County food-access profile · Indiana
Marion County, IN
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Marion 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).
- 32.6%
- low-access pop.
- 68
- food-desert tracts
- 12.5%
- on SNAP
- 976K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
32.6% of Marion County residents live in a low-access area, and 68 of its 224 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 119
- low-access tracts
- 111K
- food-desert residents
- 8.3%
- households, no vehicle
- 15.3%
- 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 Marion County's low-access share at 32.6%, above the national share. 119 of the county's 224 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 294,165 people. 68 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 110,524 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 Marion County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Marion County's 32.6% low-access share is elevated, higher than 75% of them and ranked #773 most-affected nationwide.
Marion County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 224 census tracts in Marion County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Marion County vs. other Indiana counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Indiana
- Marion
Marion County, IN
32.6 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, IN
17.5 % low-access
- Allen
Allen County, IN
37.8 % low-access
- Bartholomew
Bartholomew County, IN
36.4 % low-access
- Benton 1.7
Benton County, IN
1.7 % low-access
- Blackford
Blackford County, IN
15.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 224 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 903,393 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 119 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 68 |
| Low-Access Population | 294,165 |
| Low-Access Share | 32.6%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 110,524 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 975,809 |
| Median Household Income | $66,346 |
| Poverty Rate | 15.3%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 49,932 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 12.5%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.3%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.6% |
About 12.5% of Marion County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 32.6% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 12.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 49,932 households here.
- 8.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 68 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 Marion County
above the national share
68 of Marion County's 224 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 30.4% of all its tracts.
A further 51 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 119.
An estimated 294,165 residents, roughly 32.6% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 110,524 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 105 tracts (46.9%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Marion County
Marion County has 864 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 210 locations (24% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 210
- african market, indianapolis
- big bazaar indian grocery 01, indianapolis
- c v s 6549, indianapolis
- cvs 2311, indianapolis
- cvs 3007, indianapolis
- cvs 3297, indianapolis
- cvs 4468, indianapolis
- cvs 5423, indianapolis
- cvs 6548, indianapolis
- cvs 6553, indianapolis
- cvs 6569, indianapolis
- cvs 6572, indianapolis
- cvs 6573, indianapolis
- cvs 6580, indianapolis
- cvs 6583, beech grove
- cvs 6585, indianapolis
- cvs 6594, indianapolis
- cvs 6595, indianapolis
- cvs 6597, indianapolis
- cvs 6603, indianapolis
- cvs 6610, indianapolis
- cvs 6611, indianapolis
- cvs 6613, indianapolis
- cvs 7791, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 10903, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 2734, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 45, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 6654, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 684, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 6998, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8640, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8643, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8669, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8675, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8678, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8684, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8685, indianapolis
- cvs pharmacy 8690, indianapolis
- chicago food market inc, indianapolis
- cleo's bodega, indianapolis
- dollar general 0451, indianapolis
- dollar general 10387, indianapolis
- dollar general 10769, indianapolis
- dollar general 1103, indianapolis
- dollar general 1268, cumberland
- dollar general 18907, indianapolis
- dollar general 1988, indianapolis
- dollar general 2831, indianapolis
- dollar general 3616, indianapolis
- dollar general 3731, indianapolis
- dollar general 4539, indianapolis
- dollar general 6204, indianapolis
- dollar general 6631, indianapolis
- dollar general 6847, wanamaker
- dollar general 6874, indianapolis
- dollar general 7623, indianapolis
- dollar general 7734, indianapolis
- dollar general 7735, indianapolis
- dollar general 7931, indianapolis
- dollar general 8118, indianapolis
- dollar general 8922, indianapolis
- dollar general 9398, indianapolis
- dollar tree 0718, speedway
- dollar tree 0725, indianapolis
- dollar tree 0726, indianapolis
- dollar tree 3407, indianapolis
- dollartree 10233, indianapolis
- dollartree 10291, indianapolis
- dollartree 8183, beech grove
- dollartree 8662, indianapolis
- dollartree 8793, indianapolis
- dollartree 8804, indianapolis
- dollartree 8809, indianapolis
- dollartree 9218, indianapolis
- dollartree 9263, indianapolis
- dollartree 9747, indianapolis
- dollartree 9993, indianapolis
- dollar general 10666, indianapolis
- dollar general 10890, indianapolis
- dollar general 10961, lawrence
- dollar general 11450, indianapolis
- dollar general 11468, indianapolis
- dollar general 12027, indianapolis
- dollar general 12188, indianapolis
- dollar general 12705, indianapolis
- dollar general 13250, indianapolis
- dollar general 13720, indianapolis
- dollar general 15246, indianapolis
- dollar general 15430, indianapolis
- dollar general 15471, indianapolis
- dollar general 15502, indianapolis
- dollar general 17050, indianapolis
- dollar general 19326, indianapolis
- dollar general 21085, indianapolis
- dollar general 21230, indianapolis
- dollar general 22150, indianapolis
- dollar general 22308, indianapolis
- dollar general 22309, indianapolis
- dollar general 22566, indianapolis
- dollar general 25549, indianapolis
- dollar general 25550, indianapolis
- dollar general 30166, speedway
- dollar general 4361, indianapolis
- dollar general 6371, indianapolis
- dollar general 709, beech grove
- dollar general store 13058, indianapolis
- dollar tree 1100, indianapolis
- dollar tree 1352, indianapolis
- dollar tree 1375, indianapolis
- dollar tree 1376, indianapolis
- dollar tree 193, indianapolis
- dollar tree 2092, indianapolis
- dollar tree 2419, indianapolis
- dollar tree 2831, indianapolis
- dollar tree 3036, indianapolis
- dollar tree 4822, indianapolis
- dollar tree 5188, indianapolis
- dollar tree 5650, indianapolis
- dollar tree 5699, indianapolis
- dollar tree 5937, indianapolis
- dollar tree 6131, indianapolis
- dollar tree 6542, indianapolis
- dollar tree 7092, indianapolis
- dollar tree 7162, indianapolis
- dollar tree 7533, indianapolis
- dollar tree 7640, indianapolis
- dollar tree 7712, indianapolis
- dollar tree 7860, indianapolis
- dollar tree 7997, indianapolis
- dollar tree 8856, indianapolis
- dollar tree 9931, indianapolis
- dollartree 8906, indianapolis
- el catracho supermarket llc, indianapolis
- ensonmart inc., indianapolis
- ethiopian market llc, indianapolis
- family dollar 10293, indianapolis
- family dollar 10332, indianapolis
- family dollar 1070, indianapolis
- family dollar 10941, indianapolis
- family dollar 1188, indianapolis
- family dollar 12001, indianapolis
- family dollar 12325, indianapolis
- family dollar 12412, indianapolis
- family dollar 12494, indianapolis
- family dollar 1287, indianapolis
- family dollar 1387, indianapolis
- family dollar 1402, indianapolis
- family dollar 1430, indianapolis
- family dollar 1771, indianapolis
- family dollar 2293, indianapolis
- family dollar 2374, indianapolis
- family dollar 2836, indianapolis
- family dollar 3397, indianapolis
- family dollar 4200, indianapolis
- family dollar 4252, indianapolis
- family dollar 4528, indianapolis
- family dollar 5391, indianapolis
- family dollar 5411, indianapolis
- family dollar 5437, indianapolis
- family dollar 5554, indianapolis
- family dollar 5691, indianapolis
- family dollar 5840, indianapolis
- family dollar 6164, indianapolis
- family dollar 6516, indianapolis
- family dollar 6801, indianapolis
- family dollar 7675, indianapolis
- family dollar 8194, indianapolis
- family dollar 8768, indianapolis
- family dollar store 10856, indianapolis
- family dollar store 10925, indianapolis
- family dollar store 2187, beech grove
- family dollar store 8083, indianapolis
- fatim's boutique (international food market), indianapolis
- golden crown african store llc, indianapolis
- golden fish and chicken mart, indianapolis
- grace variety store llc, indianapolis
- halal market, indianapolis
- hayimart llc, indianapolis
- hona multi service, indianapolis
- janjai redlight market incorporated, indianapolis
- kb international inc, indianapolis
- kwetu international market llc 1, indianapolis
- lagonave super market llc 1, indianapolis
- noor indian grocery & kitchen llc, indianapolis
- rachel african market 0173231926, indianapolis
- ralph haitian market and cuisine llc, indianapolis
- rose's 541, indianapolis
- rose's 557, indianapolis
- ruthbae grocery, indianapolis
- safari market llc, indianapolis
- sahara bazaar, indianapolis
- sandra caribbean food market llc 1, indianapolis
- walgreens 05718, indianapolis
- walgreens 11248, indianapolis
- walgreens 2796, indianapolis
- walgreens 2931, indianapolis
- walgreens 2956, beech grove
- walgreens 3142, indianapolis
- walgreens 3442, indianapolis
- walgreens 5804, indianapolis
- walgreens 5978, indianapolis
- walgreens 6778, indianapolis
- walgreens 7031, indianapolis
- walgreens 02800, indianapolis
- walgreens 10487, indianapolis
- walgreens 10973, indianapolis
- walgreens 12151, indianapolis
- walgreens 13874, indianapolis
- walgreens 15116, indianapolis
- yb enterprise african market, indianapolis
Convenience Store · 35
- 10th street petroleum inc, indianapolis
- 2 good to go, indianapolis
- 24/7 convenience mart, indianapolis
- 24/7 foodmart, indianapolis
- 34th st bp inc, indianapolis
- 34th st phillips 66, indianapolis
- 66 food mart 1, indianapolis
- 71st street shell, indianapolis
- 75th bp foodmart, indianapolis
- 82nd street bp, indianapolis
- a one foodmart, indianapolis
- a.nandini inc, indianapolis
- adelcy food mart, indianapolis
- ads oil inc, indianapolis
- african/caribbean food store na, indianapolis
- aj and k inc, indianapolis
- ak oil inc, indianapolis
- alfaa 4, indianapolis
- ammar, inc., indianapolis
- arlington food center, indianapolis
- arlington marathon, indianapolis
- arlington petro inc, indianapolis
- ays singh llc, indianapolis
- balli mart, indianapolis
- beech grove petroleum inc, beech grove
- belmont food mart, indianapolis
- bg31 inc, beech grove
- bhagat and grandson's, indianapolis
- bhagat food mart inc, indianapolis
- bkb mini mart incorporated, indianapolis
- bm food mart llc 1, indianapolis
- bp food mart, indianapolis
- bp food mart, indianapolis
- bradbury petroleum inc, indianapolis
- bright star petroleum inc, indianapolis
Bakery Specialty · 5
- hart drive-in bakery, indianapolis
- papa murphy's take n bake pizza suite i, indianapolis
- panaderia y reposteria bianquita, indianapolis
- papa murphy's pizza, indianapolis
- papa murphy's pizza in008, indianapolis
Showing 250 of 864 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Indiana
Compare Marion County vs Adams County → · All Indiana counties →
Food access nationally, Indiana in context
Marion County sits inside Indiana (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 Marion County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Marion County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Marion County? ▼
Is Marion County a food desert? ▼
What share of Marion 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.