Signature · 20.2% SNAP (86th pct in CA)
Kern County, CA
Kern County stands out on SNAP (20.2%, +8.1 pts vs U.S.) with 23.8% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 23.8%
- low-access pop.
- 27
- food-desert tracts
- 20.2%
- on SNAP
- 915K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Kern County, CA
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 23.8% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +1.7 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 27 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 20.2% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.7% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 18% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Glenn County ( -0.4 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Kern County ranks #1,378 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #18 of 58 counties in CA (23.8% low-access; 27 food-desert tracts).
- #1,378
- national by low-access %
- #18
- in CA
- 57
- low-access tracts
- 66K
- 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: 20.2% SNAP (86th pct in CA) (+8.1 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Kern County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Kern County's 23.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 56% of them and ranked #1,381 most-affected nationwide.
Kern County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
151 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 27 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Kern County has 131 urban and 20 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.
Kern County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in California, not a full county-board reprint
- Sierra
Sierra 88.2%
88.2 % low-access
- San Bernardino 24.7
San Bernardino 24.7%
24.7 % low-access
- Riverside 24.5
Riverside 24.5%
24.5 % low-access
- Kern 23.8
Kern 23.8%
23.8 % low-access
- Glenn 23.4
Glenn 23.4%
23.4 % low-access
- Contra Costa 23.2
Contra Costa 23.2%
23.2 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador 0.2%
0.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 151 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 839,631 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 57 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 27 |
| Low-Access Population | 199,600 |
| Low-Access Share | 23.8%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 65,742 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 915,075 |
| Median Household Income | $70,210 |
| Poverty Rate | 19.1%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 57,456 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 20.2%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.7%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.8% |
Thick SNAP store book in Kern County
Kern County has 766 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 155 locations (20% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 155
- 11 11 market, ridgecrest
- 24/7 food and fuel llc, bakersfield
- 3way market & gas, bakersfield
- 4010 arco ampm 82591, bakersfield
- 4th street market, bakersfield
- 58 market llc, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 21481e, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 22150f 22150f, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 32241a, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 32257d, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 38530b, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 38628a 38628a, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 38654a 38654a, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 41317a, rosamond
- 7 eleven 41745a, bakersfield
- 7 eleven 41906a, bakersfield
- 7 eleven store 2368 26819b, bakersfield
- 7 stars liquor & market inc, bakersfield
- 7-eleven #22647 d, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 13932 g, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 16288 c, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 16946 e, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 18655 f, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 32376 a, bakersfield
- 7-eleven, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 16329, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 20317d, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 26701c, arvin
- 7-eleven, inc. 16549, bakersfield
- 7-eleven 26599, bakersfield
- 76 food mart, bakersfield
- 777 liquor, mojave
- 7th standard chevron, bakersfield
- 98 cent store, tehachapi
- a one market, bakersfield
- a&m market, lamont
- a-s smoke 4 less, ridgecrest
- aaa market, bakersfield
- airport texaco food mart, bakersfield
- am/pm - ssg bakersfield group, inc., bakersfield
- arvin market, arvin
- aarmann food and liquors, bakersfield
- all star market, bakersfield
- almond tree markert, delano
- alta vista liquor, bakersfield
- alvord st mini mart, ridgecrest
- am/pm arco, buttonwillow
- amarjyot llc 42218, bakersfield
- amigos liquor, shafter
- ampm 42226, bakersfield
- ampm arco 47010, bakersfield
- amt market, rosamond
- anthony's fast stop, bakersfield
- anthony's food and liquor, bakersfield
- arco 82651, rosamond
- arco ampm 42729 arco 42729, shafter
- arco am/pm 42496, delano
- arco ampm, bakersfield
- arco ampm, bakersfield
- arco ampm 42542, bakersfield
- arco ampm 42924, bakersfield
- arco ampm 66458, delano
- arco ampm 66463, bakersfield
- arco ampm 83856, bakersfield
- arco am/pm 82514, bakersfield
- arcoampm 42851 arco 42851, wasco
- arrow gas market, bakersfield
- artz's liquor & deli, taft
- arvin fastrip, arvin
- arvin petroleum inc. 47008, arvin
- azteca market, bakersfield
- baker discounts, bakersfield
- bashaar chevron, bakersfield
- beardsley market, bakersfield
- beer bank food mart, bakersfield
- beverage house liquor, bakersfield
- beverage house liquor # 22, maricopa
- beverage house liquor # 28, bakersfield
- big stop market, wasco
- blue clouds inc, bakersfield
- bodfish market, bodfish
- bros discount, groceries and more, inc., bakersfield
- brundage discount, bakersfield
- brundage lane am pm, bakersfield
- brundage petroleum inc. 42848, bakersfield
- buttermilk acres, ridgecrest
- buttonwillow 76, buttonwillow
- buttonwillow chevron, buttonwillow
- buttonwillow liquor & market, buttonwillow
- center street market, bakersfield
- cactus market, california city
- cal city fastrip 701, california city
- cali discount, bakersfield
- cali discount & smoke shop #3, bakersfield
- california chevron, bakersfield
- california market, bakersfield
- california mini-mart, bakersfield
- calimex market 3, bakersfield
- calloway market, bakersfield
- candy land party supply, shafter
- check point 7, bakersfield
- chester discount 1, bakersfield
- chester fastrip, bakersfield
- chester liquor inc, bakersfield
- chester wireless, bakersfield
- chevron 1979, lost hills
- chevron 2004, rosamond
- chevron tiger mart, wasco
- circle k 2720010, tehachapi
- circle k 2721161, wasco
- circle k 2721270, bakersfield
- circle k 2728605, bakersfield
- circle k 2728606, bakersfield
- circle k stores 2709227, bakersfield
- colony market, shafter
- columbus market 1, bakersfield
- community 7/24 inc, bakersfield
- country korner market, bodfish
- crazymart & smoke, bakersfield
- crushed ice market, bakersfield
- csg petroleum inc. 42983, bakersfield
- d&g liquors, bakersfield
- dj food mart, bakersfield
- don's liquor market & deli, frazier park
- day & night market, bakersfield
- delano 76 inc, delano
- delano discount, delano
- derrick liquor & groceries 3215, bakersfield
- derrick market, bakersfield
- derrick mini mart 3221, bakersfield
- dollar world & beauty supply, bakersfield
- dollar world +, bakersfield
- dollarworld airport 1, bakersfield
- dulai mini mart, bakersfield
- dulceria alebrijes, delano
- e-z trip, buttonwillow
- eastridge market, ridgecrest
- ez water, bakersfield
- easthill mobile, bakersfield
- easy stop market and liquor, ridgecrest
- edison mini mart, edison
- eds mini mart, ridgecrest
- edwards food mart 1, independence
- el milagro market, bakersfield
- el punto market, bakersfield
- emkco food mart, bakersfield
- empire gas & liquor, bakersfield
- extra mile, bakersfield
- ez foodmart, inc, bakersfield
- fastrip food store, rosamond
- fastrip food store, bakersfield
- fastrip food store, bakersfield
- fastrip food store, mojave
- fastrip food store 49, taft
- fastrip food store 633, bakersfield
Combination Grocery/Other · 90
- all india sweets & groceries, bakersfield
- all india sweets & groceries, bakersfield
- bakersfield indian bazaar, bakersfield
- cvs pharmacy 04221, bakersfield
- cvs pharmacy 10921, bakersfield
- cvs pharmacy 2768, bakersfield
- cvs pharmacy 5495, bakersfield
- cvs pharmacy 7001, bakersfield
- cvs pharmacy 9900, bakersfield
- cvs pharmacy 9975, bakersfield
- cvs/pharmacy 10810, arvin
- carniceria gonzalez 1, bakersfield
- dollar general 13573, wasco
- dollar general 14107, shafter
- dollar general 14155, ridgecrest
- dollar general 14299, bakersfield
- dollar general 15007, inyokern
- dollar general 18218, lake isabella
- dollartree 10380, bakersfield
- dollartree 10408, bakersfield
- dollartree 10417, bakersfield
- dollartree 10486, delano
- dollartree 10510, bakersfield
- dollartree 10519, bakersfield
- dollartree 8167, bakersfield
- dollartree 9422, mojave
- dollar general 13243, mcfarland
- dollar general 13344, bakersfield
- dollar general 15296, wofford heights
- dollar general 15414, arvin
- dollar general 15451, lake isabella
- dollar general 16540, rosamond
- dollar general 17387, bakersfield
- dollar general 17556, bakersfield
- dollar general 17772, bakersfield
- dollar general 18805, bakersfield
- dollar general 18807, rosamond
- dollar general 20008, taft
- dollar general 20106, lamont
- dollar general 20681, taft
- dollar general 24622, taft
- dollar general store 13045, bakersfield
- dollar general store 13142, bakersfield
- dollar general store 16438, frazier park
- dollar tree 1247, bakersfield
- dollar tree 1255, bakersfield
- dollar tree 1262, bakersfield
- dollar tree 2121, bakersfield
- dollar tree 2177, ridgecrest
- dollar tree 2287, bakersfield
- dollar tree 2430, tehachapi
- dollar tree 2759, bakersfield
- dollar tree 2958, lamont
- dollar tree 2964, bakersfield
- dollar tree 3774, taft
- dollar tree 3870, arvin
- dollar tree 5627, delano
- dollar tree 5793, bakersfield
- dollar tree 5814, bakersfield
- dollar tree 6810, wasco
- dollar tree 8634, bakersfield
- family dollar 10001, bakersfield
- family dollar 10051, delano
- family dollar 10107, mojave
- family dollar 10375, taft
- family dollar 11432, boron
- family dollar 12056, lamont
- family dollar 12110, rosamond
- family dollar 12147, bakersfield
- family dollar 12420, bakersfield
- family dollar 8775, california city
- family dollar 8877, delano
- family dollar 9076, shafter
- family dollar 9170, lake isabella
- indian asian grocery, bakersfield
- nanak sweets & spices, bakersfield
- new india sweets & spices, bakersfield
- preet sweets & spices, bakersfield
- punjab sweets & snacks, bakersfield
- sam's market and gas, bakersfield
- super bazar, bakersfield
- walgreens 01816, bakersfield
- walgreens 07555, tehachapi
- walgreens 07909, bakersfield
- walgreens 09030, ridgecrest
- walgreens 10827, delano
- walgreens 11532, bakersfield
- walgreens 3272, bakersfield
- walgreens 3294, bakersfield
- walgreens 6526, bakersfield
Bakery Specialty · 5
- kern bakery, delano
- papa murphy's pizza ca139, bakersfield
- papa murphy's pizza ca169, bakersfield
- papa murphy's pizza ca255 ca255, bakersfield
- papa murphy's take 'n' bake pizza 131, bakersfield
Showing 250 of 766 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 California
One of 57 counties in California, 6 are shown here.
Compare Kern County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Nationwide peers for Kern County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Kern County (20.2%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside California.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside CA (23.8% here).
- Bradley County, AR · 23.8% low-access
- Bradley County, AR · 23.8% low-access
- Pike County, IL · 23.8% low-access
- Pike County, IL · 23.8% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside CA (20.2% here).
- Montgomery County, AL · 20.2% SNAP
- Montgomery County, AL · 20.2% SNAP
- Wayne County, GA · 20.2% SNAP
- Wayne County, GA · 20.2% 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.
Food access nationally, California in context
Kern County sits inside California (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
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 Kern County, CA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 06029. 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.