Signature · 111 SNAP-authorized stores

Anchorage Municipality, AK

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Anchorage Municipality 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).

28.4%
low-access pop.
5
food-desert tracts
8.7%
on SNAP
289K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 AK

USDA FARA access plate

County Anchorage Municipality, AK

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN

  • LA-ELEVATED 28.4% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +6.3 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 5 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 8.7% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.9% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 9% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Matanuska-Susitna Borough (+ 0.5 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Anchorage Municipality ranks #1,051 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #16 of 27 counties in AK (28.4% low-access; 5 food-desert tracts).

#1,051
national by low-access %
#16
in AK
24
low-access tracts
13K
food-desert residents

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).

Signature read: 111 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Anchorage Municipality compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Anchorage Municipality's 28.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 66% of them and ranked #1,059 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Anchorage Municipality: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

55 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 5 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Anchorage Municipality, AK USDA-defined food-access tiers: 31 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 19 limited, 5 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 55 tracts evaluated. 31 tracts adequate (56.4%) 19 tracts limited (34.5%) 5 tracts severe / food desert (9.1%) Adequate 56% Limited 35% Severe 9% Food-access tier distribution: Anchorage Municipality, AK
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Anchorage Municipality has 52 urban and 3 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Anchorage Municipality low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Alaska, not a full county-board reprint

% 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 Anchorage Municipality
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts55
Atlas Population (2010 basis)291,826
Low-Access Tracts24
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)5
Low-Access Population82,855
Low-Access Share28.4%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population13,337

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Anchorage Municipality
IndicatorValue
Population288,976
Median Household Income$103,284
Poverty Rate8.9%below the national average
SNAP Households9,473
SNAP Participation Rate8.7%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.9%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.6%

Thick SNAP store book in Anchorage Municipality

Anchorage Municipality has 111 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 50 locations (45% of the total), followed by super store.

Convenience Store · 50

  • artic & tudor shell, anchorage
  • big mike's llc, anchorage
  • blue market ak, anchorage
  • boniface chevron, anchorage
  • cache store 2, llc. 98557, anchorage
  • cache store llc, anchorage
  • creekside chevron, anchorage
  • downtown shell & 15th grill, anchorage
  • downtown chevron, anchorage
  • eagle river chevron, eagle river
  • fireweed chevron, anchorage
  • holiday 2746601, anchorage
  • holiday 2746602, anchorage
  • holiday 2746606, anchorage
  • holiday 2746607, anchorage
  • holiday 2746610, anchorage
  • holiday 2746611, anchorage
  • holiday 2746620, anchorage
  • holiday 2746624, anchorage
  • holiday 2746625, anchorage
  • holiday 2746628, anchorage
  • holiday 2746629, anchorage
  • holiday 2746630, anchorage
  • holiday 2746631, anchorage
  • holiday 2746632, anchorage
  • holiday 2746637, anchorage
  • holiday 2746638, anchorage
  • holiday 2746639, anchorage
  • lucky grocery & deli, anchorage
  • mailbox groceries alaska, llc, anchorage
  • mama bear market & deli, anchorage
  • sevenstar foodmart, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60002, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60003, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60007, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60014, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60015, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60054, girwood
  • tesoro 2 go 60061, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60062, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60071, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60072, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60073, eagle river
  • tesoro 2 go 60079, anchorage
  • tesoro 2 go 60080, anchorage
  • the liquor store and hollywood mini mart, anchorage
  • three bears alaska 105, eagle river
  • three mile creek general store, beluga
  • vitus ata, anchorage
  • vitus energy birchwood brw, chugiak

Super Store · 18

  • costco business center 1661, anchorage
  • costco wholesale 0010, anchorage
  • costco wholesale 0063, anchorage
  • fred meyer 11, anchorage
  • fred meyer 18, anchorage
  • fred meyer 656, anchorage
  • fred meyer 668, eagle river
  • fred meyer 71, anchorage
  • mt view red apple market, anchorage
  • natural pantry fresh harvest, anchorage
  • new sagaya, anchorage
  • target store t-2371, anchorage
  • target store t-2372, anchorage
  • three bears chugiak 100, chugiak
  • walmart 2070, anchorage
  • walmart 2071, anchorage
  • walmart 2188, eagle river
  • walmart supercenter 4359, anchorage

Supermarket · 12

  • carrs 1802, anchorage
  • carrs 1805, anchorage
  • carrs 1807, eagle river
  • carrs 1809, anchorage
  • carrs 1812, anchorage
  • carrs 1817, anchorage
  • carrs 2628, anchorage
  • crow creek 1839, girdwood
  • carrs 0720, anchorage
  • carrs 1813, anchorage
  • lucky market, anchorage
  • new sagaya's city market, anchorage

Combination Grocery/Other · 9

  • mekong market, anchorage
  • span alaska enterprises 600, anchorage
  • walgreens 12680, anchorage
  • walgreens 13449, anchorage
  • walgreens 13656, anchorage
  • walgreens 15092, anchorage
  • walgreens 15362, eagle river
  • walgreens 15653, anchorage
  • walgreens 15654, anchorage

Bakery Specialty · 6

  • franz family bakery outlet 9056, anchorage
  • papa murphy's ak005, anchorage
  • papa murphy's ak011 ak011, anchorage
  • papa murphy's take n' bake ak007, eagle river
  • papa murphys ak-008, anchorage
  • papa murphys ak002, anchorage

Medium Grocery Store · 5

  • alaska international grocery, anchorage
  • mekong market llc, anchorage
  • mexico lindo mini market 1, anchorage
  • phattra asian market, anchorage
  • stop n shop llc, anchorage

Small Grocery Store · 5

  • almadinah halal market, anchorage
  • dominican groceries, anchorage
  • greatland grocery, anchorage
  • la villa market, anchorage
  • party time food mart, anchorage

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • new central market, anchorage
  • oriental shopping center, anchorage

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • mike's quality meats, eagle river
  • mr prime beef, anchorage

Farmers' Market · 1

  • grow north farm, anchorage

Military Commissary · 1

  • anchorage area commissary 1119, elmendorf afb

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in Alaska

One of 29 counties in Alaska, 6 are shown here.

Compare Anchorage Municipality vs Aleutians East Borough → · All Alaska counties →

Nationwide peers for Anchorage Municipality's low-access or SNAP share

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Anchorage Municipality, both outside Alaska so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside AK (28.4% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside AK (8.7% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Food access nationally, Alaska in context

Anchorage Municipality sits inside Alaska (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

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

Read with this county

Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .

PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Anchorage Municipality, AK are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 02020. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.

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.