County food-access profile · Massachusetts
Essex County, MA
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Essex 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).
- 30.1%
- low-access pop.
- 15
- food-desert tracts
- 16.6%
- on SNAP
- 813K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
30.1% of Essex County residents live in a low-access area, and 15 of its 162 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 83
- low-access tracts
- 30K
- food-desert residents
- 9.3%
- households, no vehicle
- 9.4%
- 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 Essex County's low-access share at 30.1%, above the national share. 83 of the county's 162 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 223,449 people. 15 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 30,482 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 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 #932 most-affected nationwide.
Essex County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 162 census tracts in Essex County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Essex County vs. other Massachusetts counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Massachusetts
- Essex
Essex County, MA
30.1 % low-access
- Barnstable
Barnstable County, MA
51 % low-access
- Berkshire
Berkshire County, MA
30.9 % low-access
- Bristol
Bristol County, MA
26.4 % low-access
- Dukes
Dukes County, MA
32.2 % low-access
- Franklin 19.1
Franklin County, MA
19.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| 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 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| 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% |
About 16.6% of Essex County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 30.1% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 16.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 51,931 households here.
- 9.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 15 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 Essex County
above the national share
15 of Essex County's 162 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 9.3% of all its tracts.
A further 68 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 83.
An estimated 223,449 residents, roughly 30.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 30,482 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 79 tracts (48.8%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Essex County
Essex County has 545 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 154 locations (28% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 154
- 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
Combination Grocery/Other · 96
- 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
- cvs pharmacy 10017, ipswich
- cvs pharmacy 1011, danvers
- cvs pharmacy 10502, newburyport
- cvs pharmacy 1171, south hamilton
- cvs pharmacy 1181, danvers
- cvs pharmacy 1184, rowley
- cvs pharmacy 1306, middleton
- cvs pharmacy 1786, lawrence
- cvs pharmacy 2177, georgetown
- cvs pharmacy 23, haverhill
- cvs pharmacy 2500, saugus
- cvs pharmacy 2533, peabody
- cvs pharmacy 261, salem
- cvs pharmacy 2959, danvers
- cvs pharmacy 318, peabody
- cvs pharmacy 4073, peabody
- cvs pharmacy 4200, salisbury
- cvs pharmacy 457, salem
- cvs pharmacy 62, gloucester
- cvs pharmacy 669, swampscott
- cvs pharmacy 7109, salem
- cvs pharmacy cvs00272, gloucester
- cvs pharmacy inc. 1239, north andover
- dollar tree 2718, methuen
- dollar tree 3536, saugus
- dollar tree 6287, haverhill
- dollartree 10603, salem
- dollartree 8800, beverly
- dollartree 9269, north andover
- dollartree 9445, salem
- dollar general 30988, amesbury
- dollar tree 2036, danvers
- dollar tree 3808, methuen
- dollar tree 4276, gloucester
- dollar tree 4753, danvers
- dollar tree 6095, lawrence
- dollar tree 6162, salisbury
- dollar tree 6340, lynn
- dollar tree 7037, methuen
- dollar tree 7311, lynn
- dollar tree 8389, beverly
- family dollar 7604, haverhill
- family dollar 8072, methuen
- family dollar store 10253, lynn
- family dollar store 11413, methuen
- family dollar store 11535, lawrence
- family dollar store 2806, methuen
- family dollar store 3462, lawrence
- family dollar store 3536, lynn
- family dollar store 5665, lynn
- family dollar store 8079, salem
- gsweetss, peabody
- himilayas corp, danvers
- lynn mobil mart, lynn
- multicultural value llc 201, haverhill
- nike africa food market, lynn
- ocean state job lot 239, danvers
- ocean state job lot 255, saugus
- saigon market, lawrence
- southland food shop, lynn
- vermette's inc, amesbury
- walgreens 05810, methuen
- walgreens 2208, peabody
- walgreens 02063, salem
- walgreens 02325, lynn
- walgreens 02471, saugus
- walgreens 02517, gloucester
- walgreens 02823, lynn
- walgreens 04571, lawrence
- walgreens 09011, danvers
- walgreens 10209, north andover
- walgreens 10940, middleton
- walgreens 15969, swampscott
- walgreens 17472, rockport
- walgreens 17482, haverhill
- walgreens 18342, methuen
- walgreens 19631, amesbury
- walgreens 2577, saugus
- walgreens 2716, lynn
- walgreens 3337, lawrence
- walgreens 4393, beverly
Showing 250 of 545 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Massachusetts
Compare Essex County vs Barnstable County → · All Massachusetts counties →
Food access nationally, Massachusetts in context
Essex County sits inside Massachusetts (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 Essex County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Essex County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Essex County? ▼
Is Essex County a food desert? ▼
What share of Essex 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.