County food-access profile · Ohio
Mahoning County, OH
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Mahoning 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).
- 35.5%
- low-access pop.
- 24
- food-desert tracts
- 19.0%
- on SNAP
- 226K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
35.5% of Mahoning County residents live in a low-access area, and 24 of its 70 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 38
- low-access tracts
- 37K
- food-desert residents
- 8.4%
- households, no vehicle
- 18.9%
- 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 Mahoning County's low-access share at 35.5%, above the national share. 38 of the county's 70 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 84,879 people. 24 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 36,726 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 Mahoning County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Mahoning County's 35.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 82% of them and ranked #572 most-affected nationwide.
Mahoning County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 70 census tracts in Mahoning County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Mahoning County vs. other Ohio counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Ohio
- Mahoning
Mahoning County, OH
35.5 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, OH
22 % low-access
- Allen
Allen County, OH
17.4 % low-access
- Ashland 5
Ashland County, OH
5 % low-access
- Ashtabula
Ashtabula County, OH
21.9 % low-access
- Athens
Athens County, OH
17 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 70 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 238,823 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 38 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 24 |
| Low-Access Population | 84,879 |
| Low-Access Share | 35.5%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 36,726 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 226,491 |
| Median Household Income | $56,942 |
| Poverty Rate | 18.9%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 18,645 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 19.0%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.4%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.7% |
About 19.0% of Mahoning County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 35.5% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 19.0% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 18,645 households here.
- 8.4% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 24 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 Mahoning County
above the national share
24 of Mahoning County's 70 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 34.3% of all its tracts.
A further 14 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 38.
An estimated 84,879 residents, roughly 35.5% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 36,726 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 32 tracts (45.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Mahoning County
Mahoning County has 218 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 93 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 93
- 1010 quick stop, youngstown
- 12th st food mart, campbell
- 1822mahoning gas inc no, youngstown
- 7-eleven 40299h, new springfield
- 7-eleven 40300h, new springfield
- 910 high street inc, youngstown
- adams mahoning mart inc., youngstown
- albas party shop, youngstown
- aman and raman llc, youngstown
- aveon express, youngstown
- bailey road i76 travel center, north jackson
- big a, youngstown
- big apple supermarket, youngstown
- blaze oil, campbell
- boardman shell, youngstown
- conroys party shop, youngstown
- certified oil 400462, youngstown
- check n go 1, youngstown
- circle k 4705328, sebring
- circle k 4705330, youngstown
- coitsville sunoco, campbell
- conroys party shop, youngstown
- country fair 67, austintown
- country fair 94, boardman
- downtown circle, youngstown
- fast fuel, youngstown
- fast trac, youngstown
- fast trac 1, youngstown
- fast trac 102, youngstown
- gorby's, petersburg
- gateway gas & food mart, youngstown
- gateway gas mart, youngstown
- getgo 3075, boardman
- getgo 3132, youngstown
- getgo 3328, youngstown
- getgo 3358, canfield
- golden food mart, youngstown
- health food center, boardman
- j q ' s quick shoppe, youngstown
- kwik fill 269, north jackson
- laker's food market, diamond
- lockwood 124, youngstown
- logan gas & food mart, youngstown
- love's travel stop 504, north lima
- mahoning gas mart, youngstown
- mahoning valley market, beloit
- mahoning wine shop, youngstown
- marathon youngstown 1, north lima
- masandeh inc, youngstown
- mcguffey speedcheck n/a, youngstown
- meijer express 334, austintown
- mill creek food mart, youngstown
- new road gas, youngstown
- newport 101, youngstown
- north jackson bp, north jackson
- one stop depot, struthers
- pilot travel center 11, north lima
- pilot travel center 3, austintown
- point 102, youngstown
- quick check, youngstown
- quik mart, youngstown
- rashid's market, youngstown
- robert's country store 1, salem
- sami quick stop, youngstown
- sami quick stop, youngstown
- sami quick stop, struthers
- sav a step food mart, youngstown
- save a step, youngstown
- schenely carry out, youngstown
- sebring quick mart, sebring
- sheetz 281, youngstown
- sheetz 310, north lima
- sheetz 328, canfield
- sheetz 639, youngstown
- sheetz 691, youngstown
- sheetz 791, north jackson
- shell wickliffe, youngstown
- shop n go, youngstown
- south avenue gas & food mart, youngstown
- south/224 135, youngstown
- speedway 1613, youngstown
- speedway 3542, youngstown
- speedway 3696, youngstown
- speedway 7391, north lima
- stop n shop, poland
- sun merchant, youngstown
- ta youngstown 058, youngstown
- tic toc food mart #3, lowellville
- tic toc food mart 209, new middletown
- tom gas and grocery, youngstown
- university food 1, youngstown
- uptown beverage, youngstown
- west glen 205, youngstown
Combination Grocery/Other · 70
- cvs 2543, canfield
- cvs 3302, boardman
- cvs 4342, struthers
- cvs pharmacy 3996, youngstown
- dollar general 14427, canfield
- dollar general 1554, youngstown
- dollar general 1890, youngstown
- dollar general 3363, youngstown
- dollar general 418, youngstown
- dollar general 4841, youngstown
- dollar general 6741, youngstown
- dollar general 7021, beloit
- dollar general 7281, youngstown
- dollar general 7545, north lima
- dollar general 9584, lake milton
- dollar tree 3422, austintown
- dollartree 9905, youngstown
- discount drug mart 100, columbiana
- dollar general 10230, youngstown
- dollar general 11627, youngstown
- dollar general 14024, poland
- dollar general 14601, youngstown
- dollar general 14717, youngstown
- dollar general 17785, north jackson
- dollar general 17813, ellsworth
- dollar general 18113, youngstown
- dollar general 1877, new middletown
- dollar general 20280, youngstown
- dollar general 20886, diamond
- dollar general 21086, alliance
- dollar general 21539, youngstown
- dollar general 22415, youngstown
- dollar general 24401, youngstown
- dollar general 25242, struthers
- dollar general 30417, youngstown
- dollar general store 12757, youngstown
- dollar general store 12758, youngstown
- dollar general store 17608, new springfield
- dollar general store 17722, youngstown
- dollar tree 2130, canfield
- dollar tree 266, youngstown
- dollar tree 3364, youngstown
- dollar tree 5174, austintown
- dollar tree 5889, youngstown
- dollar tree 6079, campbell
- dollar tree 6327, north lima
- dollar tree 7896, struthers
- dollar tree 863, boardman
- dollartree 8917, youngstown
- family dollar 12449, struthers
- family dollar 8344, youngstown
- family dollar 8759, youngstown
- family dollar store 1066, youngstown
- family dollar store 10901, lake milton
- family dollar store 1231, youngstown
- family dollar store 1346, struthers
- family dollar store 1768, youngstown
- family dollar store 1934, youngstown
- family dollar store 4968, youngstown
- family dollar store 5649, youngstown
- family dollar store 6605, campbell
- family dollar store 7215, youngstown
- family dollar store 9180, beloit
- indo pak groceries, youngstown
- singh & 3 brothers inc, youngstown
- walgreens 04397, boardman
- walgreens 6589, austintown
- walgreens 6675, youngstown
- walgreens 07861, poland
- walgreens 09903, youngstown
Super Store · 20
- boardman save-a-lot 24717, youngstown
- cornersburg sparkle market, youngstown
- giant eagle 4018, boardman
- giant eagle 4075, youngstown
- giant eagle 4078, youngstown
- giant eagle 6385, canfield
- giant eagle poland 4119, youngstown
- gypsy save-a-lot 24821, youngstown
- meijer 320, boardman
- meijer 334, youngstown
- nemenz iga supercenter 1, struthers
- rulli bros west, youngstown
- rulli brothers, youngstown
- sam's club 6322, youngstown
- south avenue save-a-lot 23674, youngstown
- target store 1463, boardman
- white house fruit farm inc, canfield
- walmart 2063, austintown
- walmart 2211, poland
- wedgewood save-a-lot 23263, youngstown
Supermarket · 12
- aldi 63036 63036, austintown
- aldi 63037 63037, boardman
- aldi 63094, canfield
- aldi 63095, youngstown
- gordon food service store mp114, boardman
- grocery outlet of austintown 795, youngstown
- grocery outlet of boardman 752, youngstown
- lincoln knolls nfs, inc. 23274, youngstown
- marc's 58, youngstown
- marc's 59, austintown
- save a lot, struthers 21644, struthers
- western reserve sparkle, poland
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 6
- kill creek meats, youngstown
- lightners fresh and smoked meats, struthers
- meating place inc (the), austintown
- perfette sausage llc, youngstown
- rob's horst packing, columbiana
- youngstown cattle company, poland
Medium Grocery Store · 5
- anglin's fresh meats & produce, youngstown
- berry's natural food market, youngstown
- guru teg bahadur wireless llc, youngstown
- oasis market, boardman
- roscoes poultry incorporated, youngstown
Farmers' Market · 3
- austintown farmers' market, austintown
- the b&o night market, youngstown
- the bison ranch, north jackson
Small Grocery Store · 3
- 12th st party shop llc, campbell
- red and white, youngstown
- shell youngstown mini mart, youngstown
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 2
- stahl's farm market (n benton), north benton
- yoder's fruit & produce, youngstown
Large Grocery Store · 2
- acme steak & seafood, youngstown
- truckload liquidations of north america, beloit
Bakery Specialty · 1
- schwebel bakery outlet 01, youngstown
Delivery Route · 1
- access healthy foods mahoning valley, mineral ridge
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Ohio
Compare Mahoning County vs Adams County → · All Ohio counties →
Food access nationally, Ohio in context
Mahoning County sits inside Ohio (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 Mahoning County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Mahoning County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Mahoning County? ▼
Is Mahoning County a food desert? ▼
What share of Mahoning 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.