County food-access profile · Michigan
Genesee County, MI
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Genesee 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).
- 35.9%
- low-access pop.
- 31
- food-desert tracts
- 18.8%
- on SNAP
- 403K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
35.9% of Genesee County residents live in a low-access area, and 31 of its 130 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 66
- low-access tracts
- 49K
- food-desert residents
- 7.4%
- households, no vehicle
- 16.4%
- 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 Genesee County's low-access share at 35.9%, above the national share. 66 of the county's 130 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 152,931 people. 31 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 48,600 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 Genesee County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Genesee County's 35.9% low-access share is elevated, higher than 82% of them and ranked #558 most-affected nationwide.
Genesee County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 130 census tracts in Genesee County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Genesee County vs. other Michigan counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Michigan
- Genesee
Genesee County, MI
35.9 % low-access
- Alcona
Alcona County, MI
15.6 % low-access
- Alger 12.8
Alger County, MI
12.8 % low-access
- Allegan
Allegan County, MI
20.8 % low-access
- Alpena
Alpena County, MI
15.9 % low-access
- Antrim 0.2
Antrim County, MI
0.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 130 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 425,790 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 66 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 31 |
| Low-Access Population | 152,931 |
| Low-Access Share | 35.9%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 48,600 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 403,305 |
| Median Household Income | $62,281 |
| Poverty Rate | 16.4%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 31,470 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 18.8%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 7.4%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.2% |
About 18.8% of Genesee County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 35.9% 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 31,470 households here.
- 7.4% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 31 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 Genesee County
above the national share
31 of Genesee County's 130 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 23.8% of all its tracts.
A further 35 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 66.
An estimated 152,931 residents, roughly 35.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 48,600 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 64 tracts (49.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Genesee County
Genesee County has 418 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 162 locations (39% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 162
- 1 stop 5081, flint
- 1 stop 5085, flint
- 1stop 5080, fenton
- 1stop 5082, mount morris
- 1stop 5083, flint
- 1stop 5084, mount morris
- 1stop 5086, burton
- 1stop 5088, flint
- 1stop 5089, davison
- 1stop 5090, davison
- a & f fuels inc, flint
- al & jerry's market, mount morris
- aces superette, gaines
- admiral 5731, flint
- admiral 5742, swartz creek
- admiral 5880, genesee
- alaomr gas inc, flint
- american fuel & more 2 inc, mount morris
- amir petroleum llc, flint
- ana flint group inc, mount morris
- atherton fuel, flint
- bp, flint
- brown street market, flint
- ballenger corner, inc, flint
- ballenger highway citgo, flint
- barrels & vines fenton, fenton
- beacon & bridge market 1, swartz creek
- beacon & bridge market 12, flushing
- beacon & bridge market 2, clio
- beacon & bridge market 29, goodrich
- beacon & bridge market 4, fenton
- beacon & bridge market 5, montrose
- beacon & bridge market 7, mt. morris
- beacon & bridge market 8, linden
- bear's liquor store, flushing
- beards store, byron
- beecher beer & wine, flint
- bernies market burton, burton
- big star market, flint
- bill llc, burton
- bobby's convenience store, fenton
- bp 69, flint
- bp grand blanc, grand blanc
- brian's market, mount morris
- bristol fuel llc, flint
- c & s fuel mart, clio
- c&m market, flint
- calkins point market, flint
- carpenter road superette inc, flint
- clayton market, lennon
- clio fuel & more, flint
- clio investments, inc., clio
- clio mini mart, clio
- clio road market, flint
- conlee convenient store 5, clio
- conlee oil 1, otisville
- conlee oil 7, montrose
- conlee oil party store 3, clio
- corunna fuel & more inc, flint
- corunna mini mart, flint
- county line party store, clio
- d & r liquor, flint
- dort fill-up inc, flint
- dado market, flint
- damouni of 94 inc. dba miller mart, flint
- dara liquor inc, flint
- davinder inc, flint
- davison liquor, davison
- davison marathon, davison
- davison road market, flint
- denha & sons, inc., davison
- dort beer run, flint
- dort fuel stop inc, flint
- dort hwy corner inc, flint
- e & j market, flint
- ez stop, flint
- eknoor party store, burton
- enmar fuel & more inc, fenton
- ernie's beer and wine, clio
- express stop 4643, flint
- express stop 4649, flint
- ez fuel, flint
- ez gas mart, flint
- eztop food mart no.2, flint
- fairland food, burton
- fenton fuel mart, fenton
- fenton party shop, fenton
- fhm fuel inc, burton
- fleming oil inc, flint
- flint fuel mart, flint
- flint petroleum inc, flint
- flint powerfuel & more, flint
- flushing fuel and more inc, flushing
- flushing pointe marathon inc, flushing
- food & fuel palace, grand blanc
- food castle of grand blanc, grand blanc
- food plus party store, grand blanc
- franklin st mini mart, flint
- golden spot liquor, flint
- happy boy market, flint
- hartland mobile inc, fenton
- hasan fuel, inc 1, flint
- havit, flint
- hazim market, flint
- heidi’s market, davison
- hinky dinky super market, flint
- hoagie's party store, flushing
- holiday wine shop 1, flint
- holly hills sunoco 9016, grand blanc
- holly road bp 901701, grand blanc
- hollywood liquor store, burton
- i.j. abufarha, llc, flint
- inderjit inc, flint
- isaac's grocery, swartz creek
- japp c-store inc, flint
- jimy's liquor, flint
- jmd petroleum, flint
- johnny's superette, flint
- johns marathon inc, genesee
- jules market, flint
- juliano's c store 3, flint
- k & j market, flint
- khouris market, flint
- kajy hill inc, flint
- karim's party store, flint
- kearsley corner, flint
- kevins party store 1, flint
- khirfans market, flint
- ks liquor, flint
- lks liquor, burton
- linden road market, flint
- liquor cave, flint
- liquor corner, flint
- liquor corner market, davison
- liquor corner shoppe, burton
- liquor corner stop, burton
- liquor corner two, inc., flint
- liquor palace, flint
- liquor palace of burton, burton
- liquor plus mini mart, flint
- m & s party store, flushing
- m 66 inc, clio
- m66 dort fuel, flint
- m66 mt morris inc, mount morris
- montegos party store, flint
- macs food fair, flint
- marathon, flint
- marathon first choice one inc, flint
- marathon first choice two inc, burton
- marathon m66 maple, flint
- martha's quick stop 24, flushing
- martha's quik stop, flushing
- mattis auto wash 70, flushing
- meijer gas station 244, davison
- meijer gas station 259, swartz creek
- meijer gas station 29, burton
- meijer gas station 44, flint
- michigan food market & liquor, flint
- mikes grocery, flint
- mlk market, flint
- montrose express, montrose
- montrose mini mart one, montrose
Combination Grocery/Other · 87
- big lots 3002, flint
- cvs pharmacy 11247, montrose
- dollar general 10194, montrose
- dollar general 10929, linden
- dollar general 13748, mt morris
- dollar general 14560, burton
- dollar general 18899, grand blanc
- dollar general 8084, flint
- dollar general 8120, flint
- dollar general 9635, clio
- dollar tree 0187, flint
- dollartree 10050, linden
- dollartree 10286, fenton
- dollartree 10658, burton
- dollartree 10727, grand blanc
- dollartree 9031, flint
- dollartree 9381, flint
- dale's natural foods, flint
- dollar general 10758, flushing
- dollar general 11013, flint
- dollar general 13249, flint
- dollar general 13580, flint
- dollar general 13754, goodrich
- dollar general 16867, flushing
- dollar general 19023, mount morris
- dollar general 19148, burton
- dollar general 21083, flint
- dollar general 21180, flint
- dollar general 21917, mount morris
- dollar general 22681, flint
- dollar general 23799, swartz creek
- dollar general 24275, flint
- dollar general 30063, genesee
- dollar general 6020, flint
- dollar general 8288, flint
- dollar general 8528, flint
- dollar general 8819, fenton
- dollar general 9625, flint
- dollar general 9686, flint
- dollar general store 16736, swartz creek
- dollar general store 16889, linden
- dollar general store 17581, otisville
- dollar general store 17680, davison
- dollar tree 3147, davison
- dollar tree 3284, flint
- dollar tree 3724, clio
- dollar tree 3906, fenton
- dollar tree 4122, flint
- dollar tree 5035, mount morris
- dollar tree 6161, flint
- dollar tree 6196, grand blanc
- dollar tree 6477, burton
- dollar tree 669, flint
- dollar tree 675, flint
- family dollar 11913, burton
- family dollar 13905, flushing
- family dollar 2779, flint
- family dollar 6315, flint
- family dollar 7389, flint
- family dollar 7673, flint
- family dollar store 10656, flint
- family dollar store 1273, flint
- family dollar store 1862, genesee
- family dollar store 2088, flint
- family dollar store 2446, burton
- family dollar store 2603, clio
- family dollar store 2881, flint
- family dollar store 3029, swartz creek
- family dollar store 3608, flint
- family dollar store 4673, mount morris
- family dollar store 5972, flint
- family dollar store 6009, flint
- family dollar store 7035, flint
- family dollar store 7041, davison
- hills cheese llc, flint
- in & out grill-n-liquor, flint
- nehrings market, burton
- north flint food market cooperative, flint
- riverside market inc., montrose
- richs greenhouse & fruit market, swartz creek
- walgreens #6830 06830, flint
- walgreens 07500, flint
- walgreens 4676, flint
- walgreens 6054, flushing
- walgreens 07065, fenton
- walgreens 07501, flint
- walgreens 10953, davison
Bakery Specialty · 1
- bimbo bakeries 7673, flint
Showing 250 of 418 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Michigan
Compare Genesee County vs Alcona County → · All Michigan counties →
Food access nationally, Michigan in context
Genesee County sits inside Michigan (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 Genesee County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Genesee County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Genesee County? ▼
Is Genesee County a food desert? ▼
What share of Genesee 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.