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Signature · 4.3% SNAP (8th pct in VA)

Fairfax County, VA

Fairfax County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.

18.0%
low-access pop.
3
food-desert tracts
4.3%
on SNAP
1.1M
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 VA

USDA FARA access plate

County Fairfax County, VA

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN

  • LA-MODERATE 18.0% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -4.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 3 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 4.3% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 1% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Grayson County (+ 0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Fairfax County ranks #1,855 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #66 of 123 counties in VA (18.0% low-access; 3 food-desert tracts).

#1,855
national by low-access %
#66
in VA
92
low-access tracts
17K
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: 4.3% SNAP (8th pct in VA) (-7.8 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Fairfax County compares nationally

Fairfax County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.0% low-access share that beats 41% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,855).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Fairfax County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

257 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Fairfax County, VA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 165 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 89 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 257 tracts evaluated. 165 tracts adequate (64.2%) 89 tracts limited (34.6%) 3 tracts severe / food desert (1.2%) Adequate 64% Limited 35% Severe 1% Food-access tier distribution: Fairfax County, VA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Fairfax County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (252 urban, 5 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 5 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.

Fairfax County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Virginia, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Fairfax County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts257
Atlas Population (2010 basis)1,081,726
Low-Access Tracts92
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population195,194
Low-Access Share18.0%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population16,977

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Fairfax County
IndicatorValue
Population1,147,837
Median Household Income$153,637
Poverty Rate5.9%well below the national average
SNAP Households17,970
SNAP Participation Rate4.3%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.8%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.9%

Other Counties in Virginia

One of 132 counties in Virginia, 6 are shown here.

Accomack County
2.2% low-access · 12.5% SNAP
Albemarle County
11.9% low-access · 4.6% SNAP
Alexandria city
0.0% low-access · 5.1% SNAP
Alleghany County
16.4% low-access · 8.1% SNAP
Amelia County
16.5% low-access · 13.4% SNAP
Amherst County
11.3% low-access · 10.5% SNAP

Compare Fairfax County vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →

Nationwide peers for Fairfax County's low-access or SNAP share

SNAP-led peer set first for Fairfax County (4.3%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Virginia.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside VA (18.0% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside VA (4.3% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Virginia among South Atlantic states

Virginia ranks 8th of 9 South Atlantic states by population-weighted low-access (20.4%). Fairfax County, at 18.0%, runs 2.4 pts below the Virginia rate.

  1. Georgia 30.9%
  2. South Carolina 28.7%
  3. Delaware 27.3%
  4. Florida 25.1%
  5. North Carolina 22.9%
  6. Maryland 22.7%
  7. West Virginia 21.3%
  8. Virginia 20.4%
  9. District of Columbia 4.6%

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 Fairfax County, VA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 51059. 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.