County food-access profile · California
Los Angeles County, CA
Most of Los Angeles County sits within reach of a supermarket, better than most U.S. counties. This profile covers who, if anyone, qualifies as a food desert here, plus the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).
- 6.5%
- low-access pop.
- 61
- food-desert tracts
- 14.4%
- on SNAP
- 9.8M
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
6.5% of Los Angeles County residents live in a low-access area, and 61 of its 2,334 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 290
- low-access tracts
- 143K
- food-desert residents
- 8.9%
- households, no vehicle
- 13.7%
- 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).
By the USDA's measure, Los Angeles County fares better than most: just 6.5% of residents live in a low-access tract, below the national share. Still, 290 of the county's 2,334 tracts meet that threshold, covering about 641,340 people who live far from a supermarket, and 61 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 142,660 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 Los Angeles County compares nationally
Food access in Los Angeles County compares favorably nationally: its 6.5% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 13% of them (rank #2,731).
Los Angeles County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 2,334 census tracts in Los Angeles County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Los Angeles County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- Los Angeles 6.5
Los Angeles County, CA
6.5 % 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 | 2,334 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 9,818,605 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 290 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 61 |
| Low-Access Population | 641,340 |
| Low-Access Share | 6.5%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 142,660 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 9,808,667 |
| Median Household Income | $90,112 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.7%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 493,104 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 14.4%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.9%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.0% |
About 14.4% of Los Angeles County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 6.5% of residents are low-access, below the national share for U.S. counties.
- 14.4% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 493,104 households here.
- 8.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 61 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 Los Angeles County
below the national share
61 of Los Angeles County's 2,334 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 2.6% of all its tracts.
A further 229 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 290.
An estimated 641,340 residents, roughly 6.5% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 142,660 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 2,044 tracts (87.6%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County has 6,124 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 215 locations (4% of the total), followed by bakery specialty.
Combination Grocery/Other · 215
- a & a grocery wholesale, paramount
- a one afghan market, reseda
- a&m tropical food, gardena
- a&sj markets llc, rosemead
- acacia bakery, san pedro
- acton market country store, acton
- adombas african caribbeans produces, los angeles
- afrikan general store, inglewood
- aghapy mart, northridge
- amapola deli & market 2, paramount
- amapola deli & market 3, downey
- amazon go (bowser) ils1, whittier
- amazon go (bowser) ils3, torrance
- amb africa & caribbeans markets, paramount
- amigos fresh poultry, los angeles
- bai hui hang trading inc, los angeles
- bazar european market inc, los angeles
- best bargain, los angeles
- best quality produce, los angeles
- beverly hills india sweets and spices, los angeles
- bombay spiceland, northridge
- c & c restaurant & bakery, maywood
- cvs pharmacy 10008, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 10022, torrance
- cvs pharmacy 10146, playa vista
- cvs pharmacy 10292, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 10309, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 10433, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 10445, glendale
- cvs pharmacy 10509, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 10614, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 10663, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 10791, los angles
- cvs pharmacy 10795, redondo beach
- cvs pharmacy 10807, san fernando
- cvs pharmacy 10857, pasadena
- cvs pharmacy 10915, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 11028, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 11034, granada hills
- cvs pharmacy 11073, huntington park
- cvs pharmacy 11178, santa monica
- cvs pharmacy 11329, north hollywood
- cvs pharmacy 1573, north hollywood
- cvs pharmacy 1666, lancaster
- cvs pharmacy 1778, pasadena
- cvs pharmacy 2289, winnetka
- cvs pharmacy 2396, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 2958, encino
- cvs pharmacy 3055, palmdale
- cvs pharmacy 3553, walnut
- cvs pharmacy 3903, santa monica
- cvs pharmacy 3968, alhambra
- cvs pharmacy 4019, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 4524, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 4789, north hollywood
- cvs pharmacy 4792, van nuys
- cvs pharmacy 5012, carson
- cvs pharmacy 5022, reseda
- cvs pharmacy 5483, sherman oaks
- cvs pharmacy 5499, south el monte
- cvs pharmacy 5809, hawthorne
- cvs pharmacy 5828, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 5834, el monte
- cvs pharmacy 5945, azusa
- cvs pharmacy 6582, venice
- cvs pharmacy 6705, redondo beach
- cvs pharmacy 6755, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 6976, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 7191, lawndale
- cvs pharmacy 8829, venice
- cvs pharmacy 8831, hawthorne
- cvs pharmacy 8835, south gate
- cvs pharmacy 8837, inglewood
- cvs pharmacy 8838, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 8839, carson
- cvs pharmacy 8840, wilmington
- cvs pharmacy 8841, norwalk
- cvs pharmacy 8844, lakewood
- cvs pharmacy 8847, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 8852, torrance
- cvs pharmacy 8853, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 8858, bell
- cvs pharmacy 8860, hawthorne
- cvs pharmacy 8864, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 8865, norwalk
- cvs pharmacy 8867, downey
- cvs pharmacy 8868, torrance
- cvs pharmacy 8870, paramount
- cvs pharmacy 8871, marina del rey
- cvs pharmacy 8875, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 8876, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 8878, lakewood
- cvs pharmacy 8879, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 8886, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 8892, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 8895, pomona
- cvs pharmacy 8898, huntington park
- cvs pharmacy 9101, hermosa beach
- cvs pharmacy 9122, san pedro
- cvs pharmacy 9123, lynwood
- cvs pharmacy 9144, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9146, west covina
- cvs pharmacy 9160, san gabriel
- cvs pharmacy 9212, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9325, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9476, hermosa beach
- cvs pharmacy 9477, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9478, torrance
- cvs pharmacy 9488, artesia
- cvs pharmacy 9489, cerritos
- cvs pharmacy 9493, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9495, compton
- cvs pharmacy 9496, manhattan beach
- cvs pharmacy 9501, south gate
- cvs pharmacy 9503, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9504, downey
- cvs pharmacy 9505, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 9507, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9508, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 9512, whittier
- cvs pharmacy 9513, manhattan beach
- cvs pharmacy 9527, studio city
- cvs pharmacy 9531, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9533, porter ranch
- cvs pharmacy 9543, lomita
- cvs pharmacy 9544, redondo beach
- cvs pharmacy 9557, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 9563, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9564, gardena
- cvs pharmacy 9566, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 9568, torrance
- cvs pharmacy 9571, san pedro
- cvs pharmacy 9572, lakewood
- cvs pharmacy 9576, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9578, inglewood
- cvs pharmacy 9582, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9584, inglewood
- cvs pharmacy 9589, hawaiian gardens
- cvs pharmacy 9590, long beach
- cvs pharmacy 9594, compton
- cvs pharmacy 9596, huntington park
- cvs pharmacy 9601, burbank
- cvs pharmacy 9602, canoga park
- cvs pharmacy 9605, northridge
- cvs pharmacy 9607, rolling hills estates
- cvs pharmacy 9608, santa monica
- cvs pharmacy 9611, canyon country
- cvs pharmacy 9613, woodland hills
- cvs pharmacy 9614, glendale
- cvs pharmacy 9615, tarzana
- cvs pharmacy 9617, monterey park
- cvs pharmacy 9618, lancaster
- cvs pharmacy 9624, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9625, arleta
- cvs pharmacy 9626, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9627, woodland hills
- cvs pharmacy 9629, la puente
- cvs pharmacy 9634, palmdale
- cvs pharmacy 9636, valencia
- cvs pharmacy 9638, winnetka
- cvs pharmacy 9639, el monte
- cvs pharmacy 9641, covina
- cvs pharmacy 9642, northridge
- cvs pharmacy 9643, sun valley
- cvs pharmacy 9645, rosemead
- cvs pharmacy 9647, montrose
- cvs pharmacy 9651, sylmar
- cvs pharmacy 9652, west hollywood
- cvs pharmacy 9655, granada hills
- cvs pharmacy 9657, lancaster
- cvs pharmacy 9658, burbank
- cvs pharmacy 9658, valencia
- cvs pharmacy 9660, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9661, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9665, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9666, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9667, diamond bar
- cvs pharmacy 9668, pasadena
- cvs pharmacy 9669, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9670, tarzana
- cvs pharmacy 9672, baldwin park
- cvs pharmacy 9673, baldwin park
- cvs pharmacy 9674, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9675, studio city
- cvs pharmacy 9677, encino
- cvs pharmacy 9679, alhambra
- cvs pharmacy 9680, arcadia
- cvs pharmacy 9682, woodland hills
- cvs pharmacy 9686, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9688, pasadena
- cvs pharmacy 9689, monrovia
- cvs pharmacy 9692, burbank
- cvs pharmacy 9694, pasadena
- cvs pharmacy 9696, whittier
- cvs pharmacy 9697, malibu
- cvs pharmacy 9699, santa clarita
- cvs pharmacy 9706, northridge
- cvs pharmacy 9707, sherman oaks
- cvs pharmacy 9708, pomona
- cvs pharmacy 9709, la verne
- cvs pharmacy 9714, santa clarita
- cvs pharmacy 9717, north hollywood
- cvs pharmacy 9721, arcadia
- cvs pharmacy 9722, saugus
- cvs pharmacy 9726, santa monica
- cvs pharmacy 9730, hacienda heights
- cvs pharmacy 9732, los angeles
- cvs pharmacy 9733, glendora
- cvs pharmacy 9734, burbank
- cvs pharmacy 9735, west covina
- cvs pharmacy 9738, whittier
- cvs pharmacy 9740, la mirada
- cvs pharmacy 9748, west covina
- cvs pharmacy 9751, agoura hills
- cvs pharmacy 9757, montebello
Bakery Specialty · 35
- alvarez bakery, los angeles
- alejandra's bakery, los angeles
- angeles bakery #3, los angeles
- ararat bakery, tujunga
- bimbo bakeries 9861, montebello
- bread bros, reseda
- dos aguilas bakery, los angeles
- elizabeth bakery, south gate
- el molino real bakery, lawndale
- heavenly lavash, glendale
- k'arsi lavash, glendale
- kathy's bakery, compton
- kilikia grill, glendale
- la conchita bakery, lynwood
- la favorita bakery, paramount
- la flor bakery 1, los angeles
- la joya poblana, los angeles
- la superior panaderia tortilleria, los angeles
- las delicias bakery ii, los angeles
- leo's bakery, azusa
- lilys cakes, los angeles
- masis bakery 2, sun valley
- movses pastry inc, glendale
- pouri bakery, glendale
- panaderia la mexicana, inc., la puente
- panaderia salvadorena usulutan, los angeles
- papa johns 1534, glendora
- papillon french bakery 1, glendale
- ponce's bakery 4, pomona
- salgado's bakery, lynwood
- sonora bakery, los angeles
- sunrise bakery, south gate
- tc bakery, el monte
- teapot bakery and cafe, glendale
- tobara's bakery, montebello
Showing 250 of 6,124 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare Los Angeles County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Los Angeles County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Los Angeles County? ▼
Is Los Angeles County a food desert? ▼
What share of Los Angeles 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.