Signature · 21.0% SNAP (88th pct in CA)
Merced County, CA
Merced County stands out on SNAP (21.0%, +8.9 pts vs U.S.) with 18.9% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 18.9%
- low-access pop.
- 13
- food-desert tracts
- 21.0%
- on SNAP
- 290K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Merced County, CA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-MODERATE 18.9% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -3.2 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 13 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 21.0% SNAP
- VEH-TYPICAL 7.3% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 27% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Butte County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Merced County ranks #1,781 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #27 of 58 counties in CA (18.9% low-access; 13 food-desert tracts).
- #1,781
- national by low-access %
- #27
- in CA
- 17
- low-access tracts
- 20K
- 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: 21.0% SNAP (88th pct in CA) (+8.9 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
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 #1,781).
Merced County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
49 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 13 LILA.
Merced County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (36 urban, 13 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 13 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Merced County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in California, not a full county-board reprint
- Sierra
Sierra 88.2%
88.2 % low-access
- Butte 19.1
Butte 19.1%
19.1 % low-access
- Tehama 19.1
Tehama 19.1%
19.1 % low-access
- Merced 18.9
Merced 18.9%
18.9 % low-access
- San Luis Obis… 18.6
San Luis Obis… 18.6%
18.6 % low-access
- San Benito 17.9
San Benito 17.9%
17.9 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador 0.2%
0.2 % 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 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| 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% |
Thick SNAP store book 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.
Where the store book sits, by town
18 towns share the 260 authorized stores; Merced holds 38% of them. 8 of the 18 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Le Grand, Santa Nella, Snelling, El Nido, Firebaugh, South Dos Palos and 2 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Merced | 100 | 26 |
| Atwater | 37 | 10 |
| Los Banos | 36 | 12 |
| Livingston | 18 | 4 |
| Gustine | 13 | 3 |
| Dos Palos | 12 | 2 |
| Winton | 11 | 2 |
| Delhi | 10 | 3 |
| Planada | 6 | 1 |
| Hilmar | 4 | 1 |
Top 10 of 18 towns by store count.
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
Supermarket · 20
- 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
- raley's 309, merced
- rancho san miguel 23, merced
- rancho san miguel 27, livingston
- save mart 53, merced
- santa nella food center, gustine
- save mart 102, atwater
- save mart 631, los banos
- sprouts farmers market 461, merced
- state market, dos palos
- valley food supermarket, atwater
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
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 (4 shown)
- arcilla's asian market, inc., los banos
- broadway market, planada
- carniceria la mexicana, atwater
- merced indian grocers, merced
Showing 250 of 260 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 California
One of 57 counties in California, 6 are shown here.
Compare Merced County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Nationwide peers for Merced County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Merced County (21.0%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside California.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside CA (18.9% here).
- Lee County, IL · 18.9% low-access
- Parke County, IN · 18.9% low-access
- Daviess County, KY · 18.9% low-access
- West Baton Rouge Parish, LA · 18.9% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside CA (21.0% here).
- Allegany County, MD · 21.0% SNAP
- Dorchester County, MD · 21.0% SNAP
- Clay County, MS · 21.0% SNAP
- Lawrence County, OH · 21.0% 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.
California among Pacific states
California ranks 5th of 5 Pacific states by population-weighted low-access (13.3%). Merced County, at 18.9%, runs 5.6 pts above the California rate.
- Alaska 30.9%
- Hawaii 26.7%
- Washington 23.1%
- Oregon 16.9%
- California 13.3%
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 Merced County, CA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 06047. 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.