County food-access profile · Maine
Cumberland County, ME
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Cumberland 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).
- 21.0%
- low-access pop.
- 3
- food-desert tracts
- 7.5%
- on SNAP
- 309K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
21.0% of Cumberland County residents live in a low-access area, and 3 of its 66 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 20
- low-access tracts
- 10K
- food-desert residents
- 6.9%
- households, no vehicle
- 7.3%
- 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 Cumberland County's low-access share at 21.0%, above the national share. 20 of the county's 66 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 59,104 people. 3 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 9,894 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 Cumberland County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Cumberland County's 21.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 49% of them and ranked #1,603 most-affected nationwide.
Cumberland County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 66 census tracts in Cumberland County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Cumberland County vs. other Maine counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Maine
- Cumberland
Cumberland County, ME
21 % low-access
- Androscoggin
Androscoggin County, ME
9.2 % low-access
- Aroostook
Aroostook County, ME
10.9 % low-access
- Franklin
Franklin County, ME
12.9 % low-access
- Hancock 4
Hancock County, ME
4 % low-access
- Kennebec 5.2
Kennebec County, ME
5.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 66 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 281,674 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 20 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 3 |
| Low-Access Population | 59,104 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.0%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 9,894 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 308,827 |
| Median Household Income | $95,677 |
| Poverty Rate | 7.3%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 9,897 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 7.5%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.9%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.2% |
About 7.5% of Cumberland County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 21.0% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 7.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 9,897 households here.
- 6.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 3 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 Cumberland County
above the national share
3 of Cumberland County's 66 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 4.5% of all its tracts.
A further 17 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 20.
An estimated 59,104 residents, roughly 21.0% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 9,894 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 46 tracts (69.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Cumberland County
Cumberland County has 246 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 98 locations (40% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 98
- 7-eleven 32534a, gorham
- 7-eleven 32532b, portland
- 7-eleven 32541c, portland
- anania's washington avenue, portland
- african supermarket 2 2, westbrook
- alltown portland 602, portland
- alltown windham 611, windham
- big apple 1000, bridgton
- big apple 1013, westbrook
- big apple 1022, brunswick
- big apple 1026, portland
- big apple 1034, south portland
- big apple 1043, windham
- big apple 1050, gray
- big apple 1056, windham
- big apple 1084, south portland
- big apple 1089, portland
- big apple 1099, yarmouth
- big apple 1102, raymond
- big apple 1105, naples
- big apple 1107, bridgton
- broadway variety, south portland
- buena vista filipino food market, south portland
- casco variety, portland
- circle k 4707125, standish
- cumberland farms #5604 5604, portland
- cumberland farms 5565, westbrook
- cumberland farms 5570, portland
- cumberland farms 5573, south portland
- cumberland farms 5575, portland
- cumberland farms 5585, brunswick
- cumberland farms 5587, gray
- cumberland farms 5607, gorham
- cumberland farms 5613, portland
- campbells market, south portland
- casco village variety, casco
- circle k 4707017, portland
- circle k 4707018, south portland
- circle k 4707030, south portland
- circle k 4707046, scarborough
- circle k 4707061, falmouth
- circle k 4707064, portland
- circle k 4707083, freeport
- circle k 4707084, freeport
- circle k 4707093, south portland
- circle k 4707122, raymond
- circle k 7101, gray
- circle k 7102, brunswick
- cumberland farm 5623, gorham
- cumberland farms 5601, windham
- cumberland farms 5617, scarborough
- cumberland farms 5619, yarmouth
- cumberland farms 5620, brunswick
- cumberland farms 5622, cape elizabeth
- doherty's north freeport store, freeport
- duck pond variety windham, windham
- energy north 2320, portland
- energy north 2325, portland
- energy north 2331, portland
- energy north 2343, naples
- flowers bakery outlet 986, portland
- harrison general store, harrison
- hilltop mini mart, raymond
- hilltop superette 3 1, portland
- joe's super variety, portland
- link's variety, new gloucester
- little havana plaza, portland
- lucky thai variety, westbrook
- nouria 1026 lewiston road 1096, new gloucester
- nouria 1089, gorham
- nouria 1101, scarborough
- nouria 201 tandberg trail 1106, windham
- nouria 264 us route 1 1085, falmouth
- nouria 443 portland road 1084, bridgton
- nouria 688 gray road 1090, gorham
- nouria 746 roosevelt trail 1106, windham
- nouria 88 county road 1102, scarborough
- peace food market, portland
- pequawket trail general store, llc, east baldwin
- queen bee food mart, llc, portland
- riverton gas station & convenience store 1, portland
- rosemont market, yarmouth
- rosemont market & bakery scarboroug, scarborough
- rosemont market f& bakery, falmouth
- rusty lantern 0146, brunswick
- rusty lantern 0205, brunswick
- rusty lantern 0682, south portland
- rusty lantern 2282, portland
- rusty lantern market 0181, cumberland center
- short stop 0, pownal
- sopo mart, south portland
- standish quick stop, standish
- state street mini mart, portland
- tnt quickstop, gorham
- twenty seven variety, portland
- village tieup market & deli, harrison
- westbrook discount beverage, westbrook
- westbrook market, westbrook
Combination Grocery/Other · 60
- african supermarket, portland
- bogushas polich rest & deli, portland
- bow street market inc, freeport
- cvs pharmacy 454, portland
- cvs pharmacy 1288, brunswick
- cvs pharmacy 329, portland
- cvs pharmacy 374, portland
- cvs pharmacy 803, westbrook
- cvs pharmacy 805, cape elizabeth
- cvs pharmacy 806, south portland
- cvs pharmacy 8245, freeport
- cvs pharmacy, inc. 378, windham
- cvs pharmacy, inc. 804, portland
- cabana wholesale african market, portland
- dollar tree 3084, s portland
- dollar general 16342, windham
- dollar general 19141, gray
- dollar general 25238, portland
- dollar general 25284, bridgton
- dollar general 25795, bridgton
- dollar general store 18068, south portland
- dollar tree 2402, windham
- dollar tree 4516, brunswick
- dollar tree 4795, portland
- dollar tree 5086, gray
- dollar tree 5301, south portland
- dollar tree 7673, portland
- family dollar 11099, standish
- family dollar 11431, naples
- family dollar 13018, portland
- family dollar 7015, raymond
- family dollar 8028, bridgton
- family dollar store 3713, westbrook
- fishermen's net, brunswick
- haknuman meanchey, portland
- lois natural marketplace, scarborough
- la fontaine llc, westbrook
- mak store, llc, brunswick
- mamy mk lufu, llc n/a, portland
- masala mahal, so portland
- ocean state job lot 476, falmouth
- quality shop, portland
- sun oriental market, portland
- veranda asian markiet llc, portland
- walgreens 10428, windham
- walgreens 10988, scarborough
- walgreens 11886, portland
- walgreens 12325, portland
- walgreens 17364, bridgton
- walgreens 17725, brunswick
- walgreens 18299, scarborough
- walgreens 19078, westbrook
- walgreens 19423, yarmouth
- walgreens 19461, falmouth
- walgreens 19464, portland
- walgreens 19678, south portland
- walgreens 19692, gorham
- walgreens 19789, gray
- walgreens 19821, portland
- walgreens 19902, naples
Super Store · 30
- bj's wholesale club 29, portland
- costco wholesale 1657, scarborough
- gray shop n save, gray
- hannaford food & drug 8223, westbrook
- hannaford food & drug 8349, standish
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8446, brunswick
- hannaford super & phar 8451, scarborough
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8167, bridgton
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8188, yarmouth
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8222, falmouth
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8251, gray
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8279, south portland
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8342, scarborough
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8345, north windham
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8350, gorham
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8351, portland
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8354, portland
- hannaford supermarket & pharmacy 8387, south portland
- market basket 85, westbrook
- morning glory natural foods 1, brunswick
- rosemont market & bakery, cape elizabeth
- sam's club 8186, scarborough
- supermarket & pharmacy 8231, brunswick
- target 1338, south portland
- tony's foodland, naples
- walmart 1939, brunswick
- walmart 2659, falmouth
- walmart supercenter 2202, windham
- walmart supercenter 1788, scarborough
- whole foods market 10291, portland
Medium Grocery Store · 17
- barber bros maine, llc, south portland
- chez castel llc 0712273, portland
- foodie friends grocery & restuarant, portland
- fresh approach, portland
- gambela llc, portland
- glory store, portland
- hannigan island market, peaks island
- island affairs, south portland
- jordan's farm, cape elizabeth
- la bodega latina grocery portland llc, portland
- les merveille de dieu, portland
- moran's market inc, portland
- makkah market llc/ makkah halal market, portland
- safari grocery, portland
- sindibad market, portland
- sindibad market 2, westbrook
- sirloin, scarborough
Supermarket · 14
- food city bridgton, bridgton
- harbor fish market 2, scarborough
- pond cove iga, cape elizabeth
- portland food co-op, portland
- royal river natural foods, freeport
- save a lot 24022, portland
- shaw's supermarket 2538, windham
- shaw's supermarket 2541, portland
- shaw's supermarket 3544, south portland
- shaw's supermarket 4543, portland
- shaw's supermarket 4651, falmouth
- shaw's supermarket 608, freeport
- shaw's supermarket 628, brunswick
- trader joe's 519, portland
Farmers' Market · 10
- bridgton farmers market nafmnp, bridgton
- brunswick - topsham land trust farmers' market, brunswick
- brunswick farmers' market nafmnp, brunswick
- brunswick winter market ##nafmnp, brunswick
- freeport farmers market nafmnp, freeport
- portland farmers market association, portland
- steep falls farmers market, steep falls
- windham farmers' market at turning leaf, windham
- woodford's corner farmers' market nafmnp, portland
- yarmouth farmers market, yarmouth
Small Grocery Store · 10
- banadir market llc, portland
- franklin mini mart, portland
- grace food mart, westbrook
- jordan's store, sebago
- medeo european food & deli, westbrook
- papa clo grocery store, portland
- rosemont market & bakery, portland
- rosemont market & bakery, portland
- southpaw meat market, raymond
- tesoro market 2, portland
Large Grocery Store · 5
- hong kong market, portland
- micucci grocery co., inc., portland
- moriah market, portland
- pats meat market, portland
- serey pheap market, portland
Seafood Specialty · 2
- harbor fish market inc, portland
- merrill p j seafoods inc, portland
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Maine
Compare Cumberland County vs Androscoggin County → · All Maine counties →
Food access nationally, Maine in context
Cumberland County sits inside Maine (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 Cumberland County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Cumberland County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Cumberland County? ▼
Is Cumberland County a food desert? ▼
What share of Cumberland 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.