County food-access profile · Washington
King County, WA
King County'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.
- 16.7%
- low-access pop.
- 22
- food-desert tracts
- 8.2%
- on SNAP
- 2.3M
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
16.7% of King County residents live in a low-access area, and 22 of its 397 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 135
- low-access tracts
- 47K
- food-desert residents
- 11.2%
- households, no vehicle
- 8.6%
- 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).
King County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 16.7% per the USDA Atlas. 135 of the county's 397 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 323,094 residents who live far from a supermarket. 22 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 47,436 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 King County compares nationally
King County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.7% low-access share that beats 37% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,973).
King County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 397 census tracts in King County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
King County vs. other Washington counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Washington
- King
King County, WA
16.7 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, WA
41.7 % low-access
- Asotin 13.8
Asotin County, WA
13.8 % low-access
- Benton
Benton County, WA
22.8 % low-access
- Chelan
Chelan County, WA
18.1 % low-access
- Clallam
Clallam County, WA
38.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 397 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 1,931,249 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 135 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 22 |
| Low-Access Population | 323,094 |
| Low-Access Share | 16.7%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 47,436 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,287,171 |
| Median Household Income | $124,746 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.6%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 77,601 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.2%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 11.2%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.8% |
About 8.2% of King County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 16.7% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 8.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 77,601 households here.
- 11.2% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 22 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 King County
near the national share
22 of King County's 397 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 5.5% of all its tracts.
A further 113 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 135.
An estimated 323,094 residents, roughly 16.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 47,436 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 262 tracts (66.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in King County
King County has 1,168 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 151 locations (13% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 151
- 8m grocery, seattle
- abc herb & grocery 02, seattle
- abas store, seatac
- al-madina inc, renton
- all india spice, auburn
- altha's louisiana cajun seasoning & spices, kent
- amazon go ibf2, bellevue
- amazon go ise1, seattle
- amazon go ise6, seattle
- amazon go ise9, seattle
- anh shenh, seattle
- apna bazar, kent
- aria food and bakery 1, kirkland
- ashanti african market and hair braiding, federal way
- asian food center seattle llc, seattle
- b & e meats and seafood, inc., seattle
- bert's red apple market, seattle
- ballinger village thriftway 040193, shoreline
- bao an herbs & grocery company, seattle
- bilaal mini market, seattle
- burien grocery outlet, burien
- carpinito brothers, kent
- cvs 10331, seattle
- cvs 10373, burien
- cvs 10387, seattle
- cvs 10619, bellevue
- cvs pharmacy 10285, renton
- cvs pharmacy 10659, federal way
- cvs pharmacy 10794, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11076, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11632, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11646, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11647, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11648, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11649, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11651, mercer island
- cvs pharmacy 11664, newcastle
- cvs pharmacy 11665, bellevue
- cvs pharmacy 11668, renton
- cvs pharmacy 11679, seattle
- cvs pharmacy 11680, sammamish
- cvs pharmacy 11681, kirkland
- cvs pharmacy 11684, kenmore
- cvs pharmacy 11686, bellevue
- cvs pharmacy 11687, burien
- cvs pharmacy 11689, redmond
- cvs pharmacy 11690, bellevue
- city cafe and grocery, seattle
- clara african store 1, federal way
- dollartree 5255, kent
- dollartree 8506, snoqualmie
- dollartree 9285, auburn
- dollar tree 2487, federal way
- dollar tree 2921, kent
- dollar tree 3197, auburn
- dollar tree 3655, covington
- dollar tree 3894, burien
- dollar tree 4208, kenmore
- dollar tree 4423, tukwila
- dollar tree 4494, seattle
- dollar tree 4567, seattle
- dollar tree 4600, renton
- dollar tree 4876, seattle
- dollar tree 5276, woodinville
- dollar tree 6112, des moines
- dollar tree 6400, seattle
- dollar tree 7045, enumclaw
- dollar tree 7063, kirkland
- dollar tree 7194, kent
- dollar tree 7340, renton
- dollar tree 7396, kirkland
- dollar tree 7457, kent
- dollar tree 7562, issaquah
- dollar tree 7848, renton
- dollar tree 7906, burien
- dollar tree 7965, auburn
- dollar tree 8349, redmond
- duanes garden patch, seattle
- dukem market, burien
- dukem market llc #2, seatac
- el mercado latino, auburn
- fasika grocery, seattle
- food plus inc, seattle
- gray african varieties market plus, kent
- h mart uw, seattle
- ilyas african market 2, seattle
- india food mart, black diamond
- jebena market, seattle
- kandahar market, federal way
- kebena market, seattle
- khang hoa duong and grocery, seattle
- krishna supermarket, issaquah
- la tipica oaxaquena, seattle
- leschi food mart inc, seattle
- m2m mart, seattle
- marketime foods, seattle
- mana grocery, seatac
- mana grocery kent llc 1, kent
- micronesian market, burien
- muna market, seatac
- nazreth market, seattle
- pike place market creamery, seattle
- roba's african store n/a, seattle
- sharif grocery & halal inc, seattle
- sami family store, seattle
- seattle chinese herbs, seattle
- sheger arada, tukwila
- southgate mart, bellevue
- southwest deli & grocery, seattle
- the souk n/a, seattle
- uwajimaya, seattle
- west seattle thriftway #603, seattle
- walgreens 03604, seattle
- walgreens 03632, seattle
- walgreens 03662, bellevue
- walgreens 03733, mercer island
- walgreens 03788, shoreline
- walgreens 03840, burien
- walgreens 04156, kirkland
- walgreens 04157, seattle
- walgreens 04627, renton
- walgreens 04898, seattle
- walgreens 05950, seattle
- walgreens 06194, seattle
- walgreens 06258, kirkland
- walgreens 06304, kent
- walgreens 06357, issaquah
- walgreens 06389, seattle
- walgreens 06590, seattle
- walgreens 06901, federal way
- walgreens 07136, enumclaw
- walgreens 07355, renton
- walgreens 07480, auburn
- walgreens 07594, auburn
- walgreens 07700, federal way
- walgreens 07908, covington
- walgreens 09373, shoreline
- walgreens 09423, des moines
- walgreens 10553, bellevue
- walgreens 10995, tukwila
- walgreens 11856, seattle
- walgreens 12497, renton
- walgreens 13087, seattle
- walgreens 13770, woodinville
- walgreens 15203, maple valley
- walgreens 21452, seattle
- walgreens 6890, seattle
- waynes fruits & vegetables, burien
- wooltari - seattle, federal way
- yakima fruit market and nursery, bothell
- yong feng shang dian, seattle
Convenience Store · 68
- 212th chevron 205191, kent
- 24 east hill market, kent
- 24/7 convenience store 1, seattle
- 24/7 grocery, seattle
- 2nd ave grocery, seattle
- 365 mart 12702, seattle
- 405 express mart, renton
- 5 mile lakeside grocery, auburn
- 56th street market, seattle
- 7 eleven 26055b, seattle
- 7 eleven 35056 a, renton
- 7 eleven 35532b 35532, seattle
- 7 eleven 38806a, kent
- 7-eleven #20188e 20188, kent
- 7-eleven 14360 a, seattle
- 7-eleven 14436e, seattle
- 7-eleven 14438 g, seattle
- 7-eleven 14443 d, tukwila
- 7-eleven 14463 e, seattle
- 7-eleven 17355 e, bellevue
- 7-eleven 17463c, federal way
- 7-eleven 22866 c, tukwila
- 7-eleven 22984, auburn
- 7-eleven 23228 c, federal way
- 7-eleven 24404b, seattle
- 7-eleven 25525 d, seattle
- 7-eleven 26818 f, seatac
- 7-eleven 27284 b, federal way
- 7-eleven 27311 c, kent
- 7-eleven, des moines
- 7-eleven #14354d, shoreline
- 7-eleven #16365f, seattle
- 7-eleven #16547c, seattle
- 7-eleven #19042a, seattle
- 7-eleven #23931g, seattle
- 7-eleven #27742b, seatac
- 7-eleven #38700a, auburn
- 7-eleven 14355a, seattle
- 7-eleven 14392b 14392b, seattle
- 7-eleven 14402 d, redmond
- 7-eleven 14439a, auburn
- 7-eleven 14481 e, auburn
- 7-eleven 19911d, kirkland
- 7-eleven 20249d, auburn
- 7-eleven 21833c, woodinville
- 7-eleven 22625d, shoreline
- 7-eleven 23109d, seattle
- 7-eleven 2360-19338d, redmond
- 7-eleven 2360-29078b, seattle
- 7-eleven 26268d, federal way
- 7-eleven 27219c, auburn
- 7-eleven 27304b 27304b, kirkland
- 7-eleven 27901 g, seattle
- 7-eleven 34144b, kent
- 7-eleven 34475a, seattle
- 7-eleven 34636b, renton
- 7-eleven 35675b, kent
- 7-eleven 37134a, seattle
- 7-eleven 37558a, bellevue
- 7-eleven 39637, kent
- 7-eleven 39638a, renton
- 7-eleven 39639a, kent
- 7-eleven 42048h, federal way
- 7-eleven store 17257b, shoreline
- 7-eleven store 35334 a, auburn
- 7-eleven store 39836a, auburn
- 7-eleven, seatac
- 7-eleven #14368b, seattle
Bakery Specialty · 31
- franz bakery outlet 9024, seattle
- franz bakery outlet 9025, tukwila
- franz bakery outlet 9026, seattle
- naanwa bakery, bellevue
- papa murphys wa-047, auburn
- papa murphys wa-052, kent
- papa murphy's pizza wa-120, covington
- papa murphy's pizza wa019, kent
- papa murphy's pizza wa051, federal way
- papa murphy's pizza wa080, maple valley
- papa murphy's pizza wa085, des moines
- papa murphy's pizza wa099, renton
- papa murphy's pizza wa103, woodinville
- papa murphy's pizza wa123, renton
- papa murphy's pizza wa139, kirkland
- papa murphy's pizza wa168, auburn
- papa murphy's pizza wa170, enumclaw
- papa murphy's pizza wa196, federal way
- papa murphy's take 'n' bake pizza wa204, kirkland
- papa murphy's take and bake pizza wa028, renton
- papa murphy's wa-016, sammamish
- papa murphy's wa-048, issaquah
- papa murphy's wa-049, bellevue
- papa murphy's wa-110, burien
- papa murphy's wa-111, lake forest park
- papa murphy's wa-145, seattle
- papa murphy's wa-156, newcastle
- papa murphy's wa-158, seattle
- papa murphy's wa-172, duvall
- papa murphy's wa-186, redmond
- papa murphys take and bake pizza wa157, north bend
Showing 250 of 1,168 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Washington
Compare King County vs Adams County → · All Washington counties →
Food access nationally, Washington in context
King County sits inside Washington (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 King County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in King County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in King County? ▼
Is King County a food desert? ▼
What share of King 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.