County food-access profile · California
Kern County, CA
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Kern 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).
- 23.8%
- low-access pop.
- 27
- food-desert tracts
- 20.2%
- on SNAP
- 915K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
23.8% of Kern County residents live in a low-access area, and 27 of its 151 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 57
- low-access tracts
- 66K
- food-desert residents
- 6.7%
- households, no vehicle
- 19.1%
- 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 Kern County's low-access share at 23.8%, above the national share. 57 of the county's 151 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 199,600 people. 27 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 65,742 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 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
All 151 census tracts in Kern County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Kern County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- Kern
Kern County, CA
23.8 % low-access
- Alameda 8.1
Alameda County, CA
8.1 % low-access
- Alpine
Alpine County, CA
57 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador County, CA
0.2 % low-access
- Butte 19.1
Butte County, CA
19.1 % low-access
- Calaveras 14.7
Calaveras County, CA
14.7 % 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 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| 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% |
About 20.2% of Kern County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 23.8% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 20.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 57,456 households here.
- 6.7% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 27 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 Kern County
above the national share
27 of Kern County's 151 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 17.9% of all its tracts.
A further 30 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 57.
An estimated 199,600 residents, roughly 23.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 65,742 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 94 tracts (62.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers 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 retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare Kern County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
Kern County sits inside California (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 Kern County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Kern County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Kern County? ▼
Is Kern County a food desert? ▼
What share of Kern 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.