County food-access profile · California
Merced County, CA
Merced 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.
- 18.9%
- low-access pop.
- 13
- food-desert tracts
- 21.0%
- on SNAP
- 290K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
18.9% of Merced County residents live in a low-access area, and 13 of its 49 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 17
- low-access tracts
- 20K
- food-desert residents
- 7.3%
- households, no vehicle
- 19.1%
- 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).
Merced County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 18.9% per the USDA Atlas. 17 of the county's 49 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 48,441 residents who live far from a supermarket. 13 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 19,726 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 Merced County compares nationally
Merced County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.9% low-access share that beats 43% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,783).
Merced County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 49 census tracts in Merced County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Merced County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- Merced 18.9
Merced County, CA
18.9 % low-access
- Alameda 8.1
Alameda County, CA
8.1 % low-access
- Alpine
Alpine County, CA
57 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador County, CA
0.2 % low-access
- Butte 19.1
Butte County, CA
19.1 % low-access
- Calaveras 14.7
Calaveras County, CA
14.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 49 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 255,793 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 17 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 13 |
| Low-Access Population | 48,441 |
| Low-Access Share | 18.9%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 19,726 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 290,201 |
| Median Household Income | $65,510 |
| Poverty Rate | 19.1%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 18,102 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 21.0%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 7.3%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.5% |
About 21.0% of Merced County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 18.9% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 21.0% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 18,102 households here.
- 7.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 13 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 Merced County
near the national share
13 of Merced County's 49 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 26.5% of all its tracts.
A further 4 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 17.
An estimated 48,441 residents, roughly 18.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 19,726 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 32 tracts (65.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Merced County
Merced County has 260 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 139 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 139
- 33 market, gustine
- 7 eleven 22736g, los banos
- 7 eleven 2368 39548b, delhi
- 7 eleven 37949b, merced
- 7 eleven 37970b 37970b, atwater
- 7 eleven 38704a 38704a, los banos
- 7 eleven 41901a, merced
- 7 eleven 41973a, merced
- 7 eleven store 18601g, merced
- 7 eleven store 2368 36437a, atwater
- 7 star liquor, merced
- 7-eleven (nawabi) 16459 e, merced
- 7-eleven 06673f, merced
- 7-eleven 14110g, merced
- 7-eleven 37974j, merced
- a&m market, merced
- a1 step and save, los banos
- azusa market, dos palos
- adels mini mart, merced
- amigos mini mart, merced
- ampm 83949, livingston
- annapurna indian grocery market, merced
- applegate stop n shop, atwater
- arco ampm 82723, merced
- arco ampm, merced
- arco ampm # 83945 83945, los banos
- arco ampm 7071, merced
- arco ampm 7124, merced
- arco ampm 82436, atwater
- atwater market, atwater
- best buy market, merced
- brother's royal crown, atwater
- brothers food mart, livingston
- bernie's liquor & deli, merced
- beverage house liquor # 11, los banos
- bi-rite liquors merced inc, merced
- bobcat snack stop 179, merced
- boland market, snelling
- borrelli's market, gustine
- buhach arco ampm, atwater
- buy & bye market, merced
- buy 2 save #2, atwater
- c&d petro inc 83955, merced
- circle g mini mart, merced
- century chevron food mart, merced
- chevron, merced
- chevron 1555, santa nella
- chevron 1724, livingston
- circle k #6068 2706068, los banos
- circle k 2723621, los banos
- circle k 2725017, dos palos
- circle k 2725018, atwater
- circle k stores 2709242, merced
- circle r minimart, merced
- corner market & deli, stevinson
- cressey store, winton
- d & s gas and mini mart, le grand
- discount liquor, dos palos
- dos palos valero, dos palos
- day and night market 105, los banos
- delhi 5 star, delhi
- delhi gas & liquor, delhi
- delhi liquor land, delhi
- diamond gas and market 16, merced
- dollar city, winton
- dollar city, delhi
- dos palos mart llc, dos palos
- el campo market, planada
- eltareb market #3, merced
- ez petroleum, winton
- farmers quick stop, inc., dos palos
- fast n esy 12, atwater
- fill n fresh, merced
- fresh fill, los banos
- g & b liquor, planada
- goodger shell & food mart, inc., los banos
- grand petroleum firebaugh 0, firebaugh
- great america gas & food mart, livingston
- jns market liquor & gas, south dos palos
- jessi' s market, merced
- klair's, livingston
- la michoacana market, los banos
- la tiendita, livingston
- lantern cafe 179, merced
- le grand market, le grand
- leos deli mart, dos palos
- los banos arco/ampm, los banos
- los banos liquor, los banos
- love's travel stop 441, gustine
- m & a market, merced
- maxi mart, atwater
- mel's liquor, merced
- merced cigarettes & groceries, merced
- merced liquor, merced
- mobil mart, hilmar
- nature market, winton
- neighborhood grocery, el nido
- new olive market, atwater
- oasis market & liquor, turlock
- off the wall smoke shop, merced
- oxxo mini mart, atwater
- penny wise travel plaza, gustine
- petro santa nella 346, santa nella
- quick and easy, gustine
- quick n snappy food and liquor, atwater
- quik stop market #550163, livingston
- r st chevron, merced
- rancho market, winton
- rancho market, le grand
- richards market & liquor, gustine
- rotten robbie 59, gustine
- royal gas and food, livingston
- simple simon gas & liquor, dos palos
- ss fuel stores inc, merced
- sure stop market, atwater
- satpal & sons inc 8, merced
- save max, livingston
- shannon mini mart, merced
- shannons mini mart, atwater
- shop & go 3, merced
- smoke palace inc, merced
- snelling chevron, snelling
- summits marketplace, merced
- super way market & gas inc, planada
- ta livingston 170, livingston
- ta santa nella 163, santa nella
- tortilleria y panaderia olmos, merced
- town & country liquor, los banos
- turf liquor, winton
- u save liquor, merced
- village liquor, merced
- vip liquor, atwater
- winton way market, winton
- winton grocery, winton
- xtreme power gas food and liquor llc no, atwater
- zoomy's los banos, los banos
- zoomy's merced g st, merced
- zoomy's santa nella na, gustine
- zoomy's yosemite, merced
Combination Grocery/Other · 33
- apricot hill, los banos
- bharat fiji indian grocery store, atwater
- cvs 10360, livingston
- cvs pharmacy 3117, atwater
- cvs pharmacy 7206, merced
- cvs pharmacy cvs09623, merced
- dollar general 14684, livingston
- dollar general 14723, gustine
- dollartree 10527, merced
- dollar general 13121, winton
- dollar general 14670, delhi
- dollar general 15268, planada
- dollar tree 1222, merced
- dollar tree 1256, los banos
- dollar tree 3259, atwater
- dollar tree 4770, atwater
- dollar tree 5877, delhi
- dollar tree 6389, merced
- dollar tree 6669, los banos
- dollar tree 8582, merced
- family dollar 10805, merced
- family dollar 11163, merced
- family dollar 12321, dos palos
- family dollar 12769, gustine
- iniguez bakery, los banos
- mercey spring pro 2, dos palos
- richwood meat company, merced
- the golden spice, livingston
- walgreens 15986, hilmar
- walgreens 3330, merced
- walgreens 4415, merced
- walgreens 6418, los banos
- walgreens 6718, atwater
Super Store · 22
- atwater grocery outlet 522, atwater
- cardenas 223, merced
- costco wholesale 0142, merced
- delhi liberty market, delhi
- dollar general market 13358, merced
- dollar general market 13400, hilmar
- dollar general market 13437, dos palos
- dollar general market 13697, los banos
- food 4 less 102, merced
- food 4 less 104, atwater
- grocery outlet of merced 49, merced
- smart & final 385, merced
- sam's foods supermarket, atwater
- santa fe foods, los banos
- santa fe foods #09, livingston
- target store t-0641, merced
- target store t-2359, los banos
- target store t-2386, atwater
- walmart 2039, merced
- walmart 2117, los banos
- walmart 5890, atwater
- winton supermarket, winton
Medium Grocery Store · 14
- baby shop 6, merced
- baby's nutrition 6, los banos
- buy n save market, los banos
- california liquor & grocery, merced
- city bazzar, livingston
- gustine family foods 1, gustine
- la esperanza meat market, gustine
- main street market, merced
- orient market, atwater
- panaderia guadalajara, atwater
- shop-n-save market, merced
- spices of india, merced
- super carniceria mi rancho inc, winton
- twins food outlet, merced
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 10
- carniceria 3 hermanos, merced
- carniceria dos gallos 1, merced
- carniceria los gordos meat market, merced
- carniceria los navarrete 1, merced
- carniceria rio grande, merced
- carniceria superior, merced
- carniceria y cocina los gueros, merced
- hilmar meat locker, llc, hilmar
- los banos abattoir, los banos
- yosemite valley beef packing company, inc, merced
Supermarket · 10
- el bajio market, merced
- food 4 less 7, los banos
- food maxx 487, merced
- grocery outlet of los banos 507, los banos
- la esperanza food center, los banos
- la morenita tortilleria & meat market 2, los banos
- lee's merced community food market, merced
- livingston liberty market, livingston
- mercado latino market, planada
- merced valley foods inc, merced
Large Grocery Store · 8
- carniceria la rosita, delhi
- carniceria el cerrito, atwater
- carniceria los cerritos, merced
- el rancho market, delhi
- food center, merced
- la michocana carneceria 2, los banos
- panaderia guadalajara 2, merced
- save more market, merced
Small Grocery Store · 7
- arcilla's asian market, inc., los banos
- broadway market, planada
- carniceria la mexicana, atwater
- merced indian grocers, merced
- prime time nutrition 586, livingston
- primetime 565, atwater
- primetime nutrition 543, merced
Bakery Specialty · 4
- lulas panaderia inc 1, atwater
- papa murphy 173, atwater
- papa murphy's ca138, los banos
- papa murphys pizza, merced
Farmers' Market · 2
- kind neighbor farmers' market, merced
- merced county certified farmers market, merced
Delivery Route · 1
- iniguez bakery 2, los banos
Showing 250 of 260 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare Merced County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
Merced County sits inside California (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 Merced County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Merced County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Merced County? ▼
Is Merced County a food desert? ▼
What share of Merced 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.