County food-access profile · Oregon
Jackson County, OR
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Jackson 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).
- 20.1%
- low-access pop.
- 8
- food-desert tracts
- 17.9%
- on SNAP
- 223K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
20.1% of Jackson County residents live in a low-access area, and 8 of its 41 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 22
- low-access tracts
- 12K
- food-desert residents
- 5.8%
- households, no vehicle
- 12.4%
- 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 Jackson County's low-access share at 20.1%, above the national share. 22 of the county's 41 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 40,827 people. 8 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 11,827 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 Jackson County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Jackson County's 20.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 46% of them and ranked #1,682 most-affected nationwide.
Jackson County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 41 census tracts in Jackson County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Jackson County vs. other Oregon counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Oregon
- Jackson
Jackson County, OR
20.1 % low-access
- Baker
Baker County, OR
37.9 % low-access
- Benton
Benton County, OR
27.9 % low-access
- Clackamas
Clackamas County, OR
17.3 % low-access
- Clatsop 12.4
Clatsop County, OR
12.4 % low-access
- Columbia 6.1
Columbia County, OR
6.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 41 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 203,206 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 22 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 8 |
| Low-Access Population | 40,827 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.1%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 11,827 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 222,645 |
| Median Household Income | $73,999 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.4%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 16,488 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 17.9%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.8%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.9% |
About 17.9% of Jackson County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 20.1% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 17.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 16,488 households here.
- 5.8% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 8 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 Jackson County
above the national share
8 of Jackson County's 41 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 19.5% of all its tracts.
A further 14 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 22.
An estimated 40,827 residents, roughly 20.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 11,827 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 19 tracts (46.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Jackson County
Jackson County has 190 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 116 locations (61% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 116
- 7-eleven 18154 b, ashland
- 7-eleven 20531f, medford
- 7-eleven #42129a 42129a, central point
- 7-eleven 18155e, central point
- 7-eleven 23044c, white city
- 7-eleven 23217e 23217e, medford
- 8th & grape st market, medford
- a-1 market #11, grants pass
- a1 market #15, medford
- a1 market 12, central point
- aj smoke & grocery store, ashland
- arco ampm 7023, ashland
- ashland fuel stop, ashland
- ashland st market 6511, ashland
- ashland valero 6311, ashland
- astro express mart 240, central point
- astro express mart 245, medford
- butte falls general store, butte falls
- country store, inc, medford
- cascade gorge store, prospect
- crown market 500, medford
- crown market 600, talent
- crown market 800, medford
- crown market and deli 300, medford
- dardanelles community store 1, central point
- dash n done market, phoenix
- ez market, eagle point
- eagles market & gas, eagle point
- el torito meat market medford llc, medford
- empire market, eagle point
- family mart 3, medford
- family mart 6, medford
- fast and easy mart, white city
- flying eagle market, eagle point
- foots creek deli mart, gold hill
- garb & go market, talent
- go with stop and go market, shady cove
- gold hill market & deli, central point
- h&s stations llc # 5015 5015, shady cove
- h&s stations llc #5019 5019, central point
- h&s stations, llc #5013 5013, rogue river
- h&s stations, llc 5017, white city
- h&s stations, llc 5023, jacksonville
- h&s stations, llc 5026, phoenix
- h&s stations, llc 5027, ashland
- h&s stations, llc 5047, talent
- h&s stations, llc 5022, medford
- hasco stations, llc 8036, medford
- infinity market, medford
- j & j market and deli, central point
- jacksonville market & liquor, jacksonville
- jbm market llc, medford
- kriss market, medford
- kriss mart, medford
- kriss smoke and grocery, medford
- las tarascas mexican store ii, medford
- las tarascas mexican store llc, white city
- lil pantry market & deli cp llc 8, central point
- lil pantry rogue river, llc 7, rogue river
- lil pantry white city, llc 9, white city
- little butte market 1, eagle point
- mark it 62, white city
- medford #113 35, central point
- medford sport park snack and shine, medford
- medford's finest quality market, medford
- michoacan mexican market, medford
- minute market 1, medford
- minute market 10, medford
- minute market 2, medford
- minute market 3, medford
- minute market 4, medford
- minute market 5, ashland
- minute market 6, ashland
- minute market 7, medford
- minute market 8, phoenix
- minute market 9, medford
- mj market, central point
- multi-site management llc #823 536, medford
- new stop n go, medford
- ok market, medford
- oregon highway market, central point
- petro phoenix 324, phoenix
- phoenix market, phoenix
- pilot travel center 391, central point
- pine st. market 6811, central point
- prospect store and gas, prospect
- shady cove smoke & grocery, shady cove
- shady cove station 5003, shady cove
- shell 311, medford
- shop and smoke, ashland
- short stop market & deli, medford
- short stop market 3, central point
- siskiyou market 6611, ashland
- sky7 market 8 llc, medford
- sky7 market inc, medford
- smart choice market 1, medford
- south town market, ashland
- spring street market, medford
- srimatha llc, medford
- stewart market, medford
- stewart market 6411, medford
- stop n go #10, medford
- stop n go market, white city
- stop n go marts #2, medford
- stop n go marts 3, medford
- stop n' go 3, central point
- super speedy market plus #2, jacksonville
- the store, medford
- trail market, trail
- talent travel center, talent
- the ace mart, medford
- the station market & cafe, jacksonville
- town market, medford
- west hills country store, central point
- wimer market and deli, rogue river
- woodland heights supermarket, medford
Combination Grocery/Other · 23
- asia market/7star retails llc, medford
- bi-mart 608, ashland
- bi-mart 613, medford
- bi-mart 616, medford
- cvs pharmacy 11691, ashland
- dollartree 11036, medford
- dollar general 16274, rogue river
- dollar general 17264, gold hill
- dollar general 21130, white city
- dollar general 25951, phoenix
- dollar general store 16352, shady cove
- dollar general store 17350, talent
- dollar tree 1371, medford
- dollar tree 1372, central point
- dollar tree 1379, medford
- dollar tree 2475, ashland
- dollar tree 2805, white city
- dollar tree 3790, medford
- dollar tree 8475, phoenix
- fiesta market & taqueria inc. only store, medford
- grocery outlet of white city 348, white city
- walgreens 12596, medford
- walgreens 15974, central point
Super Store · 18
- ashland food cooperative, ashland
- cartwright's market, medford
- costco wholesale 1287, central point
- fred meyer 195, medford
- fred meyer 196, medford
- grocery outlet medford 29, medford
- grocery outlet of ashland 602, ashland
- market of choice 11, ashland
- market of choice 4, medford
- ray's food place 10, phoenix
- ray's food place 9, central point
- sherms food 4 less, medford
- sherms thunderbird market, medford
- shop-n-kart warehouse foods, ashland
- target store t-0613, medford
- walmart 2069, medford
- walmart 5424, eagle point
- walmart 5839, medford
Supermarket · 16
- albertsons 3508, medford
- albertsons 3593, medford
- albertsons 3595, central point
- albertsons 573, ashland
- medford food co-op, medford
- ray's food place 5, rogue river
- ray's food place 61, eagle point
- ray's food place 63, jacksonville
- ray's food place 82, talent
- safeway 1643, medford
- safeway 525, medford
- shady cove market, shady cove
- safeway 3212, ashland
- trader joe's 155, medord
- vitamin cottage natural food market u066, medford
- winco foods 044, medford
Bakery Specialty · 5
- franz bakery outlet 9005, medford
- papa murphys or-050, medford
- papa murphys or-051, medford
- papa murphys or-105, white city
- papa murphy's central point or093, central point
Farmers' Market · 5
- applegate evening market, jacksonville
- ashland tuesday market ffab, ashland
- medford thursday market ffab, medford
- rogue river growers market, rogue river
- rusted gate farm, central point
Large Grocery Store · 2
- el gallo mexican supermarket, medford
- ray's food place 43, gold hill
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2
- cherry street meats, medford
- the butcher shop, eagle point
Medium Grocery Store · 2
- rainey's corner market, white city
- ruch country store, jacksonville
Small Grocery Store · 1
- quick in n out market, medford
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Oregon
Compare Jackson County vs Baker County → · All Oregon counties →
Food access nationally, Oregon in context
Jackson County sits inside Oregon (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 Jackson County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Jackson County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Jackson County? ▼
Is Jackson County a food desert? ▼
What share of Jackson 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.