County food-access profile · Louisiana

East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of East Baton Rouge Parish 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).

28.8%
low-access pop.
26
food-desert tracts
15.9%
on SNAP
453K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 LA

The food-access picture

28.8% of East Baton Rouge Parish residents live in a low-access area, and 26 of its 91 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

48
low-access tracts
52K
food-desert residents
8.1%
households, no vehicle
19.6%
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 East Baton Rouge Parish's low-access share at 28.8%, above the national share. 48 of the county's 91 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 126,908 people. 26 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 51,591 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 East Baton Rouge Parish compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, East Baton Rouge Parish's 28.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 67% of them and ranked #1,019 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

East Baton Rouge Parish: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 91 census tracts in East Baton Rouge Parish, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for East Baton Rouge Parish, LA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 43 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 22 limited, 26 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 91 tracts evaluated. 43 tracts adequate (47.3%) 22 tracts limited (24.2%) 26 tracts severe / food desert (28.6%) Adequate 47% Limited 24% Severe 29% Food-access tier distribution: East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

East Baton Rouge Parish vs. other Louisiana counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Louisiana

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for East Baton Rouge Parish
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts91
Atlas Population (2010 basis)440,171
Low-Access Tracts48
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)26
Low-Access Population126,908
Low-Access Share28.8%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population51,591

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for East Baton Rouge Parish
IndicatorValue
Population452,938
Median Household Income$63,071
Poverty Rate19.6%above the national average
SNAP Households28,210
SNAP Participation Rate15.9%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle8.1%near the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.4%
SNAP participation in East Baton Rouge Parish 15.9%

About 15.9% of East Baton Rouge Parish households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 28.8% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 15.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 28,210 households here.
  • 8.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 26 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 East Baton Rouge Parish

above the national share

26 of East Baton Rouge Parish's 91 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 28.6% of all its tracts.

A further 22 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 48.

An estimated 126,908 residents, roughly 28.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 51,591 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 43 tracts (47.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in East Baton Rouge Parish

East Baton Rouge Parish has 402 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 136 locations (34% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 136

  • 3 amigos, baton rouge
  • a & t food mart inc., baton rouge
  • acadian food mart, baton rouge
  • acadian grocery, baton rouge
  • adam grocery, baton rouge
  • adels gas stop 3, baton rouge
  • airline food mart, baton rouge
  • airport exxon, baton rouge
  • b & b ez food mart, zachary
  • b quik 1, baton rouge
  • b quik 3, baton rouge
  • b quik 4, baton rouge
  • bc food mart, baton rouge
  • bellue's fine cajun cuisine, baton rouge
  • benny's lee 11, baton rouge
  • big boy food mart, baker
  • big boy shop & geaux, baton rouge
  • big daddy tobacco plus, baton rouge
  • big ez discount, baton rouge
  • billy grocery, baton rouge
  • bocage larouge mart, baton rouge
  • brothers nicholson, baton rouge
  • c & h mart, baker
  • circle k store 01818, baton rouge
  • circle k store 08036, baton rouge
  • canamro, baker
  • chevron food mart #2, baton rouge
  • circle k 2701905, baton rouge
  • circle k 2704765, baton rouge
  • circle k 2706797, baton rouge
  • circle k 2706807, baton rouge
  • circle k 2706819, baton rouge
  • circle k 2706822, baton rouge
  • circle k 2706825, baton rouge
  • circle k 2706827, baton rouge
  • circle k 2707653, baton rouge
  • circle k 2707654, baton rouge
  • circle k 2707657, baton rouge
  • circle k 2707658, baton rouge
  • circle k 2709716, baton rouge
  • circle k 2709721, baton rouge
  • circle k 2709722, baton rouge
  • circle k 2709723, baton rouge
  • circle k 2709728, baton rouge
  • circle k 2806799, greenwell springs
  • circle k 2806826, baton rouge
  • circle k ke 124, baton rouge
  • circle k store 2707656, baton rouge
  • circle k store 2709729, baton rouge
  • circle k stores 2708046, baton rouge
  • circle k stores inc. 2707650, baton rouge
  • circle k stores inc. 2709717, baton rouge
  • circle k stores inc. 2709725, baton rouge
  • circle k stores, inc 2707647, baker
  • circle k stores, inc 2707651, baton rouge
  • circle k stores, inc 2707655, baton rouge
  • circle k stores, inc 2707659, baton rouge
  • circle k stores, inc 2707660, baton rouge
  • circle k stores, inc 2707679, zachary
  • circle k stores, inc 2709724, baton rouge
  • city mart, baton rouge
  • city town market 2, baton rouge
  • crown food mart, baker
  • erics grocery, baton rouge
  • easy stop food mart, baton rouge
  • eesa go tiger stop llc, baton rouge
  • fast lane petro, baton rouge
  • fast stop 2330, baton rouge
  • fast stop express 3, baton rouge
  • florida discount, baton rouge
  • florida hop in - circle k 108, baton rouge
  • flowers bakery outlet 204, baker
  • flowers bakery outlet 231, baton rouge
  • flyby c -store, baton rouge
  • food n geaux, baton rouge
  • foster food mart inc, baton rouge
  • friendly express 7, baton rouge
  • friends food mart, baton rouge
  • geaux tiger mart, llc, baton rouge
  • grab and go, baton rouge
  • greenwell quick stop, baton rouge
  • gus young meat maret, baton rouge
  • hammed 23 inc, baton rouge
  • harry's food mart, baton rouge
  • hollywood food mart inc., baton rouge
  • hooper hop in - circle k, baton rouge
  • hop in, baton rouge
  • hopin, baton rouge
  • in a flash, baton rouge
  • jayla inc., baton rouge
  • jeff's food mart inc., baton rouge
  • jiffy mart 15, baton rouge
  • johnny junior grocery, baton rouge
  • jubilee 2, baton rouge
  • k & t food mart, baton rouge
  • kwik stop, baton rouge
  • keep moving food mart 1, baker
  • kim's market, baton rouge
  • la food mart, baton rouge
  • layans food mart, baton rouge
  • louisiana liquor, baton rouge
  • major discount, baton rouge
  • mien tay grocery, baton rouge
  • mj food mart, baton rouge
  • mr lucky's truck stop, baton rouge
  • murphy express 8582, zachary
  • murphy express 8760, greenwell springs
  • murphy express 8776, baton rouge
  • murphy express 8808, baton rouge
  • murphy express 8857, baton rouge
  • murphy express 8861, baton rouge
  • murphy express 8941, baton rouge
  • murphy usa 6985, baton rouge
  • murphy usa 6988, baton rouge
  • murphy usa 7056, baker
  • murphy usa 7535, baton rouge
  • murphy usa 7716, baton rouge
  • nada food mart, baton rouge
  • nada meat market, baton rouge
  • north 38th food mart, baton rouge
  • o'neal food mart, baton rouge
  • one stop & deli, baton rouge
  • on the run 14, baton rouge
  • ossun market 2, baton rouge
  • ossun market1, baton rouge
  • our daily bread, baton rouge
  • peters grocery, baton rouge
  • plank 2 hop in - circle k, baton rouge
  • plank food mart, baton rouge
  • plank hop in - circle k, baton rouge
  • plank market and deli, baton rouge
  • plank market and deli, baton rouge
  • quick mart, baton rouge
  • rose mary mart, baton rouge
  • race trac 2391, baton rouge
  • race trac 436, baton rouge

Combination Grocery/Other · 114

  • asian market, baton rouge
  • brittnys seafood #2, baker
  • cvs 8961, baton rouge
  • cvs pharmacy inc 5321, baker
  • cvs pharmacy inc 5615, baton rouge
  • cvs pharmacy 10318, baton rouge
  • cvs pharmacy 1924, zachary
  • cvs/ pharmacy 5322, baton rouge
  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 1116, baton rouge
  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 4761, baton rouge
  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 5343, baton rouge
  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 5374, baton rouge
  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 6124, baton rouge
  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 8309, baton rouge
  • dollar general 0741, baker
  • dollar general 1012, baton rouge
  • dollar general 13889, central
  • dollar general 14508, baton rouge
  • dollar general 14533, baton rouge
  • dollar general 2771, baton rouge
  • dollar general 3050, baton rouge
  • dollar general 3147, zachary
  • dollar general 3276, baton rouge
  • dollar general 3321, baton rouge
  • dollar general 3358, greenwell springs
  • dollar general 4119, baker
  • dollar general 4216, baton rouge
  • dollar general 6156, baton rouge
  • dollar general 7022, baton rouge
  • dollar general 7302, baton rouge
  • dollar general 8501, baton rouge
  • dollar general 9299, baton rouge
  • dollartree 6929, baton rouge
  • dollartree 9727, baton rouge
  • dollartree 9774, baton rouge
  • dollartree 9783, baton rouge
  • dollar general 13086, baton rouge
  • dollar general 13245, zachary
  • dollar general 14784, baton rouge
  • dollar general 16557, baton rouge
  • dollar general 16561, zachary
  • dollar general 17452, baton rouge
  • dollar general 17990, baton rouge
  • dollar general 18088, baton rouge
  • dollar general 19111, baton rouge
  • dollar general 20890, zachary
  • dollar general 23425, greenwell springs
  • dollar general 23581, baton rouge
  • dollar general 24208, baton rouge
  • dollar general 6589, baton rouge
  • dollar general 6590, baton rouge
  • dollar general 6860, baker
  • dollar general 9860, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 0483, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 2061, marshall
  • dollar tree 2111, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 2141, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 2754, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 4872, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 5173, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 5333, baker
  • dollar tree 5571, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 6053, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 6299, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 7085, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 7715, baton rouge
  • dollar tree 7757, baton rouge
  • dollartree 6260, baker
  • fresh pickin's market, baton rouge
  • family dollar 1061, baton rouge
  • family dollar 11461, baton rouge
  • family dollar 11623, baton rouge
  • family dollar 11753, baton rouge
  • family dollar 12568, baton rouge
  • family dollar 3922, baton rouge
  • family dollar 4920, baton rouge
  • family dollar 5004, baton rouge
  • family dollar 5363, baton rouge
  • family dollar 5977, baton rouge
  • family dollar 5978, baton rouge
  • family dollar 7365, baton rouge
  • family dollar 749, baker
  • family dollar 7706, zachary
  • family dollar 8158, baton rouge
  • family dollar 8831, baton rouge
  • family dollar 925, baton rouge
  • family dollar store 11090, baton rouge
  • family dollar store 5511, baton rouge
  • green heart meals, baton rouge
  • hung thinh supermarket, baton rouge
  • ideal market 11, baton rouge
  • manam indian food & grocery store, baton rouge
  • rose's express 672, baker
  • roses 552, baton rouge
  • scallan's meat & grocery, baton rouge
  • tramonte's meat & seafood market, baton rouge
  • walgreens 11498, zachary
  • walgreens 2980, baton rouge
  • walgreens 2982, baton rouge
  • walgreens 2995, baton rouge
  • walgreens 2996, baton rouge
  • walgreens 03047, baton rouge
  • walgreens 03399, baton rouge
  • walgreens 03610, baton rouge
  • walgreens 06028, baton rouge
  • walgreens 06448, baton rouge
  • walgreens 07083, baton rouge
  • walgreens 07440, baton rouge
  • walgreens 07795, greenwell springs
  • walgreens 09518, baton rouge
  • walgreens 13875, baker
  • walgreens 13925, baton rouge
  • walgreens 3085, baton rouge
  • walgreens 7836, baton rouge

Showing 250 of 402 authorized retailers, largest categories first.

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Louisiana

Compare East Baton Rouge Parish vs Acadia Parish → · All Louisiana counties →

Food access nationally, Louisiana in context

East Baton Rouge Parish sits inside Louisiana (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 East Baton Rouge Parish has low food access?
28.8% of residents in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in East Baton Rouge Parish?
15.9% of households in East Baton Rouge Parish receive SNAP, covering 28,210 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in East Baton Rouge Parish?
The poverty rate in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA is 19.6%, with a median household income of $63,071 (Census ACS 2024).
Is East Baton Rouge Parish a food desert?
26 of East Baton Rouge Parish's 91 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of East Baton Rouge Parish households lack a vehicle?
8.1% of households in East Baton Rouge Parish have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.