PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Virginia

Lynchburg city, VA

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Lynchburg city 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).

20.1%
low-access pop.
6
food-desert tracts
15.2%
on SNAP
79K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 VA

The food-access picture

20.1% of Lynchburg city residents live in a low-access area, and 6 of its 19 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

9
low-access tracts
6K
food-desert residents
11.6%
households, no vehicle
18.6%
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).

USDA data puts Lynchburg city's low-access share at 20.1%, above the national share. 9 of the county's 19 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 15,163 people. 6 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 6,067 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 Lynchburg city compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Lynchburg city's 20.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 46% of them and ranked #1,682 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Lynchburg city: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 19 census tracts in Lynchburg city, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Lynchburg city, VA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 10 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 3 limited, 6 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 19 tracts evaluated. 10 tracts adequate (52.6%) 3 tracts limited (15.8%) 6 tracts severe / food desert (31.6%) Adequate 53% Limited 16% Severe 32% Food-access tier distribution: Lynchburg city, VA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Lynchburg city vs. other Virginia counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Virginia

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Lynchburg city
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts19
Atlas Population (2010 basis)75,568
Low-Access Tracts9
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)6
Low-Access Population15,163
Low-Access Share20.1%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population6,067

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Lynchburg city
IndicatorValue
Population79,497
Median Household Income$57,947
Poverty Rate18.6%above the national average
SNAP Households4,361
SNAP Participation Rate15.2%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle11.6%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population13.6%
SNAP participation in Lynchburg city 15.2%

About 15.2% of Lynchburg city households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 20.1% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 15.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 4,361 households here.
  • 11.6% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 6 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 Lynchburg city

above the national share

6 of Lynchburg city's 19 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 31.6% of all its tracts.

A further 3 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 9.

An estimated 15,163 residents, roughly 20.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 6,067 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 10 tracts (52.6%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Lynchburg city

Lynchburg city has 70 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 35 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 35

  • 7-eleven 21117j, lynchburg
  • 7-eleven, inc. 11972j, lynchburg
  • 7-eleven 41882a, lynchburg
  • arhum enterprises inc., lynchburg
  • c&c mini mart 1, lynchburg
  • express lane #1, lynchburg
  • express lane 15 15, lynchburg
  • express lane 6 6, lynchburg
  • express lane 9, lynchburg
  • family mart, lynchburg
  • fast mart 5, lynchburg
  • five star mart, lynchburg
  • flowers bakery outlet 391, lynchburg
  • food zone, lynchburg
  • justis convenient store inc, lynchburg
  • lakeside deli & mart, lynchburg
  • liberty market, lynchburg
  • miles market citgo, lynchburg
  • minit mart, lynchburg
  • mr food, lynchburg
  • park market, lynchburg
  • quik-e foods 12, lynchburg
  • quik-e foods 2, lynchburg
  • quik-e foods 5, lynchburg
  • quik-e foods 7, lynchburg
  • s n j food mart, lynchburg
  • sheetz 265, lynchburg
  • sheetz 271, lynchburg
  • sheetz 403, lynchburg
  • sheetz 684, lynchburg
  • shri bhavani mart llc, lynchburg
  • speedway 4640, lynchburg
  • sunshine express market, lynchburg
  • sunshine market 2, lynchburg
  • white rock food market, lynchburg

Combination Grocery/Other · 15

  • cvs 3548, lynchburg
  • cvs pharmacy 3502, lynchburg
  • cvs pharmacy inc 3512, lynchburg
  • dollartree 9778, lynchburg
  • dollar general 20598, lynchburg
  • dollar general 2647, lynchburg
  • dollar general 31547, lynchburg
  • dollar general 4018, lynchburg
  • dollar general 4141, lynchburg
  • dollar tree 0146, lynchburg
  • dollar tree 133, lynchburg
  • family dollar 2945, lynchburg
  • walgreens 07115, lynchburg
  • walgreens 07619, lynchburg
  • walgreens 10691, lynchburg

Supermarket · 8

  • aldi 80036, lynchburg
  • aldi 80070 80070, lynchburg
  • food land, lynchburg
  • food lion 108, lynchburg
  • food lion 1346, lynchburg
  • food lion 219, lynchburg
  • food lion 992, lynchburg
  • the fresh market 170, lynchburg

Super Store · 7

  • kroger 408, lynchburg
  • kroger 326, lynchburg
  • kroger 327, lynchburg
  • sam's club 6458, lynchburg
  • target store 1275, lynchburg
  • walmart supercenter 1350, lynchburg
  • walmart supercenter 4697, lynchburg

Farmers' Market · 2

  • lynchburg community market, lynchburg
  • pierce street farmers market, lynchburg

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • health nut nutrition, lynchburg

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • l.h.m taste of india grocery, lynchburg

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • elizabeth super latina, lynchburg

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Virginia

Accomack County
2.2% low-access · 12.5% SNAP
Albemarle County
11.9% low-access · 4.6% SNAP
Alexandria city
0.0% low-access · 5.1% SNAP
Alleghany County
16.4% low-access · 8.1% SNAP
Amelia County
16.5% low-access · 13.4% SNAP
Amherst County
11.3% low-access · 10.5% SNAP

Compare Lynchburg city vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →

Food access nationally, Virginia in context

Lynchburg city sits inside Virginia (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Lynchburg city has low food access? ▼
20.1% of residents in Lynchburg city, VA live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Lynchburg city? ▼
15.2% of households in Lynchburg city receive SNAP, covering 4,361 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Lynchburg city? ▼
The poverty rate in Lynchburg city, VA is 18.6%, with a median household income of $57,947 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Lynchburg city a food desert? ▼
6 of Lynchburg city's 19 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Lynchburg city households lack a vehicle? ▼
11.6% of households in Lynchburg city have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.