0%
- on SNAP
- 1.2M
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
26.4% of Allegheny County residents live in a low-access area, and 38 of its 400 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 146
- low-access tracts
- 68K
- food-desert residents
- 11.9%
- households, no vehicle
- 11.5%
- 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 Allegheny County's low-access share at 26.4%, above the national share. 146 of the county's 400 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 323,489 people. 38 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 67,533 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 Allegheny County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Allegheny County's 26.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 62% of them and ranked #1,194 most-affected nationwide.
Allegheny County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 400 census tracts in Allegheny County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Allegheny County vs. other Pennsylvania counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Pennsylvania
- Allegheny
Allegheny County, PA
26.4 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, PA
15.9 % low-access
- Armstrong 5.2
Armstrong County, PA
5.2 % low-access
- Beaver
Beaver County, PA
32.5 % low-access
- Bedford
Bedford County, PA
22.7 % low-access
- Berks
Berks County, PA
17.5 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 400 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 1,223,348 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 146 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 38 |
| Low-Access Population | 323,489 |
| Low-Access Share | 26.4%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 67,533 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,238,177 |
| Median Household Income | $78,548 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.5%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 70,877 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 13.0%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 11.9%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.0% |
About 13.0% of Allegheny County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 26.4% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 13.0% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 70,877 households here.
- 11.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 38 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 Allegheny County
above the national share
38 of Allegheny County's 400 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 9.5% of all its tracts.
A further 108 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 146.
An estimated 323,489 residents, roughly 26.4% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 67,533 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 254 tracts (63.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Allegheny County
Allegheny County has 886 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 188 locations (21% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 188
- atlantic food supermarket inc. 2, homestead
- atobabs african international food two, east pittsburgh
- bukeye stows,inc, mckees rocks
- cvs 10034, pittsburgh
- cvs 10767, pittsburgh
- cvs 5890, monroeville
- cvs pharmacy 4091, swissvale
- cvs pharmacy 4152, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 7611, allison park
- cvs pharmacy inc 3999, carnegie
- cvs pharmacy inc 4002, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy inc 4369, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 2333, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 2348, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 2447, bethel park
- cvs pharmacy 2449, wexford
- cvs pharmacy 258, mc kees rocks
- cvs pharmacy 3189, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 4008, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 4045, monroeville
- cvs pharmacy 4051, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 4070, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 4103, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 4144, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 5094, pittsburgh
- cvs pharmacy 5103, natrona heights
- cvs pharmacy 7612, turtle creek
- dollar general 0542, elizabeth
- dollar general 1126, pittsburgh
- dollar general 18694, clairton
- dollar general 19007, pittsburgh
- dollar general 19281, swissvale
- dollar general 19485, gibsonia
- dollar general 20044, allison park
- dollar general 3388, imperial
- dollar general 3606, west mifflin
- dollar general 4225, white oak
- dollar general 4355, duquesne
- dollar general 4384, n versailles
- dollar general 4607, bellevue
- dollar general 4990, coraopolis
- dollar general 7045, pittsburgh
- dollar general 7091, mckeesport
- dollar general 7214, mckeesport
- dollar general 7672, springdale
- dollar general 7673, sharpsburg
- dollar general 7878, pittsburgh
- dollar general 7927, turtle creek
- dollar general 8554, pittsburgh
- dollar general 9002, glassport
- dollar general 9694, homestead
- dollar tree 0228, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 1275, n versailles
- dollar tree 142, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 258, pittsburgh
- dollartree 10360, mckeesport
- dollartree 1272, coraopolis
- dollartree 2103, pittsburgh
- dollartree 6092, homestead
- dollartree 8087, verona
- dollartree 9021, pittsburgh
- dollartree 9506, bethel park
- decarlo market llc, elizabeth
- dollar general 0817, bethel park
- dollar general 10277, pittsburgh
- dollar general 10426, e pittsburgh
- dollar general 10875, monroeville
- dollar general 11536, clairton
- dollar general 12185, pittsburgh
- dollar general 13486, natrona heights
- dollar general 14967, mckeesport
- dollar general 14985, pittsburgh
- dollar general 15169, pittsburgh
- dollar general 15559, pittsburgh
- dollar general 15784, south park
- dollar general 16488, plum
- dollar general 17869, swissvale
- dollar general 17870, elizabeth
- dollar general 19008, pittsburgh
- dollar general 19273, mckeesport
- dollar general 19684, millvale
- dollar general 20881, pittsburgh
- dollar general 21279, plum
- dollar general 21679, pittsburgh
- dollar general 22867, verona
- dollar general 22915, pittsburgh
- dollar general 22935, monroeville
- dollar general 23440, russellton
- dollar general 24234, mckees rocks
- dollar general 24733, natrona heights
- dollar general 25064, pittsburgh
- dollar general 25849, mckeesport
- dollar general 2643, mckees rocks
- dollar general 30649, pittsburgh
- dollar general 31200, pittsburgh
- dollar general 31355, pittsburgh
- dollar general 31767, glassport
- dollar general 8103, pittsburgh
- dollar general 8549, west view
- dollar general 8740, monroeville
- dollar general store 17160, jefferson hills
- dollar general store 18057, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 0203, bridgeville
- dollar tree 1012, brentwood
- dollar tree 1831, gibsonia
- dollar tree 218, west mifflin
- dollar tree 236, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 3810, natrona heights
- dollar tree 4019, verona
- dollar tree 4084, glenshaw
- dollar tree 4222, tarentum
- dollar tree 4287, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 4501, mckeesport
- dollar tree 4522, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 4790, allison park
- dollar tree 4994, west mifflin
- dollar tree 5033, leetsdale
- dollar tree 5038, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 5207, carnegie
- dollar tree 5553, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 5587, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 5828, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 6074, pittsburgh
- dollar tree 6173, white oak
- dollar tree 618, bethel park
- dollar tree 6275, glassport
- dollar tree 6413, monroeville
- dollar tree 7202, allison park
- dollar tree 8562, pittsburgh
- double fresh llc 426, pittsburgh
- east african grocery store, mckees rocks
- elizabeth giant eagle 1614, elizabeth
- family dollar 11553, pittsburgh
- family dollar 11619, mckeesport
- family dollar 11650, glassport
- family dollar 11688, pittsburgh
- family dollar 11692, pittsburgh
- family dollar 12168, pittsburgh
- family dollar 12193, tarentum
- family dollar 12538, pittsburgh
- family dollar 12885, pittsburgh
- family dollar 8379, mckees rocks
- family dollar store 1631, mckeesport
- family dollar store 1769, north versailles
- family dollar store 2116, pittsburgh
- family dollar store 2396, sharpsburg
- family dollar store 2467, west mifflin
- family dollar store 3182, millvale
- family dollar store 3340, russellton
- family dollar store 3675, wilkinsburg
- family dollar store 4708, carnegie
- family dollar store 4774, clairton
- family dollar store 5224, pittsburgh
- family dollar store 5250, pittsburgh
- family dollar store 5275, pittsburgh
- family dollar store 5518, bellevue
- family dollar store 5940, homestead
- family dollar store 6554, mckeesport
- family dollar store 6598, pittsburgh
- family dollar store 7199, pittsburgh
- family dollar store 7618, pittsburgh
- family dollar store 775, mc kees rocks
- family dollar store 824, pittsburgh
- farmer girl eb, pittsburgh
- giant eagle 2425, sewickley
- giant eagle 2426, pittsburgh
- global food pittsburgh, wilkinsburg
- john & gerry's fruit mkt, springdale
- kang's sambok grocery, pittsburgh
- kiev international market, pittsburgh
- mp mart, pittsburgh
- new youngs oriental market, pittsburgh
- rahma grocery and halal meat, carnegie
- six guys grocers, inc, wexford
- spice n sabzi, pittsburgh
- stanton negley drug company, pittsburgh
- walgreens 09281, pittsburgh
- walgreens 09803, oakmont
- wing fat hong, pittsburgh
- walgreens 09043, glenshaw
- walgreens 09187, pittsburgh
- walgreens 09188, pittsburgh
- walgreens 09736, pittsburgh
- walgreens 09950, carnegie
- walgreens 1034, crafton
- walgreens 10345, pittsburgh
- walgreens 10917, coraopolis
- walgreens 9675, pittsburgh
Convenience Store · 61
- 4704325.0 4235, imperial
- 4th e wood market, pittsburgh
- 5th avenue convenience, mckeesport
- 7 eleven - 40172 40172, pittsburgh
- 7- eleven - f 119, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven 188, west mifflin
- 7-eleven 36140, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven 36143b, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven 36144j, warrendale
- 7-eleven 40101, pittsburg
- 7-eleven 40226h, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven 40288, verona
- 7-eleven store #40217a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 2701 36124b, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 36121b, turtle creek
- 7-eleven store 36138, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 36139, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 36187, allison park
- 7-eleven store 36188, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 36195, mckees rocks
- 7-eleven store 36205, verona
- 7-eleven inc f 36193a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store #36128b, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store #36131b 36131b, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store #40106a 40106a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store #40121a 40121a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store #40135a 40135a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store #40169a 40169a, bridgeville
- 7-eleven store #40243a 40243a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 2701 36183a, sewickley
- 7-eleven store 2701 36185a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 2701 36186a, allison park
- 7-eleven store 2701 36191a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 2701 36192a, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 2701-36154b 36154b, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 35968b, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 36144b, warrendale
- 7-eleven store 36145d, pittsburgh
- 7-eleven store 36159a, gibsonia
- 7-eleven store 36189a, bethel park
- 819 liberty llc, pittsburgh
- a & e deli, pittsburgh
- a & m market, pittsburgh
- ann's market, pittsburgh
- aplus 40164h, pittsburgh
- aplus 40225, millvale
- aplus 40233h, mars
- abes market, pittsburgh
- adan market 2 inc, pittsburgh
- ak&ak united inc dba ak schwartz market, pittsburgh
- alstan mini mart no, monroeville
- aplus 40224, pittsburgh
- arlington mart llc, pittsburgh
- b & m market llc 0, pittsburgh
- bfs foods 64, monroeville
- bp to go, pittsburgh
- bailie food mart, mckeesport
- balaji holdings inc, pittsburgh
- baldwin sunoco, pittsburgh
- beer buddy llc, pittsburgh
- bethel park cash n save, bethel park
Bakery Specialty · 1
- schwebel baking co of pa 7, mckeesport
Showing 250 of 886 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Pennsylvania
Compare Allegheny County vs Adams County → · All Pennsylvania counties →
Food access nationally, Pennsylvania in context
Allegheny County sits inside Pennsylvania (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 Allegheny County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Allegheny County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Allegheny County? ▼
Is Allegheny County a food desert? ▼
What share of Allegheny 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.