County food-access profile · North Carolina
Cumberland County, NC
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).
- 29.2%
- low-access pop.
- 22
- food-desert tracts
- 18.6%
- on SNAP
- 339K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
29.2% of Cumberland County residents live in a low-access area, and 22 of its 67 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 38
- low-access tracts
- 43K
- food-desert residents
- 6.8%
- households, no vehicle
- 16.7%
- 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 29.2%, above the national share. 38 of the county's 67 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 93,404 people. 22 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 43,317 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 29.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 69% of them and ranked #986 most-affected nationwide.
Cumberland County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 67 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 North Carolina counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in North Carolina
- Cumberland
Cumberland County, NC
29.2 % low-access
- Alamance
Alamance County, NC
25 % low-access
- Alexander
Alexander County, NC
20.4 % low-access
- Alleghany 4.3
Alleghany County, NC
4.3 % low-access
- Anson 8.4
Anson County, NC
8.4 % low-access
- Ashe
Ashe County, NC
22.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 67 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 319,431 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 38 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 22 |
| Low-Access Population | 93,404 |
| Low-Access Share | 29.2%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 43,317 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 338,545 |
| Median Household Income | $61,291 |
| Poverty Rate | 16.7%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 24,156 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 18.6%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.8%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 5.0% |
About 18.6% of Cumberland County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 29.2% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 18.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 24,156 households here.
- 6.8% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 22 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
22 of Cumberland County's 67 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 32.8% of all its tracts.
A further 16 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 38.
An estimated 93,404 residents, roughly 29.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 43,317 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 29 tracts (43.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Cumberland County
Cumberland County has 311 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 160 locations (51% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 160
- 210 mini mart, stedman
- 3 way food mart, hope mills
- 365 fast mart, fayetteville
- 365 fast mart, fayetteville
- 365 fast mart #105, fayetteville
- 365 fast mart #125, fayetteville
- 365 stores llc #101 101, fayetteville
- 365 stores llc #107 107, spring lake
- 365 stores llc #111 111, fayetteville
- 365 stores llc 106, fayetteville
- 3d fast mart inc, linden
- 3d's african & caribbean market, fayetteville
- 7-eleven 42177h, fayetteville
- 7-eleven 42342h, fayetteville
- 7-eleven 42367h, fayetteville
- 7-eleven 42622h, fayetteville
- 777's llc, fayetteville
- aa food mart, fayetteville
- atkinson travel plaza, wade
- boulevard bp 3, fayetteville
- cedar creek country store 101, fayetteville
- circle k 2704394, hope mills
- circle k 2704579, fayetteville
- circle k 2704580, fayetteville
- circle k 2704593, spring lake
- circle k 2706485, hope mills
- circle k 2720302, fayetteville
- circle k 2720456, fayetteville
- circle k 2720481, hope mills
- circle k 2720486, fayetteville
- circle k 2720500, fayetteville
- circle k 2723004, fayetteville
- circle k 2723007, fayetteville
- circle k 2723010, fayetteville
- circle k 2723011, spring lake
- circle k 2723012, fayetteville
- circle k 2723013, fayetteville
- circle k 2723016, fayetteville
- circle k 2723017, spring lake
- circle k 2723027, fayetteville
- circle k 2723033, fayetteville
- circle k 2723035, fayetteville
- circle k 2723036, fayetteville
- circle k 2723037, fayetteville
- circle k 2723041, fayetteville
- circle k 2723042, fayetteville
- circle k 2723046, hope mills
- circle k 2723047, fayetteville
- circle k 2723050, hope mills
- circle k 2723051, fayetteville
- circle k 2723054, fayetteville
- circle k 2723142, fayetteville
- circle k 2723144, fayetteville
- circle k 2723481, fayetteville
- circle k 2723997, stedman
- circle v, fayetteville
- citgo food mart, fayetteville
- cliffdale family fare 178, fayetteville
- coliseum family fare 185, fayetteville
- college lakes 403, fayetteville
- express mart, fayetteville
- eastern blvd family fare 220, fayetteville
- epco 3 way food mart, eastover
- express mart, fayetteville
- express mart, fayetteville
- express mart # 2, fayetteville
- fast trip, fayetteville
- flowers bakery outlet 1050, fayetteville
- food mart, fayetteville
- freddys food mart llc, fayetteville
- freedom grocery and grill, fayetteville
- godwin food mart, godwin
- grays creek 106, fayetteville
- han-dee hugo's 24, fayetteville
- han-dee hugo's 25, fayetteville
- haymont family fare 165, fayetteville
- island mart 1, fayetteville
- j & l discount and food 1, fayetteville
- jackpot mini mart, fayetteville
- jjs tobacco 1, fayetteville
- legion petro mart, hope mills
- lucky 7 express, wade
- lucky 7 truck stop, wade
- lucky stop, spring lake
- ms sudys country store, fayetteville
- mall c-store 405, fayetteville
- manhattan deli, fayetteville
- mt badshah inc (dba) sunoco mini mart, fayetteville
- murphy express 8508, spring lake
- murphy express 8823, fayetteville
- murphy usa 7418, fayetteville
- murphy usa 7799, hope mills
- murphy usa 7874, fayetteville
- murphy usa 7957, fayetteville
- murphy usa 7963, fayetteville
- ny hero mart llc 1, fayetteville
- ny hero mart llc 1, fayetteville
- nirmal darbar inc dba cross creek convenience 1, fayetteville
- o2 mini mart, fayetteville
- one stop shop llc, fayetteville
- owen village family fare 365, fayetteville
- pm ss 21, fayetteville
- pm ss 26, fayetteville
- pm ss 27, fayetteville
- pmg ss 05 05, hope mills
- pmg ss 19 19, fayetteville
- pmg ss 31 31, hope mills
- pmg ss 34, fayetteville
- pmg ss 37 37, fayetteville
- pmg ss 39 39, fayetteville
- pmg ss 40 40, fayetteville
- pmg ss 43 43, hope mills
- pmg ss 58, fayetteville
- pmg ss 59 59, fayetteville
- pmgss #01 #01, fayetteville
- pit stop 301 express llc 1, hope mills
- pmg ss 45 45, fayetteville
- ponderosa asian grocery, fayetteville
- ponderosa exxon 5, fayetteville
- ponderosa family fare 385, fayetteville
- rayconda 433, fayetteville
- refuel 1149, hope mills
- refuel 1150, fayetteville
- refuel 1151, fayetteville
- refuel 1156, stedman
- reilly road family fare 399, fayetteville
- rob's food mart 2, fayetteville
- rowan st family fare 410, fayetteville
- short trip, hope mills
- stop & shop, spring lake
- save more - 2, spring lake
- scotchman 3142, fayetteville
- sharma abby inc, fayetteville
- sheetz 685, fayetteville
- sheetz 736, fayetteville
- sheetz 804, hope mills
- sheetz 866, fayetteville
- shell petromarts n/a, fayetteville
- shop n save, spring lake
- shop n save, fayetteville
- short stop 2 02, fayetteville
- short stop 63 63, fayetteville
- short stop 65 65, fayetteville
- short stop 74 74, fayetteville
- short trip #2, fayetteville
- skylite fast mart, fayetteville
- smoke ville llc, fayetteville
- speedway 6992, fayetteville
- speedway 6995, fayetteville
- speedway 6997, fayetteville
- speedway 6998, fayetteville
- speedway 6999, fayetteville
- st.james 444, fayetteville
- suga mamas confections, fayetteville
- tienda y carniceria la tapatia, fayetteville
- va va food mart, fayetteville
- wawa store 6112, fayetteville
- wawa store 6125, hope mills
- yaya food mart llc 1, fayetteville
- zip n mart 3, fayetteville
Combination Grocery/Other · 80
- aunt's oriental grocery, fayetteville
- big lots 3221, fayetteville
- big lots 3222, fayetteville
- cvs pharmacy 4095, fayetteville
- cvs pharmacy 4169, fayetteville
- cvs pharmacy 5504, fayetteville
- cvs pharmacy 7163, hope mills
- cvs pharmacy 6633, fayetteville
- cedar creek fish farm, fayetteville
- dollar general 11248, fayetteville
- dollar general 14329, hope mills
- dollar general 4431, fayetteville
- dollar general 6750, fayetteville
- dollar general 7241, fayetteville
- dollar general 8242, hope mills
- dollar general 8762, fayetteville
- dollar general 9427, fayetteville
- dollar general 9792, stedman
- dollar tree 0471, fayetteville
- dollar tree 1578, hope mills
- dollar tree 1818, spring lake
- dollartree 10646, fayetteville
- dollartree 9281, fayetteville
- dollar general 12807, fayetteville
- dollar general 14468, fayetteville
- dollar general 15984, fayetteville
- dollar general 16638, stedman
- dollar general 17411, fayetteville
- dollar general 17482, fayetteville
- dollar general 18425, fayetteville
- dollar general 20659, fayetteville
- dollar general 21209, fayetteville
- dollar general 21767, hope mills
- dollar general 21891, fayetteville
- dollar general 22524, spring lake
- dollar general 22797, fayetteville
- dollar general 22883, fayetteville
- dollar general 24058, fayetteville
- dollar general 24751, fayetteville
- dollar general 31013, fayetteville
- dollar general store 17481, fayetteville
- dollar tree 1753, fayetteville
- dollar tree 2933, fayetteville
- dollar tree 472, fayetteville
- dollar tree 4902, fayetteville
- dollar tree 6422, fayetteville
- dollar tree 6705, fayetteville
- eki nee oye african market, fayetteville
- family dollar 10360, fayetteville
- family dollar 11880, fayetteville
- family dollar 163, fayetteville
- family dollar 260, hope mills
- family dollar 292, fayetteville
- family dollar 3101, fayetteville
- family dollar 3590, fayetteville
- family dollar 360, spring lake
- family dollar 4524, fayetteville
- family dollar 4894, fayetteville
- family dollar 5393, stedman
- family dollar 68, fayetteville
- family dollar 8091, fayetteville
- family dollar 8933, fayetteville
- family dollar store 5254, fayetteville
- family dollar store 6544, fayetteville
- family dollar store 6674, fayetteville
- family dollar store 7412, fayetteville
- family dollar store 7562, fayetteville
- family dollar store 840, fayetteville
- masseyhill drug co, fayetteville
- walgreens 06547, fayetteville
- walgreens 07153, fayetteville
- walgreens 07805, fayetteville
- walgreens 11691, fayetteville
- walgreens 11693, spring lake
- walgreens 15151, fayetteville
- walgreens 17862, fayetteville
- walgreens 19007, fayetteville
- walgreens 19644, fayetteville
- walgreens 6548, fayetteville
- youn oriental food store, fayetteville
Medium Grocery Store · 5
- ali's african and carribean grocery, fayetteville
- beladi market, fayetteville
- mediterranean foods international, fayetteville
- saigon market llc, fayetteville
- the apple crate, fayetteville
Military Commissary · 2
- fort bragg north commissary, fort bragg
- fort bragg south commissary, fort bragg
Farmers' Market · 1
- gathering cafe, fayetteville
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- t & t farmers mkt, fayetteville
Large Grocery Store · 1
- iga eastover, eastover
Showing 250 of 311 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in North Carolina
Compare Cumberland County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →
Food access nationally, North Carolina in context
Cumberland County sits inside North Carolina (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.