Signature · 17.8% SNAP (80th pct in PA)
Lackawanna County, PA
Lackawanna County stands out on SNAP (17.8%, +5.7 pts vs U.S.) with 15.3% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 15.3%
- low-access pop.
- 2
- food-desert tracts
- 17.8%
- on SNAP
- 216K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Lackawanna County, PA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-MODERATE 15.3% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -6.8 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 17.8% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 9.4% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 3% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Clarion County (+ 0.4 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Lackawanna County ranks #2,094 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #43 of 67 counties in PA (15.3% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).
- #2,094
- national by low-access %
- #43
- in PA
- 14
- low-access tracts
- 9K
- 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: 17.8% SNAP (80th pct in PA) (+5.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Lackawanna County compares nationally
Lackawanna County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 15.3% low-access share that beats 33% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,100).
Lackawanna County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
59 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Lackawanna County has 51 urban and 8 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.
Lackawanna County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Pennsylvania, not a full county-board reprint
- Chester
Chester 45.1%
45.1 % low-access
- Adams 15.9
Adams 15.9%
15.9 % low-access
- Delaware 15.9
Delaware 15.9%
15.9 % low-access
- Somerset 15.9
Somerset 15.9%
15.9 % low-access
- Clarion 15.7
Clarion 15.7%
15.7 % low-access
- Lackawanna 15.3
Lackawanna 15.3%
15.3 % low-access
- Wyoming 0.9
Wyoming 0.9%
0.9 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 59 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 214,437 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 14 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 2 |
| Low-Access Population | 32,703 |
| Low-Access Share | 15.3%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 8,721 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 216,146 |
| Median Household Income | $66,223 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.4%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 15,738 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 17.8%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 9.4%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 4.0% |
Thick SNAP store book in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County has 185 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 88 locations (48% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 88
- 7th avenue kwik mart, scranton
- al's quick stop #10, taylor
- al's quick stop #3 2, covington township
- al's quick stop 1, dunmore
- al's quick stop 4, scranton
- archbald gas n go, archbald
- aryan express mart, old forge
- birney quick serve, scranton
- carbondale mini mart corp, carbondale
- city market & cafe 3039, clarks summit
- convenient food mart 3001, scranton
- convenient food mart 3004 3004, olyphant
- convenient food mart 3006, scranton
- convenient food mart 3007, old forge
- convenient food mart 3008, scranton
- convenient food mart 3009, jermyn
- convenient food mart 3015, dickson cty
- convenient food mart 3016, carbondale
- convenient food mart 3021, scranton
- convenient food mart 3023, scranton
- convenient food mart 3024, scranton
- convenient food mart 3025, scranton
- convenient food mart 3029, south abington township
- convenient food mart 3030, scranton
- convenient food mart 3033, old forge
- convenient food mart 3034, carbondale
- convenient food mart3032 3032, scranton
- convenient food marts of pa 3002, scranton
- cousin's beer stop - convenient mart, eynon
- deep shree inc n/a, scranton
- dickson mini mart, dicksoncity
- downtown scranton convenient llc, scranton
- drive-n-buy, carbondale
- elmmhurst quick stop, elmhurst township
- express mart & cafe, scranton
- fast lane mart, dunmore
- fast lane mart taylor, taylor
- food express throop 1, throop
- food mart inc, scranton
- frank's news tobacco & corner store llc, scranton
- gunsmoke and convenient n/a, scranton
- jessup foodmart llc, jessup
- joe's kwik mart, scranton
- joe's kwik mart 166, scranton
- joe's kwik marts 115, dunmore
- joe's kwik marts 177, scranton
- junior's convenience store, throop
- la dona mexican grocery store llc, scranton
- la mexicanita grocery store and multi services 01, scranton
- lake mart, greenfield township
- lans express south, scranton
- madzin's market, scranton
- main st mini mart, scranton
- moscow gas and deli, moscow
- pantry quik, scranton
- paradise valley plaza, greenfield township
- phenix2 corp, scranton
- poomie hoagies no, scranton
- pop pops mini mart, peckville
- powerfuel and c store moosic, moosic
- providence road exxon, scranton
- qwik mart, jessup
- qwik mart 1, peckville
- rushbrook quick stop, jermyn
- sayona food mart, old forge
- sheetz 343, dunmore
- sheetz 359, scranton
- sheetz 363, south abington township
- sheetz 662, scranton
- sheetz 695, taylor
- sheetz 748, carbondale
- simpson food mart, simpson
- summit market, south abington township
- sunoco gas & mini mart, scranton
- super fuel convenient mart, scott township
- super stop and go, olyphant
- turkey hill minit market 950237, dunmore
- turkey hill minit market 950276, blakely
- turkey hill minit market 950287, scranton
- turkey hill minit markets 950142, scranton
- turkey hill minit markets 950160, taylor
- turkey hill minit markets 950178, scranton
- turkey hill minit markets 950181, old forge
- turkey hill minit markets 950183, carbondale
- turkey hill minit markets 950189, scranton
- turkey hill minit markets 950273, moosic
- v & v express mart, scranton
- wyoming food mart, scranton
Combination Grocery/Other · 45
- cvs 1615, dickson city
- cvs pharmacy 1597, clarks summit
- cvs pharmacy 1611, scranton
- cvs pharmacy 1188, old forge
- cvs pharmacy 1593, scranton
- cvs pharmacy 1600, carbondale
- cvs pharmacy 1612, dunmore
- cvs pharmacy 6790, scranton
- dollar general 1059, scranton
- dollar general 7953, simpson
- dollar tree 1380, scranton
- dollar general 12162, moscow
- dollar general 16162, clifton township
- dollar general 16293, jermyn
- dollar general 22687, scranton
- dollar general 23332, scott township
- dollar general 24274, archbald
- dollar general 30151, convington township
- dollar general 9234, carbondale
- dollar general 9235, scranton
- dollar general 9325, old forge
- dollar general 9380, peckville
- dollar tree 1670, dickson city
- dollar tree 1955, scranton
- dollar tree 3028, carbondale
- dollar tree 3687, scranton
- dollar tree 3750, old forge
- dollar tree 4702, moosic
- dollar tree 5710, dickson city
- dollar tree 7344, scranton
- family dollar 10105, scranton
- family dollar 12500, scranton
- family dollar 12890, scranton
- family dollar 13908, moscow
- family dollar 3780, olyphant
- family dollar 4190, scranton
- family dollar 4457, scranton
- family dollar store 9221, old forge
- florita's bakery, scranton
- hamro grocery store scranton, scranton
- lao asian market na, scranton
- ocean state job lot 602, scranton
- shiv convenient mart, llc, scranton
- spice asian market, scranton
- walgreens 07739, scranton
Super Store · 16
- bill's shoprite supermarket, covington twp
- jvj food llc, scranton
- pricerite of scranton 405, scranton
- quinn's, peckville
- schiffs restaurant serv inc, scranton
- sam's club 6581, scranton
- schiel's family market dunmore 55999, scranton
- shoprite of birney avenue, moosic
- target stores 1474, dickson city
- the fresh grocer keyser ave shopping center, scranton
- the fresh grocer meadow avenue, scranton
- the fresh grocer moosic, moosic
- the fresh grocer summit square shopping center, clarks summit
- the fresh grocery south main and eynon, scranton
- walmart 4276, taylor
- walmart supercenter 1884, dickson city
Small Grocery Store · 10
- city market cafe 3036, scranton
- international deli & grocery, inc, scranton
- la campesina grocery store, scranton
- la chingada deli & grocery store llc, scranton
- latinos grocery store llc, scranton
- oaxaca's grocery store, scranton
- p & r discount foods, dunmore
- pine brook market, scranton
- salumu family market, scranton
- super big chief market, mayfield
Supermarket · 10
- aldi 75019 75019, scranton
- giant food store 6305, scranton
- giant food store 6316, dickson city
- price chopper 135, dunmore
- quinns supermkt, archbald
- redners warehouse market 75, scranton
- wegmans 76, scranton
- weis markets 165, scott township
- weis markets 171, carbondale
- weis markets 190, clarks summit
Medium Grocery Store · 9
- apna desi bazar, scranton
- namaste grocery store, scranton
- rossi's market, old forge
- super natural & fresh produce ii, inc., scranton
- tropical market, scranton
- vitalis mkt, scranton
- value village market, eynon
- yeshiva co-op, scranton
- yeti family grocery, scranton
Farmers' Market · 2
- carbondale farmers market, carbondale
- south side farmers' market, scranton
Large Grocery Store · 2
- everything natural, clarks summit
- valley supermarket, scranton
Bakery Specialty · 1
- barbours bakery, carbondale
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- trovato's meat market, clarks summit
Seafood Specialty · 1
- southside seafood, scranton
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Pennsylvania
One of 66 counties in Pennsylvania, 6 are shown here.
Compare Lackawanna County vs Adams County → · All Pennsylvania counties →
Nationwide peers for Lackawanna County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Lackawanna County (17.8%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Pennsylvania.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside PA (15.3% here).
- Meade County, SD · 15.3% low-access
- Meade County, SD · 15.3% low-access
- Grant County, WV · 15.3% low-access
- Grant County, WV · 15.3% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside PA (17.8% here).
- Providence County, RI · 17.8% SNAP
- Providence County, RI · 17.8% SNAP
- Hawaii County, HI · 17.8% SNAP
- Hawaii County, HI · 17.8% 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, Pennsylvania in context
Lackawanna County sits inside Pennsylvania (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 Lackawanna County, PA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 42069. 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.