County food-access profile · New York
Erie County, NY
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Erie 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).
- 20.9%
- low-access pop.
- 27
- food-desert tracts
- 15.5%
- on SNAP
- 951K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
20.9% of Erie County residents live in a low-access area, and 27 of its 236 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 84
- low-access tracts
- 53K
- food-desert residents
- 11.5%
- households, no vehicle
- 13.9%
- 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 Erie County's low-access share at 20.9%, above the national share. 84 of the county's 236 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 192,106 people. 27 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 52,889 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 Erie County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Erie County's 20.9% low-access share is elevated, higher than 49% of them and ranked #1,610 most-affected nationwide.
Erie County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 236 census tracts in Erie County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Erie County vs. other New York counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in New York
- Erie
Erie County, NY
20.9 % low-access
- Albany
Albany County, NY
31.4 % low-access
- Allegany 3.9
Allegany County, NY
3.9 % low-access
- Bronx 0.6
Bronx County, NY
0.6 % low-access
- Broome
Broome County, NY
16.4 % low-access
- Cattaraugus 7.9
Cattaraugus County, NY
7.9 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 236 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 919,040 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 84 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 27 |
| Low-Access Population | 192,106 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.9%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 52,889 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 950,622 |
| Median Household Income | $72,839 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.9%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 63,474 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 15.5%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 11.5%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.8% |
About 15.5% of Erie County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 20.9% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 15.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 63,474 households here.
- 11.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 27 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 Erie County
above the national share
27 of Erie County's 236 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 11.4% of all its tracts.
A further 57 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 84.
An estimated 192,106 residents, roughly 20.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 52,889 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 152 tracts (64.4%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Erie County
Erie County has 819 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 166 locations (20% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 166
- 95 nutrition 1, buffalo
- 95 nutrition 2, buffalo
- 95 nutrition 3, buffalo
- 95 nutrition 5, hamburg
- 95 nutrition 9, depew
- african market llc 0, buffalo
- babcias pierogi, buffalo
- butcher dave's, holland
- cvs 274, buffalo
- cvs 576, hamburg
- cvs 618, buffalo
- cvs 762, buffalo
- cvs pharmacy 609, buffalo
- cvs pharmacy 737, east aurora
- cvs pharmacy inc 747, buffalo
- cvs pharmacy 533, buffalo
- cvs pharmacy 5496, east amherst
- cvs pharmacy 598, buffalo
- cvs pharmacy 725, buffalo
- dollar general 14742, buffalo
- dollar general 18657, orchard park
- dollar general 19220, east aurora
- dollar general 19223, grand island
- dollar tree 0962, cheektowaga
- dollar tree 1003, west seneca
- dollar tree 1055, buffalo
- dollar tree 1093, williamsville
- dollar tree 1315, hamburg
- dollar tree 1422, buffalo
- dollar tree 1423, cheektowaga
- dollar tree 1782, buffalo
- dollar tree 1793, tonawanda
- dollar tree 2765, grand island
- daily foods & halal market, buffalo
- dicamillo baking co inc (05) 05, williamsville
- dibello's deli and bakery, derby
- dollar general 10184, north collins
- dollar general 10256, akron
- dollar general 10433, cheektowaga
- dollar general 10547, buffalo
- dollar general 11797, buffalo
- dollar general 12975, buffalo
- dollar general 13305, cheektowaga
- dollar general 13366, buffalo
- dollar general 13797, hamburg
- dollar general 14652, buffalo
- dollar general 14802, farnham
- dollar general 14886, buffalo
- dollar general 14978, holland
- dollar general 15900, buffalo
- dollar general 19760, east aurora
- dollar general 20621, derby
- dollar general 20622, gowanda
- dollar general 21065, tonawanda
- dollar general 21270, depew
- dollar general 21384, tonawanda
- dollar general 21443, clarence
- dollar general 21444, south wales
- dollar general 21543, tonawanda
- dollar general 21764, alden
- dollar general 22699, colden
- dollar general 22710, buffalo
- dollar general 22725, orchard park
- dollar general 23338, marilla
- dollar general 23550, grand island
- dollar general 23945, lancaster
- dollar general 24354, orchard park
- dollar general 25261, buffalo
- dollar general 5701, depew
- dollar general 6977, angola
- dollar general 8136, buffalo
- dollar general 8177, buffalo
- dollar general 8207, buffalo
- dollar general 8245, getzville
- dollar general 8338, west seneca
- dollar general 8362, buffalo
- dollar general 8363, alden
- dollar general 8366, amherst
- dollar general 8427, buffalo
- dollar general 8488, tonawanda
- dollar general 8896, buffalo
- dollar general 8926, hamburg
- dollar general 8960, buffalo
- dollar general 9028, buffalo
- dollar general 9029, lackawanna
- dollar general 9052, buffalo
- dollar general 9228, hamburg
- dollar general 9229, west seneca
- dollar general 9631, eden
- dollar tree 0788, depew
- dollar tree 0903, amherst
- dollar tree 1791, depew
- dollar tree 1814, east amherst
- dollar tree 1950, east aurora
- dollar tree 3074, springville
- dollar tree 4284, cheektowaga
- dollar tree 4908, buffalo
- dollar tree 5063, buffalo
- dollar tree 5912, alden
- dollar tree 6235, depew
- dollar tree 7483, orchard park
- dollar tree 789, buffalo
- dollar tree 8631, buffalo
- dollar tree 8663, williamsville
- dollar tree 985, amherst
- federal meats 13, williamsville
- family dollar 10066, buffalo
- family dollar 11651, buffalo
- family dollar 11878, buffalo
- family dollar 12093, buffalo
- family dollar 3113, buffalo
- family dollar 3125, buffalo
- family dollar 3197, buffalo
- family dollar 3949, buffalo
- family dollar 4665, buffalo
- family dollar 4705, buffalo
- family dollar 4740, buffalo
- family dollar 4950, buffalo
- family dollar 5273, buffalo
- family dollar 6320, buffalo
- family dollar 7610, buffalo
- family dollar 8078, buffalo
- family dollar 8197, tonawanda
- family dollar 8785, buffalo
- family dollar store 2160, buffalo
- family dollar store 3845, buffalo
- family dollar store 4516, buffalo
- family dollar store 4676, tonawanda
- family dollar store 5132, buffalo
- feel-rite health food shoppes-feel rite fresh mkt, buffalo
- hana mart, buffalo
- hudson express mart inc., buffalo
- johnny's mohawk meats, buffalo
- juliet's african international market llc 716 907482, buffalo
- lexington co-op markets 2, buffalo
- meat shoppe, springville
- madina pharmacy inc., buffalo
- mirapakay llc, buffalo
- organic & natural herbs mart, buffalo
- pine hill halal market, buffalo
- salud market, buffalo
- the vegan pantry, buffalo
- walgreens 09717, east amherst
- walgreens 09759, williamsville
- walgreens 10383, west seneca
- walgreens 10442, buffalo
- walgreens 10443, kenmore
- walgreens 5714, depew
- walgreens 03257, lackawanna
- walgreens 03270, tonawanda
- walgreens 03290, buffalo
- walgreens 03857, buffalo
- walgreens 05592, buffalo
- walgreens 05610, amherst
- walgreens 11142, clarence
- walgreens 11334, angola
- walgreens 12066, grand island
- walgreens 12081, hamburg
- walgreens 12272, orchard park
- walgreens 12408, buffalo
- walgreens 12473, buffalo
- walgreens 3267, amherst
- walgreens 3288, buffalo
- walgreens 3859, depew
- walgreens 3897, tonawanda
- yasin market, buffalo
Convenience Store · 84
- 1733 inc, buffalo
- 190 express deli 1, buffalo
- 3083 main st inc, buffalo
- 418 south park llc, buffalo
- 7 eleven 11265b, orchard park
- 7 eleven 11270j, tonawanda
- 7 eleven 11274a, cheektowaga
- 7 eleven 34666a, hamburg
- 7 eleven 35117h, clarence
- 7 eleven 35127a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35128a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35132a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35133a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35135a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35136a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35138a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35139a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35141a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35143a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35145a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35147a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35149a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35150a, tonawanda
- 7 eleven 35152a, hamburg
- 7 eleven 35155a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35157a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35160a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35161a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35165a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35177a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35183a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35231a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35233j, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35235b, tonawanda
- 7 eleven 35236a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35238a, buffalo
- 7 eleven 35239a, hamburg
- 7 eleven 40250a, buffalo
- 7 eleven store #35154b, buffalo
- 7 eleven store #35163b, buffalo
- 7 eleven store #40126 40126, buffalo
- 7 eleven store #40208 40208, tonawanda
- 7 eleven store #40228 40228, elma
- 7 eleven store #40416a, depew
- 7 eleven store 34662b, buffalo
- 7 eleven store 35130a 35130, buffalo
- 7 eleven store 35153a, tonawanda
- 7 eleven store 35166a, buffalo
- 7 eleven store 35242a, buffalo
- 7 eleven store 35245a, lancaster
- 7 eleven store 47344a, orchard park
- 7-eleven 11260f, cheektowaga
- 7-eleven 34668h, tonawanda
- 7-eleven 35181k, grand island
- 7-eleven 35254h, alden
- 7-eleven 36106h, south wales
- 7-eleven 40182h, buffalo
- 7-eleven 40185h, kenmore
- 7-eleven 40236, tonawanda
- 7-eleven 40242, buffalo
- 7-eleven, inc. 35148j, buffalo
- 7-eleven, inc. 35237j, buffalo
- 7-eleven, inc. 40239, buffalo
- 7-eleven 35130a, buffalo
- 88 kings 1 inc, buffalo
- 95 nutrition 8, buffalo
- a & a food market, buffalo
- a & a one stop, tonawanda
- a plus mini mart, cheektowaga
- a plus 2733, buffalo
- al's corner store, inc., buffalo
- al's short stop, lackawanna
- around the clock express mart, buffalo
- abe inc, buffalo
- abyss 2 llc, buffalo
- adam's market, buffalo
- adams mart llc, buffalo
- african market center inc 1, buffalo
- aj gas mart inc, buffalo
- alabeli business corp, buffalo
- aladari inc, buffalo
- alden express inc, alden
- alkoma inc t/a right price, buffalo
- allentown food shoppe inc, buffalo
Showing 250 of 819 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in New York
Compare Erie County vs Albany County → · All New York counties →
Food access nationally, New York in context
Erie County sits inside New York (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 Erie County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Erie County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Erie County? ▼
Is Erie County a food desert? ▼
What share of Erie 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.