Signature · 61 LILA tracts (54.5% of tracts)
Hidalgo County, TX
Hidalgo County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 61 LILA tracts (54.5% of the book) alongside 34.7% low-access.
- 34.7%
- low-access pop.
- 61
- food-desert tracts
- 27.8%
- on SNAP
- 892K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Hidalgo County, TX
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-ELEVATED 34.7% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +12.6 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 61 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 27.8% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.6% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 54% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Matagorda County (+ 0.0 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Hidalgo County sits in the upper national band (34.7%, #606 of 3,079) with 61 LILA tracts.
- #606
- national by low-access %
- #61
- in TX
- 69
- low-access tracts
- 157K
- 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: 61 LILA tracts (54.5% of tracts) .
How Hidalgo County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Hidalgo County's 34.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 80% of them and ranked #606 most-affected nationwide.
Hidalgo County's elevated USDA tier split
112 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 61 LILA.
Hidalgo County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (97 urban, 15 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 15 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Hidalgo County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Texas, not a full county-board reprint
- Throckmorton
Throckmorton 100%
100 % low-access
- Jim Hogg 34.9
Jim Hogg 34.9%
34.9 % low-access
- Hidalgo 34.7
Hidalgo 34.7%
34.7 % low-access
- Matagorda 34.7
Matagorda 34.7%
34.7 % low-access
- Ellis 34.6
Ellis 34.6%
34.6 % low-access
- Wichita 34.6
Wichita 34.6%
34.6 % low-access
- Rains 0
Rains 0%
0 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 112 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 774,769 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 69 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 61 |
| Low-Access Population | 269,077 |
| Low-Access Share | 34.7%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 157,181 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 891,977 |
| Median Household Income | $54,338 |
| Poverty Rate | 26.7%well above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 75,177 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 27.8%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.6%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.9% |
Thick SNAP store book in Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County has 921 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 13 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 456 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
27 towns share the 921 authorized stores; Edinburg holds 18% of them. 8 of the 27 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Monte Alto, La Blanca, La Villa, Hargill, Lytle, Progresso Lakes and 2 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburg | 168 | 27 |
| Mission | 138 | 29 |
| Mcallen | 131 | 30 |
| Pharr | 81 | 12 |
| Weslaco | 77 | 13 |
| Donna | 62 | 9 |
| Alamo | 54 | 8 |
| San Juan | 41 | 4 |
| Mercedes | 34 | 2 |
| Alton | 21 | 2 |
Top 10 of 27 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 456 (250 shown)
- 107 food mart #2, pharr
- 107 foodmart 1, edinburg
- 1925 drive in gro #1, edinburg
- 7-eleven 36514h, mcallen
- 7-eleven 36540h, edinburg
- 7-eleven 40726, weslaco
- 7-eleven 41321h, mcallen
- 7-eleven 41698h, mission
- 7-eleven 42277h, alamo
- 7-eleven 42387h, weslaco
- 7-eleven 42608h, mcallen
- 7-eleven, inc. 41909h, edinburg
- 777 lucky lotto store, donna
- 88 drive thru llc, weslaco
- a & d meat market, mercedes
- a & v drive thru 1, weslaco
- aziz quick stop llc, palmview
- abarrotes morena, edinburg
- adri's drive thru, weslaco
- alamo food mart, alamo
- alejandro's bakery, mcallen
- alejandro's bakery, san juan
- alvarados bakery, pharr
- alvarados drive thru, alamo
- amigo tropical drive thru, edinburg
- amigo tropical drive thru 2, edinburg
- amor drive thru llc 1, mission
- angelly bakery, mission
- arturos bakery, alamo
- aziz quick stop llc 3, san juan
- aziz quick stop llc 1, la joya
- b&b mercadito 2, mission
- bm food mart 2, mercedes
- bob's drive thru, alamo
- bake a cake, pharr
- barbacoa el primo llc, san juan
- big bird candy store 2, progresso lakes
- blue water buffalo market, alamo
- brandons drive thru, mission
- breaktime #5, mercedes
- breaktime #8, weslaco
- buddy's drive thru, mission
- cabrera meat market and tortilleria 1, san juan
- candy king, pharr
- carniceria del norte llc, mission
- carniceria y fruteria garcia, alamo
- cavazos drive thru, alamo
- choco house, mission
- chulas drive thru & taqueria chalmas, mission
- circle k 2704111, donna
- circle k 2704484, mission
- circle k 2704581, pharr
- circle k 2704586, mcallen
- circle k 2704591, mission
- circle k 2708892, pharr
- circle k 2709047, mcallen
- circle k 2709204, pharr
- circle k 2709212, pharr
- circle k 2741853, donna
- conway food mart, mission
- corner stop store inc, weslaco
- corner store 2741541, mcallen
- crest retail inc. mr300, mercedes
- de dios filipino store, mcallen
- de la garza bakery & more, mercedes
- delceria y pinatera el rielito, donna
- delicias bakery, edinburg
- denisse dulceria, alamo
- deposito mi ranchito, alamo
- diegos grocery store, donna
- distribuidora la morenita, san juan
- dollar and more, donna
- donna bakery, donna
- donna food mart, donna
- dulceria encanto b619, alamo
- dulceria la casa del dulce, donna
- dulceria la tradicional mexicana, mission
- dulceria san pedro, pharr
- el tigre food store 08, edinburg
- el tigre food store 10, san juan
- el tigre food store 11, edinburg
- el tigre food store 13, hidalgo
- el tigre food store 14, alton
- el tigre food store 15, mcallen
- el tigre food store 16, mcallen
- el tigre food store 18, edinburg
- el tigre food store 20, edinburg
- el tigre food store 21, mission
- el tigre food store 22, mission
- eddie's drive thru, weslaco
- el agave drive thru 1, edinburg
- el bip-bip drive thru, mission
- el carmelo, alamo
- el cazador drive thru, elsa
- el imperio drive thru, alamo
- el jakalito, donna
- el jinete drive thru, edinburg
- el manjar bakery, alamo
- el milagro carniceria y taqueria, mission
- el milagro drive thru, weslaco
- el molino maiz casero, alton
- el pinto drive thru, sullivan city
- el pisto rj, sullivan city
- el principe mini mart llc, donna
- el ray food mart 1, hidalgo
- el rey drive thru #2, mission
- el rey drive thru #3, mission
- el semental drive thru 1, mission
- el seven drive thru, pharr
- el tigre food store 12, alamo
- el tigre food store 25, alton
- el tigre food store 27, mission
- el tio meat market 1, penitas
- el tocayo drive thru, edinburg
- el torito drive thru 1, edinburg
- el torito meat market 4, mcallen
- el triunfo 1, mission
- el viejon, weslaco
- emmas tortilleria drive thru, mercedes
- executive drive thru, mission
- exxxtreme drive thru, penitas
- fast mart store, palmview
- fast track, edcouch
- fastrip, mercedes
- fiesta solution dulceria & grocery, palmview
- fiestas y dulces, pharr
- firebird's icehouse, donna
- flowers bakery outlet 276, pharr
- frankie drive thru, weslaco
- frankie's drive thru #2, weslaco
- g & drive thru 1, weslaco
- g3 drive thru, weslaco
- garcias tortilla factory, donna
- garza’s produce, donna
- gateway of mercedes, mercedes
- grab n go mart, pharr
- guapos drive thru 1, edinburg
- guapos drive thru 2, edinburg
- h & h food mart, san juan
- heb convenience store 588, mission
- handy stop, elsa
- haro meat market 1, alamo
- jrs xpress, pharr
- jessies meat market 5, mcallen
- js mart, edinburg
- juan botas drive thru & grill llc 1, weslaco
- juan botas drive thru llc 3, mercedes
- k & r drive thru, alton
- kans and kegs 1, pharr
- kans and kegs 2, pharr
- kmc foodmart, edinburg
- koko loko drive thru 2, elsa
- korner food mart, pharr
- lmd drive thru, alamo
- la amistad drive in, mission
- la avispa drive thru, elsa
- la conchita bakery, mercedes
- la duena 1, palmview
- la duena meat market & groceries 2, mission
- la esquina grocery, alamo
- la estrella drive thru, mission
- la ganadera gourmet tres lagos 4, mcallen
- la gran imperial tortilleria, edinburg
- la isla drive thru, alamo
- la isla drive thru, pharr
- la mansion, weslaco
- la mexicana bakery 1, elsa
- la mexicana cake shop, elsa
- la mexico #6 6, elsa
- la michelada drive thru 1, alamo
- la pasadita 4, edinburg
- la quinta drive thru 2, mcallen
- la reyna bakery & grocery, edinburg
- la reyna plus llc 1, edinburg
- la reynera bakery, donna
- la reynera bakery #5, alton
- la reynera bakery 1, weslaco
- la reynera bakery supreme, edinburg
- la rezaka, alamo
- la tabasquena bakery llc, mission
- la tienda del pueblo #3 3, mission
- la tiendita, donna
- lamexico 4 4, alton
- las chikis 1 llc, weslaco
- las munecas drive thru 1, edinburg
- las palmas drive thru 1, progreso
- las tapaditas grocery store, edinburg
- las vegas drive thru micheladas & more, mission
- leal's corner store llc, edinburg
- lelo's 1, edinburg
- leo's 2, la joya
- leon meat market, palmview
- lily's express drive thru, lytle
- liz drive in, weslaco
- lone star food mart, alamo
- lopez drive thru, edinburg
- lopez drive thru 2, donna
- los corrales meat market 1, mission
- los vaqueritos mini mart, mission
- love's travel stop 739, donna
- love's travel stops & country stores, inc 284, edinburg
- m & m drive thru, llc, san juan
- mccook mercantile company, edinburg
- memes drive thru 1, san juan
- melly drive thru, edinburg
- mi casita food, mercedes
- mi dulceria jalisco, mercedes
- mi tienda americana, donna
- mikes 1, pharr
- mini max 1 1, penitas
- muchos munchies 1, penitas
- mundo grocery-n-meat market, edinburg
- mundo grocery-n-meat market 1, edinburg
- murphy express 8705, penitas
- murphy express 8757, edinburg
- murphy express 8824, pharr
- murphy usa 6571, alamo
- murphy usa 7143, mission
- murphy usa 7196, palmhurst
- murphy usa 7393, mcallen
- murphy usa 7400, edinburg
- murphy usa 7640, donna
- murphy usa 7647, weslaco
- murphy usa 7655, elsa
- murphy usa 7698, alamo
- murphy usa 7871, edinburg
- murphy usa 7959, weslaco
- murphy usa 8818, edinburg
- new town mart, mcallen
- nicos drive thru llc, sullivan city
- nora's cake shop, alamo
- olly's drive thru, pharr
- p & l service, hargill
- pepes drive thru, donna
- pic n pac dr inn gro, alton
- paris bakery 5, san juan
- paris bakery llc, pharr
- paris bakery llc, mission
- pilot travel center 727, edinburg
- poncho's drive thru 1, edinburg
- ponchos food mart, mission
- potranka drive thru 1, edinburg
- potriyillo drive thru 1, donna
- q & a food mart #3, edcouch
- ricks quick stop 3, pharr
- riojas mini mart, weslaco
- rc's drive in 1, progreso
- redskins drive thru, donna
- regios desserts and cake shop, pharr
- rgv coolers llc 1, edinburg
Showing 250 of 921 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 Texas
One of 253 counties in Texas, 6 are shown here.
Compare Hidalgo County vs Anderson County → · All Texas counties →
Counties near Hidalgo County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Hidalgo County, both outside Texas so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside TX (34.7% here).
- Linn County, OR · 34.7% low-access
- Atoka County, OK · 34.7% low-access
- Portage County, OH · 34.7% low-access
- Wayne County, MO · 34.7% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside TX (27.8% here).
- Hertford County, NC · 27.8% SNAP
- Hale County, AL · 27.8% SNAP
- Logan County, WV · 27.9% SNAP
- Avoyelles Parish, LA · 27.9% 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.
Texas among West South Central states
Texas ranks 3rd of 4 West South Central states by population-weighted low-access (25.0%). Hidalgo County, at 34.7%, runs 9.7 pts above the Texas rate.
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 Hidalgo County, TX are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 48215. 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.