PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Ohio

Jefferson County, OH

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

23.1%
low-access pop.
6
food-desert tracts
16.6%
on SNAP
65K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 OH

The food-access picture

23.1% of Jefferson County residents live in a low-access area, and 6 of its 23 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

8
low-access tracts
7K
food-desert residents
8.5%
households, no vehicle
16.5%
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 Jefferson County's low-access share at 23.1%, above the national share. 8 of the county's 23 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 16,111 people. 6 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 7,056 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 Jefferson County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Jefferson County's 23.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 54% of them and ranked #1,444 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Jefferson County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 23 census tracts in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, OH USDA-defined food-access tiers: 15 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 6 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 23 tracts evaluated. 15 tracts adequate (65.2%) 2 tracts limited (8.7%) 6 tracts severe / food desert (26.1%) Adequate 65% Limited 9% Severe 26% Food-access tier distribution: Jefferson County, OH
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Jefferson County vs. other Ohio counties

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

% 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 Jefferson County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts23
Atlas Population (2010 basis)69,709
Low-Access Tracts8
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)6
Low-Access Population16,111
Low-Access Share23.1%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population7,056

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Jefferson County
IndicatorValue
Population64,518
Median Household Income$59,055
Poverty Rate16.5%above the national average
SNAP Households4,493
SNAP Participation Rate16.6%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle8.5%near the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.8%
SNAP participation in Jefferson County 16.6%

About 16.6% of Jefferson County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 23.1% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 16.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 4,493 households here.
  • 8.5% 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 Jefferson County

above the national share

6 of Jefferson County's 23 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 26.1% of all its tracts.

A further 2 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 8.

An estimated 16,111 residents, roughly 23.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 7,056 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 15 tracts (65.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Jefferson County

Jefferson County has 65 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 33 locations (51% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 33

  • amsterdam country corner, amsterdam
  • cfm 22, bloomingdale
  • cfm 7, yorkville
  • chappano market llc, mingo junction
  • carry out express, east springfield
  • circle k 4705297, steubenville
  • coen 1805, steubenville
  • coen 1810, steubenville
  • coen 1815, toronto
  • coen 1820, brilliant
  • figgys fuel mart, adena
  • jefferson landmark knoxville carryout, toronto
  • jimmy john's carryout, stratton
  • kenco quik mart, richmond
  • midei food & fuel, tiltonsville
  • marathon 1, steubenville
  • marathon 2, toronto
  • northend market, steubenville
  • pilot travel center 1032, steubenville
  • quick stop foods, steubenville
  • quik mart & more, inc, steubenville
  • quik mart & more, inc, wintersville
  • richmond country market, richmond
  • speedway #9403, steubenville
  • speedway 9167, steubenville
  • speedway 9248, steubenville
  • smith oil #112, steubenville
  • special way, toronto
  • special way 3, hammondsville
  • steubenville food mart, steubenville
  • toronto gas n go, toronto
  • vgv foodmart llc, steubenville
  • vashva llc, steubenville

Combination Grocery/Other · 20

  • big lots 3024, steubenville
  • cvs 6268, steubenville
  • dollar general 3523, toronto
  • dollar general 6969, mingo junction
  • dollar general 8441, yorkville
  • dollar general 9110, wintersville
  • dollar general 9314, steubenville
  • dollar tree 2599, steubenville
  • dollartree 10446, steubenville
  • dollar general 10702, dillonvale
  • dollar general 16974, richmond
  • dollar general 20074, steubenville
  • dollar general store 12517, amsterdam
  • dollar tree 7785, steubenville
  • family dollar store 2063, steubenville
  • family dollar store 4345, toronto
  • family dollar store 4669, steubenville
  • family dollar store 7391, tiltonsville
  • walgreens 17303, steubenville
  • walgreens 19910, toronto

Small Grocery Store · 4

  • pestas country store llc, mingo junction
  • super c, smithfield
  • super mart, bergholz
  • the steubenville grocery box, steubenville

Super Store · 3

  • kroger 512, steubenville
  • kroger n-963, wintersville
  • walmart 2193, steubenville

Supermarket · 2

  • aldi 75052 75052, steubenville
  • riesbeck's food markets 19, toronto

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • midei iga, tiltonsville

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • mcconnell farm market, richmond

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • maryland market, steubenville

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Ohio

Adams County
22.0% low-access · 20.7% SNAP
Allen County
17.4% low-access · 13.8% SNAP
Ashland County
5.0% low-access · 8.9% SNAP
Ashtabula County
21.9% low-access · 18.2% SNAP
Athens County
17.0% low-access · 14.4% SNAP
Auglaize County
9.9% low-access · 6.8% SNAP

Compare Jefferson County vs Adams County → · All Ohio counties →

Food access nationally, Ohio in context

Jefferson County sits inside Ohio (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Jefferson County has low food access? ▼
23.1% of residents in Jefferson County, OH 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 Jefferson County? ▼
16.6% of households in Jefferson County receive SNAP, covering 4,493 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Jefferson County? ▼
The poverty rate in Jefferson County, OH is 16.5%, with a median household income of $59,055 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Jefferson County a food desert? ▼
6 of Jefferson County's 23 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 Jefferson County households lack a vehicle? ▼
8.5% of households in Jefferson 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.