Signature · 8.6% SNAP (14th pct in AZ)
Maricopa County, AZ
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Maricopa 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).
- 20.8%
- low-access pop.
- 97
- food-desert tracts
- 8.6%
- on SNAP
- 4.6M
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Maricopa County, AZ
LA-ELEVATED · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 20.8% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -1.3 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 97 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 8.6% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.1% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 11% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Yuma County (+ 3.9 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Maricopa County ranks #1,618 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #15 of 15 counties in AZ (20.8% low-access; 97 food-desert tracts).
- #1,618
- national by low-access %
- #15
- in AZ
- 346
- low-access tracts
- 210K
- 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: 8.6% SNAP (14th pct in AZ) (-3.5 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Maricopa County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Maricopa County's 20.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 48% of them and ranked #1,622 most-affected nationwide.
Maricopa County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
913 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 97 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Maricopa County has 874 urban and 39 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.
Maricopa County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Arizona, not a full county-board reprint
- Apache
Apache 54.7%
54.7 % low-access
- Coconino
Coconino 32.5%
32.5 % low-access
- Pima
Pima 28.6%
28.6 % low-access
- Gila
Gila 28.2%
28.2 % low-access
- Yuma
Yuma 24.7%
24.7 % low-access
- Maricopa 20.8
Maricopa 20.8%
20.8 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 913 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 3,817,117 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 346 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 97 |
| Low-Access Population | 794,948 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.8%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 210,290 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,559,748 |
| Median Household Income | $89,300 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.0%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 148,499 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.6%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.1%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.6% |
Thick SNAP store book in Maricopa County
Maricopa County has 2,093 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 226 locations (11% of the total), followed by bakery specialty.
Combination Grocery/Other · 226
- african international fresh food llc, phoenix
- ako international markets, tempe
- america market place llc, scottsdale
- american discount foods, mesa
- arizona restaurant wholesale, mesa
- bati bites, phoenix
- benchris african & carribean market, glendale
- bengal mart, glendale
- butcher & farmer market, buckeye
- carniceria el camino, phoenix
- cvs 10529, scottsdale
- cvs 10616, mesa
- cvs pharmacy #10229 10229, avondale
- cvs pharmacy 10007, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 10150, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 10615, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 10920, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 10928, tempe
- cvs pharmacy 11478, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 17, glendale
- cvs pharmacy 1716, buckeye
- cvs pharmacy 1719, queen creek
- cvs pharmacy 1720, queen creek
- cvs pharmacy 1743, surprise
- cvs pharmacy 1744, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 193, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 2372, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 2963, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 3143, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 3264, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 3268, gilbert
- cvs pharmacy 3272, gilbert
- cvs pharmacy 33, tempe
- cvs pharmacy 3383, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 3436, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 3491, sun lakes
- cvs pharmacy 3500, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 3625, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 3745, peoria
- cvs pharmacy 3749, goodyear
- cvs pharmacy 3967, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 4795, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 5026, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 5029, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 5038, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 52, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 5303, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 5315, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 5530, surprise
- cvs pharmacy 5778, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 5779, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 5791, litchfield park
- cvs pharmacy 5812, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 5814, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 5849, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 5891, gilbert
- cvs pharmacy 5892, laveen
- cvs pharmacy 5950, tempe
- cvs pharmacy 6718, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 69, peoria
- cvs pharmacy 7, sun city
- cvs pharmacy 7075, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 7115, peoria
- cvs pharmacy 7116, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 7262, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 7263, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 7839, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 7845, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 7849, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 7852, cave creek
- cvs pharmacy 7860, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 7862, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 8365, gilbert
- cvs pharmacy 8366, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 8914, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 8952, peoria
- cvs pharmacy 8983, glendale
- cvs pharmacy 9202, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9205, tempe
- cvs pharmacy 9210, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 9213, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 9217, sun city
- cvs pharmacy 9218, mesa
- cvs pharmacy 9222, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9225, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9230, sun city west
- cvs pharmacy 9237, peoria
- cvs pharmacy 9245, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9252, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 9256, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9264, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 9270, wickenburg
- cvs pharmacy 9279, fountain hills
- cvs pharmacy 9283, chandler
- cvs pharmacy 9290, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9294, peoria
- cvs pharmacy 9297, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9306, surprise
- cvs pharmacy 9314, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9328, scottsdale
- cvs pharmacy 9339, phoenix
- cvs pharmacy 9340, anthem
- cvs pharmacy 9347, phoenix
- carniceria mexico llc, phoenix
- carniceria mr. muuu, phoenix
- dollar general 13511, phoenix
- dollar general 14141, phoenix
- dollar general 14142, phoenix
- dollar general 14375, phoenix
- dollar general 14509, mesa
- dollar general 18390, wittmann
- dollar general 6624, glendale
- dollar general 6743, buckeye
- dollartree 10001, mesa
- dollartree 10063, glendale
- dollartree 10173, tempe
- dollartree 10268, avondale
- dollartree 10328, phoenix
- dollartree 10381, laveen
- dollartree 10391, phoenix
- dollartree 10397, gilbert
- dollartree 10407, glendale
- dollartree 10415, phoenix
- dollartree 10433, glendale
- dollartree 10436, scottsdale
- dollartree 10487, phoenix
- dollartree 10500, glendale
- dollartree 10501, surprise
- dollartree 10515, tempe
- dollartree 10517, peoria
- dollartree 10709, anthem
- dollartree 11009, mesa
- dollartree 11064, scottsdale
- dollartree 4366, queen creek
- dollartree 6917, mesa
- dollartree 8206, tempe
- dollartree 8423, el mirage
- dollartree 8687, mesa
- dollartree 9537, phoenix
- dollartree 9839, phoenix
- dollartree 9861, phoenix
- dollartree 9891, scottsdale
- dollartree plus 8983, mesa
- dollartree plus 9131, chandler
- dollar general 10200, chandler
- dollar general 10257, sun city
- dollar general 10837, phoenix
- dollar general 10996, phoenix
- dollar general 11185, gila bend
- dollar general 12457, mesa
- dollar general 13380, mesa
- dollar general 19349, surprise
- dollar general 19421, phoenix
- dollar general 19475, buckeye
- dollar general 19476, phoenix
- dollar general 19504, phoenix
- dollar general 19554, glendale
- dollar general 19997, buckeye
- dollar general 20071, phoenix
- dollar general 22512, surprise
- dollar general 25371, phoenix
- dollar general 6937, wickenburg
- dollar general 7345, avondale
- dollar general 9887, phoenix
- dollar general store 17324, mesa
- dollar general store 17377, tonopah
- dollar tree 2607, scottsdale
- dollar tree 2616, phoenix
- dollar tree 2617, mesa
- dollar tree 2619, phoenix
- dollar tree 2621, mesa
- dollar tree 2622, phoenix
- dollar tree 2623, phoenix
- dollar tree 2625, chandler
- dollar tree 2632, mesa
- dollar tree 2633, mesa
- dollar tree 2643, phoenix
- dollar tree 2650, tempe
- dollar tree 2651, scottsdale
- dollar tree 2655, peoria
- dollar tree 2680, avondale
- dollar tree 2687, tempe
- dollar tree 2845, fountain hills
- dollar tree 2950, mesa
- dollar tree 2970, phoenix
- dollar tree 2974, goodyear
- dollar tree 2975, glendale
- dollar tree 2992, phoenix
- dollar tree 3143, sun city
- dollar tree 3465, phoenix
- dollar tree 3467, peoria
- dollar tree 3538, laveen
- dollar tree 3591, tolleson
- dollar tree 3605, phoenix
- dollar tree 3639, scottsdale
- dollar tree 3656, gilbert
- dollar tree 3684, phoenix
- dollar tree 3703, gilbert
- dollar tree 3723, phoenix
- dollar tree 3805, glendale
- dollar tree 3931, mesa
- dollar tree 3952, phoenix
- dollar tree 4011, gilbert
- dollar tree 4258, chandler
- dollar tree 4343, phoenix
- dollar tree 4352, chandler
- dollar tree 4471, glendale
- dollar tree 4480, phoenix
- dollar tree 4606, buckeye
- dollar tree 4669, peoria
- dollar tree 4709, glendale
- dollar tree 5005, phoenix
- dollar tree 5048, goodyear
- dollar tree 5120, glendale
- dollar tree 5300, mesa
- dollar tree 5466, mesa
- dollar tree 5474, phoenix
- dollar tree 5564, anthem
- dollar tree 5567, mesa
- dollar tree 5581, surprise
- dollar tree 5696, mesa
- dollar tree 5783, chandler
- dollar tree 5815, sun city
- dollar tree 5942, phoenix
- dollar tree 5964, phoenix
- dollar tree 6250, chandler
Bakery Specialty · 24
- bimbo bakeries 9141, phoenix
- bimbo bakeries 9145, sun city
- kabul bakery & foods market, phoenix
- papa murphy's az002, surprise
- papa murphy's az008, avondale
- papa murphy's az011, phoenix
- papa murphy's az026, mesa
- papa murphy's az034, goodyear
- papa murphy's az035, fountain hills
- papa murphy's az042, mesa
- papa murphy's az047, peoria
- papa murphy's az049, mesa
- papa murphy's az058, queen creek
- papa murphy's az071, chandler
- papa murphy's az080, peoria
- papa murphy's az089, mesa
- papa murphy's az097, mesa
- papa murphy's az098, sun city
- papa murphy's pizza az003, gilbert
- papa murphy's pizza az004, chandler
- papa murphy's pizza az010, cave creek
- papa murphy's pizza az067, scottsdale
- papa murphys az052, peoria
- papa murphys az081, mesa
Showing 250 of 2,093 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Arizona
One of 14 counties in Arizona, 6 are shown here.
Compare Maricopa County vs Apache County → · All Arizona counties →
Nationwide peers for Maricopa County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Maricopa County (8.6%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Arizona.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside AZ (20.8% here).
- Madison County, FL · 20.8% low-access
- Madison County, FL · 20.8% low-access
- Mitchell County, GA · 20.8% low-access
- Mitchell County, GA · 20.8% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside AZ (8.6% here).
- Cleburne County, AR · 8.6% SNAP
- Cleburne County, AR · 8.6% SNAP
- Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT · 8.6% SNAP
- Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT · 8.6% 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, Arizona in context
Maricopa County sits inside Arizona (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 Maricopa County, AZ are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 04013. 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.