County food-access profile · Texas
Ector County, TX
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Ector 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).
- 26.8%
- low-access pop.
- 2
- food-desert tracts
- 12.5%
- on SNAP
- 165K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
26.8% of Ector County residents live in a low-access area, and 2 of its 28 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 10
- low-access tracts
- 10K
- food-desert residents
- 6.1%
- households, no vehicle
- 16.5%
- 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 Ector County's low-access share at 26.8%, above the national share. 10 of the county's 28 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 36,683 people. 2 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 9,847 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 Ector County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Ector County's 26.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 63% of them and ranked #1,168 most-affected nationwide.
Ector County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 28 census tracts in Ector County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Ector County vs. other Texas counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Texas
- Ector
Ector County, TX
26.8 % low-access
- Anderson
Anderson County, TX
43.8 % low-access
- Andrews
Andrews County, TX
26.8 % low-access
- Angelina
Angelina County, TX
26 % low-access
- Aransas
Aransas County, TX
31.7 % low-access
- Archer
Archer County, TX
18.3 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 28 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 137,130 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 10 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 2 |
| Low-Access Population | 36,683 |
| Low-Access Share | 26.8%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 9,847 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 164,654 |
| Median Household Income | $71,536 |
| Poverty Rate | 16.5%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 8,102 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 12.5%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.1%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.3% |
About 12.5% of Ector County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 26.8% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 12.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 8,102 households here.
- 6.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 2 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 Ector County
above the national share
2 of Ector County's 28 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 7.1% of all its tracts.
A further 8 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 10.
An estimated 36,683 residents, roughly 26.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 9,847 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 18 tracts (64.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Ector County
Ector County has 167 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 86 locations (51% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 86
- 7-eleven 0101, odessa
- 7-eleven 0102, odessa
- 7-eleven 0104, odessa
- 7-eleven 0105, odessa
- 7-eleven 0106, odessa
- 7-eleven 0107, odessa
- 7-eleven 0108, odessa
- 7-eleven 0113, odessa
- 7-eleven 0114, odessa
- 7-eleven 0118, odessa
- 7-eleven 0121, odessa
- 7-eleven 0123, odessa
- 7-eleven 0124, odessa
- 7-eleven 0127, odessa
- 7-eleven 0128, odessa
- 7-eleven 0131, odessa
- 7-eleven 0133, odessa
- 7-eleven 0134, odessa
- 7-eleven 0135, odessa
- 7-eleven 0136, odessa
- 7-eleven 0137, odessa
- 7-eleven 0138, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42427, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42428, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42429, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42504, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42508, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42512, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42518, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42532, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42559, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42570, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42576, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42584, odessa
- 7-eleven, inc. 42585, odessa
- allsup's 102504, odessa
- allsup's 102506, odessa
- circle k 2709999, odessa
- dk 130, odessa
- gardendale grocery, gardendale
- goldsmith grocery, goldsmith
- good luck mini market, odessa
- kent kwik 202, odessa
- kent kwik 203, odessa
- kent kwik 204, odessa
- kent kwik 206, odessa
- kent kwik 208, odessa
- kent kwik 211, odessa
- kent kwik 212, odessa
- kent kwik 214, odessa
- kent kwik 216, odessa
- kent kwik 217, odessa
- kent kwik 218, odessa
- kent kwik 219, odessa
- kent kwik 220, odessa
- kent kwik 221, odessa
- kent kwik 222 222, odessa
- la pasadita del west, odessa
- lama 108, odessa
- lama 109, odesssa
- lama 75 00004, odessa
- love's travel stops & country stores, inc 339, odessa
- main street market 110, odessa
- mini super r13 drive thru, odessa
- multicultural market, odessa
- murphy express 8640, odessa
- murphy express 8983, odessa
- murphy usa 7672, odessa
- murphy usa 8612, odessa
- one stop 13, odessa
- pilot 1354, odessa
- pilot travel center 1143, odessa
- pilot travel center 1161, odessa
- pilot travel center 580, odessa
- quick track 73, odessa
- quick track 74 74, odessa
- quick track 76 03, odessa
- quick track 77, odessa
- quick track 79, odessa
- quick track 80, odessa
- quiktrip 7912, odessa
- road ranger 271, odessa
- uncle's 6372, odessa
- uncle's 6374, odessa
- uncle's 6384, odessa
- valero community store, odessa
Combination Grocery/Other · 51
- cvs 5647, odessa
- cvs pharmacy 11099, odessa
- dollar general 14209, odessa
- dollar general 1645, odessa
- dollar general 1665, odessa
- dollar general 18649, odessa
- dollar general 4140, odessa
- dollar general 4347, odessa
- dollartree 8154, odessa
- dollartree 9395, odessa
- dollartree 9568, odessa
- dollartree 9763, odessa
- dollar general 1055, odessa
- dollar general 12248, odessa
- dollar general 1295, odessa
- dollar general 15461, odessa
- dollar general 15597, odessa
- dollar general 15656, odessa
- dollar general 16907, odessa
- dollar general 1894, odessa
- dollar general 19330, odessa
- dollar general 20480, odessa
- dollar general 21174, gardendale
- dollar general 21282, odessa
- dollar general 21653, odessa
- dollar general 21888, odessa
- dollar general 23086, odessa
- dollar general 23407, odessa
- dollar general 23830, odessa
- dollar general 25892, odessa
- dollar general 30555, odessa
- dollar general 30651, odessa
- dollar general 4241, odessa
- dollar general store 17781, odessa
- dollar tree 2881, odessa
- dollar tree 2935, odessa
- dollar tree 8259, odessa
- family dollar 11203, odessa
- family dollar 11587, odessa
- family dollar 12285, odessa
- family dollar 12526, odessa
- family dollar 2654, odessa
- family dollar 4958, odessa
- family dollar 5759, odessa
- family dollar 5831, odessa
- family dollar store 12402, odessa
- oriental market, odessa
- walgreens #6715 06715, odessa
- walgreens 06694, odessa
- walgreens 7024, odessa
- walgreens 15141, odessa
Supermarket · 10
- heb 387, odessa
- heb food store 711, odessa
- lowes 32, odessa
- lowes 34, odessa
- lowes 36, odessa
- lowes 37, odessa
- market street 675, odessa
- mi tierra meat market, odessa
- united supermarket 676, odessa
- united supermarket 677, odessa
Medium Grocery Store · 6
- chihuas minimarket 1, odessa
- floridita latin market, odessa
- la mexican meat market, odessa
- prime haus meats, odessa
- surti-mercado la mexicana meat market 5, odessa
- surtmercado la mexicana meat market 3, odessa
Super Store · 6
- el rancho 1622, odessa
- lowes 35, odessa
- sam's club 6439, odessa
- target store t 1506, odessa
- walmart sc 0537, odessa
- walmart supercenter 2891, odessa
Small Grocery Store · 3
- carniceria el novillo, odessa
- god mercy enterprises, odessa
- los vegueros llc, odessa
Large Grocery Store · 2
- cash saver cost plus food outlet 1424, odessa
- surti-mercado la mexicana, odessa
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2
- larry's specialty meats inc, odessa
- white house meat market parks legado, odessa
Seafood Specialty · 1
- atlantic fish market, odessa
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Texas
Compare Ector County vs Anderson County → · All Texas counties →
Food access nationally, Texas in context
Ector County sits inside Texas (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 Ector County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Ector County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Ector County? ▼
Is Ector County a food desert? ▼
What share of Ector 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.