County food-access profile · Louisiana
Jefferson Parish, LA
Jefferson Parish's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 13.2%
- low-access pop.
- 15
- food-desert tracts
- 14.1%
- on SNAP
- 431K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
13.2% of Jefferson Parish residents live in a low-access area, and 15 of its 124 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 29
- low-access tracts
- 21K
- food-desert residents
- 7.4%
- households, no vehicle
- 16.6%
- 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).
Jefferson Parish's low-access share sits near the national share, at 13.2% per the USDA Atlas. 29 of the county's 124 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 57,036 residents who live far from a supermarket. 15 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 20,897 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 Parish compares nationally
Jefferson Parish lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 13.2% low-access share that beats 28% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,259).
Jefferson Parish: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 124 census tracts in Jefferson Parish, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Jefferson Parish vs. other Louisiana counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Louisiana
- Jefferson Parish 13.2
Jefferson Parish, LA
13.2 % low-access
- Acadia Parish 6.6
Acadia Parish, LA
6.6 % low-access
- Allen Parish
Allen Parish, LA
28.1 % low-access
- Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish, LA
42.3 % low-access
- Assumption Parish 0.9
Assumption Parish, LA
0.9 % low-access
- Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish, LA
20.5 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 124 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 432,552 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 29 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 15 |
| Low-Access Population | 57,036 |
| Low-Access Share | 13.2%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 20,897 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 430,920 |
| Median Household Income | $65,252 |
| Poverty Rate | 16.6%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 24,876 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 14.1%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 7.4%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.7% |
About 14.1% of Jefferson Parish households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 13.2% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 14.1% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 24,876 households here.
- 7.4% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 15 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 Parish
near the national share
15 of Jefferson Parish's 124 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 12.1% of all its tracts.
A further 14 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 29.
An estimated 57,036 residents, roughly 13.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 20,897 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 95 tracts (76.6%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish has 330 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 115 locations (35% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 115
- 24-7 discount inc, new orleans
- airline fuel discount, metairie
- airline quick save, kenner
- airport shell air, kenner
- ali & sons food store, marrero
- bg mart, harvey
- behrman 158, gretna
- betel latin market, westwego
- birdies food and fuel 18 18, metairie
- birdies valero, metairie
- brothers, kenner
- brothers food mart 126 126, metairie
- circle k 2707238, kenner
- carol sue food store, gretna
- centroamericana market llc, metairie
- chateau supermarket, kenner
- circle k 2707664, kenner
- circle k 2707665, kenner
- circle k 2707668, metairie
- circle k 2707670, metairie
- circle k 2708294, kenner
- circle k 2708295, harvey
- circle k stores inc. 2707667, marrero
- circle k stores, inc 2700467, metairie
- circle k stores, inc 2707669, metairie
- circle k stores, inc 2707671, metairie
- clearview brothers, metairie
- clearview park shell cvp, metairie
- cousins fuelmart cfm, marrero
- cousins petro, metairie
- day and night, gretna
- diaz market driftwood, kenner
- diaz west metairie dwm, metairie
- discount center, new orleans
- discount depot#4, gretna
- discount zone, metairie
- discount zone, kenner
- discount zone, kenner
- discount zone, marrero
- discount zone, marrero
- discount zone, metairie
- discount zone 1199, metairie
- e corner store, westwego
- e-z stop, marrero
- easy stop, metairie
- el encanto, metairie
- el pulgarcito grocery and deli, new orleans
- envios express & mas tienda latina 2, new orleans
- exxon belle chasse 178, terrytown
- exxon causeway, metairie
- fast fuel mart, gretna
- fast stop, new orleans
- fast stop 137 137, marrero
- fast stop 2210, kenner
- fast stop of williams llc 3940, kenner
- flowers bakery outlet 50000200, gretna
- gasco, marrero
- ghazool express, metairie
- greg's food mart #3, marrero
- greg's food mart ii, marrero
- guajiro grocery & fruit, kenner
- gulf coast c stores, metairie
- hickory dickory dock quick stop, new orleans
- hickory shell hic, new orleans
- jk discount store inc, gretna
- jeff, new orleans
- kenner airport chevron 300, kenner
- kenner express llc, kenner
- kenner meat market, kenner
- kent kwik 989, kenner
- key fuel, gretna
- kwicky stop, kenner
- kwik e mart, westwego
- lake avenue discount, metairie
- lapalco one stop, marrero
- latino multi center llc, kenner
- los aleros supermarket 2, kenner
- lucky's, kenner
- m&j discount, gretna
- manhattan express, harvey
- manhattan food store, harvey
- mia's latin grocery, new orleans
- murphy usa 6906, marrero
- murphy usa 7942, new orleans
- nathan discount, gretna
- nola discount, marrero
- old metairie ii shell oii, metairie
- ormond birdies, gretna
- quick & karry, westwego
- quick timer market, kenner
- race trac 2493, new orleans
- racetrac 2366, terrytown
- racetrac 2430, harahan
- racetrac 2469, merraro
- racetrac 645, avondale
- racetrac 139, gretna
- racetrac 92, kenner
- ralphs on williams, kenner
- ryans true discount, marrero
- sam's mini mart 1, harvey
- save a dollar, gretna
- shell avondale, westwego
- shell barataria, marrero
- shell carol sue 174, gretna
- shell jefferson, new orleans
- shell lapalco 173, harvey
- sonny ryans convenience store, harvey
- stop n go llc, marrero
- super serve 7, kenner
- tarule latin store, kenner
- three j's, llc, terrytown
- time saver gretna, gretna
- time saver gretna llc, gretna
- west metairie discount zone, metairie
- westwood truck stop, marrero
Combination Grocery/Other · 99
- asher african market, new orleans
- cvs 10145, metairie
- cvs pharmacy 11426, terrytown
- cvs pharmacy 11427, marrero
- cvs pharmacy 5543, westwego
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 1939, new orleans
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 2242, kenner
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 4752, westwego
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 5342, metairie
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 5349, kenner
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 5383, metairie
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 5441, metairie
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 8921, gretna
- cvs/ pharmacy inc 8999, metarie
- cvs/pharmacy 5340, new orleans
- captain jonathan seafood, westwego
- dollar general 10414, metairie
- dollar general 10588, harvey
- dollar general 10603, metairie
- dollar general 13841, kenner
- dollar general 14037, harvey
- dollar general 14836, gretna
- dollar general 15201, westwego
- dollar general 24085, gretna
- dollar general 8438, river ridge
- dollar general 9777, metairie
- dollartree 10639, harahan
- dollartree 11016, metairie
- dollartree 459, metairie
- dollar general 11476, metairie
- dollar general 11751, new orleans
- dollar general 12352, gretna
- dollar general 12396, lafitte
- dollar general 12970, avondale
- dollar general 14905, gretna
- dollar general 15222, marrero
- dollar general 24071, westwego
- dollar general 24082, metairie
- dollar general 25241, kenner
- dollar general 6825, marrero
- dollar tree 0396, harahan
- dollar tree 1953, kenner
- dollar tree 1985, marrero
- dollar tree 2710, terrytown
- dollar tree 389, kenner
- dollar tree 390, gretna
- dollar tree 4853, metairie
- dollar tree 4907, marrero
- dollar tree 5334, metairie
- dollar tree 6686, harvey
- dollar tree 7685, harvey
- dorignac's food center no, metairie
- family dollar store 10569, gretna
- family dollar 11568, harvey
- family dollar 12094, westwego
- family dollar 12354, gretna
- family dollar 12396, kenner
- family dollar 1512, marrero
- family dollar 2173, westwego
- family dollar 2194, jefferson
- family dollar 4428, harvey
- family dollar 4431, gretna
- family dollar 4909, kenner
- family dollar 6910, metairie
- family dollar 7028, marrero
- family dollar 754, westwego
- family dollar 8192, marrero
- family dollar 8318, kenner
- family dollar 8718, marrero
- family dollar 8793, westwego
- family dollar 958, gretna
- family dollar store 10608, marrero
- golden city asian market, metairie
- ideal market 10, kenner
- ideal market 6, metairie
- international market, metairie
- market wego, westwego
- tewelde's piggly wiggly, lafitte
- walgreens 05516, marrero
- walgreens 13658, new orleans
- walgreens 13679, metairie
- walgreens 15067, metairie
- walgreens 15109, new orleans
- walgreens 15571, metairie
- walgreens 3156, harvey
- walgreens 5230, westwego
- walgreens 6506, gretna
- walgreens 01799, metairie
- walgreens 02468, metairie
- walgreens 02469, kenner
- walgreens 06672, metairie
- walgreens 07261, gretna
- walgreens 12924, kenner
- walgreens 15200, terrytown
- walgreens 15533, metairie
- walgreens 17110, metairie
- walgreens 3199, marrero
- walgreens 5472, kenner
- walgreens 5633, marrero
Medium Grocery Store · 21
- cedar market, metairie
- dongyang market, metairie
- ideal market #14 14, kenner
- jabarays food store, harvey
- la despensa grocery, metairie
- latino express grocery, gretna
- latino express grocery 2, gretna
- manhattan seafood and meat market, harvey
- mercadito la pulguita, harvey
- mercado, kenner
- mikes meat market 1, marrero
- norma's international market and bakery, kenner
- quick save, kenner
- quickstop cajun seafood, marrero
- rotolo-martin supermarket, harvey
- sal's super meat market, gretna
- sufyaan, llc, metairie
- super stop supermarket, westwego
- the ultimate meat, kenner
- unica latino supermarket, kenner
- yaz & aj, marrero
Large Grocery Store · 8
- 88 supermarket, marrero
- al nour supermarket, harvey
- crescent international supermarket, gretna
- dong khanh, harvey
- hong kong food market, gretna
- island dollar supermarket, grand isle
- kien giang supermarket, gretna
- wegos meat market, westwego
Seafood Specialty · 6
- amy's seafood, westwego
- aprils seafood, westwego
- cajun corner seafood, gretna
- dee's seafood, westwego
- fisherman's cove seafood, kenner
- jerri's seafood, westwego
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- gourmet butcher block, inc., gretna
Showing 250 of 330 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Louisiana
Compare Jefferson Parish vs Acadia Parish → · All Louisiana counties →
Food access nationally, Louisiana in context
Jefferson Parish sits inside Louisiana (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 Parish has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Jefferson Parish? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Jefferson Parish? ▼
Is Jefferson Parish a food desert? ▼
What share of Jefferson Parish 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.