County food-access profile · Colorado
El Paso County, CO
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of El Paso 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).
- 28.5%
- low-access pop.
- 22
- food-desert tracts
- 9.3%
- on SNAP
- 743K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
28.5% of El Paso County residents live in a low-access area, and 22 of its 130 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 67
- low-access tracts
- 40K
- food-desert residents
- 3.8%
- households, no vehicle
- 8.5%
- 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 El Paso County's low-access share at 28.5%, above the national share. 67 of the county's 130 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 177,460 people. 22 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 40,150 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 El Paso County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, El Paso County's 28.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 66% of them and ranked #1,050 most-affected nationwide.
El Paso County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 130 census tracts in El Paso County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
El Paso County vs. other Colorado counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Colorado
- El Paso
El Paso County, CO
28.5 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, CO
17.9 % low-access
- Alamosa
Alamosa County, CO
27.7 % low-access
- Arapahoe 13.6
Arapahoe County, CO
13.6 % low-access
- Archuleta
Archuleta County, CO
40.9 % low-access
- Baca
Baca County, CO
25.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 130 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 622,263 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 67 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 22 |
| Low-Access Population | 177,460 |
| Low-Access Share | 28.5%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 40,150 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 742,999 |
| Median Household Income | $90,363 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.5%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 26,900 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.3%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 3.8%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.0% |
About 9.3% of El Paso County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 28.5% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 9.3% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 26,900 households here.
- 3.8% 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 El Paso County
above the national share
22 of El Paso County's 130 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 16.9% of all its tracts.
A further 45 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 67.
An estimated 177,460 residents, roughly 28.5% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 40,150 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 63 tracts (48.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in El Paso County
El Paso County has 365 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 183 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 183
- 7 eleven 26683b, colorado springs
- 7 eleven 26788d, colorado springs
- 7 eleven 37135a, colorado springs
- 7 eleven 38107a, colorado springs
- 7 eleven store 42599a 1, colorado springs
- 7-11 33043, fountain
- 7-eleven 13082j, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 13093j, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 21967k, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 32386k, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 34921j, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 35001j, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 39096, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 13058a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 20343b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 22562a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 22706a, fountain
- 7-eleven store 23546c 23546c, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 23731a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 23888a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 24398a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 24438a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 25265a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 25902a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 26292a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 26692a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 32159c, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 35337a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 35338b 35338b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 35534a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 35600b 35600b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 35610a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 38633a 38633a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 39169a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 39543a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven, inc 34058j, colorado springs
- 7-eleven, inc. 37278h, monument
- 7-eleven 13071b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 13079a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 15068a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 20308b 20308b, monument
- 7-eleven 22233b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 22684b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 32747c 32747c, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 35822a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 36714b 36714b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 36764a, peyton
- 7-eleven 37320a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven 38130a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 22059c 22059c, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 23935b 23935b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 24460c 24460c, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 25794b 25794b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 26693c 26693c, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 27082b 27082b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 32386b 32386b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 33710b 33710b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 38372a 38372a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 38643b 38643b, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 38668a 38668a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven store 38759a, colorado springs
- 7-eleven, inc. store 33322c, colorado springs
- alta 6002, colorado springs
- alta 6003, colorado springs
- alta 6008, colorado springs
- alta 6009, colorado springs
- alta 6113, colorado springs
- am3 llc inc, colorado springs
- carlie's convenience, colorado springs
- circle 7, colorado springs
- circle 7 co 02, colorado springs
- circle k 2703291, colorado springs
- circle k 2703293, colorado springs
- circle k 2703294, colorado springs
- circle k 2703598, colorado springs
- circle k 2704590, colorado springs
- circle k 2709090, colorado springs
- circle k 2709208, colorado springs
- circle k 2709222, colorado springs
- circle k 2709837, colorado springs
- circle k 2709838, colorado springs
- circle k 2709840, colorado spgs
- circle k 2709841, colorado springs
- circle k 2709843, colorado springs
- circle k 2709847, colorado springs
- circle k 2709848, colorado springs
- circle k 2709874, colorado springs
- circle k 2709881, colorado springs
- circle k 2709887, colorado spgs
- circle k 2709897, colorado sprgs
- circle k 2709947, colorado springs
- circle k 2740675, colorado springs
- circle k 2740678, colorado springs
- circle k 2740687, colorado springs
- circle k 2740693, colorado springs
- circle k 2740694, colorado springs
- circle k 2741173, peyton
- clearview food mart, colorado springs
- corner market, colorado springs
- corner market 4315, colorado springs
- corner store 2741718, colorado springs
- d/b/a bonnie's wine & l, peyton
- diamond shamrock corner store 2741137, colorado springs
- diamond shamrock corner store 2741168, colorado springs
- diamond shamrock corner store 2741173, peyton
- diamond shamrock corner store 2741190, colorado springs
- diamond shamrock corner store 274622, fountain
- el ranchito meat market, colorado springs
- everyday stores llc 5703, colorado springs
- fast market 4588, colorado springs
- fast market 4589, colorado springs
- fast market 4590, colorado springs
- fast market 4591, colorado springs
- good 2 go store 716, colorado springs
- good 2 go store 717, colorado springs
- good 2 go store 718, fountain
- hancock gas station 1, colorado springs
- jamaica vibez market, colorado springs
- jet wing grocery store, colorado springs
- kahlon1 llc dba sinclair s. 8th st, colorado springs
- kbfuel,llc dba fuel-b's, calhan
- king soopers fuel center 58, colorado spgs
- komal jhand companies, llc, colorado springs
- kwik stop family mart, colorado springs
- kwik way 740, colorado springs
- la tiendita market llc, colorado springs
- loaf 'n jug 750807, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750006, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750033, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750039, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750040, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750041, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750042, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750045, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750050, calhan
- loaf n jug 750053, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750056, manitou springs
- loaf n jug 750080, fountain
- loaf n jug 750091, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750092, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750098, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750099, colorado springs
- loaf n jug 750808, colorado springs
- loves country store 357, fountain
- maverick 5237, colorado springs
- maverik 5236, monument
- maverik 5238, colorado springs
- maverik 5239, colorado springs
- maverik 5240, colorado springs
- maverik 5241, colorado springs
- maverik 5242, fountain
- maverik 5243, colorado springs
- maverik 5257, colorado springs
- maverik 5258, colorado springs
- maverik 5258, colorado springs
- maverik 5269, colorado springs
- maverik 5270, colorado springs
- maverik 5285, colorado springs
- maverik 5293, colorado springs
- maverik 5294, colorado springs
- maverik 5295, colorado springs
- maverik 5311, colorado springs
- maverik 5312, colorado springs
- maverik 5313, colorado springs
- maverik 5343, colorado springs
- maverik 5349, colorado springs
- maverik 5358, colorado springs
- maverik 5359, colorado springs
- maverik 5360, colorado springs
- maverik 5369, colorado springs
- maverik 5400, colorado springs
- maverik 5410, colorado springs
- maverik 5414, colorado springs
- maverik 602, colorado springs
- maverik 636, colorado springs
- maverik, inc 673, colorado springs
- maverik, inc. 494, colorado springs
- murphy express 8789, monument
- murphy express 8859, colorado springs
- murphy express 8984, colorado springs
- murphy usa 7983, colorado springs
- murray gas north, colorado springs
- one stop convenience store, colorado springs
Combination Grocery/Other · 54
- arirang market inc, colorado springs
- cvs pharmacy 11001, colorado springs
- cvs pharmacy 11002, colorado springs
- cvs pharmacy 11024, colorado springs
- dollar general 10972, colorado springs
- dollar general 10977, colorado springs
- dollar general 17907, calhan
- dollar general 19056, colorado springs
- dollar general 20325, fountain
- dollar tree 2572, fountain
- dollar tree 2657, colorado springs
- dollar tree 2662, colorado springs
- dollar tree 2663, colorado springs
- dollar tree 2676, colorado springs
- dollar tree 3025, colorado springs
- dollar tree 3461, colorado springs
- dollar tree 4416, colorado springs
- dollar tree 4626, colorado springs
- dollar tree 4815, colorado springs
- dollar tree 5136, falcon
- dollar tree 5436, colorado springs
- dollar tree 6911, colorado springs
- dollar tree 7003, fountain
- dollar tree 7332, monument
- dollar tree 7442, colorado springs
- dollar tree 7569, colorado springs
- family dollar 10014, fountain
- family dollar 1423, colorado springs
- family dollar 2745, colorado springs
- family dollar 3118, colorado springs
- family dollar 8650, fountain
- papa murphy's take n bake pizza co 023, colorado springs
- springs korean market, colorado springs
- sun oriental mart, colorado springs
- walgreens 03583, colorado springs
- walgreens 03584, colorado springs
- walgreens 03585, colorado springs
- walgreens 03586, colorado springs
- walgreens 03914, colorado springs
- walgreens 04043, colorado springs
- walgreens 04709, colorado springs
- walgreens 05262, colorado springs
- walgreens 05621, colorado springs
- walgreens 07022, fountain
- walgreens 07142, colorado springs
- walgreens 07777, colorado springs
- walgreens 09199, peyton
- walgreens 09768, colorado springs
- walgreens 10456, colorado springs
- walgreens 11477, colorado springs
- walgreens 11864, colorado springs
- walgreens 12769, monument
- walgreens 5794, colorado springs
- walgreens 9767, colorado springs
Bakery Specialty · 13
- bimbo bakeries 9124, colorado springs
- nanas bakery inc, colorado springs
- papa murphy's co 023, colorado springs
- papa murphy's co 069, colorado springs
- papa murphy's co 050 co050, colorado springs
- papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 022, colorado springs
- papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 045, colorado springs
- papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 047, colorado springs
- papa murphy's take & bake pizza co 055, peyton
- papa murphys pizza, colorado springs
- papa murphys pizza, colorado springs
- papa murphys pizza co 053, fountain
- papa murphys take & bake pizza co 127, colorado springs
Showing 250 of 365 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Colorado
Compare El Paso County vs Adams County → · All Colorado counties →
Food access nationally, Colorado in context
El Paso County sits inside Colorado (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 El Paso County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in El Paso County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in El Paso County? ▼
Is El Paso County a food desert? ▼
What share of El Paso 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.