Signature · 43.9% low-access (90th pct)
Hamilton County, TN
Hamilton County sits in the upper national band on low-access (43.9%, +21.8 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 43.9%
- low-access pop.
- 17
- food-desert tracts
- 9.4%
- on SNAP
- 376K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Hamilton County, TN
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-SEVERE 43.9% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +21.8 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 17 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 9.4% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 21% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Williamson County (+ 0.0 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Hamilton County sits in the upper national band (43.9%, #301 of 3,079) with 17 LILA tracts.
- #301
- national by low-access %
- #3
- in TN
- 55
- low-access tracts
- 44K
- food-desert residents
Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.
Signature read: 43.9% low-access (90th pct) (+21.8 pts vs U.S. low-access).
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 #301 most-affected nationwide.
Hamilton County's elevated USDA tier split
82 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 17 LILA.
Hamilton County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (73 urban, 9 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 9 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Hamilton County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Tennessee, not a full county-board reprint
- Montgomery
Montgomery 47%
47 % low-access
- Hamilton
Hamilton 43.9%
43.9 % low-access
- Williamson
Williamson 43.9%
43.9 % low-access
- Hamblen
Hamblen 42.7%
42.7 % low-access
- Sequatchie
Sequatchie 42.1%
42.1 % low-access
- Putnam
Putnam 41.4%
41.4 % low-access
- Grainger 0
Grainger 0%
0 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| 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 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| 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% |
Thick SNAP store book in Hamilton County
Hamilton County has 385 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 196 locations (51% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
16 towns share the 385 authorized stores; Chattanooga holds 69% of them. 6 of the 16 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Sale Creek, Birchwood, Georgetown, Ooltewahooltewah, Snow Hill, Soddy-Daisy.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | 267 | 46 |
| Hixson | 39 | 9 |
| Soddy Daisy | 23 | 2 |
| Ooltewah | 19 | 5 |
| East Ridge | 8 | 3 |
| Harrison | 7 | 2 |
| Signal Mountain | 5 | 1 |
| Red Bank | 4 | 1 |
| Sale Creek | 4 | none |
| Birchwood | 2 | none |
Top 10 of 16 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 196
- 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
- speedway 1886, chattanooga
- speedway 7109, chattanooga
- speedway 7114, chattanooga
- speedway 7151, chattanooga
- speedway 7152 7152, chattanooga
- speedway 7167, chattanooga
- speedway 7183, chattanooga
- stop n go fuel mart, chattanooga
- stop-n-save, chattanooga
- sunrise market #49, chattanooga
- sunrise market #69, hixson
- sunrise market of soddy daisy, soddy daisy
- sunshine food mart, chattanooga
- trading post, ooltewah
- the corner store, chattanooga
- tienda evolet, chattanooga
- tienda la favorita, chattanooga
- tienda la primavera, chattanooga
- tienda lidere 1, chattanooga
- tienda martinez 1, chattanooga
- tienda quetzal #2, chattanooga
- tienda tikal 1, chattanooga
- tienda y fruteria buenabaj 1, chattanooga
- tigermart 216 216, chattanooga
- tigermart 225 225, ooltewah
- tip top food mart, chattanooga
- tortilleria la esperanza, chattanooga
- town & country food mart, ooltewah
- ufg of hamilton llc, chattanooga
- weigels 1100, chattanooga
- weigels 1101, hixson
- weigels 1105, chattanooga
- weigels 1107, chattanooga
- weigels 1108, harrison
- weigels 1109, chattanooga
- winters usa fuels, chattanooga
Combination Grocery/Other · 90 (54 shown)
- 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
Showing 250 of 385 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Tennessee
One of 94 counties in Tennessee, 6 are shown here.
Compare Hamilton County vs Anderson County → · All Tennessee counties →
Counties near Hamilton County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Hamilton County, both outside Tennessee so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside TN (43.9% here).
- Cochise County, AZ · 43.9% low-access
- Anderson County, TX · 43.8% low-access
- Nassau County, FL · 44.0% low-access
- Laclede County, MO · 43.7% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside TN (9.4% here).
- Cooke County, TX · 9.4% SNAP
- Stutsman County, ND · 9.4% SNAP
- Westchester County, NY · 9.4% SNAP
- Lafayette County, MO · 9.4% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
Tennessee among East South Central states
Tennessee ranks 1st of 4 East South Central states by population-weighted low-access (27.2%). Hamilton County, at 43.9%, runs 16.7 pts above the Tennessee rate.
- Tennessee 27.2%
- Mississippi 26.4%
- Alabama 24.5%
- Kentucky 19.8%
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 Hamilton County, TN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 47065. 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.