Signature · 7.4% low-access (14th pct)
Cook County, IL
Cook County lands in the lower national band on low-access (7.4%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.
- 7.4%
- low-access pop.
- 51
- food-desert tracts
- 15.7%
- on SNAP
- 5.2M
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Cook County, IL
LA-ADEQUATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-ADEQUATE 7.4% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -14.7 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 51 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 15.7% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 18.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 4% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Johnson County (+ 0.1 pts)
Lower-band low-access
Cook County lands in the lower national band (7.4%, #2,685 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.
- #2,685
- national by low-access %
- #93
- in IL
- 168
- low-access tracts
- 92K
- food-desert residents
Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.
Signature read: 7.4% low-access (14th pct) (-14.7 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Cook County compares nationally
Food access in Cook County compares favorably nationally: its 7.4% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 14% of them (rank #2,685).
Cook County's lower-band USDA tier split
1,314 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 51 LILA.
Cook County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (1,312 urban, 2 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 2 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Cook County vs nearby low low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Illinois, not a full county-board reprint
- Scott
Scott 66.5%
66.5 % low-access
- Union 7.9
Union 7.9%
7.9 % low-access
- Johnson 7.5
Johnson 7.5%
7.5 % low-access
- Cook 7.4
Cook 7.4%
7.4 % low-access
- De Witt 7.3
De Witt 7.3%
7.3 % low-access
- Christian 7
Christian 7%
7 % low-access
- Putnam 0.1
Putnam 0.1%
0.1 % low-access
FARA 2019 · lower low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 1,314 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 5,194,675 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 168 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 51 |
| Low-Access Population | 382,297 |
| Low-Access Share | 7.4%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 91,773 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,182,090 |
| Median Household Income | $83,498 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.5%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 329,128 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 15.7%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 18.0%well above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.7% |
Thick SNAP store book in Cook County
Cook County has 3,376 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 13 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 1,427 locations (42% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
128 towns share the 3,376 authorized stores; Chicago holds 54% of them. 24 of the 128 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Riverdale, Posen, Park Forest, Sauk Village, Lincolnwood, Ford Heights and 18 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 1,827 | 464 |
| Cicero | 61 | 18 |
| Schaumburg | 50 | 26 |
| Des Plaines | 44 | 18 |
| Skokie | 43 | 17 |
| Evanston | 41 | 12 |
| Niles | 39 | 25 |
| Oak Lawn | 39 | 13 |
| Orland Park | 39 | 17 |
| Berwyn | 33 | 6 |
Top 10 of 128 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 1,427 (250 shown)
- 101st ave fuel inc, maywood
- 111th food & cellular inc, chicago
- 111th street clark, chicago
- 118th street market, chicago
- 119th food & fuel inc, blue island
- 127 food & fuel, calumet park
- 12th st food and liquor, cicero
- 130 fuel & mini mart, chicago
- 1306 food mart, chicago
- 135th oil group inc 0, robbins
- 14144 pulaski llc, midlothian
- 1422 foodmart inc, countryside
- 1445 food & fuel inc, dolton
- 147th st fuel inc, midlothian
- 1500 east ave inc., berwyn
- 1557 south central business inc, cicero
- 159th food & fuel, harvey
- 1602 cermak inc, chicago
- 17500 food & fuel, hazel crest
- 18th ruble shell, chicago
- 203 food mart inc, oak park
- 2107 western inc, chicago
- 2138 homewood inc, homewood
- 2340 foodmart inc., chicago
- 2380 river inc, des plaines
- 24/7 express food, chicago
- 24/7 express mart food & liquor, chicago
- 2401 food & fuel, olympia fields
- 26th shell, chicago
- 273 food & fuel inc, harvey
- 290 quick mart & tobacco, chicago
- 3 brothers, chicago
- 3330 kimball, inc., chicago
- 35th food & fuel, chicago
- 35th oil group inc, cicero
- 3600 commissary, chicago
- 3940 mobile inc., chicago
- 3960 irving park, inc., chicago
- 39th snacks spot 1, chicago
- 3n's oriental groceries, foods & markets n/a, broadview
- 4 m oil inc, westchester
- 44 food & fuel inc, dolton
- 4443 ashland inc, chicago
- 4629 petroleum, chicago
- 4647 pulaski inc, chicago
- 47th dollar food & mart, chicago
- 50th deli food & tobacco, chicago
- 51 halsted inc, chicago
- 5147rooseveltmobil, cicero
- 51st petrol inc, chicago
- 520 california gas inc., chicago
- 54 food & liquor, chicago
- 5559wroosevelt road business llc, cicero
- 5659 w diversey inc, chicago
- 61st gas & food mart, chicago
- 63rd and drexel mobil., chicago
- 63rd grab n go, chicago
- 63rd street, chicago
- 63rd street food mart inc, chicago
- 67th fuel, chicago
- 6901 food, chicago
- 7 eleven 13359, niles
- 7 eleven 30126c, elk grove village
- 7 eleven 33781a, chicago
- 7 eleven 33783, cicero
- 7 eleven 33799, winnetka
- 7 eleven 33848, bartlett
- 7 heaven food mart, chicago
- 7 seas food & meat mart 3, chicago
- 7-eleven 13369, chicago
- 7-eleven 33727a, chicago
- 7-eleven #18344 18344, schaumburg
- 7-eleven #32139, chicago
- 7-eleven #33055e, des plaines
- 7-eleven #33591d, chicago
- 7-eleven #34715b, schiller park
- 7-eleven 13392g, hanover park
- 7-eleven 13529e, des plaines
- 7-eleven 16259, chicago
- 7-eleven 16809, chicago
- 7-eleven 17859c, chicago
- 7-eleven 18473e, chicago
- 7-eleven 18772, schaumburg
- 7-eleven 20075d, elk grove village
- 7-eleven 22365, chicago
- 7-eleven 23364, merrionette park
- 7-eleven 23591e, burbank
- 7-eleven 23852e, river forest
- 7-eleven 24329, chicago
- 7-eleven 25375, chicago
- 7-eleven 26063b, forest park
- 7-eleven 26265e, chicago
- 7-eleven 26825, chicago
- 7-eleven 27125d, chicago
- 7-eleven 27235, park ridge
- 7-eleven 27463d, chicago
- 7-eleven 27616e, elgin
- 7-eleven 27898, berwyn
- 7-eleven 29766 29766, chicago
- 7-eleven 30096d 30096, chicago
- 7-eleven 30097, chicago
- 7-eleven 30099c, chicago
- 7-eleven 32683e, indian head park
- 7-eleven 32851c, forest park
- 7-eleven 32889b, chicago
- 7-eleven 32927b, la grange
- 7-eleven 32930b, chicago
- 7-eleven 33067j, chicago
- 7-eleven 33082b, chicago
- 7-eleven 33084b, palos heights
- 7-eleven 33086h, chicago
- 7-eleven 33382, chicago
- 7-eleven 33391j, thornton
- 7-eleven 33511, chicago
- 7-eleven 33526c, chicago
- 7-eleven 33582b, chicago
- 7-eleven 33609, chicago
- 7-eleven 33636, chicago
- 7-eleven 33661, chicago
- 7-eleven 33725 33725, chicago
- 7-eleven 33726a, chicago
- 7-eleven 33729a, chicago
- 7-eleven 33741, rosemont
- 7-eleven 33744, park ridge
- 7-eleven 33753, chicago
- 7-eleven 33753h, chicago
- 7-eleven 33758c, chicago
- 7-eleven 33792 33792, northbrook
- 7-eleven 33810, chicago
- 7-eleven 33856b, chicago
- 7-eleven 33856k, chicago
- 7-eleven 33882, chicago
- 7-eleven 33887, bartlett
- 7-eleven 33898, chicago
- 7-eleven 33899b, lyons
- 7-eleven 33901, chicago
- 7-eleven 33909, chicago
- 7-eleven 33921b, chicago
- 7-eleven 34199a, chicago
- 7-eleven 34234a, mount prospect
- 7-eleven 34720k, south holland
- 7-eleven 35978a, chicago
- 7-eleven 36033a, chicago
- 7-eleven 38397b, elk grove village
- 7-eleven 38484a, chicago
- 7-eleven store 27070h, evanston
- 7-eleven store 33412a, chicago
- 7-eleven store 38789h, melrose park
- 7-eleven, inc. 41961h, chicago
- 7-eleven, chicago
- 7-eleven, chicago
- 7-eleven #13315a, park forest
- 7-eleven #13361a #13361a, skokie
- 7-eleven #23658c, chicago
- 7-eleven #26745f 26745f, streamwood
- 7-eleven #27100e, chicago
- 7-eleven #29098f 29098f, chicago
- 7-eleven #29168b #29168b, chicago
- 7-eleven #30100f 30100f, chicago ridge
- 7-eleven #30110d 30110d, park ridge
- 7-eleven #32261d 32261d, chicago
- 7-eleven #33360c #33360c, des plaines
- 7-eleven #33508d 33508d, chicago
- 7-eleven #33735b #33735b, elk grove village
- 7-eleven #33765b #33765b, oak lawn
- 7-eleven #33771b, schiller park
- 7-eleven #33774c #33774c, la grange park
- 7-eleven #33791d #33791d, evergreen park
- 7-eleven #33809d #33809d, chicago
- 7-eleven #33819c, riverside
- 7-eleven #33838b, oak forest
- 7-eleven #33858b 33858b, schiller park
- 7-eleven #33876d #33876d, arlington heights
- 7-eleven #33892b 33892b, chicago
- 7-eleven #33903b, melrose park
- 7-eleven #33910b #33910b, orland park
- 7-eleven #33912b 33912b, chicago
- 7-eleven #33913b #33913b, oak lawn
- 7-eleven #33919d #33919d, schaumburg
- 7-eleven #34714b #34714b, schiller park
- 7-eleven #34721b 34721b, south holland
- 7-eleven #36793b, chicago
- 7-eleven #38585a 38585a, chicago
- 7-eleven #38620a, schaumburg
- 7-eleven #38739b 38739b, bridgeview
- 7-eleven #38743a, wheeling
- 7-eleven #38948a #38948a, chicago
- 7-eleven #38959a 38959a, alsip
- 7-eleven #38964a #38964a, hoffman estates
- 7-eleven #38977a #38977a, palatine
- 7-eleven #41123a, rosemont
- 7-eleven #41188a #41188a, evergreen park
- 7-eleven #41570a #41570a, schaumburg
- 7-eleven 13314f, chicago
- 7-eleven 16087a, orland park
- 7-eleven 16516b, oak park
- 7-eleven 16689g, chicago
- 7-eleven 16979c, skokie
- 7-eleven 17016e 17016e, glenview
- 7-eleven 17492d, hoffman estates
- 7-eleven 24606b 24606b, chicago
- 7-eleven 25341c, chicago
- 7-eleven 26878f, chicago
- 7-eleven 27421c, chicago
- 7-eleven 27599e, berwyn
- 7-eleven 29530d, chicago
- 7-eleven 30101c, des plaines
- 7-eleven 30105f 30105f, chicago
- 7-eleven 30120a, homewood
- 7-eleven 30128f, des plaines
- 7-eleven 30129g, tinley park
- 7-eleven 32236c, elgin
- 7-eleven 32934e, chicago
- 7-eleven 33444, chicago
- 7-eleven 33527e, schaumburg
- 7-eleven 33746a, oak lawn
- 7-eleven 33768b, chicago
- 7-eleven 33779c, chicago
- 7-eleven 33786b, oak park
- 7-eleven 33854b, chicago
- 7-eleven 33861b, streamwood
- 7-eleven 33875b, chicago
- 7-eleven 33888c, evanston
- 7-eleven 33961b, evanston
- 7-eleven 35504a, chicago
- 7-eleven 35632b, chicago
- 7-eleven 36061a, chicago
- 7-eleven 36106b, chicago
- 7-eleven 36718b, chicago
- 7-eleven 37152a, chicago
- 7-eleven 37759a, chicago
- 7-eleven 38046a, chicago
- 7-eleven 38183b, chicago
- 7-eleven 38440a, mount prospect
- 7-eleven 38506a 38506a, schaumburg
- 7-eleven 38526a 38526a, mount prospect
- 7-eleven 38541b, melrose park
- 7-eleven 38544a, chicago
- 7-eleven 38644, arlington heights
- 7-eleven 38828a, tinley park
- 7-eleven 38861a, chicago
- 7-eleven 39913a 39913a, chicago
- 7-eleven 41810a, chicago
- 7100 gas mart, chicago
- 7140 roosevelt, inc., oak park
- 71st & state fuel inc, chicago
- 71st food and fuel inc, chicago
- 71st liquor & food, chicago
- 72 nd petroleum inc., chicago
- 735 w division llc, chicago
Showing 250 of 3,376 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 Illinois
One of 101 counties in Illinois, 6 are shown here.
Compare Cook County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →
Counties near Cook County's lower low-access or SNAP band
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Cook County, both outside Illinois so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside IL (7.4% here).
- Franklin County, IN · 7.4% low-access
- Todd County, KY · 7.4% low-access
- Wadena County, MN · 7.4% low-access
- Austin County, TX · 7.4% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside IL (15.7% here).
- Highlands County, FL · 15.7% SNAP
- Calcasieu Parish, LA · 15.7% SNAP
- Oxford County, ME · 15.7% SNAP
- Randolph County, AR · 15.7% 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.
Illinois among East North Central states
Illinois ranks 5th of 5 East North Central states by population-weighted low-access (20.2%). Cook County, at 7.4%, runs 12.8 pts below the Illinois rate.
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 Cook County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17031. 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.