Signature · 8.5% SNAP (19th pct in CA)
Contra Costa County, CA
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Contra Costa 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).
- 23.2%
- low-access pop.
- 15
- food-desert tracts
- 8.5%
- on SNAP
- 1.2M
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Contra Costa County, CA
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-ELEVATED 23.2% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +1.1 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 15 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 8.5% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.2% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 7% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Glenn County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Contra Costa County ranks #1,422 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #20 of 58 counties in CA (23.2% low-access; 15 food-desert tracts).
- #1,422
- national by low-access %
- #20
- in CA
- 96
- low-access tracts
- 30K
- 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: 8.5% SNAP (19th pct in CA) (-3.6 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Contra Costa County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Contra Costa County's 23.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 54% of them and ranked #1,422 most-affected nationwide.
Contra Costa County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
207 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 15 LILA.
Contra Costa County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (202 urban, 5 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 5 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Contra Costa County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in California, not a full county-board reprint
- Sierra
Sierra 88.2%
88.2 % low-access
- Riverside 24.5
Riverside 24.5%
24.5 % low-access
- Kern 23.8
Kern 23.8%
23.8 % low-access
- Glenn 23.4
Glenn 23.4%
23.4 % low-access
- Contra Costa 23.2
Contra Costa 23.2%
23.2 % low-access
- Santa Cruz 22.6
Santa Cruz 22.6%
22.6 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador 0.2%
0.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 207 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 1,049,025 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 96 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 15 |
| Low-Access Population | 243,671 |
| Low-Access Share | 23.2%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 30,080 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,165,012 |
| Median Household Income | $127,229 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.4%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 35,128 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.5%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.2%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.1% |
Thick SNAP store book in Contra Costa County
Contra Costa County has 602 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 253 locations (42% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
29 towns share the 602 authorized stores; Concord holds 14% of them. 4 of the 29 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Pacheco, Bethel Island, Byron, Crockett.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Concord | 83 | 31 |
| Richmond | 78 | 22 |
| Antioch | 68 | 19 |
| Pittsburg | 50 | 16 |
| San Pablo | 42 | 15 |
| Brentwood | 40 | 12 |
| Walnut Creek | 33 | 14 |
| Martinez | 25 | 6 |
| San Ramon | 24 | 11 |
| Pinole | 19 | 8 |
Top 10 of 29 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 253 (250 shown)
- 23rd convenience store, richmond
- 3m mom & pops supermarket, richmond
- 4th street market, richmond
- 7 eleven 14207e, concord
- 7 eleven 29736 b, antioch
- 7 eleven 14172d, alamo
- 7 eleven 16693c, bay point
- 7 eleven 16990g 16990g, walnut creek
- 7 eleven 17193f, antioch
- 7 eleven 17906b 17906b, walnut creek
- 7 eleven 19004e, pittsburg
- 7 eleven 20039e, antioch
- 7 eleven 2365 25373c, concord
- 7 eleven 2365 37536a, richmond
- 7 eleven 2365 37948b, richmond
- 7 eleven 2365-14179c 14179c, moraga
- 7 eleven 2365-14206g 14206g, pinole
- 7 eleven 2365-18330d 18330d, antioch
- 7 eleven 2369 39839a, concord
- 7 eleven 2369-35061 35061, martinez
- 7 eleven 23837d 23837d, martinez
- 7 eleven 24268e, pleasant hill
- 7 eleven 25082d 25082d, san ramon
- 7 eleven 26232c, pleasant hill
- 7 eleven 26316a, pleasant hill
- 7 eleven 29908c 29908c, walnut creek
- 7 eleven 32235c 32235c, martinez
- 7 eleven 32604e 32604e, concord
- 7 eleven 32787c, oakley
- 7 eleven 33374b 33374b, pittsburg
- 7 eleven 37929b 37929b, oakley
- 7 eleven 37952b 37952b, martinez
- 7 eleven 37994a, pinole
- 7 eleven 38723a 38723a, brentwood
- 7 eleven 38732b, oakley
- 7 eleven 38737a 38737a, brentwood
- 7 eleven 38955a 38955a, walnut creek
- 7 eleven 39379a, pittsburg
- 7 eleven 39488b, antioch
- 7 eleven 39596d, antioch
- 7 eleven store 36789b, concord
- 7 star market and gift shop 1, richmond
- 7-eleven #27353 b, concord
- 7-eleven 18886 c, concord
- 7-eleven 14177e, lafayette
- 7-eleven 14185g, antioch
- 7-eleven 32305 a, antioch
- 7-eleven store 14197c, concord
- 7-eleven store 22930d, richmond
- 7-eleven store 2365-14169g 14169g, pleasant hill
- 7-eleven store 2365-32993a 32993a, pacheco
- 7-eleven, store 14181, san ramon
- 7-eleven 14166, walnut creek
- 7-eleven 14192c, el cerrito
- a & a ellinwood market, pleasant hill
- a & m liquor & grocery, richmond
- a-1 liquor & food, pacheco
- appian express mart & gas, el sobrante
- alcosta chevron, san ramon
- amigos market, richmond
- antioch liquor beer wine & food, antioch
- antioch shell 381, antioch
- appian food & liquor, el sobrante
- arco am pm 7041, concord
- arco ampm 7095, bay point
- arco ampm, pittsburg
- arco ampm 7034, antioch
- arco ampm 7085, antioch
- arco ampm 7118, oakley
- arco ampm 7126, oakley
- arco ampm 7127, san pablo
- arco ampm 7144, pittsburg
- arco ampm 7188, antioch
- arco ampm ampm #2128, richmond
- atlas liquors, el cerrito
- bay view market, inc., richmond
- baypoint bevbox, bay point
- bethel market, bethel island
- bevbox - antioch, antioch
- bevbox rodeo, rodeo
- bevbox, san pablo n/a, san pablo
- beverage house liquor # 15, bay point
- bizi mart, antioch
- bonfare market 29, pittsburg
- bonfare markets 28, concord
- brentwood gas & more, brentwood
- brentwood petroleum, brentwood
- bridgehead chevron, oakley
- buchanan market and more, antioch
- buchanan smoke shop and more, antioch
- buonaroma liquor and deli, martinez
- byron corners, byron
- carlson food market, richmond
- crs family market & liquor, inc, richmond
- cal chevron 40, pittsburg
- carlson union 76, richmond
- cheers liquor, san pablo
- chevron 1552, danville
- chevron 1584, san ramon
- chevron 1593, concord
- chevron 1722, san pablo
- chevron 1729, walnut creek
- chevron 1761, brentwood
- chevron 1762, brentwood
- chevron 1788, danville
- chevron 1789, walnut creek
- chevron 2207, san ramon
- chevron arthur road, martinez
- chevron extra mile 5914, brentwood
- chevron station 1513, richmond
- cigarettes 4 less 1, pittsburg
- clayton liquor, clayton
- concord petroleum inc dba am pm 83424, concord
- cork n bottle liquor, concord
- crockett fuel & market, crockett
- crown liquor & market, pittsburg
- delta fair chevron, antioch
- dave's liquors, antioch
- del norte liquor, el cerrito
- discount cigarette and vape, antioch
- don's market & liquor 1, concord
- dos cunados market, pittsburg
- dutch pride gas and food, antioch
- eagle mini mart, pittsburg
- el cerrito chevron 007, el cerrito
- el portal shell 53, san pablo
- el sobrante ggp 28, el sobrante
- essential goods and services, richmond
- exotic smoke & vape shop dba fuel & exotic snaks, antioch
- extramile 202, martinez
- ez stop food market, pittsburg
- fast and easy 1, concord
- freska gas 3, san pablo
- g & l liquor and wine, pinole
- gary's liquor & cigarettes 4 less, antioch
- gas city antioch, antioch
- gas n save 01, oakley
- gasco, richmond
- gateway gas & mart, bethel island
- golden 7 food store, san pablo
- golden liquor, antioch
- golf course 76, antioch
- goody hut, martinez
- h & s energy products 3082, brentwood
- h&s energy products llc 2045, antioch
- h&s energy products llc 3040, oakley
- h&s energy products llc 3044, martinez
- h&s energy products llc 3045, bay point
- h&s energy products llc 3046, brentwood
- h&s energy products llc 3047, pittsburg
- h&s energy products llc 3049, bay point
- handy liquors, san pablo
- harbor petroleum inc 82620, brentwood
- hazey mini mart 1, concord
- heaven smoke shop, concord
- hillcrest valero, antioch
- j & l market, crockett
- j and s market, richmond
- jacksons food stores 203, el sobrante
- jay vee liquors, el sobrante
- jay vee liquors, el cerrito
- jefferey way shell 41, brentwood
- joes liquor and food, antioch
- john's market, san pablo
- johnny's market, antioch
- kwik serve, walnut creek
- kwik stop # 3, concord
- la bonita market 1, antioch
- la chicana market, bay point
- la tiendona market & produce, richmond
- laurel ampm, oakley
- liquor hub 7, richmond
- lone tree corner, brentwood
- lone tree shell, antioch
- m & o mart & deli, richmond
- m&n arco ampm 428, richmond
- marina market, martinez
- martinez food mart 1, martinez
- martinez liquor market, martinez
- mas primos market, concord
- michael's market, discovery bay
- mikes market, richmond
- mvp smoke shop and more, pittsburg
- newell liquor, walnut creek
- oakley market liquor & bait, oakley
- okidoky market, concord
- old town market, pittsburg
- olympic liquor and grocery, walnut creek
- one stop market, pacheco
- one stop mini mart, richmond
- p-town market, pittsburg
- pari-mart inc, concord
- pasha liquor and gas, concord
- people's market & liquor, san pablo
- peoples market and liquor, pittsburg
- pinole shell 378, pinole
- pittsburg chevron, pittsburg
- pittsburg circle k, pittsburg
- pittsburg groceries 4 less, pittsburg
- pittsburg liquor & deli, pittsburg
- pump house gas station, pinole
- punjabi bazaar 01, pittsburg
- quik stop market #551074, antioch
- quik stop market #551091, martinez
- quik stop market #552123, martinez
- quik stop market 551149, brentwood
- radc rebel 301, oakley
- rancho market & deli, richmond
- rebel 0203, san ramon
- rebel 402, bay point
- richmond gas and mart, richmond
- richmond petroleum, richmond
- richmond shell 0306, richmond
- rocket #5430 5430, hercules
- rodeo sports & liquor, rodeo
- romi's liquor & food, antioch
- roosevelt gas, richmond
- rose & mike liquors, richmond
- rotten robbie 36, alamo
- rotten robbie 68, brentwood
- s & s market, richmond
- safeway 5813, hercules
- sam's market & liquor, antioch
- san pablo chevron 301523, richmond
- san pablo shell 101, el sobrante
- seven stars market, concord
- shell 6201, antioch
- shop & save liquor, richmond
- sinclair mart 1, richmond
- speedway 6177, san pablo
- sportsman's liquor n/a, san pablo
- spot liquor, richmond
- stop & go market, richmond
- stop & shop market, richmond
- strauch and company, brentwood
- sun valley shell 300, pleasant hill
- sunset ampm, brentwood
- sunset market, richmond
- super 8 liquor and food, concord
- super liquor & food, concord
- super stop, rodeo
- sycamore smoke and more, antioch
- top gas, san pablo
- tower zone smoke shop, antioch
- us liquor & market 2020 inc, richmond
- united food mart 1, el sobrante
- united gas & food mart, richmond
- val mart, richmond
- vintage liquors, pittsburg
- valley market, pittsburg
Showing 250 of 602 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 California
One of 57 counties in California, 6 are shown here.
Compare Contra Costa County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Nationwide peers for Contra Costa County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Contra Costa County (8.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside California.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside CA (23.2% here).
- Jefferson County, CO · 23.2% low-access
- Pike County, AL · 23.2% low-access
- Presque Isle County, MI · 23.2% low-access
- Medina County, OH · 23.2% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside CA (8.5% here).
- Baxter County, AR · 8.5% SNAP
- Newton County, IN · 8.5% SNAP
- Delaware County, IA · 8.5% SNAP
- Fayette County, KY · 8.5% 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.
California among Pacific states
California ranks 5th of 5 Pacific states by population-weighted low-access (13.3%). Contra Costa County, at 23.2%, runs 9.9 pts above the California rate.
- Alaska 30.9%
- Hawaii 26.7%
- Washington 23.1%
- Oregon 16.9%
- California 13.3%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Contra Costa County, CA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 06013. 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.