Signature · 287 SNAP-authorized stores
Monterey County, CA
Monterey 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.
- 16.6%
- low-access pop.
- 3
- food-desert tracts
- 9.6%
- on SNAP
- 438K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Monterey County, CA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-MODERATE 16.6% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -5.5 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 3 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 9.6% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.7% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 3% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Sacramento County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Monterey County ranks #1,981 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #33 of 58 counties in CA (16.6% low-access; 3 food-desert tracts).
- #1,981
- national by low-access %
- #33
- in CA
- 21
- low-access tracts
- 21K
- 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: 287 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Monterey County compares nationally
Monterey County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.6% low-access share that beats 37% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,981).
Monterey County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
93 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.
Monterey County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (77 urban, 16 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 16 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Monterey County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in California, not a full county-board reprint
- Sierra
Sierra 88.2%
88.2 % low-access
- San Benito 17.9
San Benito 17.9%
17.9 % low-access
- Imperial 17.6
Imperial 17.6%
17.6 % low-access
- Trinity 17.6
Trinity 17.6%
17.6 % low-access
- Sacramento 16.8
Sacramento 16.8%
16.8 % low-access
- Monterey 16.6
Monterey 16.6%
16.6 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador 0.2%
0.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 93 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 415,057 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 21 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 3 |
| Low-Access Population | 69,023 |
| Low-Access Share | 16.6%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 21,089 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 437,613 |
| Median Household Income | $97,230 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.7%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 12,764 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.6%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.7%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 4.4% |
Thick SNAP store book in Monterey County
Monterey County has 287 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 116 locations (40% of the total), followed by supermarket.
Where the store book sits, by town
28 towns share the 287 authorized stores; Salinas holds 45% of them. 11 of the 28 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Aromas, Carmel Valley, Bradley, Fort Hunter Liggett, Monterrey, Moss Landing and 5 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas | 129 | 46 |
| Seaside | 25 | 9 |
| Marina | 21 | 7 |
| Monterey | 17 | 5 |
| Soledad | 16 | 5 |
| Greenfield | 15 | 5 |
| King City | 15 | 5 |
| Carmel | 8 | 4 |
| Castroville | 7 | 3 |
| Pacific Grove | 6 | 4 |
Top 10 of 28 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 116
- 127 market, salinas
- 7 eleven 16747g, seaside
- 7 eleven 16981d, king city
- 7 eleven 20176c 20176c, salinas
- 7 eleven 23135d, monterey
- 7 eleven 2367 24544c, salinas
- 7 eleven 2367 33011c, monterey
- 7 eleven 2367-38403a 38403a, monterey
- 7 eleven 2368-35065a 35065a, salinas
- 7 eleven 25784c 25784c, monterey
- 7 eleven 25802c 25802c, marina
- 7 eleven 2710-37946a 37946a, seaside
- 7 eleven 32264b, salinas
- 7-eleven 14295 e, salinas
- 7-eleven 17327 e, salinas
- 7-eleven 27906c, salinas
- 7-eleven store #24340 f, salinas
- 7-eleven, inc. 29737h, seaside
- acme chevron 5743, salinas
- alta liquors, gonzales
- alta market, gonzales
- arco ampm 7048, king city
- arco greenfield, greenfield
- aromas mobil, aromas
- bozzo's liquor, salinas
- broadway market, seaside
- castroville general store 1, castroville
- central gas, salinas
- central liquor, salinas
- chevron 100, soledad
- chevron 1547, carmel
- chevron 1715, monterey
- chevron 202, greenfield
- circle k 2726004, salinas
- ciudad del rey store, king city
- clay's liquor, salinas
- clays liquor on laurel, salinas
- clearwater express 5779, salinas
- corral market liquor store & deli, salinas
- csumb - monterey bay otter express 56754, seaside
- dulceria vargas, salinas
- east market shell 001, salinas
- el milagro market, salinas
- el nopalito, soledad
- el toro liquor & taqueria, salinas
- el valle market, spreckels
- elkhorn superette, castroville
- express mart, salinas
- extramile 207, king city
- fastrip 9912, greenfield
- food corner market, seaside
- full stop market, king city
- g l liquor, salinas
- greenfield market, greenfield
- guadalajara bakery, salinas
- hasco stations, llc 8022, salinas
- hasco stations, llc 8023, salinas
- hasco stations, llc 8024, marina
- hasco stations, llc 8025, pacific grove
- hasco stations, llc 8027, carmel
- hasco stations, llc 8028, carmel
- hasco stations, llc 8029, soledad
- hot stop market, inc., salinas
- hasco stations 8078, salinas
- jimmys market llc, salinas
- joemary ampm, salinas
- john st petroleum, salinas
- kasey's, carmel valley
- kimmies cork n bottle, salinas
- kk market, salinas
- la michoacana, salinas
- la bodeguita liquor, inc., salinas
- la reina mini market, royal oaks
- lassen market, soledad
- los primos market, salinas
- love's travel stop 898, salinas
- mal's market, seaside
- ml liqours, moss landing
- marina chevron 050, marina
- martinez tortilleria, king city
- martinez tortilleria y panaderia, greenfield
- mi fiesta liquor, soledad
- nopal market 1, salinas
- oak avenue mart 01, greenfield
- old firehouse market, aromas
- ord food & liquor, marina
- ord terrace liquors, seaside
- penny saver market, marina
- pilot travel center 237, salinas
- pine canyon store, king city
- pleyto store, bradley
- prunedale fuel and food, salinas
- quality market, salinas
- quik mart, salinas
- quik save, salinas
- quik stop market 5053, salinas
- quik stop market 550085, salinas
- quik stop market 550090, monterey
- rainbow market & smoke shop, salinas
- rocket 5686, monterrey
- royal oaks market, royal oaks
- san miguel market, salinas
- salinas ampm, salinas
- salinas chevron 048, salinas
- salinas main inc, salinas
- salinas petro, salinas
- san ardo liquor & gas, san ardo
- san lorenzo liquor, king city
- santa cruz market, salinas
- shop n save # 001, soledad
- shop n save # 02, salinas
- star 1 mart, salinas
- tom's liquors, salinas
- tony's market, salinas
- valley liquor, soledad
- west market valero, salinas
Supermarket · 37
- andronico's community market 173, monterey
- carniceria la barata, king city
- cornucopia community market, carmel
- el pueblo 2, soledad
- el pueblo food, king city
- el rey meat market, salinas
- el super 36, salinas
- elroy's fine foods, monterey
- food maxx 405, salinas
- food 4 less 8, salinas
- grocery outlet soledad 515, soledad
- grove market inc, pacific grove
- la princesa market 11, greenfield
- la princesa market inc 1, salinas
- lucky 724, marina
- lucky 738, pacific grove
- lucky 772, seaside
- lucky 747, salinas
- lucky california 703, carmel
- nob hill foods 607, salinas
- pajaro food center, royal oaks
- prunedale grocery outlet 438, salinas
- rancho san miguel 25, greenfield
- safeway 1110, salinas
- safeway 1204, prunedale
- safeway 1232, king city
- safeway 2654, salinas
- safeway 2669, carmel
- safeway 706, carmel
- safeway 761, pacific grove
- safeway 2841, del rey oaks
- salinas meats, salinas
- santa fe mercados inc 8, gonzales
- trader joe's marina 261, marina
- trader joe's 204, monterey
- trader joe's 79, pacific grove
- vallarta supermarkets 57, salinas
Combination Grocery/Other · 32
- anitas market, seaside
- asian market 1, marina
- cvs pharmacy 1300, salinas
- cvs pharmacy 3050, marina
- cvs pharmacy 3051, salinas
- cvs pharmacy 3056, soledad
- cvs pharmacy 9186, salinas
- cvs pharmacy 9320, monterey
- cvs pharmacy 9349, salinas
- cvs pharmacy 9506, salinas
- cvs pharmacy 9612, carmel
- cvs pharmacy 9802, monterey
- chons market, marina
- dollar general 14263, salinas
- dollar general 17815, greenfield
- dollartree 10409, salinas
- dollar tree 1389, salinas
- dollar tree 2183, seaside
- dollar tree 2953, king city
- dollar tree 3632, salinas
- dollar tree 4202, marina
- dollar tree 5491, greenfield
- dollar tree 5852, salinas
- dollar tree 6178, monterey
- el rey market, greenfield
- hong's market, marina
- kim's market, marina
- las lomas market 1, royal oaks
- walgreens 02606, salinas
- walgreens 07081, monterey
- walgreens 2867, seaside
- walgreens 4997, marina
Medium Grocery Store · 24
- bingo market, soledad
- calidad market y carniceria, salinas
- camacho produce 1, seaside
- chualar mart, chualar
- dulceria el guero, salinas
- el guero ii, salinas
- espinosa produce, salinas
- filipino-indian supermarket, seaside
- international market & deli, monterey
- jalisco market, gonzales
- juquilita market, salinas
- la corona market, salinas
- la esperanza market, greenfield
- la placita mercado y carniceria, soledad
- la plazita market, salinas
- la reynas supermarket, castroville
- la vina market carniceria 4, salinas
- maritza's market, salinas
- neighborhood market & taqueria, salinas
- oak park market, salinas
- primavera market, castroville
- ron's market 1, salinas
- salinas market, salinas
- tienda la michoacana, greenfield
Super Store · 24
- cardenas 205, salinas
- costco wholesale 0131, sand city
- costco wholesale 0472, salinas
- foods co 769, salinas
- foods co 387, soledad
- grocery outlet marina 75, marina
- grocery outlet of salinas 68, salinas
- grocery outlet of seaside 234, seaside
- mercado la princesa, salinas
- princesa market, salinas
- smart & final 431, salinas
- smart & final 455, seaside
- star market, salinas
- salinas fresh produce, salinas
- santa fe foods, castroville
- santa fe foods 04, salinas
- santa fe foods 7, seaside
- target store t-0676, salinas
- target store t-1062, sand city
- target store t-2306, marina
- walmart 2458, salinas
- walmart 4488, marina
- walmart 5751, salinas
- whole foods market 10087, monterey
Small Grocery Store · 20 (17 shown)
- del monte asian market, marina
- filipinas asian/mexican market, seaside
- hayato, seaside
- la esperanza market, salinas
- las palmas market, soledad
- las palmas produce, salinas
- leal's bakery, salinas
- los primos market, salinas
- mabuhay filipino oriental market 1, salinas
- mexico meat market, watsonville
- michoacan produce inc 1, salinas
- monterey halal market, seaside
- primetime 564, seaside
- primetime nutrition 504, salinas
- primetime nutrition 511, salinas
- primetime nutrition 514, king city
- primetime nutrition 524, soledad
Showing 250 of 287 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 Monterey County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Nationwide peers for Monterey County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Monterey County, both outside California so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside CA (16.6% here).
- Butts County, GA · 16.6% low-access
- Shelby County, IN · 16.6% low-access
- Buena Vista County, IA · 16.6% low-access
- Meade County, KY · 16.6% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside CA (9.6% here).
- Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK · 9.6% SNAP
- Lake County, FL · 9.6% SNAP
- Gilmer County, GA · 9.6% SNAP
- Hall County, GA · 9.6% 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%). Monterey County, at 16.6%, runs 3.3 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 Monterey County, CA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 06053. 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.