County food-access profile · Oregon
Marion County, OR
Marion County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 17.4%
- low-access pop.
- 7
- food-desert tracts
- 19.7%
- on SNAP
- 349K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
17.4% of Marion County residents live in a low-access area, and 7 of its 58 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 19
- low-access tracts
- 15K
- food-desert residents
- 6.2%
- households, no vehicle
- 13.0%
- 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).
Marion County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 17.4% per the USDA Atlas. 19 of the county's 58 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 54,734 residents who live far from a supermarket. 7 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 15,436 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
Marion County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.4% low-access share that beats 39% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,917).
Marion County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 58 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 Oregon counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Oregon
- Marion
Marion County, OR
17.4 % low-access
- Baker
Baker County, OR
37.9 % low-access
- Benton
Benton County, OR
27.9 % low-access
- Clackamas
Clackamas County, OR
17.3 % low-access
- Clatsop 12.4
Clatsop County, OR
12.4 % low-access
- Columbia 6.1
Columbia County, OR
6.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 58 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 315,335 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 19 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 7 |
| Low-Access Population | 54,734 |
| Low-Access Share | 17.4%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 15,436 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 349,244 |
| Median Household Income | $77,351 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.0%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 24,964 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 19.7%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.2%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.2% |
About 19.7% of Marion County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 17.4% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 19.7% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 24,964 households here.
- 6.2% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 7 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
near the national share
7 of Marion County's 58 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 12.1% of all its tracts.
A further 12 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 19.
An estimated 54,734 residents, roughly 17.4% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 15,436 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 39 tracts (67.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Marion County
Marion County has 272 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 150 locations (55% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 150
- 12th st market, salem
- 365 convenience store & deli, woodburn
- 7-eleven 20806 f, salem
- 7-eleven #17416d 17416d, woodburn
- 7-eleven 17787d, salem
- 7-eleven 38790a, salem
- 7-eleven 38794a 38794a, salem
- 7-eleven store 26383b, salem
- 7-eleven store 38791a, salem
- 7-eleven store 38796a, mill city
- 7-eleven #17727a 17727a, keizer
- 7-eleven #38801a 38801a, stayton
- 7-eleven #38803a 38803a, stayton
- 7-eleven #41537a 41537a, keizer
- 7-eleven 17762d, keizer
- 7-eleven 38792a 38792a, salem
- 76 of aurora, aurora
- a dong market, salem
- am/pm (lancaster), salem
- arco am pm, salem
- aurora colony market, aurora
- american market, hubbard
- american market, salem
- american market #15, salem
- anmol ii,, salem
- arco am pm, salem
- arco am pm, salem
- arco ampm 5960, salem
- arco ampm 81839, stayton
- asap market, salem
- broadacres store, aurora
- brooks food market, brooks
- c & m market, woodburn
- cherry ave market and deli, keizer
- carniceria los compadres2, salem
- casa mexico, salem
- center market #21, salem
- center market #25, salem
- center market #38, salem
- center market 101, turner
- center market 16, salem
- center market 28, jefferson
- center market 29, donald
- chemeketa c-store, salem
- circle k stores 2709634, stayton
- circle k stores 2709641, woodburn
- city mart, salem
- commercial chevron 55, salem
- corner market, salem
- crossroad market, woodburn
- dash market, salem
- extramile by jacksons 107, salem
- ez stop grocery and deli, woodburn
- falafel king express & food mart, salem
- fast mart 1 1, salem
- food mart, salem
- gervais food market, gervais
- gina's market llc 1, gervais
- hines street food mart salem, salem
- hubbard 76, hubbard
- hubbard market, hubbard
- idanha country store, idanha
- in n out market 3, salem
- jacksons food stores 540, salem
- jacksons food stores 542, salem
- keizer food market, keizer
- keizer shell food mart, keizer
- lb's market & deli, salem
- lancaster market, salem
- los panditas produce, salem
- lucky market llc, salem
- mam & d, mount angel
- mustafa am pm, salem
- macleay village store, salem
- main st market 11, aurora
- marion grocery store, turner
- middle grove market, salem
- mill city mobil, mill city
- mountain high grocery, detroit
- munchies market, salem
- neighborhood market #7, keizer
- neighborhood market 12, salem
- neighborhood mini mart, keizer
- oak market, silverton
- oregon market 1, salem
- plaid pantry 031, salem
- plaid pantry 032, salem
- plaid pantry 041, salem
- plaid pantry 043, salem
- plaid pantry 161, salem
- plaid pantry 168, salem
- people mart 2, salem
- pilot travel center 386, brooks
- pilot travel center 584, aurora
- pringle mart and gas, salem
- privet european food & bakery and uzbek cuisine, salem
- quick stop market, silverton
- quik trip, salem
- rocket #1297 1297, salem
- rocket #5463 5463, salem
- rocket #5465 5465, salem
- rocket #5466 5466, salem
- rocket #5558 5558, salem
- southside market, silverton
- stop n save #3, stayton
- stop n save #4, sublimity
- saint paul market, saint paul
- salem quick shop llc, salem
- salem union 76 gas and food mart, salem
- santiam market & deli, jefferson
- scotts mills market, scotts mills
- sierra market no, gates
- smoker friendly, salem
- smoker friendly 2 40, keizer
- smoker friendly 3, keizer
- space age fuel 28 cordon rd 28, salem
- stayton market and deli, stayton
- stop n save, salem
- stop n save 12, salem
- stop n save 14, stayton
- stop n save 7, aumsville
- stop-n-save #15, salem
- stop-n-save 2, salem
- stop-n-save 5, salem
- stop-n-save 13, aumsville
- suds city depoe, salem
- sunrise food mart & deli, woodburn
- sunrise market 101 llc, salem
- sunrise market 526, salem
- super stop market, salem
- ta aurora 056, aurora
- tnt market, silverton
- turner market, turner
- take a break market, salem
- tienda y video el palmar, salem
- toads brooks grocery & deli 237, brooks
- us market # 125, keizer
- us market 1025, keizer
- us market 120, salem
- us market 1720, salem
- us market 675, salem
- united market 102, salem
- united market 110 inc 110, salem
- united market 111 inc 111, salem
- us market 275, salem
- us market 300, salem
- us market 444 llc, salem
- us market 450, salem
- woodburn fast serv, inc., woodburn
- woodburn market, woodburn
Combination Grocery/Other · 39
- bi-mart 624, keizer
- bi-mart 633, salem
- bi-mart 643, woodburn
- bi-mart 647, stayton
- dollar general 17553, gergvais
- dollar general 18271, hubbard
- dollar general 18394, silverton
- dollartree 8200, salem
- dollartree 8772, salem
- dollartree 9417, salem
- dollar general 17397, aumsville
- dollar general 17506, mill city
- dollar general 18165, jefferson
- dollar general 20892, turner
- dollar tree 1745, salem
- dollar tree 1900, salem
- dollar tree 2062, salem
- dollar tree 2848, woodburn
- dollar tree 2962, stayton
- dollar tree 5674, keizer
- dollar tree 7295, silverton
- e z orchards farm market, salem
- el torito meat market, woodburn
- fitts seafood, salem
- flourish spices and african food, salem
- island dreams, salem
- lifesource natural foods, salem
- la tapatia supermarket salem, inc, salem
- que huong market 1, salem
- taj indian grocery 1, salem
- walgreens 04229, salem
- walgreens 04230, keizer
- walgreens 04257, salem
- walgreens 09287, salem
- walgreens 11173, salem
- walgreens 11632, salem
- walgreens 12095, woodburn
- wheeler dealer 1, woodburn
- wheeler dealer 3, salem
Super Store · 14
- costco wholesale 1492, salem
- fred meyer 225, salem
- fred meyer 355, salem
- fred meyer 90, salem
- grocery outlet of stayton 20, stayton
- roth's fresh markets 1, silverton
- roth's fresh markets 11, salem
- roth's fresh markets 15, stayton
- roth's fresh markets 2, salem
- roth's fresh markets 21, salem
- roth's fresh markets 8, salem
- salem mega foods, salem
- target store t-0608, salem
- target store t-2110, keizer
Medium Grocery Store · 13
- fruteria la cabana inc, salem
- guacamoles market, woodburn
- la consentida inc n/a, salem
- los paniaguitas produce, woodburn
- los rancheros inc, salem
- m.a.i.d produce, salem
- mercado san francisco 0132311, salem
- mt angel susage company, mount angel
- ocean star seafood inc, salem
- pacific island mart, salem
- plaza morelia, keizer
- super mercado las tarascas 1, woodburn
- wing wa oriental market, salem
Bakery Specialty · 11
- franz bakery outlet 9018, salem
- miranda bros bakery, salem
- nava and daisy's mexican bakery 1, salem
- papa murphy's or042, woodburn
- papa murphy's or107 or107, keizer
- papa murphy's or115 or115, stayton
- papa murphy's or125 or125, salem
- papa murphy's or72 or72, salem
- papa murphy's or74 or74, salem
- papa murphy's or94 or94, salem
- papa murphy's take and bake pizza or118, silverton
Small Grocery Store · 10
- carniceria el ranchito, woodburn
- cherry produce, keizer
- dukano essentials, keizer
- euro market, salem
- express food mart, salem
- express food mart #3, salem
- fin de semana mini market llc, woodburn
- isabella's market, salem
- la bonita bakery llc, salem
- salem shell, salem
Farmers' Market · 6
- monday hospital market, salem
- salem holiday market, salem
- salem public market, salem
- salem saturday market, salem
- silverton farmers market association 1, silverton
- wednesday chemeketa market, salem
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 3
- better beef company, salem
- h & k meats, jefferson
- mt angel meat co, mount angel
Large Grocery Store · 2
- cms fresh market, jefferson
- rays produce inc raysp2, salem
Delivery Route · 1
- america's beef company, salem
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- laube farms, jefferson
Showing 250 of 272 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Oregon
Compare Marion County vs Baker County → · All Oregon counties →
Food access nationally, Oregon in context
Marion County sits inside Oregon (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.