Signature · 8.7% SNAP (10th pct in NC)
Mecklenburg County, NC
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Mecklenburg 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).
- 21.3%
- low-access pop.
- 19
- food-desert tracts
- 8.7%
- on SNAP
- 1.2M
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Mecklenburg County, NC
LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-ELEVATED 21.3% low-access
- PHOTO-FINISH -0.8 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 19 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 8.7% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 8% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Pitt County (+ 0.4 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Mecklenburg County ranks #1,578 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #41 of 100 counties in NC (21.3% low-access; 19 food-desert tracts).
- #1,578
- national by low-access %
- #41
- in NC
- 93
- low-access tracts
- 50K
- 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: 8.7% SNAP (10th pct in NC) (-3.4 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Mecklenburg County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Mecklenburg County's 21.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 50% of them and ranked #1,578 most-affected nationwide.
Mecklenburg County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
231 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 19 LILA.
Mecklenburg County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (224 urban, 7 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 7 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Mecklenburg County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in North Carolina, not a full county-board reprint
- Hyde
Hyde 60.5%
60.5 % low-access
- Ashe 22.2
Ashe 22.2%
22.2 % low-access
- Pitt 21.7
Pitt 21.7%
21.7 % low-access
- Mecklenburg 21.3
Mecklenburg 21.3%
21.3 % low-access
- Scotland 20.8
Scotland 20.8%
20.8 % low-access
- Beaufort 20.7
Beaufort 20.7%
20.7 % low-access
- Greene 0.1
Greene 0.1%
0.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 231 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 919,628 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 93 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 19 |
| Low-Access Population | 195,936 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.3%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 50,345 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,154,681 |
| Median Household Income | $87,005 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.4%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 40,445 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.7%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.8%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.4% |
Thick SNAP store book in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County has 693 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 286 locations (41% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
8 towns share the 693 authorized stores; Charlotte holds 85% of them. 1 of the 8 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Glendale Springs.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 591 | 163 |
| Huntersville | 32 | 13 |
| Matthews | 24 | 9 |
| Cornelius | 17 | 6 |
| Pineville | 12 | 7 |
| Mint Hill | 11 | 5 |
| Davidson | 5 | 2 |
| Glendale Springs | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 286 (250 shown)
- 1-stop food store, charlotte
- 2701867.0 1867, charlotte
- 49ers bodega, charlotte
- 7 eleven #38626a 38626a, charlotte
- 7 eleven 35546j, charlotte
- 7-eleven #36776j 36776k, charlotte
- 7-eleven #41168a 41168a, huntersville
- 7-eleven - f2386 35572a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35545a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35552, cornelius
- 7-eleven 35554a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35557k, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35559, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35560, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35561j, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35562a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35566j, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35568a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35569j, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35570j, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35592k, charlotte
- 7-eleven 37028j, charlotte
- 7-eleven 37282h, charlotte
- 7-eleven 37292h, charlotte
- 7-eleven 38539h, charlotte
- 7-eleven 41328h, charlotte
- 7-eleven 41352h, charlotte
- 7-eleven 42346h, charlotte
- 7-eleven inc f 35556a, charlotte
- 7-eleven, inc. 35589l, charlotte
- 7-eleven #35543a 35543a, charlotte
- 7-eleven #35547c 35547c, charlotte
- 7-eleven #35549c 35549c, huntersville
- 7-eleven #35564c 35564c, pineville
- 7-eleven #35580c 35580c, charlotte
- 7-eleven #35582b 35582b, charlotte
- 7-eleven #35584b 35584b, charlotte
- 7-eleven #35593b 35593b, matthews
- 7-eleven #36993b 36993b, charlotte
- 7-eleven #38677a 38677a, charlotte
- 7-eleven #38721a 38721a, charlotte
- 7-eleven #38863a 38863a, charlotte
- 7-eleven #41253a 41253a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 30348a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35544, huntersville
- 7-eleven 35555, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35565a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35576a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35578a 35578a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35579a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35583b, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35585a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35586a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35588c, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35590a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 35594, matthews
- 7-eleven 36779a, charlotte
- 7-eleven 37007b, charlotte
- 7-eleven 37105a, charlotte
- 786 cstore, charlotte
- 786 distribution, inc. 1, charlotte
- adam's mart #1, charlotte
- amore store llc, charlotte
- archdale minimart & laundry, charlotte
- artesania los potrillos, charlotte
- asian grocery, charlotte
- at rozzelles mini mart, charlotte
- b and k gas & more, charlotte
- bm food mart, pineville
- beatties corner mart, charlotte
- briarcreek market, charlotte
- byrum's food mart, charlotte
- central food mart, charlotte
- charlotte fast mart, charlotte
- circle k store 4747, charlotte
- circle k store 8403, charlotte
- circle k stores inc. 2705108, charlotte
- catawba village bp no, charlotte
- caton's grocery, charlotte
- cherry market 1, charlotte
- chill and fill, charlotte
- circle k 1935, charlotte
- circle k 2720828, charlotte
- circle k 2721553, charlotte
- circle k 2723922, charlotte
- circle k 2723923, charlotte
- circle k 2723924, charlotte
- circle k 2723927, charlotte
- circle k 2723928, charlotte
- circle k 2723929, charlotte
- circle k 2723938, charlotte
- circle k 2723939, charlotte
- circle k 2723940, charlotte
- circle k 2723941, charlotte
- circle k 2723944, charlotte
- circle k 2723947, cornelius
- circle k 2723950, charlotte
- circle k 2723964, charlotte
- circle k 2723965, charlotte
- circle k 2723971, charlotte
- circle k 2723975, charlotte
- circle k 2723976, charlotte
- circle k 2723978, charlotte
- circle k 2723979, charlotte
- circle k 2725118, charlotte
- circle k 3121, huntersville
- circle k 3150, charlotte
- circle k 3209, charlotte
- circle k 3267, charlotte
- circle k 3270, cornelius
- circle k 4838, charlotte
- circle k 5100, charlotte
- circle k 5101, charlotte
- circle k 5102, huntersville
- circle k 5104, charlotte
- circle k 5105, charlotte
- circle k 5109, charlotte
- circle k 5111, charlotte
- circle k 5112, charlotte
- circle k 5113, matthews
- circle k 5114, charlotte
- circle k 5117, charlotte
- circle k 5119, charlotte
- circle k 8381, charlotte
- circle k 8382, charlotte
- circle k 8411, charlotte
- circle k store 1884, charlotte
- circle k store 2708409, charlotte
- circle k stores 8404, charlotte
- circle k stores 8408, charlotte
- city mart #3, charlotte
- corner mart, charlotte
- d v shah corp dba, charlotte
- d v shah corp dba, charlotte
- den's mart, charlotte
- daero grocery, charlotte
- davidson convenience store n/a, charlotte
- e z mart, charlotte
- express stop #2, charlotte
- earp's 3, mint hill
- earp's 4, charlotte
- eden mart, charlotte
- express mart 36, charlotte
- express stop bp, charlotte
- fast mart, charlotte
- family mart none, matthews
- fast phils 129, huntersville
- first stop express mart, charlotte
- g's food mart, charlotte
- gm food mart, charlotte
- gas house 1, huntersville
- gash mini mart, charlotte
- glenmart, charlotte
- graham group llc no, charlotte
- han-dee hugo's 234, davidson
- hop in, charlotte
- hup in mart, charlotte
- inner harbor seafood market, charlotte
- joe's kwik mart 6012, charlotte
- joe's kwik marts 6012, charlotte
- jt quick mart 1, charlotte
- julie mart discounts 1, charlotte
- kangaroo 558, charlotte
- kangaroo 574, charlotte
- kaygee mart incorporated 0, charlotte
- kilborne mart, charlotte
- kp mart, charlotte
- kv brothers llc, charlotte
- kwick mart 1, charlotte
- la costenita, charlotte
- la adelita tienda, charlotte
- la bella store, charlotte
- la villa, charlotte
- latino market llc, charlotte
- liberty food mart, charlotte
- little rock food mart, charlotte
- love's travel stop 714, charlotte
- mc express mart , llc, charlotte
- mollay's mini mart, charlotte
- magic 777's, charlotte
- market express 17379, charlotte
- market express 17385, charlotte
- marts to go #4, charlotte
- mc food mart, charlotte
- mr quick mini mart, charlotte
- mulberry market exxon 1, charlotte
- murphy usa 6514, charlotte
- murphy usa 7616, charlotte
- murphy usa 7688, charlotte
- myanmar asian market, charlotte
- north star food mart, charlotte
- osei food & beverage, charlotte
- oakdale mini mart no, charlotte
- ot foods, charlotte
- parkwood food mart, charlotte
- pasos supermarket, charlotte
- pc mart 1015, charlotte
- pilot travel center 275, charlotte
- plantation market, matthews
- plaza convenience store llc, charlotte
- pradera's supermarket, charlotte
- prime express, charlotte
- ql express, charlotte
- queens market, charlotte
- queens mart, charlotte
- quick'n e-z 13, charlotte
- quik trip 1004, charlotte
- quik trip 1024, charlotte
- quik trip 1053, charlotte
- quiktrip 1002, charlotte
- quiktrip 1010, charlotte
- quiktrip 1011, charlotte
- quiktrip 1016, charlotte
- quiktrip 1027, charlotte
- quiktrip 1028, matthews
- quiktrip 1029, charlotte
- quiktrip 1032, charlotte
- quiktrip 1036, charlotte
- quiktrip 1051, charlotte
- quiktrip 1052, charlotte
- quiktrip 1059, charlotte
- quiktrip 1064, charlotte
- quiktrip 1065, charlotte
- quiktrip 1070, charlotte
- quiktrip 1071, charlotte
- quiktrip 1072, charlotte
- quiktrip 1076, charlotte
- quiktrip 1082, cornelius
- quiktrip 1083, huntersville
- quiktrip 1087, charlotte
- r & y mart, charlotte
- royal express mart, charlotte
- rocky express, charlotte
- rose mini mart, charlotte
- royal stop, charlotte
- run convenience store, charlotte
- run in 831, glendale springs
- runx 2, charlotte
- s a foodmart, charlotte
- s&k shop llc, charlotte
- santa food mart, charlotte
- simons mart, charlotte
- saanvi 2023 llc dba xpressmarket # 3 1, charlotte
- sam & son mart, charlotte
- sam's mart 105, charlotte
- sam's mart 113, charlotte
- sam's mart 215, charlotte
- sam's mart 25, charlotte
- sam's mart 7, charlotte
- sam's mart 70, charlotte
Showing 250 of 693 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 North Carolina
One of 99 counties in North Carolina, 6 are shown here.
Compare Mecklenburg County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →
Nationwide peers for Mecklenburg County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Mecklenburg County (8.7%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside North Carolina.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside NC (21.3% here).
- Yellowstone County, MT · 21.3% low-access
- Panola County, MS · 21.3% low-access
- Clay County, IN · 21.3% low-access
- Whiteside County, IL · 21.3% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside NC (8.7% here).
- Callaway County, MO · 8.7% SNAP
- Crow Wing County, MN · 8.7% SNAP
- Lampasas County, TX · 8.7% SNAP
- Addison County, VT · 8.7% 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.
North Carolina among South Atlantic states
North Carolina ranks 5th of 9 South Atlantic states by population-weighted low-access (22.9%). Mecklenburg County, at 21.3%, runs 1.6 pts below the North Carolina rate.
- Georgia 30.9%
- South Carolina 28.7%
- Delaware 27.3%
- Florida 25.1%
- North Carolina 22.9%
- Maryland 22.7%
- West Virginia 21.3%
- Virginia 20.4%
- District of Columbia 4.6%
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 Mecklenburg County, NC are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 37119. 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.