County food-access profile · North Carolina
Guilford County, NC
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Guilford 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).
- 24.2%
- low-access pop.
- 18
- food-desert tracts
- 15.5%
- on SNAP
- 548K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
24.2% of Guilford County residents live in a low-access area, and 18 of its 118 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 56
- low-access tracts
- 36K
- food-desert residents
- 6.7%
- households, no vehicle
- 14.6%
- 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 Guilford County's low-access share at 24.2%, above the national share. 56 of the county's 118 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 118,195 people. 18 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 35,596 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 Guilford County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Guilford County's 24.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 57% of them and ranked #1,355 most-affected nationwide.
Guilford County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 118 census tracts in Guilford County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Guilford County vs. other North Carolina counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in North Carolina
- Guilford
Guilford County, NC
24.2 % low-access
- Alamance
Alamance County, NC
25 % low-access
- Alexander
Alexander County, NC
20.4 % low-access
- Alleghany 4.3
Alleghany County, NC
4.3 % low-access
- Anson 8.4
Anson County, NC
8.4 % low-access
- Ashe
Ashe County, NC
22.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 118 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 488,406 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 56 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 18 |
| Low-Access Population | 118,195 |
| Low-Access Share | 24.2%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 35,596 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 547,940 |
| Median Household Income | $68,642 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.6%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 33,985 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 15.5%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.7%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 4.7% |
About 15.5% of Guilford County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 24.2% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 15.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 33,985 households here.
- 6.7% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 18 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 Guilford County
above the national share
18 of Guilford County's 118 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 15.3% of all its tracts.
A further 38 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 56.
An estimated 118,195 residents, roughly 24.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 35,596 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 62 tracts (52.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Guilford County
Guilford County has 498 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 125 locations (25% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 125
- african & asian market, greensboro
- big lots 3208, high point
- brentwood grocery, high point
- cvs pharmacy 3852, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 3880, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 3988, high point
- cvs pharmacy 4135, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 4441, high point
- cvs pharmacy 5500, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 5593, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 5757, high point
- cvs pharmacy 6033, oak ridge
- cvs pharmacy 7031, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 7062, whitsett
- cvs pharmacy 07959, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 3711, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 5532, summerfield
- cvs pharmacy 7029, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 7394, greensboro
- cvs pharmacy 7523, greensboro
- dollar general 10660, gibsonville
- dollar general 10695, gibsonville
- dollar general 11063, stokesdale
- dollar general 11069, greensboro
- dollar general 11103, greensboro
- dollar general 1286, summerfield
- dollar general 13522, high point
- dollar general 14307, high point
- dollar general 14346, gibsonville
- dollar general 14411, greensboro
- dollar general 1867, greensboro
- dollar general 4107, greensboro
- dollar general 4564, greensboro
- dollar general 4870, high point
- dollar general 6048, greensboro
- dollar general 8270, jamestown
- dollar general 9353, climax
- dollar tree 1467, greensboro
- dollar tree 2208, high point
- dollartree 10169, greensboro
- dollartree 8677, high point
- dollartree 9217, greensboro
- dollartree 9348, greensboro
- dollartree 9911, high point
- dynasty int'l food & gifts, greensboro
- deep roots, greensboro
- dollar general 10129, pleasant garden
- dollar general 12171, greensboro
- dollar general 12238, high point
- dollar general 13078, greensboro
- dollar general 15343, browns summit
- dollar general 16123, greensboro
- dollar general 16200, mcleansville
- dollar general 16536, greensboro
- dollar general 17991, greensboro
- dollar general 20363, kernersville
- dollar general 20502, julian
- dollar general 21337, colfax
- dollar general 21770, summerfield
- dollar general 22265, stokesdale
- dollar general 22526, greensboro
- dollar general 22861, archdale
- dollar general 23737, greensboro
- dollar general 24180, high point
- dollar general 30397, high point
- dollar general 7704, greensboro
- dollar general 9614, greensboro
- dollar tree 0433, high point
- dollar tree 1474, greensboro
- dollar tree 1842, greensboro
- dollar tree 4183, greensboro
- dollar tree 4253, greensboro
- dollar tree 4529, greensboro
- dollar tree 4615, greensboro
- dollar tree 5432, greensboro
- dollar tree 5675, greensboro
- dollar tree 623, greensboro
- dollar tree 7705, greensboro
- dollar tree 8020, gibsonville
- dollar tree 8024, high point
- dollar tree 822, greensboro
- enciso bakery #3, greensboro
- enciso bakery 2, high point
- family dollar store 50, greensboro
- family dollar 10428, greensboro
- family dollar 11048, greensboro
- family dollar 11088, greensboro
- family dollar 11377, greensboro
- family dollar 11410, greensboro
- family dollar 11608, greensboro
- family dollar 12341, greensboro
- family dollar 13941, greensboro
- family dollar 1657, greensboro
- family dollar 3192, greensboro
- family dollar 41, greensboro
- family dollar 42, high point
- family dollar 5780, high point
- family dollar 8592, high point
- family dollar store 104, high point
- family dollar store 3937, greensboro
- family dollar store 466, greensboro
- family dollar store 5237, greensboro
- family dollar store 7974, high point
- family dollar store 97, high point
- growdega, high point
- innocent m grocery, greensboro
- jt family group llc, greensboro
- rose's 539, greensboro
- roses 458, greensboro
- south east asian market, high point
- walgreens 15440, jamestown
- walgreens 6813, greensboro
- walgreens 06812, greensboro
- walgreens 09135, greensboro
- walgreens 09236, greensboro
- walgreens 10675, summerfield
- walgreens 10707, greensboro
- walgreens 11351, greensboro
- walgreens 12047, high point
- walgreens 12283, greensboro
- walgreens 15070, high point
- walgreens 16129, jamestown
- walgreens 19949, greensboro
- walgreens 6315, high point
- walgreens 9527, high point
Convenience Store · 124
- 7-eleven #41126b 41126b, high point
- 7-eleven #41957a 41957a, greensboro
- 7-eleven 41360j, greensboro
- 7-eleven 41365h, greensboro
- 9 star mart, high point
- a&b food mart, greensboro
- a2z grocery, greensboro
- aarya 12 inc, high point
- ace mini mart no, high point
- airport market, greensboro
- all american mart, high point
- all in one stop, greensboro
- allen jay grocery, high point
- american grocery store, greensboro
- apple tree, high point
- apple tree 2 inc, greensboro
- apsara asian market 01, greensboro
- b & b food mart, greensboro
- basam inc, high point
- battleground family fare 112, greensboro
- bessemer stop, greensboro
- bizzy bee grocery, greensboro
- blue mountain mart, greensboro
- bodega mama zula n/a, greensboro
- brown summit 102, browns summit
- c&c mart n/a, greensboro
- charlie grocery, greensboro
- carolina party store, high point
- castleloch enterprises inc, greensboro
- chapel mart, greensboro
- church st family fare 172, greensboro
- circle k 1526, colfax
- circle k 1528, greensboro
- circle k 2701510, high point
- circle k 2701514, greensboro
- circle k 2701515, greensboro
- circle k 2704132, greensboro
- circle k 2707930, greensboro
- circle k 2707955, greensboro
- circle k 2708880, greensboro
- circle k 2720170, greensboro
- circle k 2720426, high point
- circle k 2720462, greensboro
- circle k 2720861, greensboro
- circle k 2723154, high point
- circle k 2723476, greensboro
- circle k 2723782, greensboro
- circle k 2723785, greensboro
- circle k 2723786, greensboro
- circle k 2723787, whitsett
- circle k 2723788, high point
- circle k stores 1512, greensboro
- college mart, greensboro
- college village family fare 190, high point
- corner mart, greensboro
- countryside, stokesdale
- county line, randleman
- crunchy fried chicken, greensboro
- dnh mart, greensboro
- daniel brook grocery, high point
- dasa express mart, greensboro
- east market family fare 217, greensboro
- east market groceries inc, greensboro
- english mart, high point
- ez food mart & deli no, greensboro
- ez mart, greensboro
- fairway one stop #2, greensboro
- fairway one stop 17, high point
- fairway one stop 20, high point
- family food mart, high point
- fast mart, greensboro
- firehouse grocery, greensboro
- fleming family fare 248, greensboro
- flowers bakery outlet 474, high point
- franklin market n/a, greensboro
- franks grocery, mcleansville
- fuel plus, high point
- fuel smart, high point
- fuel smart 2, high point
- gas n go, greensboro
- gastown summerfield, summerfield
- gate city epress, greensboro
- gateway, greensboro
- gibsonville exxon 104, gibsonville
- gillespie curb market, greensboro
- good lucky star llc, high point
- gp convenience store inc 1, greensboro
- grab n go 5, high point
- greensboro coliseum family fare 267, greensboro
- guilford college family fare 271, greensboro
- han-dee hugo's 209, climax
- handy kwik stop, greensboro
- hicone stop mini mart, greensboro
- higgins curb market, greensboro
- jay's grocery, greensboro
- john's curb market, greensboro
- jpj mart, greensboro
- kash kwik stop #2, greensboro
- ken's mart, high point
- kimco, greensboro
- kivett drive grocery, high point
- kp mini mart, greensboro
- kv food mart, greensboro
- kv ventures, high point
- kwik buy, greensboro
- kwik kesh mart, greensboro
- kwik mart, high point
- kwik pop shoppe, high point
- kwik shop, greensboro
- kwik stop & shop, mcleansville
- kwik time, greensboro
- kwik trip, greensboro
- la pulperia de greensboro no, greensboro
- latham quick market inc, greensboro
- lawndale family fare 327, greensboro
- lee street famiy fare 328, greensboro
- liberty food mart, liberty
- m & m friendly mart llc 1, greensboro
- maclovio store mini market 3 1, high point
- market express, summerfield
- mini market, greensboro
- mlk grocery, greensboro
- moose tracks, high point
- ms food mart, greensboro
Bakery Specialty · 1
- papa murphy's international nc009, greensboro
Showing 250 of 498 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in North Carolina
Compare Guilford County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →
Food access nationally, North Carolina in context
Guilford County sits inside North Carolina (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 Guilford County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Guilford County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Guilford County? ▼
Is Guilford County a food desert? ▼
What share of Guilford 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.