County food-access profile · Alabama
Madison County, AL
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Madison 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).
- 34.8%
- low-access pop.
- 17
- food-desert tracts
- 7.6%
- on SNAP
- 406K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
34.8% of Madison County residents live in a low-access area, and 17 of its 73 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 39
- low-access tracts
- 31K
- food-desert residents
- 4.0%
- households, no vehicle
- 10.1%
- 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 Madison County's low-access share at 34.8%, above the national share. 39 of the county's 73 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 116,446 people. 17 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 31,281 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 Madison County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Madison County's 34.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 81% of them and ranked #602 most-affected nationwide.
Madison County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 73 census tracts in Madison County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Madison County vs. other Alabama counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Alabama
- Madison
Madison County, AL
34.8 % low-access
- Autauga
Autauga County, AL
33.9 % low-access
- Baldwin
Baldwin County, AL
25.1 % low-access
- Barbour
Barbour County, AL
20.5 % low-access
- Bibb 1.6
Bibb County, AL
1.6 % low-access
- Blount 6.8
Blount County, AL
6.8 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 73 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 334,811 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 39 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 17 |
| Low-Access Population | 116,446 |
| Low-Access Share | 34.8%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 31,281 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 405,718 |
| Median Household Income | $86,499 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.1%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 12,536 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 7.6%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.0%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.9% |
About 7.6% of Madison County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 34.8% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 7.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 12,536 households here.
- 4.0% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 17 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 Madison County
above the national share
17 of Madison County's 73 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 23.3% of all its tracts.
A further 22 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 39.
An estimated 116,446 residents, roughly 34.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 31,281 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 34 tracts (46.6%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Madison County
Madison County has 304 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 121 locations (40% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 121
- bailey cove chevron, huntsville
- bk minimart, huntsville
- bull dog chevron inc, huntsville
- butbhavani inc, huntsville
- circle k 2707288, meridianville
- campus corner, huntsville
- chelel llc, huntsville
- chevron, huntsville
- chevron express 11, madison
- circle k 2709065, owens crossroads
- circle k 2723677, huntsville
- circle k 2723684, huntsville
- circle k 2723734, huntsville
- circle k store 2706482, madison
- circle k store 2707005, meridianville
- circle k store 2707037, huntsville
- circle k store 2707201, madison
- circle k store 2709300, huntsville
- circle k store 2709303, owens cross roads
- circle k store 2709306, madison
- circle k store 2709310, huntsville
- circle k store 2709311, huntsville
- circle k store 2709312, huntsville
- circle k store 2709315, harvest
- circle k store 2709316, madison
- circle k store 2709317, meridianville
- circle k store 2709319, gurley
- circle k store 2709323, huntsville
- circle k store 2709325, harvest
- circle k store 2709328, huntsville
- circle k store 2709331, huntsville
- circle k store 2709336, huntsville
- circle s food stores inc, huntsville
- county line chervon, madison
- d & d grocery, harvest
- day and night, hazel green
- dharm bhakti inc dba toney food mart, toney
- discount daddies, huntsville
- discount express food store, huntsville
- discount foods, huntsville
- ditto landing food mart, huntsville
- dodge store 7001, huntsville
- drake food mart inc, huntsville
- ez stop, madison
- european market anastasia, huntsville
- ezmart, huntsville
- fawaz university sunoco inc, huntsville
- flagstone food mart, madison
- flowers bakery outlet 129, huntsville
- food mart 1, madison
- fuel city food mart, huntsville
- fuel express, huntsville
- gogabapa llc, huntsville
- h-h mini mart 1, huntsville
- hi and bye grocery, huntsville
- harvest shop rite, harvest
- hazad inc, huntsville
- hazel green everyday market inc, hazel green
- hazel green quick stop inc, hazel green
- ibb inc, huntsville
- j & n express inc, new hope
- jet pep 27, meridianville
- jet pep one stop, huntsville
- jjs corner market n/a, hazel green
- jobob texaco inc, huntsville
- johnson food mart, huntsville
- jordane lane texaco, huntsville
- kc chevron inc, huntsville
- kijiji llc, huntsville
- ksir inc, huntsville
- lakeside chevron food mart, huntsville
- liberty 2000, meridianville
- liberty citgo, toney
- lucky 7 3, huntsville
- m mini mart inc, huntsville
- mapco express, inc. 3649, madison
- mapco express, inc. 5206, huntsville
- moores mill community grocery, huntsville
- madison quickmart, madison
- marathon gas station 1, huntsville
- memorial parkway market, huntsville
- mike's mini mart, huntsville
- mini mart, huntsville
- mobil foodmart no, huntsville
- murphy usa 7262, owens cross roads
- murphy usa 7761, huntsville
- murphy usa 7763, madison
- murphy usa 7813, huntsville
- nature's apothecary, huntsville
- new hope chevron, new hope
- new hope grocery, new hope
- northside store, huntsville
- oakwood exxon, huntsville
- papa jacks 11, huntsville
- papajacks, huntsville
- quick mart, huntsville
- quick stop, huntsville
- quik mart 4, huntsville
- racetrac 2618, huntsville
- racetrac 2625, huntsville
- racetrac2621 2621, huntsville
- raceway 6892 6892, brownsboro
- raceway 6894, meridianville
- redstone food mart, huntsville
- ryland pike farmers market, huntsville
- sai gayatri 1 inc, madison
- saikripa inc., hazel green
- sam's mini mart, huntsville
- shell food mart, huntsville
- short stop, huntsville
- space & rocket mini mart, huntsville
- sparkman cornerstore, huntsville
- sparkman market, huntsville
- speedway 1019, huntsville
- sunrise, huntsville
- texaco foodmart, madison
- the corner store, huntsville
- the little green store, hazel green
- triangle grocery, new market
- university jet & pep 71, huntsville
- wall triana quickmart, madison
Combination Grocery/Other · 91
- cvs pharmacy 1774, huntsville
- cvs pharmacy 5413, huntsville
- cvs pharmacy 10037, huntsville
- cvs pharmacy 10516, harvest
- cvs pharmacy 2748, huntsville
- cvs pharmacy 4884, madison
- cvs pharmacy 4899, huntsville
- cvs pharmacy 4908, huntsville
- cvs pharmacy 5316, meridianville
- cvs pharmacy 7155, madison
- dollar general 10806, toney
- dollar general 10857, huntsville
- dollar general 11067, huntsville
- dollar general 13942, toney
- dollar general 13987, huntsville
- dollar general 14006, harvest
- dollar general 14131, huntsville
- dollar general 19364, huntsville
- dollar general 19594, madison
- dollar general 19816, new market
- dollar general 2516, huntsville
- dollar general 4095, meridianville
- dollar general 6093, huntsville
- dollar general 6474, new market
- dollar general 6903, madison
- dollar general 7127, huntsville
- dollar general 8302, huntsville
- dollar general 8520, huntsville
- dollar general 8653, hazel green
- dollar general 8898, madison
- dollar general 9196, huntsville
- dollar general 9461, harvest
- dollartree 8443, huntsville
- dollartree 8686, huntsville
- dollartree 9137, huntsville
- dollartree 9741, harvest
- dollartree 9907, huntsville
- dollar general 10566, huntsville
- dollar general 10745, huntsville
- dollar general 13651, huntsville
- dollar general 15357, huntsville
- dollar general 15627, gurley
- dollar general 1680, new hope
- dollar general 1681, gurley
- dollar general 18531, huntsville
- dollar general 20014, harvest
- dollar general 20285, toney
- dollar general 21906, madison
- dollar general 22776, harvest
- dollar general 23148, huntsville
- dollar general 23874, madison
- dollar general 23946, huntsville
- dollar general 24282, huntsville
- dollar general 30474, new market
- dollar general 6797, owens cross roads
- dollar general 9883, huntsville
- dollar general store 17138, huntsville
- dollar tree 0110, huntsville
- dollar tree 1755, madison
- dollar tree 2500, huntsville
- dollar tree 3051, huntsville
- dollar tree 431, huntsville
- dollar tree 4733, madison
- dollar tree 6517, huntsville
- dollar tree 7418, huntsville
- dollar tree 8274, owens cross roads
- dollartree 6377, hazel green
- family dollar 11045, huntsville
- family dollar 6724, huntsville
- family dollar store 404, huntsville
- family dollar store 6736, huntsville
- grace african and tropical groceries, huntsville
- india spices, madision
- nature's apothecary, madison
- rocket city meats & processing, llc, huntsville
- roses 523, huntsville
- twice daily 3100, madison
- twice daily/white bison, huntsville
- twice daily/white bison 3104, madison
- walgreen 15545, owens cross roads
- walgreen 19190, huntsville
- walgreens 06431, huntsville
- walgreens 06956, huntsville
- walgreens 10850, huntsville
- walgreens 13793, madison
- walgreens 15501, huntsville
- walgreens 19809, madison
- walgreens 2363, madison
- walgreens 6430, huntsville
- walgreens 6979, huntsville
- walgreens 7054, madison
Medium Grocery Store · 12
- algadi express inc, huntsville
- far east market, huntsville
- india mart, huntsville
- indian bazaar, huntsville
- jamos grocery, huntsville
- la frontera 1, huntsville
- la frontera 2, huntsville
- la luminaria, huntsville
- supermercado el rey, huntsville
- supermercado la colonial n/a, huntsville
- thanh hung asian market 1, madison
- yardee caribbean & african grocery, huntsville
Super Store · 9
- bj's wholesale club, inc. 236, madison
- costco wholesale 0356, huntsville
- costco wholesale 1712, madison
- dollar general market 12010, madison
- dollar general market 9813, huntsville
- foodland 464, hazel green
- kroger 508, huntsville
- kroger 517, huntsville
- kroger 849, huntsville
Small Grocery Store · 6
- chois oriental foods, huntsville
- elkwood grocery, ardmore
- k-square african and tropical grocery store unit a, huntsville
- tienda guatemala el quetzal, huntsville
- tienda guatemalteco elohim, huntsville
- tienda mexicana la esmeralda, huntsville
Large Grocery Store · 4
- guanajuato mexican groccery, huntsville
- holiday foods, huntsville
- piggly wiggly 84, gurley
- star market #2, meridianville
Bakery Specialty · 2
- papa murphy's pizza al013, huntsville
- papa murphy's pizza al030, madison
Farmers' Market · 1
- greene street market at nativity, huntsville
Food Buying Co-op · 1
- oakwood farms market, huntsville
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- rocke city meats, huntsville
Military Commissary · 1
- redstone arsenal commissary 242, huntsville
Seafood Specialty · 1
- andy's seafood market, huntsville
Showing 250 of 304 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Alabama
Compare Madison County vs Autauga County → · All Alabama counties →
Food access nationally, Alabama in context
Madison County sits inside Alabama (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 Madison County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Madison County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Madison County? ▼
Is Madison County a food desert? ▼
What share of Madison 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.