Signature · 545 SNAP-authorized stores
Essex County, MA
Essex County sits in the upper national band on low-access (30.1%, +8 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 30.1%
- low-access pop.
- 15
- food-desert tracts
- 16.6%
- on SNAP
- 813K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Essex County, MA
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-ELEVATED 30.1% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +8.0 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 15 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 16.6% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 9.3% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 9% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Berkshire County (+ 0.8 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Essex County sits in the upper national band (30.1%, #925 of 3,079) with 15 LILA tracts.
- #925
- national by low-access %
- #8
- in MA
- 83
- low-access tracts
- 30K
- food-desert residents
Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.
Signature read: 545 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Essex County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Essex County's 30.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 70% of them and ranked #925 most-affected nationwide.
Essex County's elevated USDA tier split
162 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 15 LILA.
Essex County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (151 urban, 11 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 11 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Essex County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Massachusetts, not a full county-board reprint
- Barnstable
Barnstable 51%
51 % low-access
- Worcester
Worcester 34.5%
34.5 % low-access
- Dukes
Dukes 32.2%
32.2 % low-access
- Berkshire
Berkshire 30.9%
30.9 % low-access
- Essex
Essex 30.1%
30.1 % low-access
- Bristol
Bristol 26.4%
26.4 % low-access
- Suffolk 1
Suffolk 1%
1 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 162 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 743,159 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 83 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 15 |
| Low-Access Population | 223,449 |
| Low-Access Share | 30.1%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 30,482 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 813,054 |
| Median Household Income | $101,883 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.4%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 51,931 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 16.6%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 9.3%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.1% |
Thick SNAP store book in Essex County
Essex County has 545 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 235 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
32 towns share the 545 authorized stores; Lynn holds 23% of them. 7 of the 32 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Rockport, Salisbury, Merrimac, Essex, Groveland, Topsfield and 1 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Lynn | 123 | 23 |
| Lawrence | 93 | 29 |
| Haverhill | 43 | 10 |
| Salem | 38 | 8 |
| Peabody | 36 | 8 |
| Methuen | 32 | 12 |
| Beverly | 27 | 6 |
| Danvers | 24 | 10 |
| Gloucester | 21 | 3 |
| Saugus | 21 | 6 |
Top 10 of 32 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 235
- 4 your convenience, peabody
- 5 yogi convenience store, salisbury
- 7 eleven 32486a, gloucester
- 7 eleven 33286h, haverhill
- 7 eleven 34391a, saugus
- 7 eleven 34428a, newburyport
- 7-eleven #32470a, lynn
- 7-eleven #32491a, peabody
- 7-eleven 32441a, lynn
- 7-eleven 34413a, gloucester
- 7-eleven 32478j, marblehead
- 7-eleven 33454b, lawrence
- 7-eleven 34410a, peabody
- 7-eleven 34422a, haverhill
- 7-eleven 37440h, haverhill
- 7-eleven 40098h, methuen
- 7-eleven store 32952 32952, peabody
- 7-eleven store 34405b, lawrence
- 7-eleven store 37445a, saugus
- 7-eleven 34404c 34404, lynn
- 7-eleven 37379a 37379, gloucester
- 7-eleven 37457b, lynn
- a one market, peabody
- a to z convenience, lynn
- akar auto center, lawrence
- akm stores inc/vn market, lynn
- al prime energy 106, salem
- al prime energy 112, lynn
- all day convenience, lynn
- alltown saugus 2717, saugus
- alpha convenience store, lynn
- alprime energy 101, lynn
- american grocery, haverhill
- annie asian mart, salem
- armas convenience store, salem
- asaram inc., lynn
- bani grocery & resturant inc 1, lawrence
- bavaro market corporation, lawrence
- beverly shop n go, beverly
- beverly sunoco the local shoppe 011, beverly
- big apple food shop, salem
- black duck market inc, newburyport
- bonanza food market, lawrence
- borahs convenience, beverly
- boulevard variety, gloucester
- brazilian and hispanic convenience store, gloucester
- broadway corner mart, lawrence
- bsoto llc, haverhill
- convenience plus, lynn
- cabot convenience, beverly
- centennial express corp, peabody
- center market, lynnfield
- central bakery, peabody
- chatham market, lynn
- circle k 4707501, amesbury
- circle k 4707502, salem
- circle k 4707503, haverhill
- circle k 4707512, methuen
- convenience station, lynn
- convenience station, haverhill
- corner variety, beverly
- country farms, topsfield
- crossing's corner market, beverly
- cumberland farms 3532, haverhill
- cumberland farms 6661, amesbury
- cumberland farms 6742, lawrence
- cumberland farms 6747, south hamilton
- cumberland farms 6757, danvers
- cumberland farms, inc 3501, haverhill
- cumberland farms, inc 6663, rockport
- cumberland farms, inc 6669, amesbury
- cumberland farms, inc 6681, ipswich
- cumberland farms, inc 6684, ipswich
- cumberland farms, inc 6708, middleton
- cumberland farms, inc 6727, lynn
- d & m mart, lynn
- d & m variety, lynn
- dee's corner, lynn
- devsatya one inc, peabody
- discount market food grocery and variety inc, lawrence
- dj's variety, ipswich
- dt market corp, lynn
- e market, lawrence
- e market, peabody
- e market, lawrence
- e market, lawrence
- eastern market, lynn
- el bodegon market, lynn
- el colmadon market inc., haverhill
- elvis' variety, lawrence
- energy north 2114, gloucester
- energy north 2120, essex
- energy north 2131, andover
- energy north 2132, andover
- energy north 3121, lawrence
- express food mart, salisbury
- fast freddies/mobil, salisbury
- four (4) your convenience, peabody
- fraylin grocery store inc, lawrence
- friendly market, lynn
- friendly mini mart, salem
- galloway's convenience store, methuen
- gardner park variety, peabody
- gomez market, lynn
- grab n go market, haverhill
- great convenience 0617196, saugus
- hamilton convenience, south hamilton
- heladeria y fruteria olivos, lynn
- highland market, lynn
- hilldale convenience, haverhill
- j rose market, lynn
- j rose market express, peabody
- jackie's market llc, lawrence
- jennys convenience store, lynn
- johnnys market, lynn
- kailey convenience store, lawrence
- kwik shop market & deli, salem
- kwik stop convenience, haverhill
- la familia market & restaurant, lawrence
- la familia market 2, lawrence
- leajoe inc, danvers
- lincoln avenue market, saugus
- lincoln market, lynn
- little river mart, gloucester
- lowell street superette, methuen
- lynn market, lynn
- lynnfield street market, lynn
- magalis market inc, lynn
- magnolia variety store, gloucester
- marc's market, salem
- methuen market, methuen
- mike's market, north andover
- minas goods llc 1, haverhill
- monarca grocery store, lynn
- murcias market, saugus
- murti inc, salem
- nathans sandwich and variety, haverhill
- neighborhood convenience market, methuen
- new market, salem
- newbury st sunoco 9702, peabody
- newburyport circle k, newburyport
- newburyport richdale, newburyport
- nicole's market, salem
- nicole's mini foods store ii, groveland
- norm's variety, lynn
- nouria 1021, danvers
- nouria 1044, peabody
- nouria 154 south main street 1013, haverhill
- nouria 435 newbury street 1176, danvers
- nouria 535 lynnway 1037, lynn
- nouria 8 broadway street 1181, lynnfield
- one stop market, beverly
- om mobil mart 2 inc, haverhill
- one dollar zone 21, lynn
- one stop market #2 1, beverly
- one stop mart, lynn
- one stop mart, lynn
- panaderia & antojitos centro americanos, lynn
- peabody market, peabody
- petroil market, lynn
- primos deli grocery inc., lynn
- pueblito market, lynn
- quick mart, beverly
- quick stop ii, methuen
- qwik mart, haverhill
- richdale convenience store, lynn
- richdale, arties corner, north andover
- railroad variety, gloucester
- rapid refill 120, beverly
- red hen market n/a, haverhill
- richdale, ipswich
- richdale, merrimac
- richdale convenience, lynn
- richdale convenience, amesbury
- richdale convenience store, lynn
- richdale convenience store, saugus
- richdale convenience store, lynn
- richdale convenience store, peabody
- richdale convenience store, peabody
- richdale convenience store, salem
- richdale convenience store, salem
- richdale convenience store, salem
- richdale convenience store, lynn
- richdale food shop, lynn
- richdale of marblehead, marblehead
- richdale swampscott, swampscott
- riley's corner, haverhill
- rockport market, rockport
- romans market, lynn
- route 28 richdale convenience store llc, lawrence
- rt 114 citgo, salem
- rusty lantern 0005, methuen
- salem shell, salem
- sam's food stores, lawrence
- sams food mart, peabody
- sams food store, haverhill
- san francisco market, lynn
- san marcos market, lynn
- sandy bay provisions, rockport
- santiago market corp, lynn
- santo domingo grocery, lynn
- saugus town food mart, saugus
- seven eleven 37512, lawrence
- skips country store no, rowley
- speedway 2407, lawrence
- speedway 2412, peabody
- speedway 2450, beverly
- speedway 2451, beverly
- speedway 2462, gloucester
- speedway 2465, haverhill
- speedway 2480, salem
- speedway 2481, saugus
- speedway 2499, lawrence
- speedway 2502, lynn
- speedway 2511, salem
- speedway 2512, saugus
- stop n save, salem
- sunrise convenience store, lynn
- sweenys package store, lawrence
- t-stop superette, lynn
- tjs variety, peabody
- tedeschi food shops 419, beverly
- towne market 1, merrimac
- union news, lynn
- union variety, lynn
- us mart, haverhill
- village food shop, danvers
- vista market, lynn
- walyos variety inc, salem
- western avenue market, lynn
- western market inc, lynn
- white eagle pantry inc, methuen
- yanelis mini mart, lynn
- yneliz mini market, lawrence
- z mart of haverhill, haverhill
Combination Grocery/Other · 96 (15 shown)
- common crow natural health, inc., gloucester
- cvs, north andover
- cvs 1132, newburyport
- cvs 365, haverhill
- cvs pharmacy 1085, methuen
- cvs pharmacy 1174, andover
- cvs pharmacy 1204, lynn
- cvs pharmacy 1886, haverhill
- cvs pharmacy 1899, lynn
- cvs pharmacy 615, methuen
- cvs pharmacy 73, amesbury
- cvs pharmacy 75, lynn
- cvs pharmacy 751, beverly
- cvs pharmacy 915, beverly
- cvs pharmacy, inc 314, marblehead
Showing 250 of 545 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Massachusetts
One of 13 counties in Massachusetts, 6 are shown here.
Compare Essex County vs Barnstable County → · All Massachusetts counties →
Counties near Essex County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Essex County, both outside Massachusetts so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MA (30.1% here).
- Saginaw County, MI · 30.1% low-access
- Crawford County, KS · 30.1% low-access
- Des Moines County, IA · 30.1% low-access
- Washoe County, NV · 30.1% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MA (16.6% here).
- Newaygo County, MI · 16.6% SNAP
- Forrest County, MS · 16.6% SNAP
- Williamson County, IL · 16.6% SNAP
- Hocking County, OH · 16.6% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
Massachusetts among New England states
Massachusetts ranks 1st of 5 New England states by population-weighted low-access (27.8%). Essex County, at 30.1%, runs 2.3 pts above the Massachusetts rate.
- Massachusetts 27.8%
- New Hampshire 27.5%
- Rhode Island 23.6%
- Maine 13.4%
- Vermont 11.2%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
Read with this county
Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .
PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Essex County, MA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 25009. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.
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.