County food-access profile · Tennessee
Hamilton County, TN
Hamilton County sits among the counties with the widest food-access gaps the USDA tracks, most residents here live well outside a comfortable walk or drive to a supermarket. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 43.9%
- low-access pop.
- 17
- food-desert tracts
- 9.4%
- on SNAP
- 376K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
43.9% of Hamilton County residents live in a low-access area, and 17 of its 82 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 55
- low-access tracts
- 44K
- food-desert residents
- 5.8%
- 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).
Hamilton County carries one of the more serious food-access burdens the USDA Atlas tracks: its low-access share of 43.9% is well above the national share. 55 of the county's 82 census tracts fall into that category, areas where residents live far from a supermarket, covering about 147,542 people. 17 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 44,437 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 Hamilton County compares nationally
Hamilton County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 43.9% low-access share outpaces 90% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #302 most-affected nationwide.
Hamilton County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 82 census tracts in Hamilton County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Hamilton County vs. other Tennessee counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Tennessee
- Hamilton
Hamilton County, TN
43.9 % low-access
- Anderson 10.9
Anderson County, TN
10.9 % low-access
- Bedford
Bedford County, TN
23 % low-access
- Benton 12.6
Benton County, TN
12.6 % low-access
- Bledsoe 4.7
Bledsoe County, TN
4.7 % low-access
- Blount
Blount County, TN
30.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 82 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 336,463 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 55 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 17 |
| Low-Access Population | 147,542 |
| Low-Access Share | 43.9%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 44,437 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 376,192 |
| Median Household Income | $76,183 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.1%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 14,488 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.4%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.8%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.6% |
About 9.4% of Hamilton County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 43.9% of residents are low-access, well above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 9.4% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 14,488 households here.
- 5.8% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 17 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 Hamilton County
well above the national share
17 of Hamilton County's 82 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 20.7% of all its tracts.
A further 38 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 55.
An estimated 147,542 residents, roughly 43.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 44,437 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 27 tracts (32.9%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Hamilton County
Hamilton County has 385 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 160 locations (42% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 160
- 7-eleven 42112, chattanooga
- 7-eleven 42147h, hixson
- 7-eleven, inc. 41059h, chattanooga
- 7-eleven, inc. 42285, chattanooga
- 9 brothers 1, chattanooga
- aj food mart 0, chattanooga
- ace food mart, chattanooga
- arpita inc dba wesley's corner, soddy daisy
- big poppa quick mart 1, chattanooga
- browns ferry food mart, chattanooga
- circle k 4703791, ooltewahooltewah
- circle k 4703923, chattanooga
- circle k 4703954, chattanooga
- circle k 4703955, chattanooga
- circle k 4703600, soddy daisy
- circle k 4703601, ooltewah
- circle k 4703602, hixson
- circle k 4703604, hixson
- circle k 4703606, hixson
- circle k 4703607, soddy daisy
- circle k 4703608, soddy daisy
- circle k 4703609, harrison
- circle k 4703610, soddy daisy
- circle k 4703611, hixson
- circle k 4703612, chattanooga
- circle k 4703613, chattanooga
- circle k 4703614, chattanooga
- circle k 4703615, chattanooga
- circle k 4703618, chattanooga
- circle k 4703619, chattanooga
- circle k 4703640, ooltewah
- circle k 4703641, ooltewah
- circle k 4703642, chattanooga
- circle k 4703643, chattanooga
- circle k 4703644, chattanooga
- circle k 4703645, chattanooga
- circle k 4703646, chattanooga
- circle k 4703647, chattanooga
- circle k 4703648, chattanooga
- circle k 4703649, hixson
- circle k 4703650, east ridge
- circle k 4703651, chattanooga
- circle k 4703652, chattanooga
- citgo express mart, chattanooga
- citgo food mart, chattanooga
- citgo market, chattanooga
- corner market, soddy daisy
- danny's, chattanooga
- discount mart, hixson
- discovery outlet, hixson
- eagle travel center, soddy daisy
- eagles food and fuel, chattanooga
- el jarochito restaurant and groceries, chattanooga
- express mart, chattanooga
- exxon, chattanooga
- exxon, chattanooga
- famous market, chattanooga
- fast stop, chattanooga
- flowers bakery outlet 152, chattanooga
- fruteria dos hermanos, chattanooga
- gas to go, chattanooga
- green pond corner grocery, soddy daisy
- gurudev 1 inc. dba kanku, chattanooga
- harry's 22, ooltewah
- harry's 40, chattanooga
- harry's 41, chattanooga
- harry's 43, chattanooga
- harry's 45, chattanooga
- harry's 50, hixson
- harrys 7, hixson
- heet and kush, chattanooga
- hop in express, chattanooga
- island oasis, birchwood
- j & m quickstop, chattanooga
- jft beverage center, chattanooga
- jay ambey maa inc, chattanooga
- jay food market, chattanooga
- joe's kwik mart 981, chattanooga
- jordan market, chattanooga
- kaleswari inc, chattanooga
- kamboi #3, chattanooga
- kangaroo 36, chattanooga
- kanku express 3, chattanooga
- kanku's #5, chattanooga
- kanku's 12, chattanooga
- kanku's 31, chattanooga
- kanku's express#5, chattanooga
- kankus 3, chattanooga
- kankus express 1, chattanooga
- kankus express 109, chattanooga
- kankus express 21, chattanooga
- la fuente tienda latina, hixson
- la tiendita, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3536, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3537, hixson
- mapco express, inc. 3538, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3660, harrison
- mapco express, inc. 3662, hixson
- mapco express, inc. 3667, sale creek
- mapco express, inc. 3668, signal mountain
- mapco express, inc. 3669, signal mountain
- mapco express, inc. 3680, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3683, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3685, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3686, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3687, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 3692, chattanooga
- mapco express, inc. 7553, chattanooga
- macks highway market, chattanooga
- mahantbapa,llc, soddy daisy
- mapco #879, chattanooga
- mountain general store, soddy daisy
- mountain mart, chattanooga
- mr speedy 2, chattanooga
- mr zip 537, chattanooga
- mr zip 581, chattanooga
- murphy express 8551, chattanooga
- murphy usa 7074, chattanooga
- murphy usa 7208, soddy-daisy
- murphy usa 7423, ooltewah
- murphy usa 7582, chattanooga
- murphy usa 7587, chattanooga
- murphy usa 7943, hixson
- neighborhood grocery, chattanooga
- nanbai mart, chattanooga
- nanbai mart 2, chattanooga
- neighborhood market, chattanooga
- nicks food mart, chattanooga
- panther mart, sale creek
- park grocery, harrison
- patriot express, chattanooga
- pit stop market n/a, chattanooga
- pj food mart, sale creek
- quick mart, chattanooga
- quick stop, chattanooga
- quiktrip 7140, chattanooga
- quiktrip 7141, ooltewah
- raceway 6758, ooltewah
- raceway 6686, chattanooga
- raceway 6843, chattanooga
- raceway 6845, chattanooga
- ria's food mart, chattanooga
- rias mart 3, chattanooga
- rossville corner market, chattanooga
- s k food mart, chattanooga
- s&m convenience store, chattanooga
- stop n go food mart, east ridge
- sunrise market 3, east ridge
- sandys mini mart, chattanooga
- save a ton 6, chattanooga
- save-a-ton #2, chattanooga
- save-a-ton #3, chattanooga
- save-a-ton 1, hixson
- sd mart, soddy daisy
- shiv food mart, chattanooga
- shiva food mart, chattanooga
- shivshakti corporation, chattanooga
- sk food mart, chattanooga
- soddy daisy quick stop, soddy daisy
- speed mart, chattanooga
Combination Grocery/Other · 90
- asian market 1, chattanooga
- big lots 3167, chattanooga
- cvs pharmacy 2426, hixson
- cvs pharmacy 3735, chattanooga
- cvs pharmacy 3782, chattanooga
- cvs pharmacy 4370, chattanooga
- cvs pharmacy 4428, hixson
- cvs pharmacy 5378, chattanooga
- cvs pharmacy 5665, chattanooga
- cvs pharmacy 5687, chattanooga
- cvs pharmacy 5694, soddy daisy
- cvs pharmacy 7289, signal mountain
- cvs pharmacy 11189, chattanooga
- dollar general 10818, soddy daisy
- dollar general 1082, chattanooga
- dollar general 10989, hixson
- dollar general 11116, ooltewah
- dollar general 1443, harrison
- dollar general 14430, chattanooga
- dollar general 18779, georgetown
- dollar general 2264, chattanooga
- dollar general 2429, red bank
- dollar general 34, chattanooga
- dollar general 3761, hixson
- dollar general 4412, chattanooga
- dollar general 4659, collegedale
- dollar general 4660, chattanooga
- dollar general 511, chattanooga
- dollar general 6139, sale creek
- dollar general 9617, red bank
- dollartree 9394, chattanooga
- dollartree 9444, hixson
- dollar general 11860, chattanooga
- dollar general 11959, hixson
- dollar general 12663, chattanooga
- dollar general 13137, chattanooga
- dollar general 15335, chattanooga
- dollar general 15696, chattanooga
- dollar general 15871, chattanooga
- dollar general 15889, chattanooga
- dollar general 20145, soddy daisy
- dollar general 21100, soddy daisy
- dollar general 21821, chattanooga
- dollar general 23312, soddy daisy
- dollar general 24056, birchwood
- dollar general 24899, chattanooga
- dollar general 30303, hixson
- dollar general 6932, signal mountain
- dollar genral 17610, soddy daisy
- dollar tree 158, hixson
- dollar tree 2340, ooltewah
- dollar tree 3970, chattanooga
- dollar tree 4359, chattanooga
- dollar tree 4488, soddy daisy
- dollar tree 4919, chattanooga
- dollar tree 5031, chattanooga
- dollar tree 5397, chattanooga
- dollar tree 6553, chattanooga
- dollar tree 851, chattanooga
- family dollar store 7343, snow hill
- family dollar 10193, chattanooga
- family dollar 10567, chattanooga
- family dollar 11277, chattanooga
- family dollar 1445, chattanooga
- family dollar 2645, chattanooga
- family dollar 4283, chattanooga
- family dollar 4391, chattanooga
- family dollar 4634, chattanooga
- family dollar 8960, chattanooga
- family dollar store 2891, chattanooga
- family dollar store 1864, chattanooga
- gaining ground grocery, chattanooga
- la guatemalteca 3, chattanooga
- little manila oriental store, chattanooga
- sokdee oriental market, chattanooga
- surplus sales inc, chattanooga
- tienda huehueteco #2, chattanooga
- walgreen 06353, east ridge
- walgreen 07779, chattanooga
- walgreen 10495, soddy daisy
- walgreens 03537, east ridge
- walgreens 3535, chattanooga
- walgreens 3536, hixson
- walgreens 3538, chattanooga
- walgreens 3954, red bank
- walgreens 06143, chattanooga
- walgreens 06777, chattanooga
- walgreens 11160, ooltewah
- walgreens 17440, hixson
- walgreens 4084, chattanooga
Showing 250 of 385 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Tennessee
Compare Hamilton County vs Anderson County → · All Tennessee counties →
Food access nationally, Tennessee in context
Hamilton County sits inside Tennessee (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 Hamilton County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Hamilton County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Hamilton County? ▼
Is Hamilton County a food desert? ▼
What share of Hamilton 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.