County food-access profile · Colorado
Arapahoe County, CO
Arapahoe County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 13.6%
- low-access pop.
- 6
- food-desert tracts
- 7.7%
- on SNAP
- 660K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
13.6% of Arapahoe County residents live in a low-access area, and 6 of its 147 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 39
- low-access tracts
- 12K
- food-desert residents
- 5.3%
- households, no vehicle
- 8.6%
- 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).
Arapahoe County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 13.6% per the USDA Atlas. 39 of the county's 147 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 78,019 residents who live far from a supermarket. 6 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 12,030 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 Arapahoe County compares nationally
Arapahoe County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 13.6% low-access share that beats 29% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,234).
Arapahoe County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 147 census tracts in Arapahoe County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Arapahoe County vs. other Colorado counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Colorado
- Arapahoe 13.6
Arapahoe County, CO
13.6 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, CO
17.9 % low-access
- Alamosa
Alamosa County, CO
27.7 % low-access
- Archuleta
Archuleta County, CO
40.9 % low-access
- Baca
Baca County, CO
25.2 % low-access
- Bent 12.4
Bent County, CO
12.4 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 147 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 572,003 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 39 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 6 |
| Low-Access Population | 78,019 |
| Low-Access Share | 13.6%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 12,030 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 659,844 |
| Median Household Income | $101,087 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.6%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 19,911 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 7.7%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.3%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.8% |
About 7.7% of Arapahoe County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 13.6% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 7.7% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 19,911 households here.
- 5.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 6 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 Arapahoe County
near the national share
6 of Arapahoe County's 147 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 4.1% of all its tracts.
A further 33 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 39.
An estimated 78,019 residents, roughly 13.6% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 12,030 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 108 tracts (73.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Arapahoe County
Arapahoe County has 347 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 162 locations (47% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 162
- 55million, aurora
- 7 eleven 13206b, englewood
- 7 eleven 25740c, aurora
- 7 eleven 26682a, aurora
- 7 eleven 27213b, aurora
- 7 eleven 34504b, aurora
- 7-eleven 20182j, littleton
- 7-eleven 23154b 23154b, aurora
- 7-eleven 25718b, aurora
- 7-eleven 27211j, aurora
- 7-eleven 35598a, sheridan
- 7-eleven 39729, aurora
- 7-eleven 39732, aurora
- 7-eleven 39935, aurora
- 7-eleven store 13196b, englewood
- 7-eleven store 16094a, denver
- 7-eleven store 17596d 17596d, aurora
- 7-eleven store 21562b 21562b, aurora
- 7-eleven store 22194j, aurora
- 7-eleven store 26574a, aurora
- 7-eleven store 27033c 27033c, littleton
- 7-eleven store 33038c, aurora
- 7-eleven store 33044c 33044c, aurora
- 7-eleven store 34486b, littleton
- 7-eleven store 35622h, greenwood village
- 7-eleven store 37560c 37560c, littleton
- 7-eleven store 39034a, englewood
- 7-eleven store 39532a, englewood
- 7-eleven store 39591j, centennial
- 7-eleven store 39622b 39622b, aurora
- 7-eleven #23418b 23418b, aurora
- 7-eleven 19015b, englewood
- 7-eleven 21494b 21494b, aurora
- 7-eleven 29508c 29508c, englewood
- 7-eleven 34181b 34181b, aurora
- 7-eleven 36956b 36956b, aurora
- 7-eleven 37198a, aurora
- 7-eleven 38390a, aurora
- 7-eleven 39847, greenwood village
- 7-eleven store #29024b #29024b, aurora
- 7-eleven store 18409b 18409b, aurora
- 7-eleven store 21242b 21242b, greenwood village
- 7-eleven store 25187b 25187b, aurora
- 7-eleven store 34131c 34131c, aurora
- 7-eleven store 35604b 35604b, englewood
- 7-eleven store 37221b 37221b, aurora
- 7-eleven store 39528b 39528b, aurora
- 7-eleven store 42055a 42055a, aurora
- 7-eleven, inc. store 21493b, aurora
- 777 corner mart, aurora
- a k mini mart, aurora
- a-1 food and gas, aurora
- alta 1281, aurora
- alta 1340, aurora
- alta 6017, littleton
- alta 6144, denver
- aurora dollar store, aurora
- bow mart, littleton
- bowmar gas express, littleton
- capitol one market, aurora
- circle k 2709845, englewood
- circle k 2709852, aurora
- circle k 2709853, aurora
- circle k 2709855, aurora
- circle k 2709864, aurora
- circle k 2709869, littleton
- circle k 2709872, aurora
- circle k 2709876, englewood
- circle k 2709878, englewood
- circle k 2709879, centennial
- circle k 2709880, greenwood village
- circle k 2709890, aurora
- circle k 2709898, englewood
- circle k 2709899, aurora
- circle k 2740691, englewood
- circle k 2740696, aurora
- circle k 2741128, aurora
- circle k 2741136, aurora
- circle k 2741716, aurora
- circle k 2744048, aurora
- circle k 2744127, centennial
- corner store, deer trail
- corner store 2741127, aurora
- corner store 2741715, aurora
- corner store 2744100, englewood
- diamond shamrock corner store 2741140, aurora
- diamond shamrock corner store 2741166, centennial
- diamond shamrock corner store 2744052, aurora
- diamond shamrock corner store 2744054, bennett
- diamond shamrock corner store 2744099, greenwood village
- elellaan llc 1, denver
- elroee, aurora
- europa co., aurora
- fast market 4581, aurora
- fast market 4585, englewood
- frontino express llc, aurora
- horizon food & gas, littleton
- in & out c store, aurora
- jenny's market 530, englewood
- jenny's market 545, aurora
- k & t gas station, llc 426, aurora
- king soopers fuel center 122, littleton
- la estacion international market, aurora
- la tienda 2, aurora
- la tienda llc, aurora
- lil 't' food stores, englewood
- littleton gs, littleton
- loaf n jug 750803, englewood
- loftiest llc, aurora
- loves travel stop 300, bennett
- maverik #490, aurora
- maverik 495, aurora
- maverik 525, aurora
- maverik 5352, aurora
- maverik 5370, aurora
- maverik 5372, centennial
- maverik 5398, aurora
- maverik 579, aurora
- mc gas & food, aurora
- mini food store, englewood
- mini mart, englewood
- moline corner store, aurora
- murphy express 8769, centennial
- murphy express 8826, aurora
- murphy express 8922, littleton
- murphy express 8923, aurora
- murphy express 8973, aurora
- murphy usa 7961, aurora
- murphy usa 8972, aurora
- murphy usa 8977, englewood
- pds stores inc, aurora
- parker food & gas inc, aurora
- pinata festival 1, aurora
- quiktrip 4209, aurora
- quiktrip 4216, bennett
- quiktrip 4237, littleton
- quiktrip 4242, greenwood village
- quiktrip 4250, greenwood village
- rocket #6493 6493, littleton
- rocket #6495 6495, englewood
- rocket #6502 6502, aurora
- rocket #6519 6519, greenwood village
- rocket #6545 6545, centennial
- rocket #6549 6549, centennial
- rocket #6550 6550, littleton
- rocket #6551 6551, aurora
- rocket 6500, aurora
- shop n go, englewood
- sinclair byers, byers
- speedees's market, aurora
- stinker store 324, aurora
- stinker store 331, centennial
- stinker store 332, englewood
- stinker store 340, englewood
- sunshine mart llc, aurora
- t square one, aurora
- triple 7's llc 1, aurora
- valero corner store 2741109, centennial
- valero corner store 2744098, englewood
- valero corner store 2744123, littleton
- world food bazaar, aurora
- stinker store 333, aurora
Combination Grocery/Other · 48
- african international market, aurora
- ambya african market, aurora
- awash market llc, aurora
- dollartree 10076, aurora
- dollartree 8879, denver
- dollar tree 2580, aurora
- dollar tree 2685, aurora
- dollar tree 2886, aurora
- dollar tree 3614, englewood
- dollar tree 3867, aurora
- dollar tree 3915, littleton
- dollar tree 4286, aurora
- dollar tree 4348, centennial
- dollar tree 4756, littleton
- dollar tree 4818, aurora
- dollar tree 7158, aurora
- dollar tree 7399, aurora
- dollar tree 8266, littleton
- dollar tree 8528, aurora
- dollartree 6870, aurora
- family dollar 3477, aurora
- family dollar 6503, aurora
- family dollar 9103, aurora
- family dollar 9210, aurora
- gadaa international market llc 1, denver
- gihon international market llc, aurora
- gondar mart, aurora
- havana market 0517843, aurora
- kinga enterprises, llc na, aurora
- lagos market, aurora
- mh dollar mart, aurora
- mugisha african store 1, aurora
- qera ethio meat and mart llc, aurora
- sara's market and bakery, aurora
- sohal foods inc, aurora
- walgreens 03091, englewood
- walgreens 04610, aurora
- walgreens 06986, aurora
- walgreens 07021, aurora
- walgreens 07451, foxfield
- walgreens 10175, aurora
- walgreens 10455, centennial
- walgreens 10704, centennial
- walgreens 11615, aurora
- walgreens 12423, englewood
- walgreens 13148, aurora
- walgreens 4469, aurora
- walgreens 4470, aurora
Medium Grocery Store · 20
- afghan & indian market, aurora
- africaines market 1, aurora
- almustafa market, denver
- asia mart llp, aurora
- aurora market llc, aurora
- bridgette ofori comany inc-nana african market, denver
- carniceria, denver
- carniceria la superior, aurora
- carniceria la tapatia llc, littleton
- carniceria mi mexico, aurora
- carniceria taqueria la consentida, aurora
- cigarette king and habesha market, aurora
- dia international market llc, aurora
- dollar groceries 1, aurora
- ds market inc, aurora
- east side kosher deli, denver
- fresh market & community kitchen, littleton
- ghana international market, aurora
- gulzar halal market, aurora
- halal mart, aurora
Large Grocery Store · 11
- carniceria aurora, aurora
- carniceria dariana 1, aurora
- carniceria latina llc, aurora
- carniceria y panaderia el jakalito, denver
- de mi pais market, aurora
- el jakalito market 2 llc, aurora
- haat bazar, aurora
- midopa oriental market, aurora
- nazar international market & deli, denver
- tradishn market and cafe 1, aurora
- zamzam halal market, denver
Bakery Specialty · 6
- papa murphy's co038, centennial
- papa murphy's take & bake pizza 106, aurora
- papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 010, aurora
- papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 032, aurora
- papa murphys 115, englewood
- shahrazad bakery, aurora
Farmers' Market · 2
- downtown littleton farmers market, littleton
- rebel marketplace nafmnp, aurora
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- sam's meat, aurora
Showing 250 of 347 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Colorado
Compare Arapahoe County vs Adams County → · All Colorado counties →
Food access nationally, Colorado in context
Arapahoe County sits inside Colorado (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 Arapahoe County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Arapahoe County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Arapahoe County? ▼
Is Arapahoe County a food desert? ▼
What share of Arapahoe 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.