PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Florida

Monroe County, FL

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Monroe 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).

33.0%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
7.5%
on SNAP
82K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 FL

The food-access picture

33.0% of Monroe County residents live in a low-access area, and 1 of its 30 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

15
low-access tracts
7K
food-desert residents
6.1%
households, no vehicle
10.6%
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 Monroe County's low-access share at 33.0%, above the national share. 15 of the county's 30 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 24,153 people. 1 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 6,644 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 Monroe County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Monroe County's 33.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 76% of them and ranked #739 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Monroe County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 30 census tracts in Monroe County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Monroe County, FL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 15 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 14 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 30 tracts evaluated. 15 tracts adequate (50.0%) 14 tracts limited (46.7%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (3.3%) Adequate 50% Limited 47% Severe 3% Food-access tier distribution: Monroe County, FL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Monroe County vs. other Florida counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Florida

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Monroe County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts30
Atlas Population (2010 basis)73,090
Low-Access Tracts15
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population24,153
Low-Access Share33.0%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population6,644

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Monroe County
IndicatorValue
Population81,860
Median Household Income$87,738
Poverty Rate10.6%below the national average
SNAP Households2,573
SNAP Participation Rate7.5%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.1%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.9%
SNAP participation in Monroe County 7.5%

About 7.5% of Monroe County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 33.0% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 7.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 2,573 households here.
  • 6.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 1 tract 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 Monroe County

above the national share

1 of Monroe County's 30 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 3.3% of all its tracts.

A further 14 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 15.

An estimated 24,153 residents, roughly 33.0% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 6,644 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 15 tracts (50.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Monroe County

Monroe County has 77 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 37 locations (48% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 37

  • 7-eleven 41148, tavernier
  • atlantic grocery, inc, key west
  • circle k 2701707, key west
  • circle k 2702370, marathon
  • circle k 2702371, key largo
  • circle k 2702375, key largo
  • circle k 2702382, tavernier
  • circle k 2702386, marathon
  • circle k 2705333, key west
  • circle k 2707603, key largo
  • circle k 2708815, key west
  • circle k 2708819, key west
  • circle k 2709000, marathon
  • circle k 2709001, key west
  • circle k 2709002, summerland key
  • circle k 2709003, key west
  • circle k 2709004, key west
  • circle k 2709005, marathon
  • circle k 2709008, islamorada
  • circle k 2709010, big pine key
  • circle k 2709011, key west
  • kent kwik 954, key largo
  • kent kwik 955, marathon
  • kent kwik 956, big pine key
  • kent kwik 957, key west
  • kent kwik 958, tavernier
  • kent kwik 959, key largo
  • kent kwik 960, key largo
  • kent kwik 961, marathon
  • new market, key west
  • racetrac 2624, marathon
  • seaside grocery & deli, key west
  • shell of big pine, big pine key
  • shell of ramrod, summerland key
  • shell of summerland, summerland key
  • speedway 6527, key largo
  • the corner grocery, key west

Combination Grocery/Other · 22

  • cvs 10122, stock island
  • cvs pharmacy 8368, key west
  • cvs pharmacy 10169, key west
  • cvs pharmacy 1103, key largo
  • cvs pharmacy 1274, key west
  • cvs pharmacy 3626, big pine key
  • cvs pharmacy 3779, key west
  • cvs pharmacy 3788, islamorada
  • cvs pharmacy 3981, tavernier
  • dollar tree 4326, key west
  • dollar tree 5250, key largo
  • dollar tree 5431, marathon
  • family dollar 11758, key west
  • family dollar 2792, tavernier
  • family dollar 5795, key largo
  • family dollar store 8450, key largo
  • walgreen 6407, key largo
  • walgreens 07936, big pine key
  • walgreens 13078, marathon
  • walgreens 2777, key west
  • walgreens 3574, marathon
  • walgreens 7089, key west

Supermarket · 14

  • fausto's food palace, key west
  • fausto's food palace ii, key west
  • gordon food service store mp130, key west
  • gordon food service store mp229, key largo
  • publix 500, key west
  • publix 575, marathon
  • publix 1445, key west
  • publix 1495, islamorada
  • publix super markets, inc. 1813, key largo
  • winn dixie 0317, key west
  • winn dixie 328, tavernier
  • winn dixie 352, key largo
  • winn dixie 358, big pine key
  • winn dixie 0267, marathon

Farmers' Market · 1

  • key west truman waterfront farmers market, key west

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • dion c stores 206, key west

Military Commissary · 1

  • key west nas commissary 429, key west

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • la sincerite keys store, key west

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Florida

Alachua County
19.2% low-access · 9.2% SNAP
Baker County
55.6% low-access · 16.7% SNAP
Bay County
31.5% low-access · 12.6% SNAP
Bradford County
1.1% low-access · 17.3% SNAP
Brevard County
41.8% low-access · 9.4% SNAP
Broward County
9.4% low-access · 13.2% SNAP

Compare Monroe County vs Alachua County → · All Florida counties →

Food access nationally, Florida in context

Monroe County sits inside Florida (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Monroe County has low food access? ▼
33.0% of residents in Monroe County, FL live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Monroe County? ▼
7.5% of households in Monroe County receive SNAP, covering 2,573 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Monroe County? ▼
The poverty rate in Monroe County, FL is 10.6%, with a median household income of $87,738 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Monroe County a food desert? ▼
1 of Monroe County's 30 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Monroe County households lack a vehicle? ▼
6.1% of households in Monroe County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.