Signature · 25.5% SNAP (100th pct in MA)
Hampden County, MA
Hampden County stands out on SNAP (25.5%, +13.4 pts vs U.S.) with 23.8% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 23.8%
- low-access pop.
- 12
- food-desert tracts
- 25.5%
- on SNAP
- 463K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Hampden County, MA
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 23.8% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +1.7 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 12 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 25.5% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 12.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 12% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Middlesex County (+ 0.8 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Hampden County ranks #1,377 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #11 of 14 counties in MA (23.8% low-access; 12 food-desert tracts).
- #1,377
- national by low-access %
- #11
- in MA
- 38
- low-access tracts
- 22K
- food-desert residents
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).
Signature read: 25.5% SNAP (100th pct in MA) (+13.4 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Hampden County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Hampden County's 23.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 56% of them and ranked #1,377 most-affected nationwide.
Hampden County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
103 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 12 LILA.
Hampden County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (94 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.
Hampden County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Massachusetts, not a full county-board reprint
- Barnstable
Barnstable 51%
51 % low-access
- Essex
Essex 30.1%
30.1 % low-access
- Bristol
Bristol 26.4%
26.4 % low-access
- Middlesex
Middlesex 24.6%
24.6 % low-access
- Hampden
Hampden 23.8%
23.8 % low-access
- Franklin 19.1
Franklin 19.1%
19.1 % low-access
- Suffolk 1
Suffolk 1%
1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 103 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 463,490 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 38 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 12 |
| Low-Access Population | 110,388 |
| Low-Access Share | 23.8%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 22,252 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 462,815 |
| Median Household Income | $71,306 |
| Poverty Rate | 16.3%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 47,108 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 25.5%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 12.0%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.9% |
Thick SNAP store book in Hampden County
Hampden County has 510 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 271 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
27 towns share the 510 authorized stores; Springfield holds 36% of them. 9 of the 27 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Russell, Three Rivers, Brimfield, Holland, Becket, Bondsville and 3 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield | 182 | 37 |
| Chicopee | 69 | 13 |
| Holyoke | 54 | 8 |
| Westfield | 41 | 10 |
| West Springfield | 39 | 13 |
| Ludlow | 20 | 3 |
| Agawam | 18 | 1 |
| Palmer | 12 | 1 |
| Indian Orchard | 11 | 1 |
| Southwick | 10 | 1 |
Top 10 of 27 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 271 (250 shown)
- 4707515.0 7515, westfield
- 5 star food mart, west springfield
- 7-eleven 20448f, springfield
- 7-eleven 25003, springfield
- 7-eleven store 22402 e, springfield
- 787 mini mart, holyoke
- a to z convenience, springfield
- a to z supermarket, springfield
- a-1 variety, chicopee
- afh food market 2, springfield
- amg retail i 560, springfield
- amg retail i 561, westfield
- amg retail i 562, chicopee
- amg retail i 567, east longmeadow
- amg retail i llc 522, chicopee
- aaz cash & carry, springfield
- abdali's mart, springfield
- adham smoke shop llc, chicopee
- agawam f.l. roberts 04047, agawam
- agawam food inc, agawam
- alltown 3707, palmer
- alltown holyoke 3709, holyoke
- almonte market & deli one llc, holyoke
- anais mini market llc, chicopee
- appletonmart llc, holyoke
- apurv food mart inc n. a., chicopee
- atlasmart 417 llc, springfield
- aunty's market, holyoke
- basics plus mini mart, chicopee
- bd mart, wilbraham
- bd mart, springfield
- becket country store, becket
- best choice convenience store, springfield
- betty mini mart & restaurant inc., holyoke
- big y express 094, wilbraham
- big y express 116, springfield
- big y express 119, chicopee
- big y express 122, westfield
- big y express 93, longmeadow
- bob's convenience store, springfield
- borinquen convenience store, springfield
- brimfield market, brimfield
- brown family mini mart, springfield
- c - mart #2, east longmeadow
- c-mart #1, holyoke
- chester village market, chester
- cumberland farms 0156, chicopee
- cumberland farms 0211, springfield
- cumberland farms 167, feeding hills
- cumberland farms 173, russell
- cumberland farms 202, springfield
- cumberland farms 212, westfield
- cumberland farms 6665, palmer
- cumberland farms 6677, brimfield
- cumberland farms 6717, indian orchard
- carew mini market, springfield
- central convenience llc, springfield
- choice food and package store, wales
- circle k 1, holyoke
- citgo food mart, agawam
- citigo gas & mart, springfield
- city mini mart, springfield
- commuters variety, springfield
- convenience mart, west springfield
- convenience mart n smoke shop 1, feeding hills
- convenience plus 3713, hampden
- convenience plus 3714, bondsville
- country corner citgo, inc., three rivers
- country mart, westfield
- country mart i i, westfield
- country store, west springfield
- cumberland farms 0139, ludlow
- cumberland farms 0195, chicopee
- cumberland farms 0201, agawam
- cumberland farms 213, ludlow
- cumberland farms 6703, west springfield
- cumberland farms 6730, west springfield
- cumberland farms 6738, westfield
- cumberland farms, inc 0200, ludlow
- cumberland farms, inc. 6768, wilbraham
- delaney's market- springfield, west springfield
- dickinson deli, springfield
- downtown convenience, springfield
- ez mart westfield, westfield
- easy pick convenience, holyoke
- el pajuil mini mart, chicopee
- erica llc dba sams food, springfield
- ez mart, agawam
- ezee mart, west springfield
- ezee mart, west springfield
- ezee mart n/a, west springfield
- friendly variety store, holyoke
- falcon gas, springfield
- family mart, indian orchard
- feroz and sons llc dba stop and run 1, chicopee
- franklin market no, springfield
- friendly mini market, holyoke
- ft pleasant convenience store, springfield
- gallagher's convenience store, chicopee
- goodies deli & variety, agawam
- gopinathji inc 7104, west springfield
- grove chicopee op llc, chicopee
- gulf express mart, agawam
- gulf gas and mart, palmer
- hsd co/bay st. mini mart, springfield
- hampden mini mart, hampden
- health products shop, west springfield
- highland farm convenience store, chicopee
- highland farms convenience, chicopee
- holland market, holland
- holyoke community college, holyoke
- honeyland farms, springfield
- honeyland farms, holyoke
- honeyland farms, chicopee
- honeyland farms 1, springfield
- honeyland farms food shop, westfield
- hum inc /chapin east variety, ludlow
- island farm, springfield
- island food market n/a, springfield
- j & j variety store, westfield
- jai umiya ma inc, ludlow
- joe's kwik mart 516, springfield
- juan deli mini market, holyoke
- kibbys corner, springfield
- king mart, holyoke
- knox supermarket, springfield
- kwikpik, springfield
- lucky mini mart & halal deli, springfield
- ludlow mobil 4444, ludlow
- ludlow smokeshop & convenience, ludlow
- m&s food mart inc, three rivers
- ma grocert store, indian orchard
- main st mobil, springfield
- main street mart, wilbraham
- maple market n/a, springfield
- maspak, holyoke
- meadow market, westfield
- melo deli grocery, holyoke
- memorial drive f.l. roberts 04050, chicopee
- merills superatte, springfield
- monson woodbine country store llc, monson
- new corner variety, chicopee
- nathalys market, springfield
- new corner variety, chicopee
- new corner variety westfield, westfield
- new world gas, springfield
- new world gas n/a, springfield
- notch travel centre, southwick
- nouria 1200 wilbraham rd 1050, springfield
- nouria 1313 boston road 1051, springfield
- nouria 425 center street 1035, ludlow
- nouria 487 e columbus ave 1052, springfield
- nouria 500-502 montgomery st 1019, chicopee
- nouria 730-744 sumner ave 1054, springfield
- nouria 735 westfield st 1065, west springfield
- nouria 833 east columbus avenue 1055, springfield
- nouria 88-90 s maple st 1068, westfield
- nouria 93 west broad street 1056, springfield
- oakland mini market & deli inc, springfield
- om gulf racing mart inc, indian orchard
- one stop convenience, westfield
- one stop mart, west springfield
- one stop mart, agawam
- one stop mart, springfield
- orchard variety, indian orchard
- our town variety, ludlow
- page convenience, springfield
- pasco road convenience, indian orchard
- patel food mart inc, springfield
- pine point variety smoke shop, springfield
- pit stop food n fuel, springfield
- pleasant street market, westfield
- plumtree market, springfield
- plus one mini mart, springfield
- poetry & ..., springfield
- pride 601, feeding hills
- pride 602, east longmeadow
- pride 604, chicopee
- pride 608, chicopee
- pride 609, southwick
- pride 610, westfield
- pride 613, ludlow
- pride 615, springfield
- pride 616, east longmeadow
- pride 617, springfield
- pride 618, west springfield
- pride 619, palmer
- pride 620, springfield
- pride 621, springfield
- pride 622, springfield
- pride 623, springfield
- pride 624, west springfield
- pride 626, holyoke
- pride 627, longmeadow
- pride 629, springfield
- pride 631, chicopee
- prime meat market 1, ludlow
- prospect variety, springfield
- public petroleum, three rivers
- quality mart, springfield
- qt food and fuel llc, chicopee
- quality fuel & mart, springfield
- quick pic, agawam
- quick pic, springfield
- quick pick convenience, chicopee
- quickstop food mart, holyoke
- r & r variety, holyoke
- racing mart, holyoke
- racing mart, springfield
- racing mart, springfield
- racing mart, springfield
- racing mart, holyoke
- racing mart, springfield
- racing mart #20, springfield
- racing mart fuels, holyoke
- racing mart fuels, springfield
- raja mart, westfield
- reydi market, springfield
- riverdale street f.l. roberts 04068, west springfield
- robert's auto clinic & tire center inc. 1, holland
- royal market, springfield
- s & s food mart llc, palmer
- sam food store, holyoke
- sam's food shop, chicopee
- sams convenience, chicopee
- sams food store, chicopee
- san miguel market & resturant, springfield
- shah food n fuel llc, palmer
- shailip1004 inc, chicopee
- shami's mart llc, chicopee
- shamrock market, springfield
- shell (sparky's), west springfield
- shell mart, springfield
- smoke and vape citgo gas, westfield
- snack shack mini mart, springfield
- soriano market, springfield
- southbridge liquor & market, agawam
- southend convenience and gas, springfield
- sparky's, springfield
- spices of asia, west springfield
- spring mart, springfield
- springdale grocery, holyoke
- stop and chill, chicopee
- stop and go mart, springfield
- stopngo, chicopee
- strums deli and meats, holyoke
- summit package store, springfield
- sunny's convenience, west springfield
- supreme mart no, indian orchard
- susies convenience, indian orchard
Showing 250 of 510 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 Massachusetts
One of 13 counties in Massachusetts, 6 are shown here.
Compare Hampden County vs Barnstable County → · All Massachusetts counties →
Nationwide peers for Hampden County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Hampden County (25.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Massachusetts.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MA (23.8% here).
- Shawnee County, KS · 23.8% low-access
- Pike County, IL · 23.8% low-access
- Kern County, CA · 23.8% low-access
- Bradley County, AR · 23.8% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MA (25.5% here).
- Curry County, NM · 25.5% SNAP
- Lawrence County, KY · 25.6% SNAP
- Rolette County, ND · 25.6% SNAP
- Johnson County, KY · 25.3% 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.
Massachusetts among New England states
Massachusetts ranks 1st of 5 New England states by population-weighted low-access (27.8%). Hampden County, at 23.8%, runs 4.0 pts below the Massachusetts rate.
- Massachusetts 27.8%
- New Hampshire 27.5%
- Rhode Island 23.6%
- Maine 13.4%
- Vermont 11.2%
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 Hampden County, MA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 25013. 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.