Signature · 6.4% SNAP (2nd pct in SC)
Charleston County, SC
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Charleston 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).
- 20.8%
- low-access pop.
- 13
- food-desert tracts
- 6.4%
- on SNAP
- 420K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Charleston County, SC
LA-ELEVATED · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 20.8% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -1.3 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 13 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 6.4% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.9% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 15% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Marlboro County ( -0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Charleston County ranks #1,613 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #23 of 45 counties in SC (20.8% low-access; 13 food-desert tracts).
- #1,613
- national by low-access %
- #23
- in SC
- 33
- low-access tracts
- 21K
- 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: 6.4% SNAP (2nd pct in SC) (-5.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Charleston County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Charleston County's 20.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 48% of them and ranked #1,622 most-affected nationwide.
Charleston County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
85 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 13 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Charleston County has 73 urban and 12 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.
Charleston County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in South Carolina, not a full county-board reprint
- Beaufort
Beaufort 49%
49 % low-access
- Oconee
Oconee 22.8%
22.8 % low-access
- Charleston
Charleston 20.8%
20.8 % low-access
- Marlboro
Marlboro 20.6%
20.6 % low-access
- Abbeville
Abbeville 20.4%
20.4 % low-access
- Sumter 19
Sumter 19%
19 % low-access
- Barnwell 0
Barnwell 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 85 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 350,209 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 33 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 13 |
| Low-Access Population | 72,787 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.8%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 20,972 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 420,264 |
| Median Household Income | $88,494 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.3%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 11,493 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 6.4%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.9%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.5% |
Thick SNAP store book in Charleston County
Charleston County has 330 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 161 locations (49% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 161
- 3543 dorchester road, north charleston
- 4 as grocery, charleston
- 7-eleven 40371h, charleston
- 7-eleven 40370h, charleston
- 7-eleven 40375h, mount pleasant
- 7-eleven 40380, north charleston
- 7-eleven 40473h, ladson
- 7-eleven 41886h, awendaw
- 7-eleven 42182h, north charleston
- a and r quick stop, north charleston
- ahz market, hollywood
- aplus 40485h, mount pleasant
- aplus 40510h, mount pleasant
- aplus 40374h, mount pleasant
- aplus 40477h, north charleston
- aplus 40479h, north charleston
- aplus 40391, charleston
- aplus 40483h, north charleston
- aviation exxon, north charleston
- b & m family grocery, north charleston
- big daddy deals, north charleston
- bp gas station 1, mount pleasant
- circle k store 8089, mount pleasant
- circle k 2705130, mount pleasant
- circle k 2720839, folly beach
- circle k 2721520, charleston
- circle k 2721521, charleston
- circle k 2721522, mount pleasant
- circle k 272288, charleston
- circle k 2723186, charleston
- circle k 2723296, mount pleasant
- circle k 2723353, charleston
- circle k 2723354, north charleston
- circle k 2723355, charleston
- circle k 2723356, charleston
- circle k 2723691, north charleston
- circle k 2723692, north charleston
- circle k 2723693, north charleston
- circle k 2723694, charleston
- circle k 2723850, mount pleasant
- circle k 2723877, north charleston
- circle k 2723884, north charleston
- circle k 272492, isle of palms
- circle k 272498, charleston
- circle k 272797, north charleston
- circle k 272820, charleston
- circle k 272840, mount pleasant
- circle k 272845, north charleston
- circle k 272848, johns island
- circle k 272873, mount pleasant
- circle k 272874, mount pleasant
- circle k 272878, mc clellanville
- circle k 272880, charleston
- circle k 272881, ravenel
- circle k 272884, johns island
- circle k 272886, ravenel
- circle k 5120, charleston
- circle k 5121, charleston
- circle k 5122, mount pleasant
- circle k 5123, north charleston
- circle k 5124, charleston
- circle k 5125, charleston
- circle k 5126, charleston
- circle k 5363, charleston
- college corner, charleston
- college market, charleston
- college of charleston the market, charleston
- coming street grocery, charleston
- community market, north charleston
- deep 5, ladson
- discount store, north charleston
- dodge store 8603, johns island
- dollar mart, north charleston
- dorchester mart, north charleston
- dorchester mini mart, north charleston
- e&d caribbean mini mart no, north charleston
- east montague market, north charleston
- euro foods bakery cafe 1, charleston
- fama and debi community store, north charleston
- flowers bakery outlet 701, north charleston
- fuel mart, north charleston
- green pantry, north charleston
- greens market, charleston
- joe's kwik mart 7010, charleston
- joe's kwik mart 7011, charleston
- joe's kwik mart 7013, johns island
- joe's kwik mart 7015, north charleston
- joe's kwik mart 7017, north charleston
- k k mart, ladson
- krishna indian & american grocery, north charleston
- knights market, north charleston
- knights tobacco & convenience store, north charleston
- kwik stop food mart, charleston
- kwik stop food mart, charleston
- kwik stop food mart #3, charleston
- kwikmart, ladson
- larry's convenience store, north charleston
- li'l cricket 3873, charleston
- linda's tienda mexicana, johns island
- loop mart 15, north charleston
- los cuatro hermanos market, north charleston
- marthas quick stop, charleston
- mckeever grocery 1, north charleston
- meldi food mart, north charleston
- miller food mart, summerville
- mo mart, north charleston
- mobile 001, north charleston
- murphy express 8552, north charleston
- northwood food mart, north charleston
- nouria 2410 highway 174 878, edisto island
- olde village market & deli, north charleston
- om sai, charleston
- opie drive-thru grocery, mount pleasant
- pantry point 1, north charleston
- pantry point 2, charleston
- parker's 105, charleston
- parker's 79, charleston
- parker's 87, johns island
- parker's 96, north charleston
- pilot travel center 1082, north charleston
- quick and easy, north charleston
- quick stop mart, north charleston
- refuel 1014, mount pleasant
- refuel 1015, mount pleasant
- refuel 1017, charleston
- refuel 1060, charleston
- refuel 50, sullivans island
- reid street market, charleston
- rivers mart of north charleston, north charleston
- rosemont pantry, north charleston
- s & h convenience store, north charleston
- s&s river market llc, north charleston
- sunoco 2673 2673, north charleston
- saigon oriental market, north charleston
- scotchman 3102, mount pleasant
- scotchman 3165, charleston
- scotchman 3166, mount pleasant
- scotchman 3167, charleston
- scotchman 3870, north charleston
- shaktiman llc, north charleston
- shop & go, north charleston
- spar knights market, charleston
- speedway 2836, johns island
- speedway 2847, north charleston
- spinx 350, north charleston
- spinx 351, north charleston
- spinx 354, ladson
- spinx 356, ladson
- spinx 368, charleston
- spinx 370, johns island
- spinx 371, mount pleasant
- stop n go, charleston
- sunoco 2661 2661, ladson
- sunoco 2671 2671, north charleston
- sunoco 2674 2674, north charleston
- sunoco 2676 2676, north charleston
- syke's eastside market, charleston
- tortilleria y abarrotes azteca, north charleston
- unique vapors, north charleston
- veerraja llc, charleston
- xpress mart # 2, charleston
Combination Grocery/Other · 77
- african market and grocery, north charleston
- cvs pharmacy 1039, charleston
- cvs pharmacy 2243, charleston
- cvs pharmacy 3560, charleston
- cvs pharmacy 3801, charleston
- cvs pharmacy 4263, mount pleasant
- cvs pharmacy 443, charleston
- cvs pharmacy 483, charleston
- cvs pharmacy 528, johns island
- cvs pharmacy 529, johns island
- cvs pharmacy 5553, mount pleasant
- cvs pharmacy 5845, mount pleasant
- cvs pharmacy 626, north charleston
- cvs pharmacy 7159, mount pleasant
- cvs pharmacy 7795, mount pleasant
- cvs pharmacy 11003, mount pleasant
- cvs pharmacy 3870, charleston
- cvs pharmacy 3977, n charleston
- cvs pharmacy 5555, santee
- cvs pharmacy 7695, ravenel
- dollar general 10558, ravenel
- dollar general 11215, charleston
- dollar general 11246, charleston
- dollar general 14098, awendaw
- dollar general 14281, north charleston
- dollar general 1600, north charleston
- dollar general 1605, charleston
- dollar general 19241, charleston
- dollar general 3218, north charleston
- dollar general 3629, north charleston
- dollar general 7975, north charleston
- dollar general 8376, johns island
- dollar tree 1153, n charleston
- dollartree 10640, james island
- dollartree 10660, charleston
- dollartree 10871, charleston
- dollartree 7211, north charleston
- dollar general 11559, mc clellanville
- dollar general 17111, hollywood
- dollar general 22928, north charleston
- dollar general 24411, north charleston
- dollar general store 16682, johns island
- dollar general store 17211, johns island
- dollar tree 3219, north charleston
- dollar tree 434, charleston
- dollar tree 5202, north charleston
- family dollar store 5561, hollywood
- family dollar 10013, north charleston
- family dollar 10602, charleston
- family dollar 11195, north charleston
- family dollar 11749, north charleston
- family dollar 12092, north charleston
- family dollar 259, n charleston
- family dollar 369, charleston
- family dollar 4159, north charleston
- family dollar 5573, charleston
- family dollar 5680, north charleston
- family dollar 8905, north charleston
- family dollar store 10866, north charleston
- family dollar store 2112, johns island
- family dollar store 2737, ravenel
- family dollar store 6418, charleston
- family dollar store 9274, north charleston
- h & l asian market, north charleston
- rose's express 622, north charleston
- walgreens 11270, n charleston
- walgreens 12635, johns island
- walgreens 12782, charleston
- walgreens 15024, north charleston
- walgreens 15072, mount pleasant
- walgreens 15442, mt pleasant
- walgreens 15512, charleston
- walgreens 15630, james island
- walgreens 17043, charleston
- walgreens 18147, charleston
- walgreens 6076, charleston
- walgreens 7156, mount pleasant
Medium Grocery Store · 4
- bombay bazar, north charleston
- carniceria la esperanza 1, north charleston
- guadalajara supermarket 2, north charleston
- india spice market, charleston
Large Grocery Store · 3
- cash and carry, n charleston
- el molino supermarket 2, north charleston
- la mexicana supermarket, north charleston
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 3
- burbage meats, charleston
- discount meat market, north charleston
- murray's meats, north charleston
Delivery Route · 1
- lowcountry street grocery, charleston
Farmers' Market · 1
- o. freeman farm, johns island
Showing 250 of 330 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in South Carolina
One of 45 counties in South Carolina, 6 are shown here.
Compare Charleston County vs Abbeville County → · All South Carolina counties →
Nationwide peers for Charleston County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Charleston County (6.4%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside South Carolina.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside SC (20.8% here).
- Scotland County, NC · 20.8% low-access
- Scotland County, NC · 20.8% low-access
- Fond du Lac County, WI · 20.8% low-access
- Fond du Lac County, WI · 20.8% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside SC (6.4% here).
- Loudon County, TN · 6.4% SNAP
- Loudon County, TN · 6.4% SNAP
- Clay County, TX · 6.4% SNAP
- Clay County, TX · 6.4% SNAP
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, South Carolina in context
Charleston County sits inside South Carolina (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 Charleston County, SC are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 45019. 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.