County food-access profile · New Jersey
Atlantic County, NJ
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Atlantic 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).
- 30.1%
- low-access pop.
- 13
- food-desert tracts
- 12.2%
- on SNAP
- 276K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
30.1% of Atlantic County residents live in a low-access area, and 13 of its 69 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 27
- low-access tracts
- 21K
- food-desert residents
- 11.0%
- households, no vehicle
- 13.2%
- 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 Atlantic County's low-access share at 30.1%, above the national share. 27 of the county's 69 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 82,677 people. 13 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 21,480 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 Atlantic County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Atlantic County's 30.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 70% of them and ranked #932 most-affected nationwide.
Atlantic County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 69 census tracts in Atlantic County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Atlantic County vs. other New Jersey counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in New Jersey
- Atlantic
Atlantic County, NJ
30.1 % low-access
- Bergen 10.3
Bergen County, NJ
10.3 % low-access
- Burlington
Burlington County, NJ
36.3 % low-access
- Camden
Camden County, NJ
20 % low-access
- Cape May
Cape May County, NJ
32.8 % low-access
- Cumberland
Cumberland County, NJ
35.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 69 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 274,549 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 27 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 13 |
| Low-Access Population | 82,677 |
| Low-Access Share | 30.1%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 21,480 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 276,270 |
| Median Household Income | $78,050 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.2%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 13,416 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 12.2%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 11.0%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.2% |
About 12.2% of Atlantic County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 30.1% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 12.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 13,416 households here.
- 11.0% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 13 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 Atlantic County
above the national share
13 of Atlantic County's 69 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 18.8% of all its tracts.
A further 14 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 27.
An estimated 82,677 residents, roughly 30.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 21,480 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 42 tracts (60.9%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Atlantic County
Atlantic County has 230 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 94 locations (41% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 94
- 24 hour convenience store llc, atlantic city
- 4 eleven food mart no, atlantic city
- 501 food mart, atlantic city
- 7-eleven 19990c, hammonton
- 7-eleven 24426k, atlantic city
- 7-eleven 40112h, hammonton
- 7-eleven 40124h, pleasantville
- 7-eleven inc f 19870d, atlantic city
- 7-eleven 10998c, cardiff
- 7-eleven store 24422d, atlantic city
- 801 westside grocery and deli, atlantic city
- a c deli & food mart llc, atlantic city
- a-1 jfk convenience store, atlantic city
- al shaheen market, atlantic city
- alpha & omega market and deli grocery, atlantic city
- arctic convenience store no, atlantic city
- atlantic mart 1, pleasantville
- bjs dollar express plus, atlantic city
- cedar food market iv, atlantic city
- cedar food plus ix inc, atlantic city
- cedar food viii, atlantic city
- calis general store llc, atlantic city
- cedar food 1, pleasantville
- cedar food market, atlantic city
- cedar food market 12, atlantic city
- cedar market, atlantic city
- cedar market, atlantic city
- circle k gulf, atlantic city
- collings lakes food mart, williamstown
- deli and grocery olguitas, atlantic city
- demarcos-1 llc, atlantic city
- dover market, atlantic city
- el porvenir convenience store, pleasantville
- elwood deli, hammonton
- florida grocery & convenience store no, atlantic city
- food four less, atlantic city
- foodies market, atlantic city
- gigi convenience & smoke, atlantic city
- glenwood gas 9 inc, pleasantville
- habash brothers, pleasantville
- hometown market, atlantic city
- jimmie leeds convenience llc, galloway
- khan food and deli, atlantic city
- kk gift & grocery, atlantic city
- lighthouse food market llc, atlantic city
- lukoil, mays landing
- mousas market, atlantic city
- my food market and hair supply, atlantic city
- mlk halal food & grocery llc, atlantic city
- new ez super mart llc, atlantic city
- new latin deli & grocery llc, atlantic city
- pacific food market, atlantic city
- pacific market 1 no, atlantic city
- pantry 1 food mart, hammonton
- pantry 1 food mart, hammonton
- pantry 1 mays landing, mays landing
- pinoy ac, atlantic city
- pleasantville gas & mini mart, pleasantville
- royal farms 366, egg harbor twp
- s main st supermarket, pleasantville
- shiv foodmart inc pantry 1 food mart, minotola
- scoop corner store, atlantic city
- solanos corner store, atlantic city
- speedway llc 10993h, northfield
- us gas, galloway
- ventnor food mart, ventnor city
- water side market, atlantic city
- wawa 380, buena
- wawa 383, hammonton
- wawa 433, somers point
- wawa 438, galloway
- wawa 461, somers point
- wawa 482, galloway
- wawa 485, brigantine
- wawa 701, northfield
- wawa 713, brigantine
- wawa 736, absecon
- wawa 749, mays landing
- wawa 753, ventnor city
- wawa 920, egg harbor twp
- wawa 925, mays landing
- wawa 936, absecon
- wawa 941, mays landing
- wawa 947, egg harbor township
- wawa 950, margate city
- wawa 968, galloway
- wawa 969, egg harbor twp
- wawa 970, pleasantville
- wawa 8324, somers point
- wawa 8333, egg harbor township
- wawa 8343, galloway
- wawa 8467, egg harbor city
- wawa store 8431, hammonton
- winchester & delly grocery store, ventnor city
Combination Grocery/Other · 64
- a c produce, atlantic city
- brody international, atlantic city
- cvs 336, pleasantville
- cvs 7096, brigantine
- cvs pharmacy 1033, galloway
- cvs pharmacy 809, egg harbor township
- cvs pharmacy 825, ventnor city
- cvs pharmacy 853, margate city
- cvs pharmacy 1287, mays landing
- cvs pharmacy 1526, pomona
- cvs pharmacy 2462, somers point
- cvs pharmacy 2853, galloway
- cvs pharmacy inc 6877, egg harbor township
- dollar general 13681, buena
- dollar general 17216, egg harbor township
- dollar general 17218, egg harbor township
- dollar general 17295, folsom
- dollar general 18243, somers point
- dollar general 18352, absecon
- dollartree 9761, northfield
- dollartree 9888, mays landing
- dollar general 10920, galloway
- dollar general 16199, galloway
- dollar general 18955, egg harbor city
- dollar general 19198, pleasantville
- dollar general 19369, mays landing
- dollar general 20665, elwood
- dollar general 20943, milmay
- dollar general 21574, atlantic city
- dollar general 21636, egg harbor city
- dollar general 22049, egg harbor township
- dollar general 24663, galloway
- dollar general 24835, absecon
- dollar general 25020, atlantic city
- dollar general 30999, ventnor city
- dollar general 8088, egg harbor township
- dollar genral 16874, pleasntville
- dollar tree 1665, mays landing
- dollar tree 3902, ventnor city
- dollar tree 4275, absecon
- dollar tree 4344, egg harbor township
- dollar tree 482, hammonton
- dollar tree 5019, somers point
- dollar tree 5737, pleasantville
- dollar tree 5744, brigantine
- dollar tree 9014, egg harbor township
- family dollar 10981, galloway
- family dollar 12192, pleasantville
- family dollar 12351, atlantic city
- family dollar store 1905, cape may
- family dollar store 2463, pleasantville
- family dollar store 7657, buena
- hummus taza, egg harbor township
- incollingo great value, egg harbor city
- ocean state job lot 563, somers point
- ocean state job lot 564, mays landing
- walgreens 10477, northfield
- walgreens 10493, ventnor city
- walgreens 13056, egg harbor township
- walgreens 18997, egg harbor twp
- walgreens 19110, absecon
- walgreens 19282, egg harbor city
- walgreens 19361, atlantic city
- walgreens 19745, hammonton
Medium Grocery Store · 21
- ali's grocery store inc, atlantic city
- brighton grocery and food market, atlantic city
- bongo african grocery store ii, pleasantville
- cedar food market xi llc, atlantic city
- deshi bazaar & produce llc, atlantic city
- deshi bazaar & produce llc, atlantic city
- ernest and son meat market llc, brigantine
- gram bangla food 2, atlantic city
- inferreras market, hammonton
- island meat market, ventnor city
- la escondida mexican food and grocery, pleasantville
- la bodega, atlantic city
- la canasta, pleasantville
- la cosecha, atlantic city
- la putlequita, pleasantville
- la villita bakery & fresh market, hammonton
- ma bongo, atlantic city
- madina grocery & produce llc, atlantic city
- new international supermarket, atlantic city
- new mi tierra, pleasantville
- pleasantville food market, pleasantville
Super Store · 16
- asian supermarket ii inc, pleasantville
- b js wholesale club 74, mays landing
- bagliani's market inc, hammonton
- la cosecha iii, pleasantville
- lidl 1463, egg harbor township
- sam's club 8144, pleasantville
- shop rite of abescon 633, absecon
- shop rite of galloway 600, galloway
- shop rite of hammonton 642, hammonton
- shop rite of somers point 612, somers point
- shoprite of english creek 601, egg harbor township
- target store 1109, mays landing
- target store t2878, somers point
- walmart 2254, hammonton
- walmart 3212, egg harbor township
- walmart supercenter 2108, mays landing
Supermarket · 12
- acme 831, somers point
- acme 852, mays landing
- aldi 60078, egg harbor township
- aldi 60214, absecon
- acme 294, ventnor city
- acme market 7997, brigantine
- boom food market, atlantic city
- grocery outlet of mays landing 768, mays landing
- la villita farm market, atlantic city
- m & s produce outlet n/a, egg harbor township
- save a lot 30187, atlantic city
- tilton market inc, northfield
Small Grocery Store · 11
- avarrotes el mariachi, hammonton
- dollar plus gifts, atlantic city
- el rinconcito grocery and produces, atlantic city
- euro shoppe, northfield
- favorite produce & groceries 1, absecon
- horizon deli and grocery, hammonton
- la tipica grocery, atlantic city
- morris convenience and grocery ii, atlantic city
- nashville market llc, ventnor city
- plaza mexicana, egg harbor city
- terry's deli, somers point
Large Grocery Store · 5
- bf mazzeo fruit & produce inc., northfield
- bonterra market, egg harbor township
- gokul india supermarket, absecon
- santoris produce and deli market, galloway
- santori's fruit & produce mkt, somers point
Farmers' Market · 3
- c.r.o.p.s. market, atlantic city
- galloway green market, galloway
- hammonton green market, hammonton
Seafood Specialty · 2
- barbera seafood & produce, atlantic city
- bobs seafood of northfield, northfield
Delivery Route · 1
- atlanticare mobile market, atlantic city
Food Buying Co-op · 1
- c.r.o.p.s. food hub, atlantic city
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in New Jersey
Compare Atlantic County vs Bergen County → · All New Jersey counties →
Food access nationally, New Jersey in context
Atlantic County sits inside New Jersey (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 Atlantic County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Atlantic County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Atlantic County? ▼
Is Atlantic County a food desert? ▼
What share of Atlantic 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.