County food-access profile · New Hampshire
Hillsborough County, NH
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Hillsborough 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).
- 32.3%
- low-access pop.
- 6
- food-desert tracts
- 6.6%
- on SNAP
- 426K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
32.3% of Hillsborough County residents live in a low-access area, and 6 of its 85 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 39
- low-access tracts
- 16K
- food-desert residents
- 5.2%
- households, no vehicle
- 6.7%
- 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 Hillsborough County's low-access share at 32.3%, above the national share. 39 of the county's 85 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 129,358 people. 6 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 16,348 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 Hillsborough County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Hillsborough County's 32.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 75% of them and ranked #795 most-affected nationwide.
Hillsborough County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 85 census tracts in Hillsborough County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Hillsborough County vs. other New Hampshire counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in New Hampshire
- Hillsborough
Hillsborough County, NH
32.3 % low-access
- Belknap 11.4
Belknap County, NH
11.4 % low-access
- Carroll 1.5
Carroll County, NH
1.5 % low-access
- Cheshire
Cheshire County, NH
19.3 % low-access
- Coos
Coos County, NH
16.9 % low-access
- Grafton 10.5
Grafton County, NH
10.5 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 85 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 400,721 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 39 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 6 |
| Low-Access Population | 129,358 |
| Low-Access Share | 32.3%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 16,348 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 426,378 |
| Median Household Income | $103,545 |
| Poverty Rate | 6.7%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 11,060 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 6.6%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.2%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.0% |
About 6.6% of Hillsborough County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 32.3% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 6.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 11,060 households here.
- 5.2% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 6 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 Hillsborough County
above the national share
6 of Hillsborough County's 85 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 7.1% of all its tracts.
A further 33 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 39.
An estimated 129,358 residents, roughly 32.3% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 16,348 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 46 tracts (54.1%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County has 295 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 153 locations (52% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 153
- 61 best market, manchester
- 7 - eleven 2466/33226, hudson
- 7 eleven 329958, manchester
- 7-eleven 19555e, nashua
- 7-eleven 24433e, nashua
- 7-eleven 30290k, nashua
- 7-eleven 33202, manchester
- 7-eleven 33273c, merrimack
- 7-eleven store 32502h, litchfield
- 7-eleven, inc. 16199k, nashua
- 7-eleven, inc. 32996k, manchester
- 7-eleven, inc. 33201j, manchester
- 90 bridge street llc, manchester
- a&p corner market llc, nashua
- alltown fresh 2736, nashua
- alltown fresh 2756, nashua
- alltown fresh manchester 2735, manchester
- alltown manchester 2771, manchester
- alltown market manchester 2757, manchester
- alltown market peterborough 311, peterborough
- arz mini market llc, nashua
- beechmont market convenience, manchester
- big apple 1113, peterborough
- bright spot, nashua
- brothers express gas station & convienence, manchester
- budget gas & express mart llc, manchester
- bunny's convenience, manchester
- burke market, nashua
- churchside market, nashua
- cumberland farms 5400, hudson
- cumberland farms 5408, manchester
- cumberland farms 5412, manchester
- cumberland farms 5422, hillsboro
- cumberland farms 5433, nashua
- cumberland farms 5449, hudson
- cumberland farms 5529, milford
- circle k 4707230, hillsborough
- circle k 4707233, goffstown
- circle k 4707236, milford
- circle k 4707259, bedford
- circle k 4707261, hudson
- circle k 4707263, bedford
- colbea enterprises llc 304, nashua
- colbea enterprises, llc. 305, nashua
- convenience plus llc manchester, manchester
- crosstown convenience, manchester
- crosstown variety, manchester
- cumberland farms 5445, milford
- cumberland farms 5450, nashua
- cumberland farms, inc 5423, nashua
- cumberland farms, inc 5436, nashua
- cumberland farms, inc 5441, goffstown
- down the block, manchester
- desi halal mart, tyngsborough
- dollar deluxe one, manchester
- east hollis st variety, nashua
- el paisano, nashua
- el parcero, manchester
- energy north 2216, amherst
- energy north 2217, wilton
- energy north 2218, merrimack
- energy north 2221, manchester
- energy north 3218, hudson
- euro market, manchester
- everest convenience store 18, manchester
- fernandez deli grocery and meat market. corp, manchester
- flowers bakery outlet 996, hudson
- hanover st market, manchester
- hillsborough market, manchester
- house by the side of the road, wilton
- jai om sai llc - canal street racing mart, nashua
- jay sagparia enterprises llc/ w h market, nashua
- jays amherst market, nashua
- jj market, hillsborough
- johno's greenville market, greenville
- k2 mobil mart, goffstown
- kat's country corner, hillsborough
- kinsley market, nashua
- kirkpatrick's corner, nashua
- kt market 1, manchester
- lake ave food mart, manchester
- lake street convenience, nashua
- lanna asian market, merrimack
- litchfield food mart 0, litchfield
- lucky discount mart, merrimack
- mammoth road convenience, manchester
- maple valley convenience store, manchester
- maverick gas & convenience, manchester
- merrimack food mart, merrimack
- milford convenience store, milford
- mr. mike's manchester 331, manchester
- mr.market, manchester
- n-n express ii, manchester
- nashua convenience, nashua
- neighborhood varity, manchester
- new ipswich market 1, new ipswich
- new world gas, merrimack
- nickles market, manchester
- nouria 100 mast road 1115, goffstown
- nouria 160 broad street 1122, nashua
- nouria 190 amherst street 1123, nashua
- nouria 1932 south willow street 1119, manchester
- nouria 195 river road 1193, bedford
- nouria 245 eddy road 1120, manchester
- nouria 270 main dunstable road 1124, nashua
- nouria 301 main street 1125, nashua
- nouria 347 west hollis street 1126, nashua
- nouria 510 harvey road 1169, manchester
- nouria 620 amherst street 1127, nashua
- nouria 7 harris road 1128, nashua
- nouria 887 hanover street 1121, manchester
- om shell mart inc, manchester
- palmers market, hudson
- penguin mart llc, milford
- quality fuel & mart, manchester
- queen city market, manchester
- r & e grocery, manchester
- rk northend superette llc, manchester
- rk village store llc, lyndeborough
- racing mart nashua, nashua
- rapid refill 134, merrimack
- rapid refill 140, merrimack
- renuyka llc, manchester
- rk food market llc, nashua
- rk variety llc, nashua
- rusty lantern 0004, hudson
- s & r westside market llc, manchester
- siberia food market, manchester
- seven days market, manchester
- seven days market ii llc 2, manchester
- shop n go, manchester
- sonny's market, new ipswich
- speedway 1963, manchester
- speedway 1964, nashua
- speedway 1966, manchester
- t-bird mini mart antrim 674, antrim
- two guys food market, manchester
- temple street market, nashua
- tetal food mart, hillsborough
- tmc convenience, manchester
- tobacco barn ii, merrimack
- tobacco junction hudson, hudson
- tropical side, nashua
- us mart, manchester
- uncle bob's superette, manchester
- union street market, manchester
- varney mart, manchester
- visat 18 corp 1, hudson
- willards store, temple
- west side gulf, manchester
- yoma food market, nashua
- z & j market, manchester
- zee quick stop, nashua
Combination Grocery/Other · 59
- a market, manchester
- ayottes market, hudson
- brothers butcher 2 llc, hudson
- cvs pharmacy 1003, nashua
- cvs pharmacy 2257, manchester
- cvs pharmacy 639, nashua
- cvs pharmacy 01175, hudson
- cvs pharmacy 10572, milford
- cvs pharmacy 200, manchester
- cvs pharmacy 3063, peterborough
- cvs pharmacy 723, nashua
- cvs pharmacy 741, bedford
- cvs pharmacy 7932, manchester
- cvs pharmacy 902, merrimack
- dollar general 18270, bennington
- dollar general 19987, merrimack
- dollar general 20060, peterborough
- dollartree 11041, manchester
- dollartree 11048, nashua
- dollartree 6922, pelham
- dollar general 13284, hillsborough
- dollar general 13313, nashua
- dollar general 19762, greenville
- dollar general 20596, milford
- dollar general 21491, hudson
- dollar general 23246, weare
- dollar general 30491, hillsborough
- dollar general store 17171, new ipswich
- dollar tree 1546, hudson
- dollar tree 1850, milford
- dollar tree 1928, manchester
- dollar tree 3849, nashua
- dollar tree 4027, amherst
- dollar tree 4652, merrimack
- dollar tree 5106, goffstown
- dollar tree 5867, manchester
- dollar tree 7155, manchester
- dollar tree 7495, manchester
- dollar tree 8452, nashua
- family dollar 12564, manchester
- family dollar 3045, manchester
- family dollar 3493, hillsborough
- family dollar 3571, manchester
- family dollar 8353, nashua
- family dollar 8789, manchester
- la bonne semence 229, manchester
- ocean state job lot 411, nashua
- ocean state job lot 412, milford
- oean state job lot 401, peterborough
- prachand inc., nashua
- walgreens 09613, nashua
- walgreens 03900, manchester
- walgreens 04689, manchester
- walgreens 09320, bedford
- walgreens 09447, nashua
- walgreens 09646, merrimack
- walgreens 10462, milford
- walgreens 11505, nashua
- walgreens 12352, pelham
Medium Grocery Store · 14
- antrim market, antrim
- belles boutique, manchester
- caribbean market, manchester
- delays harvester market llc, greenfield
- global flavors, nashua
- himalayas general store, manchester
- jubba international grocery llc, manchester
- lanctots grocery, weare
- new hope market llc #1, manchester
- rk gosselins superette llc, manchester
- rosalinda mini market, nashua
- sallys food market inc, nashua
- sky market & butcher shop 1, nashua
- spice center, manchester
Small Grocery Store · 11
- ana food market, manchester
- asian & middle eastern halal market llc, manchester
- bani mini market, nashua
- barbaras corner store, nashua
- bartlett street superette, manchester
- bunny's superette, manchester
- carniceria zapopan meat market, nashua
- fresh start farms, manchester
- mahat store llc, manchester
- mateos food market, nashua
- mercy of god african market, manchester
Farmers' Market · 4
- nashua farmers market, nashua
- nashua farmers market, nashua
- orange door farm, wilton
- peterborough farmers' market, peterborough
Large Grocery Store · 4
- brothers butcher llc, nashua
- jd foods cheeseco of ne, manchester
- saigon asian market llc, manchester
- sky marker & butcher shop, manchester
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2
- global halal meats, nashua
- old boy's butcher shop, merrimack
Delivery Route · 1
- mobile market, manchester
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- the fruit center, inc., manchester
Super Store · 1
- bj's wholesale club 220, manchester
Showing 250 of 295 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in New Hampshire
Compare Hillsborough County vs Belknap County → · All New Hampshire counties →
Food access nationally, New Hampshire in context
Hillsborough County sits inside New Hampshire (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 Hillsborough County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Hillsborough County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Hillsborough County? ▼
Is Hillsborough County a food desert? ▼
What share of Hillsborough 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.