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 #1,618 most-affected nationwide.
Maricopa County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
913 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 97 LILA.
Maricopa County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (874 urban, 39 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 39 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
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 15 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 952 locations (45% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
43 towns share the 2,093 authorized stores; Phoenix holds 38% of them. 15 of the 43 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Gila Bend, Aguila, Guadalupe, Paradise Valley, Wittmann, Youngtown and 9 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | 803 | 202 |
| Mesa | 280 | 73 |
| Glendale | 154 | 44 |
| Chandler | 114 | 39 |
| Scottsdale | 110 | 40 |
| Tempe | 107 | 25 |
| Gilbert | 94 | 30 |
| Peoria | 83 | 27 |
| Surprise | 60 | 22 |
| Avondale | 38 | 13 |
Top 10 of 43 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 952 (250 shown)
- 1 store llc, gilabend
- 24 hour food mart inc, phoenix
- 24/7 convenience store, tempe
- 24/7 food mart, tempe
- 27 phoenix llc, phoenix
- 27phoenix llc 3, phoenix
- 3 brothers food mart, mesa
- 3 palms market llc, tempe
- 3a food store, phoenix
- 3d's discount store llc, goodyear
- 40th street chevron, phoenix
- 43rd ave mini mart, glendale
- 47 ave food store corp, phoenix
- 5th st market pizza and deli, tempe
- 63rd ave convenience store retail, glendale
- 7 eleven 20433, phoenix
- 7-11 32824b, phoenix
- 7-eleven #26908b, gilbert
- 7-eleven 13017 b, tempe
- 7-eleven 24169 d, phoenix
- 7-eleven 27876 a, gilbert
- 7-eleven 32319 a, phoenix
- 7-eleven 13026b, phoenix
- 7-eleven 16082f, phoenix
- 7-eleven 16623e, glendale
- 7-eleven 19158e, phoenix
- 7-eleven 19650e, phoenix
- 7-eleven 20168c, mesa
- 7-eleven 20212c, phoenix
- 7-eleven 26085e, phoenix
- 7-eleven 26086 d, phoenix
- 7-eleven 26096 e, tempe
- 7-eleven 26411b, scottsdale
- 7-eleven 26620 c, mesa
- 7-eleven 27518e, phoenix
- 7-eleven 32602d, gilbert
- 7-eleven 42301a, glendale
- 7-eleven 42313a, phoenix
- 7-eleven 47390a, goodyear
- 7-eleven store 22886e, phoenix
- 7-eleven, phoenix
- 7-eleven #20622f, phoenix
- 7-eleven #21040f #21040f, phoenix
- 7-eleven #23215a 23215a, phoenix
- 7-eleven #26201d, mesa
- 7-eleven #26638e 26638e, peoria
- 7-eleven #27215e, chandler
- 7-eleven 13011e, chandler
- 7-eleven 20416e, phoenix
- 7-eleven 21821c, mesa
- 7-eleven 25845g 25845g, scottsdale
- 7-eleven 26123d, phoenix
- 7-eleven 27036c 27036c, mesa
- 7-eleven 27401c, phoenix
- 7-eleven 32265 32265, tempe
- 7-eleven 42300a, surprise
- 7-eleven 42391a, phoenix
- 76 gas station, phoenix
- 76 gas station, phoenix
- 76 gas station, mesa
- 90 first market, phoenix
- a amigos food mart, chandler
- a to z mart, mesa
- a&m market, mesa
- a&v partners llc 82751, phoenix
- a-1 liquor, phoenix
- a1 food & liquor, glendale
- a1 food store, glendale
- aaa food store, glendale
- abc food store, mesa
- arco am/pm 85273, phoenix
- arco am/pm 85274, phoenix
- aujla corporation, phoenix
- austin's cash market, phoenix
- az dollar store, phoenix
- az mini market, phoenix
- aa's corner mart, phoenix
- aa's corner mart 2, phoenix
- abarrotes la union ( mini market), phoenix
- adrian's market llc, phoenix
- aguila 76 1, aguila
- alamo foods, phoenix
- alan's beer & wine, mesa
- amigo's market 1, glendale
- amigos market 1, mesa
- ampm nio market, phoenix
- angie's mini market 1, phoenix
- arco #42445 ampm 42445, phoenix
- arco 42530, phoenix
- arco am/pm, phoenix
- arco am/pm 2816, mesa
- arco am pm 42666, gilbert
- arco am pm 42707, phoenix
- arco am pm 5439, mesa
- arco am pm 82090, mesa
- arco am/pm, scottsdale
- arco am/pm 42443, tempe
- arco am/pm 42879, gilbert
- arco am/pm store, phoenix
- arco ampm, phoenix
- arco ampm, phoenix
- arco ampm 42460, phoenix
- arco ampm 42469, phoenix
- arco ampm 42524, sun city
- arco ampm 42525, chandler
- arco ampm 42527, phoenix
- arco ampm 42572, scottsdale
- arco ampm 42749, phoenix
- arco ampm gas station 42593, peoria
- arco food mart, phoenix
- arco food mart, scottsdale
- arco am/pm, mesa
- arizona state university, tempe
- ark asian mart llc, phoenix
- az liquors, guadalupe
- bambi buckeye operating llc, phoenix
- ben brothers market llc, phoenix
- best liquor, tempe
- bethany chevron 98190, phoenix
- bienvenido al buen gusto paisano, surprise
- big bs market, phoenix
- bill's oak grove gas & food mart, inc., chandler
- brian's discount market 1, phoenix
- broadway liquor, mesa
- brothers market, surprise
- bubba's drive-thru, surprise
- bushe african market, glendale
- buster's market, phoenix
- buzz in buzz out 1, phoenix
- c.m.t.g inc, glendale
- cactus food mart, scottsdale
- circle k 2709163, chandler
- circle k 2709528, goodyear
- circle k 2709537, tempe
- circle k 2709538, mesa
- circle k 2709541, phoenix
- circle k 2709542, glendale
- circle k 2709549, queen creek
- circle k 2709550, gilbert
- circle k 2709556, phoenix
- circle k 2709557, mesa
- circle k 2709560, queen creek
- circle k 2709576, surprise
- circle k 2709580, phoenix
- circle seven mart, mesa
- ck food mart, phoenix
- cst corner store 2741628, phoenix
- cst corner store 2741676, mesa
- cal inc 82556, phoenix
- camelback market no, phoenix
- campus point chevron, tempe
- carioca shell 3, surprise
- carioca shell 305, surprise
- carioca shell 368, phoenix
- carioca shell 39, buckeye
- carioca shell 4, litchfield park
- carioca shell 52, new river
- carioca shell 6, laveen village
- carioca shell 67, phoenix
- carioca shell 78, phoenix
- carioca shell 88, tempe
- carioca shell 99, peoria
- carniceria agave llc, phoenix
- carniceria el herradero llc, chandler
- carniceria kino, phoenix
- carniceria mocsin llc, phoenix
- carniceria ponderosa, phoenix
- carniceria sonora, tempe
- cave creek mini mart, phoenix
- cell repair & smoke-vape shop, phoenix
- central food mart, phoenix
- central orange food store, phoenix
- chandler height am pm 42722, chandler
- chevron, phoenix
- chevron 355145, glendale
- chevron extramile, tempe
- chevron food mart 211637, glendale
- chevron food mart 96856, phoenix
- chevron gas, scottsdale
- cindy's mini market #2, surprise
- cindy's mini market 1, surprise
- circle k 2700014, phoenix
- circle k 2700041, glendale
- circle k 2700074, phoenix
- circle k 2700079, scottsdale
- circle k 2700085, mesa
- circle k 2700103, mesa
- circle k 2700114, phoenix
- circle k 2700127, scottsdale
- circle k 2700243, cashion
- circle k 2700248, scottsdale
- circle k 2700401, mesa
- circle k 2700412, gilbert
- circle k 2700598, glendale
- circle k 2700693, phoenix
- circle k 2700720, phoenix
- circle k 2700787, tempe
- circle k 2700820, buckeye
- circle k 2700822, avondale
- circle k 2700849, mesa
- circle k 2700905, chandler
- circle k 2701054, sun city
- circle k 2701065, peoria
- circle k 2701130, tolleson
- circle k 2701149, mesa
- circle k 2701184, surprise
- circle k 2701198, buckeye
- circle k 2701200, phoenix
- circle k 2701202, mesa
- circle k 2701216, phoenix
- circle k 2701225, avondale
- circle k 2701250, mesa
- circle k 2701286, wickenburg
- circle k 2701343, mesa
- circle k 2701345, phoenix
- circle k 2701346, tempe
- circle k 2701347, phoenix
- circle k 2701479, mesa
- circle k 2701502, tempe
- circle k 2701503, tempe
- circle k 2701541, phoenix
- circle k 2701569, phoenix
- circle k 2701570, phoenix
- circle k 2701572, tempe
- circle k 2701574, mesa
- circle k 2701584, phoenix
- circle k 2701603, phoenix
- circle k 2701613, scottsdale
- circle k 2701618, phoenix
- circle k 2701619, phoenix
- circle k 2701620, phoenix
- circle k 2701621, tempe
- circle k 2701622, phoenix
- circle k 2701636, tempe
- circle k 2701637, phoenix
- circle k 2701646, peoria
- circle k 2701662, phoenix
- circle k 2701667, phoenix
- circle k 2701671, mesa
- circle k 2701673, phoenix
- circle k 2701728, scottsdale
- circle k 2701739, phoenix
- circle k 2701741, phoenix
- circle k 2701750, glendale
- circle k 2701752, phoenix
- circle k 2701781, phoenix
- circle k 2701785, peoria
- circle k 2701795, phoenix
- circle k 2701797, scottsdale
- circle k 2701843, phoenix
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
- Mitchell County, GA · 20.8% low-access
- Bond County, IL · 20.8% low-access
- Kankakee County, IL · 20.8% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside AZ (8.6% here).
- Cleburne County, AR · 8.6% SNAP
- Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT · 8.6% SNAP
- Clay County, FL · 8.6% SNAP
- Pinellas County, FL · 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.
Arizona among Mountain states
Arizona ranks 3rd of 8 Mountain states by population-weighted low-access (26.8%). Maricopa County, at 20.8%, runs 6.0 pts below the Arizona rate.
- New Mexico 31.7%
- Wyoming 29.7%
- Arizona 26.8%
- Idaho 25.8%
- Utah 23.9%
- Nevada 23.0%
- Montana 22.3%
- Colorado 21.5%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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.