County food-access profile · Maryland

Anne Arundel County, MD

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Anne Arundel 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).

33.7%
low-access pop.
10
food-desert tracts
6.5%
on SNAP
598K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MD

The food-access picture

33.7% of Anne Arundel County residents live in a low-access area, and 10 of its 104 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

65
low-access tracts
22K
food-desert residents
4.1%
households, no vehicle
5.6%
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 Anne Arundel County's low-access share at 33.7%, above the national share. 65 of the county's 104 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 181,108 people. 10 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 22,244 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 Anne Arundel County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Anne Arundel County's 33.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 78% of them and ranked #696 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Anne Arundel County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 104 census tracts in Anne Arundel County, 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 Anne Arundel County, MD USDA-defined food-access tiers: 39 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 55 limited, 10 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 104 tracts evaluated. 39 tracts adequate (37.5%) 55 tracts limited (52.9%) 10 tracts severe / food desert (9.6%) Adequate 38% Limited 53% Severe 10% Food-access tier distribution: Anne Arundel County, MD
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Anne Arundel County vs. other Maryland counties

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

% 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 Anne Arundel County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts104
Atlas Population (2010 basis)537,656
Low-Access Tracts65
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)10
Low-Access Population181,108
Low-Access Share33.7%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population22,244

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Anne Arundel County
IndicatorValue
Population598,166
Median Household Income$124,911
Poverty Rate5.6%well below the national average
SNAP Households14,710
SNAP Participation Rate6.5%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.1%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.2%
SNAP participation in Anne Arundel County 6.5%

About 6.5% of Anne Arundel County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 33.7% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 6.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 14,710 households here.
  • 4.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 10 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 Anne Arundel County

above the national share

10 of Anne Arundel County's 104 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 9.6% of all its tracts.

A further 55 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 65.

An estimated 181,108 residents, roughly 33.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 22,244 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 39 tracts (37.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County has 309 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 139 locations (45% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 139

  • 24/7 camp convenience tobacco 1, linthicum heights
  • 4th street deli & grocery, brooklyn
  • 7-eleven 11533b, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven 11540b, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven 11548k, odenton
  • 7-eleven 20871b, pasadena
  • 7-eleven 23700c, severna park
  • 7-eleven 26817j, severn
  • 7-eleven 28953j, deale
  • 7-eleven 32332a, hanover
  • 7-eleven 32909t, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven 36784a, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven 41610a, edgewater
  • 7-eleven 41975h, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven inc f 11534, crofton
  • 7-eleven inc f 18110a, millersville
  • 7-eleven inc f 20640, severna park
  • 7-eleven inc f 21148a, crofton
  • 7-eleven inc f 23428e, brooklyn
  • 7-eleven inc f 23705, annapolis
  • 7-eleven inc f 23753, brooklyn
  • 7-eleven inc f 25410b, severn
  • 7-eleven inc f 34279a, linthicum heights
  • 7-eleven inc f 34355a, annapolis
  • 7-eleven inc f 34992, odenton
  • 7-eleven inc f 39345a, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven, severna park
  • 7-eleven 11542c, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven 11546b, annapolis
  • 7-eleven 17214c, annapolis
  • 7-eleven 23439e, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven 23699b, severna park
  • 7-eleven 25856b, annapolis
  • 7-eleven 26152c, pasadena
  • 7-eleven 32228a, gambrills
  • 7-eleven 32311c, pasadena
  • 7-eleven 32390c, laurel
  • 7-eleven 34748b, glen burnie
  • 7-eleven 38378b, gambrills
  • 7-eleven 38930a, pasadena
  • 7-eleven 39168a, gambrills
  • 7-eleven 39388a, harwood
  • 7-eleven store 33378c, annapolis
  • 7-eleven store 39130a, edgewater
  • 7-eleven store 39502a, annapolis
  • bwa convenience store, lothian
  • bwi exxon, linthicum heights
  • brooklyn park carrol fuel, brooklyn
  • buy-n-go convenience & food store, glen burnie
  • c mart & tobacco shop, curtis bay
  • catherine ave exxon, pasadena
  • chesapeake market citgo, annapolis
  • crain highway sunoco, glen burnie
  • crownsville exxon, crownsville
  • devens deli, glen burnie
  • daddy pa's mart, brooklyn
  • dash in 1079, severn
  • dash in 1084, edgewater
  • dash in 134, lothian
  • dash in 1423, glen burnie
  • dash in 1505, annapolis
  • dash in 1526, linthicum heights
  • dash in 1530, pasadena
  • dash in 1531, pasadena
  • dash in 1532, pasadena
  • dash in 1533, pasadena
  • dorsey shell dash in 551, hanover
  • exxon at the mill, hanover
  • exxon on the mill, hanover
  • ez quick food market, pasadena
  • forest dr. sunoco, annapolis
  • furndale carroll fuels, glen burnie
  • green tree exxon, glen burnie
  • highs of baltimore, llc 17, west river
  • highs of baltimore, llc 24, deale
  • highs of baltimore, llc 36, annapolis
  • highs of baltimore, llc 48, odenton
  • highs of baltimore, llc 71, edgewater
  • highs of baltimore, llc. 54, millersville
  • highs of baltimore, llc. 62, jessup
  • highs of baltimore, llc. 92, gambrills
  • hospital sunoco, glen burnie
  • lee's market, laurel
  • linthicum market, linthicum heights
  • lothian mart, lothian
  • luckies market marley, glen burnie
  • luckies severn, severn
  • lucky superette, odenton
  • m&r convenience 1, edgewater
  • marathon ritchie hwy, brooklyn
  • nursery gas and convenience store, linthicum heights
  • one stop shop 7444, glen burnie
  • one stop shop 7448, glen burnie
  • pantry one food mart, annapolis
  • pops grocery and deli, glen burnie
  • quick mart of annapolis, annapolis
  • quick save mart, annapolis
  • ray convenience store, brooklyn
  • rennos market, shady side
  • rivera latino market, lothian
  • royal farm 190, churchton
  • royal farms 133, glen burnie
  • royal farms 148, gambrills
  • royal farms 149, odenton
  • royal farms 16, glen burnie
  • royal farms 183, pasadena
  • royal farms 193, linthicum heights
  • royal farms 206, millersville
  • royal farms 211, laurel
  • royal farms 22, glen burnie
  • royal farms 23, baltimore
  • royal farms 235, hanover
  • royal farms 28, annapolis
  • royal farms 319, jessup
  • royal farms 32, pasadena
  • royal farms 378, glen burnie
  • royal farms 39, pasadena
  • royal farms 40, severn
  • royal farms 45, linthicum heights
  • royal farms 497, millersville
  • royal farms 56, edgewater
  • royal farms 67, glen burnie
  • royal farms 82, severna park
  • royal farms 98, millersville
  • rubio express, edgewater
  • rubio latin market, glen burnie
  • sheetz 869, linthicum heights
  • slide in mart, glen burnie
  • soda pop shop, glen burnie
  • steakhouse food market, brooklyn
  • telegraph exxon, severn
  • wawa 549, annapolis
  • wawa 569, annapolis
  • wawa 572, millersville
  • wawa 577, edgewater
  • wawa 595, gambrills
  • wawa store 8525, hanover
  • wawa 8503, glen burnie
  • wawa 8507, glen burnie

Combination Grocery/Other · 66

  • cvs 1735, glen burnie
  • cvs 2883, severn
  • cvs 3043, arnold
  • cvs pharmacy 1510, severn
  • cvs pharmacy 2010, odenton
  • cvs pharmacy 2033, edgewater
  • cvs pharmacy 2775, annapolis
  • cvs pharmacy 2779, annapolis
  • cvs pharmacy 4225, annapolis
  • cvs pharmacy 5706, glen burnie
  • cvs pharmacy 5926, annapolis
  • cvs pharmacey 10564, hanover
  • cvs pharmacy 03045, severna park
  • cvs pharmacy 4017, pasadena
  • cvs pharmacy 4418, pasadena
  • cvs pharmacy 5733, millersville
  • cvs pharmacy 6765, crofton
  • dollar general 0899, glen burnie
  • dollar general 14562, annapolis
  • dollar tree 1775, severna park
  • dollartree 10046, glen burnie
  • dollartree 10119, glen burnie
  • dollartree 10335, glen burnie
  • dollartree 8739, glen burnie
  • dollartree 8801, glen burnie
  • dollar general 11965, pasadena
  • dollar general 13991, millersville
  • dollar general 14452, churchton
  • dollar general 14630, lothian
  • dollar general 1472, glen burnie
  • dollar general 24455, crofton
  • dollar general 6579, glen burnie
  • dollar general 7636, pasadena
  • dollar tree 1669, glen burnie
  • dollar tree 1681, odenton
  • dollar tree 1710, annapolis
  • dollar tree 1933, pasadena
  • dollar tree 380, crofton
  • dollar tree 3814, pasadena
  • dollar tree 4000, hanover
  • dollar tree 4137, hanover
  • dollar tree 447, edgewater
  • dollar tree 6014, glen burnie
  • dollar tree 9089, laurel
  • el-shadaih international market, severn
  • family dollar 11860, glen burnie
  • family dollar 6625, glen burnie
  • family dollar 7848, glen burnie
  • grauls market, annapolis
  • heph international food store, glen burnie
  • jalapenos market inc, glen burnie
  • kalpana bazzaar, glen burnie
  • walgreens 09490, edgewater
  • walgreens 07554, glen burnie
  • walgreens 09028, glen burnie
  • walgreens 11501, severna park
  • walgreens 13816, odenton
  • walgreens 17610, arnold
  • walgreens 17944, edgewater
  • walgreens 18160, pasadena
  • walgreens 18951, gambrills
  • walgreens 19249, annapolis
  • walgreens 19313, annapolis
  • walgreens 19427, severn
  • walgreens 19843, pasadena
  • walgreens 7701, glen burnie

Super Store · 14

  • amazon fresh mat8, glen burnie
  • b js wholesale club 59, pasadena
  • christopher's fine foods, churchton
  • costco wholesale 0203, glen burnie
  • costco wholesale 0325, hanover
  • giant food 167, annapolis
  • giant food 194, annapolis
  • giant food 324, pasadena
  • giant food 358, severna park
  • geresbeck's food market, glen burnie
  • geresbeck's food market 708, pasadena
  • giant food 141, glen burnie
  • giant food 2311, odenton
  • giant food 2312, glen burnie

Medium Grocery Store · 12

  • bismillah halal meat & grocery, gambrills
  • bismillah kabob and karahi house, glen burnie
  • ch & aj llc dba super 24 latino, glen burnie
  • el granjero supermarket, millersville
  • gloria indian and spanish grocery 4432924376, crofton
  • hispa food market, edgewater
  • isla pacific grocery, crofton
  • la divina providencia, glen burnie
  • onestop wholesale and retail market, laurel
  • shady side market, shady side
  • super 24 market, glen burnie
  • surtimax, brooklyn

Small Grocery Store · 12

  • al-arabi mediterranean food stores inc 1, glen burnie
  • blas market, glen burnie
  • crofton bazaar, crofton
  • deli & grocery super 24, brooklyn
  • la vicentina mercado latino llc, linthicum heights
  • latina family mart & tabaco, glen burnie
  • oak african market, pasadena
  • odenton african food & international market, odenton
  • orchard food market, severn
  • sams market, edgewater
  • santisima trinidad, pasadena
  • tessa and sons philippine market 1, glen burnie

Seafood Specialty · 4

  • chesapeake seafood, edgewater
  • glen burnie seafood, glen burnie
  • nbs seafood, glen burnie
  • pit boys, annapolis

Military Commissary · 2

  • annapolis commissary store 2403, annapolis
  • fort meade commissary 2517, fort meade

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • la divina providencia, annapolis

Showing 250 of 309 authorized retailers, largest categories first.

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Maryland

Compare Anne Arundel County vs Allegany County → · All Maryland counties →

Food access nationally, Maryland in context

Anne Arundel County sits inside Maryland (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 Anne Arundel County has low food access?
33.7% of residents in Anne Arundel County, MD 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 Anne Arundel County?
6.5% of households in Anne Arundel County receive SNAP, covering 14,710 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Anne Arundel County?
The poverty rate in Anne Arundel County, MD is 5.6%, with a median household income of $124,911 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Anne Arundel County a food desert?
10 of Anne Arundel County's 104 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Anne Arundel County households lack a vehicle?
4.1% of households in Anne Arundel County 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.