Signature · 1.9% low-access (5th pct)

Houston County, TN

Houston County lands in the lower national band on low-access (1.9%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.

1.9%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
15.4%
on SNAP
8K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 TN

USDA FARA access plate

County Houston County, TN

LA-ADEQUATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ADEQUATE 1.9% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -20.2 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 15.4% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 2.7% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Union County (+ 0.0 pts)

Lower-band low-access

Houston County lands in the lower national band (1.9%, #2,966 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,966
national by low-access %
#83
in TN
0
low-access tracts
63
food-desert residents

Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.

Signature read: 1.9% low-access (5th pct) (-20.2 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Houston County compares nationally

Food access in Houston County compares favorably nationally: its 1.9% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 5% of them (rank #2,968).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Houston County's lower-band USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Houston County, TN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (100.0%) Adequate 100% Limited 0% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Houston County, TN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Houston County has 0 urban and 3 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Houston County vs nearby low low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Tennessee, not a full county-board reprint

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

FARA 2019 · lower low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Houston County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)8,426
Low-Access Tracts0
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population164
Low-Access Share1.9%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population63

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Houston County
IndicatorValue
Population8,353
Median Household Income$59,576
Poverty Rate11.1%below the national average
SNAP Households516
SNAP Participation Rate15.4%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle2.7%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.2%

SNAP retailers in Houston County

Houston County has 7 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 5 locations (71% of the total), followed by large grocery store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 5

  • dollar general 57, erin
  • dollar general 11384, tennessee ridge
  • dollar general 24474, tennessee ridge
  • family dollar 3996, erin
  • sudden service 0042, erin

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • tennessee ridge save a lot, tennessee ridge

Supermarket · 1

  • mcglashings piggly wiggly 91, erin

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 Houston County vs Anderson County → · All Tennessee counties →

Houston County inside a lower low-access state context

Houston County sits inside Tennessee (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

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 Houston County, TN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 47083. 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.