Signature · 46.7% low-access (92nd pct)
James City County, VA
James City County sits in the upper national band on low-access (46.7%, +24.6 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 46.7%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 6.5%
- on SNAP
- 81K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County James City County, VA
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-SEVERE 46.7% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +24.6 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-LIGHT 6.5% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 9% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Petersburg city (+ 0.1 pts)
Upper-band low-access
James City County sits in the upper national band (46.7%, #249 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.
- #249
- national by low-access %
- #9
- in VA
- 7
- low-access tracts
- 6K
- 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: 46.7% low-access (92nd pct) (+24.6 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How James City County compares nationally
James City County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 46.7% low-access share outpaces 92% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #249 most-affected nationwide.
James City County's elevated USDA tier split
11 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
James City County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (9 urban, 2 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 2 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
James City County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Virginia, not a full county-board reprint
- Highland
Highland 99.7%
99.7 % low-access
- Chesterfield
Chesterfield 47.2%
47.2 % low-access
- Petersburg ci…
Petersburg ci… 46.8%
46.8 % low-access
- James City
James City 46.7%
46.7 % low-access
- Botetourt
Botetourt 45.8%
45.8 % low-access
- Essex
Essex 44.1%
44.1 % low-access
- Dickenson 0
Dickenson 0%
0 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 11 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 67,009 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 7 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 31,315 |
| Low-Access Share | 46.7%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 5,816 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 81,013 |
| Median Household Income | $109,985 |
| Poverty Rate | 6.8%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 2,072 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 6.5%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.0%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.5% |
Other Counties in Virginia
One of 132 counties in Virginia, 6 are shown here.
Compare James City County vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →
Counties near James City County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for James City County, both outside Virginia so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside VA (46.7% here).
- Fremont County, ID · 46.6% low-access
- Juab County, UT · 46.5% low-access
- Richland County, SC · 46.5% low-access
- Hampshire County, MA · 46.5% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside VA (6.5% here).
- Natrona County, WY · 6.5% SNAP
- York County, SC · 6.5% SNAP
- Montour County, PA · 6.5% SNAP
- Medina County, OH · 6.5% 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.
Virginia among South Atlantic states
Virginia ranks 8th of 9 South Atlantic states by population-weighted low-access (20.4%). James City County, at 46.7%, runs 26.3 pts above the Virginia rate.
- Georgia 30.9%
- South Carolina 28.7%
- Delaware 27.3%
- Florida 25.1%
- North Carolina 22.9%
- Maryland 22.7%
- West Virginia 21.3%
- Virginia 20.4%
- District of Columbia 4.6%
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 James City County, VA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 51095. 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.