County food-access profile · Texas
Jefferson County, TX
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).
- 24.4%
- low-access pop.
- 17
- food-desert tracts
- 16.9%
- on SNAP
- 254K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
24.4% of Jefferson County residents live in a low-access area, and 17 of its 72 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 34
- low-access tracts
- 19K
- food-desert residents
- 8.1%
- households, no vehicle
- 19.5%
- 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 24.4%, above the national share. 34 of the county's 72 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 61,565 people. 17 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 19,222 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 24.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 57% of them and ranked #1,341 most-affected nationwide.
Jefferson County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 72 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).
Jefferson County vs. other Texas counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Texas
- Jefferson
Jefferson County, TX
24.4 % low-access
- Anderson
Anderson County, TX
43.8 % low-access
- Andrews
Andrews County, TX
26.8 % low-access
- Angelina
Angelina County, TX
26 % low-access
- Aransas
Aransas County, TX
31.7 % low-access
- Archer
Archer County, TX
18.3 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 72 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 252,273 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 34 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 17 |
| Low-Access Population | 61,565 |
| Low-Access Share | 24.4%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 19,222 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 253,878 |
| Median Household Income | $60,026 |
| Poverty Rate | 19.5%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 16,008 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 16.9%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.1%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 6.1% |
About 16.9% of Jefferson County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 24.4% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 16.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 16,008 households here.
- 8.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 17 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
17 of Jefferson County's 72 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 23.6% of all its tracts.
A further 17 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 34.
An estimated 61,565 residents, roughly 24.4% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 19,222 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 38 tracts (52.8%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Jefferson County
Jefferson County has 271 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 148 locations (55% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 148
- 7-eleven 36509h, beaumont
- at foodmart, beaumont
- ace food mart, beaumont
- araf enterprises inc, port arthur
- b & b mini mart, groves
- b&b mini mart #2, groves
- bj's food store, port arthur
- beaumont buzzy bee, beaumont
- big d's, beaumont
- buddy's mart, beaumont
- buddy's mini mart, nederland
- bulldog express, nederland
- charge up 31, beaumont
- charge up 60, groves
- charge up 63, port arthur
- cherry, beaumont
- china market, china
- citgo food mart, nederland
- concord groceries, beaumont
- corner stop, beaumont
- country super market, beaumont
- crystals food and fuel, beaumont
- cypress plaza, port neches
- d & z mart and wash, beaumont
- delaware food mart, beaumont
- diamond food mart n/a, beaumont
- dos amigas food mart, beaumont
- express stop, port arthur
- everyday 3, beaumont
- exxpress mart 10, beaumont
- exxpress mart 11, beaumont
- exxpress mart 15, beaumont
- exxpress mart 18, nederland
- exxpress mart 19, port arthur
- exxpress mart 20, beaumont
- exxpress mart 23, beaumont
- exxpress mart 25, port arthur
- exxpress mart 26, groves
- exxpress mart 27, groves
- exxpress mart 28, beaumont
- exxpress mart 29, beaumont
- exxpress mart 30, beaumont
- exxpress mart 4, beaumont
- exxpress mart 6, port neches
- food basket, beaumont
- food spot #1, port arthur
- food spot #2, groves
- fish or hunt, port arthur
- food basket #5, beaumont
- food basket 7, beaumont
- food basket 8, port arthur
- food spot 4, beaumont
- fuel dude, beaumont
- fuel plus # 2, port arthur
- get ingo market, beaumont
- gulfway food mart, port arthur
- gulfway super store, port arthur
- happy's, port arthur
- honey stop, beaumont
- honey stop #22, beaumont
- honey's drive inn, beaumont
- icebox 4924, beaumont
- j & j express, beaumont
- joe's speedy mart, port arthur
- k-mart, beaumont
- khwaza market, beaumont
- kroozin market, beaumont
- kroozin market #2, port arthur
- la viva mini mart, port arthur
- landmark, port arthur
- lavaquita meat market express, port arthur
- little buddy #1, beaumont
- love's travel stop 696, beaumont
- m & d food mart, port arthur
- m & m grocery, port arthur
- m&m superette, port arthur
- m&t grocery, beaumont
- market ace 4, beaumont
- mb express, beaumont
- mlk fuel, beaumont
- more 4 less, beaumont
- more 4 less #4, beaumont
- more 4 less 1, beaumont
- more 4 less 2, beaumont
- murphy usa 5719, beaumont
- murphy usa 7810, port arthur
- murphy usa 7831, port arthur
- neches express, port neches
- needz stop, nederland
- new smart shop, beaumont
- nizamani matli llc, beaumont
- nizamani matli, llc, beaumont
- ontrak, nederland
- panthers 28 00003, beaumont
- panthers 29 00002, port neches
- papu's drive, beaumont
- petro stopping centers 304, beaumont
- pricewise 107, china
- quick stop, beaumont
- raceway #6762 0001, nederland
- raceway 6779, beaumont
- royal stop, beaumont
- sgs causeway bait and tackle, port arthur
- sunrise grocery 5, port arthur
- super stop 1, port arthur
- savannah food & deli, port arthur
- seven major operation llc, beaumont
- shop n go #4, beaumont
- shop n go 2, beaumont
- shop n save, beaumont
- smile fuels #2, beaumont
- smiles 1, beaumont
- sonny grocers, beaumont
- south fourth grocery, beaumont
- speedway, beaumont
- speedy express, port arthur
- speedy mart, nederland
- speedy mart #2, port arthur
- speedy stop 14, beaumont
- speedy stop 18, beaumont
- star mini mart, beaumont
- step n go, beaumont
- stop and shop, beaumont
- stop n drive #7, port arthur
- stop n drive 27, groves
- stop n drive 28, groves
- stop n shop, port arthur
- strike, beaumont
- stuckey's travel center fannett, beaumont
- sunshine port arthur, port arthur
- super stop #24, nederland
- super stop 3, groves
- swift, beaumont
- tyrrell park drive in grocery, beaumont
- tejano mart #1, beaumont
- the cow store, beaumont
- the moody's nook, nome
- tiger mart, port arthur
- time out, port arthur
- titan's xpress, port arthur
- tri-mart, nederland
- triangle market, beaumont
- valero corner store 367, groves
- valero corner store 374, beaumont
- west end food mart, beaumont
- westside c-store, port arthur
- xpress lane, beaumont
- zipmart, beaumont
Combination Grocery/Other · 70
- ancelet's cajun market, port arthur
- balaji india foods, beaumont
- cvs pharmacy inc 7813, beaumont
- cvs pharmacy cvs11379, port arthur
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 7472, beaumont
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 7477, nederland
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 8351, beaumont
- dollar general 10551, groves
- dollar general 10829, beaumont
- dollar general 10913, beaumont
- dollar general 11472, beaumont
- dollar general 14854, beaumont
- dollar general 19611, hamshire
- dollar general 22053, port neches
- dollar general 2819, nederland
- dollar general 3417, nederland
- dollar general 4934, port arthur
- dollar general 6628, beaumont
- dollar general 9712, beaumont
- dollar general 11561, beaumont
- dollar general 11717, beaumont
- dollar general 12476, port arthur
- dollar general 12550, beaumont
- dollar general 15022, china
- dollar general 16030, beaumont
- dollar general 19792, beaumont
- dollar general 20274, beaumont
- dollar general 21751, beaumont
- dollar general 22419, beaumont
- dollar general 23412, beaumont
- dollar general 23691, port neches
- dollar general 30093, beaumont
- dollar tee 6447, beaumont
- dollar tree 1522, beaumont
- dollar tree 2822, beaumont
- dollar tree 3979, port arthur
- dollar tree 7006, beaumont
- family dollar 10184, port arthur
- family dollar 1121, beaumont
- family dollar 11700, port arthur
- family dollar 11999, port arthur
- family dollar 12254, nederland
- family dollar 12371, beaumont
- family dollar 12572, beaumont
- family dollar 12600, beaumont
- family dollar 1292, port arthur
- family dollar 1333, beaumont
- family dollar 2671, port arthur
- family dollar 3816, groves
- family dollar 4063, beaumont
- family dollar 4702, beaumont
- family dollar 5133, port neches
- family dollar 5148, beaumont
- family dollar 5774, beaumont
- family dollar 5775, beaumont
- family dollar 5802, beaumont
- family dollar 5838, beaumont
- family dollar 5852, port acres
- family dollar 5962, port arthur
- family dollar 6202, beaumont
- lieu's seafood and grocery, beaumont
- quick serve crawfish llc, port arthur
- service food store inc, beaumont
- walgreens 03821, beaumont
- walgreens 03958, port arthur
- walgreens 11275, groves
- walgreens 3507, port neches
- walgreens 3796, beaumont
- walgreens 5375, port arthur
- walgreens 6583, beaumont
Medium Grocery Store · 10
- asia market llc, port arthur
- bmt oriental food market, beaumont
- carniceria la vaquita, port arthur
- desi mart, beaumont
- el paisano family food, port arthur
- judice's grocery, port arthur
- king food supermarket, beaumont
- la bodega cuban market, beaumont
- la viva supermarket, port arthur
- saigon market, port arthur
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 5
- 1927 meat co., nederland
- butchers korner, nederland
- jackson's meat house, beaumont
- superior meat service, beaumont
- zummo meat co, beaumont
Small Grocery Store · 5
- a lo cubano market, port arthur
- god grace african market, beaumont
- hmaa llc, beaumont
- la cotijense meat market, port arthur
- maganas food mart, port arthur
Large Grocery Store · 4
- basic foods ltd, beaumont
- green acres grocery, beaumont
- la paisana family food, beaumont
- la viva supermarket, beaumont
Super Store · 4
- carniceria la vaquita 5, beaumont
- kroger 325, beaumont
- kroger 328, beaumont
- market basket 2, nederland
Seafood Specialty · 3
- marie's seafood, port arthur
- paige seafood, beaumont
- reigning crawfish shack, port arthur
Farmers' Market · 1
- beaumont farmers market, beaumont
Showing 250 of 271 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Texas
Compare Jefferson County vs Anderson County → · All Texas counties →
Food access nationally, Texas in context
Jefferson County sits inside Texas (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 Jefferson County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Jefferson County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Jefferson County? ▼
Is Jefferson County a food desert? ▼
What share of Jefferson 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.