PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Pennsylvania

Cambria County, PA

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

22.3%
low-access pop.
6
food-desert tracts
18.9%
on SNAP
132K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 PA

The food-access picture

22.3% of Cambria County residents live in a low-access area, and 6 of its 42 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

15
low-access tracts
9K
food-desert residents
10.4%
households, no vehicle
14.2%
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 Cambria County's low-access share at 22.3%, above the national share. 15 of the county's 42 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 32,025 people. 6 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 9,117 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 Cambria County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Cambria County's 22.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 52% of them and ranked #1,503 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Cambria County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 42 census tracts in Cambria 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 Cambria County, PA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 27 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 9 limited, 6 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 42 tracts evaluated. 27 tracts adequate (64.3%) 9 tracts limited (21.4%) 6 tracts severe / food desert (14.3%) Adequate 64% Limited 21% Severe 14% Food-access tier distribution: Cambria County, PA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Cambria County vs. other Pennsylvania counties

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

% 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 Cambria County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts42
Atlas Population (2010 basis)143,679
Low-Access Tracts15
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)6
Low-Access Population32,025
Low-Access Share22.3%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population9,117

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Cambria County
IndicatorValue
Population131,538
Median Household Income$58,418
Poverty Rate14.2%near the national average
SNAP Households10,559
SNAP Participation Rate18.9%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle10.4%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population5.1%
SNAP participation in Cambria County 18.9%

About 18.9% of Cambria County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 22.3% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 18.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 10,559 households here.
  • 10.4% 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 Cambria County

above the national share

6 of Cambria County's 42 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 14.3% of all its tracts.

A further 9 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 15.

An estimated 32,025 residents, roughly 22.3% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 9,117 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 27 tracts (64.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Cambria County

Cambria County has 105 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 42 locations (40% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 42

  • cvs 10249, johnstown
  • cvs 10250, johnstown
  • dollar general 11253, carroltown
  • dollar general 1305, nanty glo
  • dollar general 18986, flinton
  • dollar general 2040, johnstown
  • dollar general 2062, northern cambria
  • dollar general 2252, johnstown
  • dollar general 2550, portage
  • dollar general 2559, cresson
  • dollar general 2973, johnstown
  • dollar general 3954, johnstown
  • dollar general 4839, johnstown
  • dollar general 8489, johnstown
  • dollar general 8593, sidman
  • dollar tree 2904, johnstown
  • dollartree 10606, johnstown
  • dollar general 11408, gallitzin
  • dollar general 13985, johnstown
  • dollar general 15310, johnstown
  • dollar general 18053, salix
  • dollar general 20402, hastings
  • dollar general 21038, ebensburg
  • dollar general 21147, south fork
  • dollar general 2189, patton
  • dollar general 22573, ashville
  • dollar general 23826, johnstown
  • dollar general 23935, lilly
  • dollar general 24406, belsano
  • dollar general 24420, johnstown
  • dollar general 24683, carrolltown
  • dollar general 30658, johnstown
  • dollar general 9120, johnstown
  • dollar general 9212, conemaugh
  • dollar tree 1196, ebensburg
  • dollar tree 6732, johnstown
  • double deckards deli llc, carrolltown
  • family dollar store 1955, portage
  • family dollar store 5380, cresson
  • family dollar store 7337, johnstown
  • family dollar store 7724, johnstown
  • the zebra stand variety store, johnstown

Convenience Store · 37

  • 7-eleven 40220h, johnstown
  • 900 place, johnstown
  • allevato's market 1, johnstown
  • beaverdale convenience store, beaverdale
  • bedford bp lnc 7, johnstown
  • ciscatos market, johnstown
  • ebensburg martin general store, ebensburg
  • getgo 3661, johnstown
  • getgo 3670, ebensburg
  • koch's at connor, johnstown
  • kochs, johnstown
  • kwik fill 252, johnstown
  • martin general store 221, johnstown
  • mmpatel ii inc., gallitzin
  • par mar store 59, nanty glo
  • pennywrens, flinton
  • royal grocery & tobacco, patton
  • rutter's 99, johnstown
  • sandy's 09cr, cresson
  • sheetz 127, carrolltown
  • sheetz 196, cresson
  • sheetz 21, johnstown
  • sheetz 22, johnstown
  • sheetz 227, johnstown
  • sheetz 430, ebensburg
  • sheetz 45, ebensburg
  • sheetz 48, nanty glo
  • sheetz 49, portage
  • sheetz 496, johnstown
  • sheetz 52, patton
  • sheetz 55, northern cambria
  • sheetz 550, johnstown
  • sheetz 65, johnstown
  • sheetz 86, johnstown
  • sunoco, ebensburg
  • sunoco gas station, south fork
  • tunnelhill market, gallitzin

Super Store · 10

  • bilo foods, johnstown
  • giant eagle 1667, ebensburg
  • giant eagle 16, johnstown
  • giant eagle 19, johnstown
  • giant eagle 46, johnstown
  • market basket johnstown 60, johnstown
  • northern cambria giant eagle 1682, northern cambria
  • stager's surplus, portage
  • walmart supercenter 1935, johnstown
  • walmart supercenter 2663, ebensburg

Supermarket · 8

  • aldi 71037 71037, johnstown
  • aldi 69034, ebensburg
  • bi-lo foods 729, northern cambria
  • cresson shop n save, cresson
  • gold crown super mkt inc, nanty glo
  • ideal supermarket 710, johnstown
  • ideal market 1744, johnstown
  • save a lot 21732, johnstown

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • ken's bilo patton, patton
  • smithmyer's superette, loretto

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • alex froehlich packing co, johnstown
  • pudliner packing, johnstown

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • conzatti's inc., johnstown
  • j c valko a/g store, south fork

Farmers' Market · 1

  • johnstown farmers' market, johnstown

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • mc gough's fruit market, wilmore

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Pennsylvania

Adams County
15.9% low-access · 8.2% SNAP
Allegheny County
26.4% low-access · 13.0% SNAP
Armstrong County
5.2% low-access · 15.6% SNAP
Beaver County
32.5% low-access · 13.8% SNAP
Bedford County
22.7% low-access · 15.8% SNAP
Berks County
17.5% low-access · 13.9% SNAP

Compare Cambria County vs Adams County → · All Pennsylvania counties →

Food access nationally, Pennsylvania in context

Cambria County sits inside Pennsylvania (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Cambria County has low food access? ▼
22.3% of residents in Cambria County, PA 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 Cambria County? ▼
18.9% of households in Cambria County receive SNAP, covering 10,559 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Cambria County? ▼
The poverty rate in Cambria County, PA is 14.2%, with a median household income of $58,418 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Cambria County a food desert? ▼
6 of Cambria County's 42 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 Cambria County households lack a vehicle? ▼
10.4% of households in Cambria 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.