Signature · 18.8% SNAP (100th pct in VT)
Essex County, VT
Essex County stands out on SNAP (18.8%, +6.7 pts vs U.S.) with 28.2% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 28.2%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 18.8%
- on SNAP
- 6K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Essex County, VT
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-ELEVATED 28.2% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +6.1 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-HEAVY 18.8% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.2% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 33% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Rutland County ( -10.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Essex County ranks #1,067 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #1 of 14 counties in VT (28.2% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,067
- national by low-access %
- #1
- in VT
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 632
- food-desert residents
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).
Signature read: 18.8% SNAP (100th pct in VT) (+6.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Essex County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Essex County's 28.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 66% of them and ranked #1,067 most-affected nationwide.
Essex County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
All 3 of Essex County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Essex County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Vermont, not a full county-board reprint
- Essex
Essex 28.2%
28.2 % low-access
- Rutland
Rutland 18.1%
18.1 % low-access
- Washington
Washington 17.7%
17.7 % low-access
- Chittenden
Chittenden 13.9%
13.9 % low-access
- Orleans 10.1
Orleans 10.1%
10.1 % low-access
- Lamoille 0.9
Lamoille 0.9%
0.9 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 3 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 6,306 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 1,781 |
| Low-Access Share | 28.2%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 632 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,982 |
| Median Household Income | $59,294 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.8%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 530 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 18.8%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.2%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.7% |
Slim SNAP store book in Essex County
Essex County has 2 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 1 locations (50% of the total), followed by medium grocery store.
Where the store book sits, by town
All 2 authorized stores are in Island Pond, 1 of them grocery-grade (supermarket or large/medium grocery).
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- dollar general 15330, island pond
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- kingdom market, island pond
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Vermont
One of 13 counties in Vermont, 6 are shown here.
Compare Essex County vs Addison County → · All Vermont counties →
Vermont among New England states
Vermont ranks 5th of 5 New England states by population-weighted low-access (11.2%). Essex County, at 28.2%, runs 17.0 pts above the Vermont 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, VT are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 50009. 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.