County food-access profile · Mississippi

Hinds County, MS

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Hinds 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).

34.9%
low-access pop.
24
food-desert tracts
14.8%
on SNAP
219K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MS

The food-access picture

34.9% of Hinds County residents live in a low-access area, and 24 of its 64 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

37
low-access tracts
36K
food-desert residents
8.1%
households, no vehicle
22.7%
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 Hinds County's low-access share at 34.9%, above the national share. 37 of the county's 64 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 85,583 people. 24 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 36,419 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 Hinds County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Hinds County's 34.9% low-access share is elevated, higher than 81% of them and ranked #596 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Hinds County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 64 census tracts in Hinds County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Hinds County, MS USDA-defined food-access tiers: 27 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 13 limited, 24 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 64 tracts evaluated. 27 tracts adequate (42.2%) 13 tracts limited (20.3%) 24 tracts severe / food desert (37.5%) Adequate 42% Limited 20% Severe 38% Food-access tier distribution: Hinds County, MS
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Hinds County vs. other Mississippi counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Mississippi

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Hinds County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts64
Atlas Population (2010 basis)245,285
Low-Access Tracts37
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)24
Low-Access Population85,583
Low-Access Share34.9%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population36,419

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Hinds County
IndicatorValue
Population218,533
Median Household Income$49,402
Poverty Rate22.7%well above the national average
SNAP Households13,226
SNAP Participation Rate14.8%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle8.1%near the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.1%
SNAP participation in Hinds County 14.8%

About 14.8% of Hinds County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 34.9% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 14.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 13,226 households here.
  • 8.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 24 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 Hinds County

above the national share

24 of Hinds County's 64 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 37.5% of all its tracts.

A further 13 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 37.

An estimated 85,583 residents, roughly 34.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 36,419 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 27 tracts (42.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Hinds County

Hinds County has 220 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 125 locations (57% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 125

  • aden fuel & market inc, jackson
  • aliyh food mart inc, jackson
  • ansh food mart, jackson
  • baba enterprises llc, jackson
  • bailey express inc, jackson
  • basma inc, jackson
  • bhagavati llc, raymond
  • big ez inc, jackson
  • big gee mart, jackson
  • bluesky 608, byram
  • bluesky 637, jackson
  • bluesky 638, clinton
  • briars foodmart 1, clinton
  • byram chevron, byram
  • capital street market llc, jackson
  • center market, jackson
  • chill out texaco inc, jackson
  • circle a grocery, jackson
  • circle k 2723738, jackson
  • circle k 2723742, byram
  • circle k 2723745, jackson
  • circle k 2723746, clinton
  • circle k 2723751, clinton
  • ck food mart, jackson
  • clinton plaza express llc, clinton
  • don gabriel market, jackson
  • double quick 210, byram
  • ds pit stop, utica
  • easy stop, clinton
  • edward cstore, edwards
  • edward food mart, edwards
  • ellis mini mart inc, jackson
  • elton shell, jackson
  • exon terry llc, jackson
  • exxon, clinton
  • exxon express lane inc, jackson
  • fast fill, jackson
  • fast fill 12 inc, jackson
  • fast lane drive, jackson
  • fast lane state st, jackson
  • fastway, jackson
  • fastway exxon, jackson
  • flag chapel food mart llc, jackson
  • fleetway 104, jackson
  • fortification corner 1 inc, jackson
  • fuel time 4, jackson
  • fuel time 5, jackson
  • fuel time 7, jackson
  • fueltime 2, jackson
  • grab n go #4, jackson
  • grab-n-go, jackson
  • i55 quick stop llc, jackson
  • inland grocery inc, jackson
  • jacob mini mart inc, jackson
  • jasco exxon, jackson
  • jays food mart, clinton
  • jazz exxon, jackson
  • jazz one stop, jackson
  • jjs food mart, jackson
  • jpk food and fuel, jackson
  • khindri llc, jackson
  • kings food mart, jackson
  • kk food mart, jackson
  • l & k grocery, bolton
  • los amigos mexican market, clinton
  • love one stop, jackson
  • lynch st. texaco, jackson
  • m & m food express inc, jackson
  • mani gas and food, jackson
  • mayes one stop, jackson
  • mcdowell food shop llc, jackson
  • meat market valdez 2, jackson
  • midwest, jackson
  • mike food mart llc, jackson
  • murphy express 8543, jackson
  • murphy usa 7767, jackson
  • north end plaza llc, jackson
  • north state street gas llc, jackson
  • ns food mart, jackson
  • one stop fuel, jackson
  • ph food mart, jackson
  • pilot travel center 77, jackson
  • promise gas & grocery, jackson
  • psrnv, jackson
  • quick mart, clinton
  • quiktrip 7246, clinton
  • quiktrip 7247, byram
  • quiktrip 7248, jackson
  • r & r food and gas, jackson
  • raceway clinton, jackson
  • raymond grocery, raymond
  • rick gas & food llc dba fastfill2 fastfill 2, jackson
  • s & s food mart inc, jackson
  • southland grocery & gas store llc, jackson
  • samashfoodmart 1, jackson
  • sb gas llc, jackson
  • sd food mart, jackson
  • sh food mart, jackson
  • shakti food and gas, jackson
  • sk food mart llc, jackson
  • sks food mart llc, jackson
  • smart g inc, jackson
  • smsi northside, jackson
  • speedo, jackson
  • sprint mart 102, jackson
  • sprint mart 105, clinton
  • sprint mart 107, jackson
  • sprint mart 118, jackson
  • sprint mart 119, jackson
  • sprint mart 124, jackson
  • stop and shop, jackson
  • super fuel, jackson
  • super mart citgo, jackson
  • super quick food mart llc, jackson
  • supermart, jackson
  • swinging bridge market gas na, byram
  • taylors candy company & grocery, jackson
  • terry shell, terry
  • texaco food mart meb llc, jackson
  • tru food mart, jackson
  • west mini mart 1 inc, jackson
  • wilson food mart llc, jackson
  • woodrow wilson gulf llc, jackson
  • zaem food, jackson
  • zee food mart inc 0, jackson

Combination Grocery/Other · 66

  • cvs pharmacy 4997, jackson
  • cvs pharmacy 5745, jackson
  • cvs pharmacy 5756, jackson
  • cvs/pharmacy 10020, clinton
  • county cajun seafood market inc, jackson
  • dollar general 10655, terry
  • dollar general 11211, jackson
  • dollar general 13976, jackson
  • dollar general 13982, clinton
  • dollar general 1565, byram
  • dollar general 7638, terry
  • dollar general 7941, jackson
  • dollar general 7945, jackson
  • dollar general 9257, jackson
  • dollartree 10060, jackson
  • dollartree 9522, jackson
  • dollar general 11341, jackson
  • dollar general 11342, raymond
  • dollar general 11386, jackson
  • dollar general 11453, jackson
  • dollar general 12099, utica
  • dollar general 12442, jackson
  • dollar general 12615, jackson
  • dollar general 12927, edwards
  • dollar general 13550, jackson
  • dollar general 13624, jackson
  • dollar general 15291, jackson
  • dollar general 16496, jackson
  • dollar general 16726, bolton
  • dollar general 17633, jackson
  • dollar general 17927, flora
  • dollar general 18065, jackson
  • dollar general 20447, jackson
  • dollar general 22894, jackson
  • dollar general 23778, crystal springs
  • dollar general 30373, jackson
  • dollar general 31597, clinton
  • dollar general 7011, clinton
  • dollar tree 1714, jackson
  • dollar tree 1821, clinton
  • dollar tree 2447, jackson
  • dollar tree 355, jackson
  • dollar tree 4947, jackson
  • dollar tree 6443, byram
  • dollar tree 6599, clinton
  • family dollar 12294, jackson
  • family dollar 12887, raymond
  • family dollar 3177, jackson
  • family dollar 5171, jackson
  • family dollar 6731, jackson
  • family dollar store 0559, jackson
  • family dollar store 10443, jackson
  • family dollar store 1695, jackson
  • family dollar store 3514, clinton
  • family dollar store 3921, jackson
  • family dollar store 5213, jackson
  • family dollar store 5535, jackson
  • family dollar store 6791, jackson
  • family dollar store 6938, jackson
  • phamega enterprises llc, jackson
  • walgreen 05791, jackson
  • walgreens 07517, jackson
  • walgreens 05165, clinton
  • walgreens 10694, byram
  • walgreens 15485, jackson
  • walgreens 16089, jackson

Super Store · 14

  • cash saver 21, jackson
  • food depot 2198, jackson
  • kroger 0490, byram
  • kroger 345, jackson
  • kroger 474, clinton
  • piggly wiggly #182 #182, jackson
  • save a lot, jackson
  • shoppers valu foods 402, clinton
  • target store 754, jackson
  • vowell's marketplace 18, byram
  • walmart supercenter 1710, clinton
  • walmart supercenter 6469, byram
  • walmart supercenter 903, jackson
  • whole foods market 10486, jackson

Supermarket · 5

  • corner market 6012, jackson
  • corner market 6013, jackson
  • corner market 6058, raymond
  • grocery depot 6015, jackson
  • save a lot, jackson

Large Grocery Store · 3

  • chens asian market inc, jackson
  • dash food market, jackson
  • trotter's market, jackson

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • india bazaar, clinton
  • the seafood shack, inc., jackson

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • cabrini green superfoods, jackson
  • el patron, clinton

Farmers' Market · 1

  • raymond farmers market, raymond

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • rivers market, llc, byram

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • hemphill foods, llc, jackson

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Mississippi

Compare Hinds County vs Adams County → · All Mississippi counties →

Food access nationally, Mississippi in context

Hinds County sits inside Mississippi (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 Hinds County has low food access?
34.9% of residents in Hinds County, MS live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Hinds County?
14.8% of households in Hinds County receive SNAP, covering 13,226 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Hinds County?
The poverty rate in Hinds County, MS is 22.7%, with a median household income of $49,402 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Hinds County a food desert?
24 of Hinds County's 64 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Hinds County households lack a vehicle?
8.1% of households in Hinds County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.