PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Washington

Franklin County, WA

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Franklin 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).

31.6%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
18.8%
on SNAP
99K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 WA

The food-access picture

31.6% of Franklin County residents live in a low-access area, and 2 of its 12 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

8
low-access tracts
7K
food-desert residents
4.2%
households, no vehicle
13.1%
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 Franklin County's low-access share at 31.6%, above the national share. 8 of the county's 12 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 24,697 people. 2 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 6,940 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 Franklin County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Franklin County's 31.6% low-access share is elevated, higher than 73% of them and ranked #843 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Franklin County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 12 census tracts in Franklin County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Franklin County, WA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 4 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 6 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 12 tracts evaluated. 4 tracts adequate (33.3%) 6 tracts limited (50.0%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (16.7%) Adequate 33% Limited 50% Severe 17% Food-access tier distribution: Franklin County, WA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Franklin County vs. other Washington counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Washington

% 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 Franklin County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts12
Atlas Population (2010 basis)78,163
Low-Access Tracts8
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population24,697
Low-Access Share31.6%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population6,940

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Franklin County
IndicatorValue
Population98,902
Median Household Income$86,714
Poverty Rate13.1%near the national average
SNAP Households5,631
SNAP Participation Rate18.8%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.2%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.1%
SNAP participation in Franklin County 18.8%

About 18.8% of Franklin County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 31.6% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 18.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 5,631 households here.
  • 4.2% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 2 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 Franklin County

above the national share

2 of Franklin County's 12 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 16.7% of all its tracts.

A further 6 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 8.

An estimated 24,697 residents, roughly 31.6% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 6,940 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 4 tracts (33.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Franklin County

Franklin County has 76 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 39 locations (51% of the total), followed by medium grocery store.

Convenience Store · 39

  • 7-eleven store 14423m, pasco
  • a street station, pasco
  • ady latin connection, pasco
  • burns korners, pasco
  • circle k #6025 2706025, pasco
  • circle k 2706028, pasco
  • circle k 2706039, pasco
  • circle k 2706040, connell
  • circle k 2706050, pasco
  • court street mini mart, pasco
  • eastside mart, pasco
  • food & liquor store, pasco
  • friends corner #2, pasco
  • grand central station, pasco
  • hot spot mini mart, mesa
  • kahlotus korners inc, pasco
  • kim's market, pasco
  • king city truck stop, pasco
  • love's travel stop 811, pasco
  • mr qwicks gas and goodies, pasco
  • maverik, inc 441, pasco
  • maverik, inc 468, pasco
  • metro mart connell, connell
  • mid-columbia grocery, pasco
  • multiservicios colima, pasco
  • north korners, pasco
  • one stop mart 55, pasco
  • panaderia colima, pasco
  • penny pincher 175, pasco
  • pik a pop 1, pasco
  • pik a pop 7, pasco
  • qwiks country store, eltopia
  • quiktrip gas & food, pasco
  • s & s petroleum 62501, pasco
  • shopping spot, pasco
  • sky market, pasco
  • sunrise food mart, pasco
  • uncle jays corner, pasco
  • xpress mart 1, pasco

Medium Grocery Store · 10

  • amarilis's meat market, pasco
  • carniceria tres pueblos, pasco
  • columbia market, pasco
  • julissa's meat market, pasco
  • la palma market llc, pasco
  • la villa, pasco
  • rancho meat market, pasco
  • rancho meat market #2, pasco
  • supermex dulceria, pasco
  • tortilleria y carniceria monarca llc, pasco

Combination Grocery/Other · 8

  • carniceria la catrina n/a, pasco
  • dollar general 22071, connell
  • dollar general 22672, pasco
  • dollar tree 2957, pasco
  • dollar tree 7359, pasco
  • veronica's fresh produce, pasco
  • walgreens 01078, pasco
  • walgreens 9765, pasco

Supermarket · 5

  • albertson’s llc dba safeway 228, pasco
  • carniceria la cabana 2, pasco
  • grocery outlet of pasco, pasco
  • lep-re-kon mart 4, connell
  • supermex el pueblo market, pasco

Large Grocery Store · 3

  • basin city market, mesa
  • carniceria la cabana 4, pasco
  • juanitos foods, llc, pasco

Super Store · 3

  • fiesta foods, pasco
  • walmart 3380, pasco
  • yoke's fresh market 12, pasco

Bakery Specialty · 2

  • papa murphy's take n bake pizza wa081, pasco
  • viera's bakery, pasco

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • knutzens meats, pasco
  • sammys meat market, pasco

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • el jazmin 0002, connell
  • rallito de luna dos tortilla factory, pasco

Farmers' Market · 1

  • pasco farmer's market, pasco

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • forever bee market, pasco

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Washington

Adams County
41.7% low-access · 18.9% SNAP
Asotin County
13.8% low-access · 18.6% SNAP
Benton County
22.8% low-access · 14.8% SNAP
Chelan County
18.1% low-access · 12.0% SNAP
Clallam County
38.2% low-access · 13.0% SNAP
Clark County
21.7% low-access · 12.1% SNAP

Compare Franklin County vs Adams County → · All Washington counties →

Food access nationally, Washington in context

Franklin County sits inside Washington (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Franklin County has low food access? ▼
31.6% of residents in Franklin County, WA live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Franklin County? ▼
18.8% of households in Franklin County receive SNAP, covering 5,631 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Franklin County? ▼
The poverty rate in Franklin County, WA is 13.1%, with a median household income of $86,714 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Franklin County a food desert? ▼
2 of Franklin County's 12 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Franklin County households lack a vehicle? ▼
4.2% of households in Franklin County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.