Signature · 536 SNAP-authorized stores
Kent County, MI
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Kent 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).
- 20.3%
- low-access pop.
- 5
- food-desert tracts
- 10.3%
- on SNAP
- 663K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Kent County, MI
LA-ELEVATED · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-ELEVATED 20.3% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -1.8 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 5 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 10.3% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.2% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 4% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Allegan County (+ 0.5 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Kent County ranks #1,662 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #35 of 80 counties in MI (20.3% low-access; 5 food-desert tracts).
- #1,662
- national by low-access %
- #35
- in MI
- 45
- low-access tracts
- 23K
- food-desert residents
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).
Signature read: 536 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Kent County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Kent County's 20.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 47% of them and ranked #1,662 most-affected nationwide.
Kent County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
128 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 5 LILA.
Kent County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (110 urban, 18 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 18 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Kent County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Michigan, not a full county-board reprint
- Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft 46%
46 % low-access
- Huron
Huron 21.1%
21.1 % low-access
- Allegan
Allegan 20.8%
20.8 % low-access
- Kent
Kent 20.3%
20.3 % low-access
- Chippewa
Chippewa 19.8%
19.8 % low-access
- Midland
Midland 19.4%
19.4 % low-access
- Arenac 0
Arenac 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 128 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 602,622 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 45 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 5 |
| Low-Access Population | 122,554 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.3%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 23,231 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 663,150 |
| Median Household Income | $82,631 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.1%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 26,393 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 10.3%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.2%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.8% |
Thick SNAP store book in Kent County
Kent County has 536 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 14 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 262 locations (49% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
23 towns share the 536 authorized stores; Grand Rapids holds 58% of them. 10 of the 23 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Kent City, Alto, Belmont, Gowen, Greenville, Sand Lake and 4 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | 312 | 74 |
| Wyoming | 67 | 16 |
| Grandville | 22 | 5 |
| Comstock Park | 17 | 7 |
| Rockford | 17 | 3 |
| Kentwood | 13 | 1 |
| Caledonia | 12 | 3 |
| Lowell | 12 | 1 |
| Byron Center | 11 | 2 |
| Cedar Springs | 10 | 2 |
Top 10 of 23 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 262 (250 shown)
- 28th breton shell 4830, grand rapids
- 28th e paris shell 4860, grand rapids
- 28th st citgo 28, grand rapids
- 28th street party store, wyoming
- 36th st citgo 3, grand rapids
- 44th st citgo 32, wyoming
- 44th st shell 4250, wyoming
- 54th/division shell 4200, grand rapids
- 616 liquor, grand rapids
- 76th street citgo 47, grand rapids
- 84th st citgo 18, byron center
- a & b grocery, grand rapids
- admiral 5759, lowell
- admiral 5770, lowell
- admiral 5822, sparta
- aikan liquor, grand rapids
- all american north country store, kent city
- alpine citgo 615725, grand rapids
- alpine ez mart 232, comstock park
- alpine liquor, comstock park
- apple valley natural foods #710, kentwood
- b bliss llc, grand rapids
- b&b party store, grand rapids
- ball park party store, grand rapids
- ballpark citgo 13, comstock park
- beer run, grand rapids
- bella vista citgo 615721, rockford
- belmans bakery inc, wyoming
- beltline shell 4045, grand rapids
- big apple mart party store, grand rapids
- boston square shell 4055, grand rapids
- bottlenecks, grand rapids
- bricks alto marathon, alto
- bricks at campau corner 3, alto
- broadmoor convenience store 1, caledonia
- buddys liquor, grand rapids
- burton citgo 40, wyoming
- burton heights foodland, grand rapids
- burton marathon, grand rapids
- burton market, grand rapids
- burton quick stop, grand rapids
- burton quick stop ii, wyoming
- butterworth party store, grand rapids
- casey's 5215, walker
- casey's 5216, grand rapids
- casey's 5217, grandville
- casey's 5218, grandville
- casey's 5219, grand rapids
- casey's 5220, grand rapids
- casey's 5221, wyoming
- casey's 5222, wyoming
- circle k 4706208, comstock park
- circle k 4706316, caledonia
- circle k 4706318, comstock
- cannonsburg gristmill, cannonsburg
- cascade citgo 17, grand rapids
- cascade johnny's market 4075, grand rapids
- cedar citgo 5, cedar springs
- century food and liquor, grand rapids
- champion beverage, grand rapids
- charlie's party store, grand rapids
- circle k 6207, grand rapids
- citgo east 44th street 49, kentwood
- citgo kentwood, grand rapids
- clyde park foods, wyoming
- clyde park fuel, wyoming
- coit libation station, grand rapids
- cornerstone 330, grand rapids
- cottage market citgo 33, greenville
- creston market, grand rapids
- d & w quick stop 713, grand rapids
- dannys beverage, grand rapids
- division 23, grand rapids
- downtown mobil, grand rapids
- dutton bp llc dba dutton marathon, caledonia
- e & j laundromat & store, grand rapids
- eastern avenue marathon, grand rapids
- eastern gas station, grand rapids
- eastown citgo 34, grand rapids
- eli's breton village mobil, llc, grand rapids
- eli's northeast shell autowash, inc, grand rapids
- fulton party store, grand rapids
- family fare express 760, wyoming
- family fare express 765, rockford
- family fare express 834, byron center
- family fare express 855, grand rapids
- fannie's corner, grand rapids
- farm market at from, lowell
- fas mart 5052, grand rapids
- food mart, grand rapids
- franklin beer wine & gas, grand rapids
- franklin big save, grand rapids
- franklin taj bp, grand rapids
- fruitridge citgo 15, walker
- gr city market, grand rapids
- grattan general store, belding
- gaines marketplace 4530, caledonia
- galewod foods, wyoming
- goldkaja petroleum, grand rapids
- gowen ago 43, gowen
- grand valley party store, grandville
- grandville citgo 42, grandville
- grandville party store, grand rapids
- grandville shell 4850, grandville
- hall street party store, grand rapids
- handy market, cedar springs
- harry's corner, grand rapids
- hometown pharmacy 55 - walker 55, grand rapids
- imperial bakery gto, wyoming
- j & h family stores - northern spr 129, cedar springs
- j & h family stores - plainfield 106, grand rapids
- j & h family stores - burton 142, grand rapids
- j & h family stores - clyde park 147, wyoming
- j & h family stores - exit 76 auto truck stop 101, byron center
- j & h family stores - gezon mobil mart 131, wyoming
- j & h family stores - lowell mobil mart 135, lowell
- j & h family stores - mall view 150, byron center
- j & h family stores - meadowbrooke mobil mart 111, grand rapids
- j & h family stores - rockford mobil mart 128, rockford
- j & h family stores - south express 151, byron center
- j & h family stores - sunnybrook mobil mart 113, grandville
- j & h family stores - walker mobil mart 105, grand rapids
- j & h family stores - wilson 148, grandville
- j & k party store, grand rapids
- j & r liquor, wyoming
- j&h family stores - alpine mobil 141, grand rapids
- j&h family stores - byron center 165, byron center
- j&h family stores - fallasburg mobil 145, lowell
- j&h family stores - lake bella vista 126, rockford
- j&h family stores - post drive 159, belmont
- j&h family stores - walker view 163, grand rapids
- j&h family stores - york creek 155, comstock park
- j&h family stores- cedar rock 108, rockford
- j&h family stores-remembrance 110, walker
- j&h family stores - pit stop 109, wyoming
- jj ghotra, rockford
- jj ghotra inc, grand rapids
- juanita's supermarket, sparta
- keerat petroleum, grand rapids
- kent mini mart, kent city
- kentwood citgo 14, grand rapids
- kentwood liquor store, grand rapids
- kgn market, wyoming
- l&l market, grand rapids
- la familia, grand rapids
- leonard23, grand rapids
- log cabin convenience store inc., greenville
- lucky's downtown market, grand rapids
- marathon, grand rapids
- marathon cherry valley, caledonia
- meijer gas station 158, grand rapids
- meijer gas station 20, grand rapids
- meijer gas station 205, lowell
- meijer gas station 216, grand rapids
- meijer gas station 226, rockford
- meijer gas station 248, cedar springs
- meijer gas station 311, grand rapids
- meijer gas station 312, grand rapids
- meijer gas station 327, caledonia
- meijer gas station 36, wyoming
- meijer gas station 50, grand rapids
- meijer gas station 605, grandville
- meijer gas station 607, grand rapids
- meijer gas station 615, grand rapids
- michigan & fuller shell 4570, grand rapids
- miss tracy party store, grand rapids
- mitimini liquor, grand rapids
- mobil plaza, wyoming
- monroe/ann shell, grand rapids
- mother hubbard party store, kentwood
- n & m gas & food, grand rapids
- next door food store 5051, walker
- next door store 5068, grand rapids
- north alpine citgo 46, comstock park
- north end convenience, grand rapids
- o & e partystore, grand rapids
- oxford food center, grand rapids
- ogies party store, grand rapids
- our food market, grand rapids
- party cooler, grand rapids
- party house party store, grand rapids
- party world, comstock park
- partytime party store 426, grand rapids
- pfeffers liquor store, wyoming
- plainfield citgo 6, grand rapids
- post citgo 27, belmont
- qik n ez, grand rapids
- quality car wash, grand rapids
- quality car wash, wyoming
- quick stop, grand rapids
- r & s party store inc, wyoming
- rai party store inc., wyoming
- ramblewood liquors, wyoming
- rapid liquor, grand rapids
- rau's party store, grand rapids
- rich oil 6275, grand rapids
- richards, grand rapids
- rivertown 308, grandville
- rockford citgo 35, rockford
- ruby's liquor, grand rapids
- ryan and hart party store, grand rapids
- sam's supermarket, grand rapids
- short stop party store, grand rapids
- singh petroleum 3, grand rapids
- smokey bottles, wyoming
- south point liquor, grand rapids
- sparta ago 459671, sparta
- speedway 2214, grand rapids
- speedway 2225, grand rapids
- speedway 2230, grand rapids
- speedway 2231, wyoming
- speedway 2232, grand rapids
- speedway 2243, wyoming
- speedway 2285, grand rapids
- speedway 2289, wyoming
- speedway 2293, comstock park
- speedway 2376, cedar springs
- speedway 3564, lowell
- speedway 3571, grand rapids
- speedway 3574, grand rapids
- speedway 3575, grandville
- speedway 3583, comstock park
- speedway 3586, grand rapids
- speedway 3587, wyoming
- speedway 3590, ada
- speedway 3591, caledonia
- speedway 5200 5200, grand rapids
- speedway 6272 6272, kent city
- speedway 7091, byron center
- speedway 7535, grand rapids
- speedway 8765, grand rapids
- speedway 8766, grand rapids
- speedway 8768, grand rapids
- speedway 8782, kentwood
- speedway 8887, grand rapids
- sunny's 3, wyoming
- sunrise citgo 31, ada
- t & j party store, kentwood
- tejj, grand rapids
- ten mile citgo 615705, rockford
- the franklin bere store, grand rapids
- the liquor store, grand rapids
- the tiny giant, grand rapids
- the vineyard on plainfield, grand rapids
- tienda & abarroteria el rancho llc, grand rapids
- tillies market, grand rapids
- top shelf spirits, belmont
- topp stop ago 44, rockford
- tres hermanos bakery, wyoming
- uncle fred's party store, kentwood
Showing 250 of 536 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Michigan
One of 82 counties in Michigan, 6 are shown here.
Compare Kent County vs Alcona County → · All Michigan counties →
Nationwide peers for Kent County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Kent County, both outside Michigan so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MI (20.3% here).
- Graves County, KY · 20.3% low-access
- Cassia County, ID · 20.3% low-access
- Clark County, OH · 20.3% low-access
- Knox County, OH · 20.3% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MI (10.3% here).
- Talbot County, MD · 10.3% SNAP
- Gasconade County, MO · 10.3% SNAP
- Jackson County, MO · 10.3% SNAP
- St. Charles Parish, LA · 10.3% 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.
Michigan among East North Central states
Michigan ranks 3rd of 5 East North Central states by population-weighted low-access (23.2%). Kent County, at 20.3%, runs 2.9 pts below the Michigan rate.
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 Kent County, MI are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 26081. 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.