County food-access profile · Alabama
Montgomery County, AL
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Montgomery 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).
- 27.7%
- low-access pop.
- 18
- food-desert tracts
- 20.2%
- on SNAP
- 227K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
27.7% of Montgomery County residents live in a low-access area, and 18 of its 65 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 30
- low-access tracts
- 25K
- food-desert residents
- 6.6%
- households, no vehicle
- 19.9%
- 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 Montgomery County's low-access share at 27.7%, above the national share. 30 of the county's 65 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 63,498 people. 18 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 24,643 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 Montgomery County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Montgomery County's 27.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 65% of them and ranked #1,104 most-affected nationwide.
Montgomery County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 65 census tracts in Montgomery County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Montgomery County vs. other Alabama counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Alabama
- Montgomery
Montgomery County, AL
27.7 % low-access
- Autauga
Autauga County, AL
33.9 % low-access
- Baldwin
Baldwin County, AL
25.1 % low-access
- Barbour
Barbour County, AL
20.5 % low-access
- Bibb 1.6
Bibb County, AL
1.6 % low-access
- Blount 6.8
Blount County, AL
6.8 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 65 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 229,363 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 30 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 18 |
| Low-Access Population | 63,498 |
| Low-Access Share | 27.7%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 24,643 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 226,718 |
| Median Household Income | $59,386 |
| Poverty Rate | 19.9%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 18,479 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 20.2%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.6%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.8% |
About 20.2% of Montgomery County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 27.7% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 20.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 18,479 households here.
- 6.6% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 18 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 Montgomery County
above the national share
18 of Montgomery County's 65 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 27.7% of all its tracts.
A further 12 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 30.
An estimated 63,498 residents, roughly 27.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 24,643 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 35 tracts (53.8%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Montgomery County
Montgomery County has 243 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 133 locations (55% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 133
- 31 pacecar, montgomery
- 4 way stop, montgomery
- ada marathon, ramer
- air base 755, montgomery
- airtec, montgomery
- ann street food mart, montgomery
- b & j grocery, montgomery
- balaji indian supermarket, montgomery
- beeline, montgomery
- beeline 629, montgomery
- big cat, montgomery
- bk's shell, montgomery
- blue store, montgomery
- capital heights mini mart, montgomery
- chevron food mart, montgomery
- chevron montgomery, montgomery
- circle k 2706739, montgomery
- circle k 2709066, montgomery
- circle k 2709069, montgomery
- circle k 2709071, montgomery
- circle k 2709081, montgomery
- circle k 2723673, montgomery
- circle k 2723690, montgomery
- circle k ck706, montgomery
- circle k store 2706629, montgomery
- circle k store 2706631, montgomery
- circle k store 2706633, montgomery
- circle k store 2709313, montgomery
- circle k store 2709332, montgomery
- citgo, montgomery
- citgo 10, montgomery
- citgo 14, montgomery
- citgo food mart, montgomery
- citgo food mart, montgomery
- citgo food mart, montgomery
- citgo food mart, montgomery
- citgo mart, montgomery
- clever food store, montgomery
- coliseum 2018; marathon, montgomery
- cook station, montgomery
- double b convenience store, hope hull
- east dale food mart, montgomery
- exxon 630, montgomery
- fairground food mart, montgomery
- fairview convenience store, montgomery
- flowers bakery outlet 4, montgomery
- gas depot, montgomery
- gas express llc ck 705, pike road
- gas express llc d/b/a circle k 710, montgomery
- gas express llc d/b/a circle k ck 709, montgomery
- gas express llc d/b/a circle k ck 712, montgomery
- gas express llc d/b/a extra mile 713, montgomery
- gas express llc dba circle k 701, montgomery
- gas express llc dba circle k 702, montgomery
- gas express llc dba circle k 704, montgomery
- gas express llc dba kangaroo express 703, montgomery
- gibson food mart, montgomery
- health wise foods inc, montgomery
- hopehull chevron, hope hull
- jet mart, montgomery
- k and g food mart, montgomery
- kwik mart, montgomery
- kwik serve 2, montgomery
- kwik serve 5, montgomery
- kwik shop, montgomery
- kwik shop, montgomery
- kwik shop hope hull 114, hope hull
- liberty food mart, montgomery
- lion's pride #101, montgomery
- lion's pride #102, montgomery
- lion's pride #103, montgomery
- lion's pride 16, montgomery
- lions pride 106, montgomery
- lions pride 107, montgomery
- lions pride 3, montgomery
- lixsor food mart, montgomery
- love's travel shop 718, hope hull
- mapco express, inc. 7516, montgomery
- mapco express, inc. 7517, montgomery
- marathon food mart, montgomery
- mclemore retail inc, montgomery
- metro petro, montgomery
- metro petro, montgomery
- montgomery deli and food inc, montgomery
- murphy usa 6728, montgomery
- murphy usa 7339, montgomery
- murphy usa 7501, montgomery
- murphy usa 7556, montgomery
- narrow lane food mart, montgomery
- narrowlane pace car, montgomery
- new golden llc 2, montgomery
- northchase chevron, montgomery
- one stop, montgomery
- payless food mart, montgomery
- petro plus, montgomery
- pit stop, montgomery
- plas super food mart, montgomery
- poblana grocery mart, montgomery
- poblana grocery mart, montgomery
- pure food mart, montgomery
- pure food mart, montgomery
- quick serve 38, montgomery
- quiktrip 7174, montgomery
- quiktrip 7175, montgomery
- raceway 700, montgomery
- racetrac 2670, montgomery
- raceway 6711, montgomery
- raceway 926, montgomery
- ram marketing, montgomery
- red cow convenience store, montgomery
- road runner, montgomery
- road runner 1, montgomery
- saveway truck plaza, hope hull
- shell, montgomery
- shopper stop, montgomery
- southwest chevron, montgomery
- speedway 1012, hope hull
- speedway 1506, montgomery
- stop and go, montgomery
- stuckey's, hope hull
- sunoco food mart, montgomery
- the goat, llc, montgomery
- traders island, pike road
- trenae's boutique, montgomery
- troy hwy chevron, pike road
- twinkle inc, grady
- us foodmart & beauty supply, montgomery
- variedad hispana market, montgomery
- varsity convenience store, montgomery
- wow foods & beverage, montgomery
- z tec 645, montgomery
- ztec, montgomery
- ztec atlanta hwy, montgomery
Combination Grocery/Other · 56
- cvs pharmacy 3095, montgomery
- cvs pharmacy 4856, montgomery
- cvs pharmacy 4895, montgomery
- cvs pharmacy 4906, montgomery
- cvs pharmacy 4947, montgomery
- cvs pharmacy 585, pike road
- cvs pharmacy 7063, montgomery
- cvs pharmacy 4894, montgomery
- dollar general 0471, montgomery
- dollar general 0648, montgomery
- dollar general 1214, montgomery
- dollar general 14119, montgomery
- dollar general 14169, montgomery
- dollar general 14350, pike road
- dollar general 1484, montgomery
- dollar general 1557, montgomery
- dollar general 6612, montgomery
- dollar general 7039, montgomery
- dollar general 7267, montgomery
- dollar general 9638, montgomery
- dollartree 9229, montgomery
- dollartree 9913, montgomery
- dollartree plus 9075, montgomery
- dollartree plus 9209, montgomery
- dollar general 13444, montgomery
- dollar general 13446, montgomery
- dollar general 15676, montgomery
- dollar general 15908, montgomery
- dollar general 16117, montgomery
- dollar general 22786, montgomery
- dollar general 23910, ramer
- dollar general 24599, montgomery
- dollar general store 17102, montgomery
- dollar general store 17394, ramer
- dollar tree 0114, montgomery
- dollar tree 153, montgomery
- dollar tree 3001, montgomery
- dollar tree 3189, montgomery
- dollar tree 4839, montgomery
- dollar tree 5248, montgomery
- dollar tree 8388, montgomery
- dollar tree 8583, montgomery
- family dollar 10659, montgomery
- family dollar 11040, montgomery
- family dollar 12356, montgomery
- family dollar 12428, montgomery
- family dollar 1633, montgomery
- family dollar store 10956, montgomery
- family dollar store 4280, montgomery
- family dollar store 8414, montgomery
- palmers produce, montgomery
- tropical foods mart, montgomery
- walgreens 13158, montgomery
- walgreens 2203, montgomery
- walgreens 7746, montgomery
- walgreens 9456, montgomery
Super Store · 16
- capitol supermarket, montgomery
- costco wholesale 1009, montgomery
- eastbrook food outlet, montgomery
- meat city supermarket, montgomery
- piggly wiggly 74, montgomery
- renfroe's market 708, montgomery
- renfroe's market 712 712, montgomery
- renfroe's market- mcgehee road, montgomery
- sam's club 8106, montgomery
- target store 1825, montgomery
- walmart neighborhood market 4672, montgomery
- walmart neighborhood market 4691, montgomery
- walmart supercenter 5348, montgomery
- walmart supercenter 4407, montgomery
- walmart supercenter 930, montgomery
- walmart supercenter 938, montgomery
Supermarket · 16
- aldi 76109, montgomery
- aldi 82005, montgomery
- aldi 82242, montgomery
- cloverland ag, montgomery
- db montgomery llc, montgomery
- fresh value montgomery 93, montgomery
- meat city, montgomery
- montgomery cash & carry, montgomery
- publix 1024, montgomery
- publix 1026, montgomery
- publix 1027, montgomery
- publix 1025, montgomery
- publix super markets, inc. 1756, pike road
- the fresh market 045, montgomery
- winn-dixie 446, montgomery
- winn dixie 448, montgomery
Small Grocery Store · 10
- 231 fuel stop, pike road
- el paisano, montgomery
- la costa market, montgomery
- sylvias produce, lapine
- tienda el manantial # 2 1, montgomery
- tienda el manantial 1, montgomery
- tienda hispana, montgomery
- tienda hispana 4 llc, montgomery
- tienda la bendicion 1, montgomery
- tienda los hermanos, montgomery
Seafood Specialty · 4
- brother's seafood and grill, montgomery
- clay seafood market, llc, montgomery
- destin connection seafood market, montgomery
- j&d seafood, montgomery
Medium Grocery Store · 3
- asian super market, montgomery
- el chido, montgomery
- highland meat and grocery, montgomery
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 2
- nadis au naturelle, montgomery
- wright's produce, llc, montgomery
Military Commissary · 2
- gunter afb commissary 223, montgomery
- maxwell afb commissary 232, maxwell afb
Farmers' Market · 1
- fairview farmers market, montgomery
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Alabama
Compare Montgomery County vs Autauga County → · All Alabama counties →
Food access nationally, Alabama in context
Montgomery County sits inside Alabama (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 Montgomery County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Montgomery County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Montgomery County? ▼
Is Montgomery County a food desert? ▼
What share of Montgomery 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.