County food-access profile · North Carolina
Durham County, NC
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Durham 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).
- 33.0%
- low-access pop.
- 8
- food-desert tracts
- 9.1%
- on SNAP
- 332K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
33.0% of Durham County residents live in a low-access area, and 8 of its 60 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 29
- low-access tracts
- 22K
- food-desert residents
- 6.7%
- households, no vehicle
- 11.5%
- 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 Durham County's low-access share at 33.0%, above the national share. 29 of the county's 60 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 88,260 people. 8 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 21,595 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 Durham County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Durham County's 33.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 76% of them and ranked #739 most-affected nationwide.
Durham County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 60 census tracts in Durham County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Durham County vs. other North Carolina counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in North Carolina
- Durham
Durham County, NC
33 % 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 | 60 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 267,587 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 29 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 8 |
| Low-Access Population | 88,260 |
| Low-Access Share | 33.0%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 21,595 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 332,353 |
| Median Household Income | $82,316 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.5%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 12,872 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.1%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.7%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 4.1% |
About 9.1% of Durham County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 33.0% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 9.1% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 12,872 households here.
- 6.7% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 8 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 Durham County
above the national share
8 of Durham County's 60 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 13.3% of all its tracts.
A further 21 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 29.
An estimated 88,260 residents, roughly 33.0% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 21,595 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 31 tracts (51.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Durham County
Durham County has 202 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 96 locations (48% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 96
- a & d 2017 llc 3, durham
- academy quick stop, durham
- buy quick food mart, durham
- beaver pond family fare 415, durham
- bethesda family fare 115, durham
- boulevard family fare 125, durham
- bragtown family fare 130, durham
- bragtown shell, durham
- bull city grab n go, durham
- buy & go 3, durham
- carpenter fletcher family fare 166, durham
- circle k 2708627, durham
- circle k 2720838, durham
- circle k 2723161, durham
- circle k 2723163, durham
- circle k 2723442, durham
- circle k 2723477, durham
- circle k 2723489, durham
- circle k 2723781, durham
- circle k store 6312, durham
- circle k store 6330, durham
- circus food, durham
- colonial village family fare 196, durham
- cornwallis family fare 198, durham
- croasdaile family fare 205, durham
- cross creek convenience., durham
- discount mart, durham
- duke street family fare 214, durham
- eagles mart inc, durham
- east campus family fare 215, durham
- emad express mini mart, durham
- eno family fare 240, durham
- falconbridge family fare 243, chapel hill
- family food mart, durham
- fast food mart 3, durham
- fast stop number 2, durham
- fayetteville street caroco 244, durham
- flowers bakery outlet 490, durham
- forest hills family fare 255, durham
- freeway family fare 120, durham
- garrett road family fare 262, durham
- geer st mini mart and tobacco, durham
- grab and go market, durham
- guess road family fare 270, durham
- han-dee hugo's 76, durham
- hill's open air market, durham
- hillside family fare 307, durham
- homestead family fare 280, durham
- hope valley family fare 285, durham
- horton road family fare 288, durham
- jack's in and out mart, durham
- jordan falcons family fare 313, durham
- joyland family fare 315, durham
- la costena machetuna, durham
- lasalle street family fare 326, durham
- lbs stop n shop llc, durham
- lowes grove family fare 335, durham
- m&m mini mart plus inc, durham
- miami blvd family fare 349, durham
- murphy express 8740, durham
- old chapel hill rd family fare 363, durham
- parkwood family fare 371, durham
- quality mart 34 1084, durham
- quality mart 43 1143, durham
- red mill quick stop, durham
- refuel 1102, durham
- refuel 1104, durham
- refuel 1105, durham
- refuel 1106, durham
- refuel 1110, durham
- refuel 1117, durham
- refuel 1122, durham
- rockwood family fare 402, durham
- roxboro pure mart, durham
- royals mini mart, durham
- s s tobacco & vape, durham
- sheetz 398, durham
- salam shah inc, durham
- sheetz 570, durham
- sheetz 676, durham
- sheetz 776, durham
- speedway 6971, durham
- speedway 6972, durham
- stop one food mart, durham
- triangle family fare 430, durham
- trinity food mart inc, durham
- trinity park family fare 432, durham
- umstead family fare 440, durham
- university family fare 436, durham
- university market, durham
- walltown min mart, durham
- wellons village family fare 447, durham
- west campus family fare 445, durham
- west durham family fare 450, durham
- westside family fare 455, durham
- zoomin 1, durham
Combination Grocery/Other · 47
- cvs pharmacy 1752, durham
- cvs pharmacy 2710, durham
- cvs pharmacy 681, morrisville
- cvs pharmacy 1395, durham
- cvs pharmacy 4290, durham
- cvs pharmacy 4391, durham
- cvs pharmacy 4444, durham
- cvs pharmacy 7042, durham
- cvs pharmacy 7047, durham
- dollar general 3067, durham
- dollar general 3614, durham
- dollar general 8941, durham
- dollar general 9167, durham
- dollar tree 3988, durham
- dollar general 11505, durham
- dollar general 12773, durham
- dollar general 23648, durham
- dollar general store 16915, durham
- dollar tree 2080, durham
- dollar tree 2210, durham
- dollar tree 265, durham
- dollar tree 5532, durham
- dollar tree 567, durham
- dollar tree 6035, durham
- dollar tree 7842, durham
- dollar tree 9643, durham
- family dollar 10161, durham
- family dollar 11975, durham
- family dollar 12031, durham
- family dollar 7807, durham
- family dollar 8609, durham
- family dollar store 225, durham
- family dollar store 7548, durham
- maxway 1845, durham
- moroleon supermarket, durham
- part & parcel, durham
- rose's 266, durham
- roses 428, durham
- walgreens 07317, durham
- walgreens 11200, durham
- walgreens 11404, durham
- walgreens 11894, durham
- walgreens 12132, durham
- walgreens 12728, durham
- walgreens 16137, durham
- walgreens 16138, durham
- walgreens 16139, durham
Super Store · 21
- compare foods, durham
- compare foods, durham
- costco wholesale 0249, durham
- durham co-op market, durham
- harris teeter 172, durham
- harris teeter 024, durham
- harris teeter 254, durham
- harris teeter 394, durham
- harris teeter 491, durham
- harris teeter 492, durham
- harris teeter 493, durham
- harris teeter 497, durham
- la superior meat market, durham
- liming's global mart, durham
- sam's club 4831, durham
- target store t-1872, durham
- target store t-2069, durham
- tropicana supermarket, durham
- walmart store 2137, durham
- walmart supercenter 1614, durham
- whole foods market 10041, durham
Supermarket · 17
- aldi 66110, durham
- charlie c's iga 825, durham
- food lion 1099, durham
- food lion 1343, durham
- food lion 234, durham
- food lion 2589, durham
- food lion 2593, durham
- food lion 274, durham
- food lion 420, durham
- food lion 57, durham
- food lion 747, durham
- food lion 885, durham
- food lion 939, durham
- kings red & white super mkt, durham
- publix north carolina lp 1817, durham
- sprouts farmers market 543, durham
- the fresh market 205, durham
Medium Grocery Store · 10
- around the world market rtp, durham
- al-taiba halal market, llc, durham
- durham african & caribbean market, durham
- little india, durham
- la marqueta, durham
- las carolinas fresh market, durham
- nora's african groceries, durham
- spice bazzar, durham
- taj market 1, durham
- tienda lagos meat market llc 1, durham
Small Grocery Store · 5
- global suq, durham
- halal bazar, durham
- iwacu international grocery market, durham
- mangums store, rougemont
- mi barrio su tienda hispana corp n/a, durham
Farmers' Market · 4
- durham farmers' market, durham
- north durham farmers' market, durham
- south durham farmers market, durham
- the black farmers market nafmnp, durham
Large Grocery Store · 1
- tienda don becerra, durham
Seafood Specialty · 1
- capital seafood market, durham
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in North Carolina
Compare Durham County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →
Food access nationally, North Carolina in context
Durham 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 Durham County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Durham County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Durham County? ▼
Is Durham County a food desert? ▼
What share of Durham 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.