County food-access profile · Maryland
Montgomery County, MD
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).
- 20.0%
- low-access pop.
- 3
- food-desert tracts
- 7.4%
- on SNAP
- 1.1M
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
20.0% of Montgomery County residents live in a low-access area, and 3 of its 215 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 75
- low-access tracts
- 18K
- food-desert residents
- 8.5%
- households, no vehicle
- 7.5%
- 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 20.0%, above the national share. 75 of the county's 215 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 194,614 people. 3 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 17,802 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 20.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 46% of them and ranked #1,690 most-affected nationwide.
Montgomery County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 215 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 Maryland counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Maryland
- Montgomery
Montgomery County, MD
20 % low-access
- Allegany
Allegany County, MD
30.4 % low-access
- Anne Arundel
Anne Arundel County, MD
33.7 % low-access
- Baltimore city 4.5
Baltimore city, MD
4.5 % low-access
- Baltimore
Baltimore County, MD
21.8 % low-access
- Calvert
Calvert County, MD
38.6 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 215 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 971,777 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 75 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 3 |
| Low-Access Population | 194,614 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.0%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 17,802 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,065,949 |
| Median Household Income | $132,450 |
| Poverty Rate | 7.5%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 28,972 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 7.4%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.5%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.8% |
About 7.4% of Montgomery County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 20.0% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 7.4% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 28,972 households here.
- 8.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 3 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
3 of Montgomery County's 215 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 1.4% of all its tracts.
A further 72 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 75.
An estimated 194,614 residents, roughly 20.0% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 17,802 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 140 tracts (65.1%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Montgomery County
Montgomery County has 377 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 92 locations (24% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 92
- 24/7 best tobacco & grocery, silver spring
- 29 convenience mart, silver spring
- 7 eleven 26997b, ashton
- 7 eleven 35003, germantown
- 7-eleven #29912c 22912c, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven 11590j, kensington
- 7-eleven 11591b, rockville
- 7-eleven 11595c, rockville
- 7-eleven 27669k, germantown
- 7-eleven 28808j, takoma park
- 7-eleven 28864c, germantown
- 7-eleven 32997c, rockville
- 7-eleven 36494k, silver spring
- 7-eleven 39766a, clarksburg
- 7-eleven 39816a 7303, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven 39974a, rockville
- 7-eleven 42678a 2110, rockville
- 7-eleven inc 28903, silver spring
- 7-eleven inc f 11575, olney
- 7-eleven inc f 11580, rockville
- 7-eleven inc f 11581d, silver spring
- 7-eleven inc f 11666c, takoma park
- 7-eleven inc f 11727c, bethesda
- 7-eleven inc f 20294b, rockville
- 7-eleven inc f 23696, silver spring
- 7-eleven inc f 28813, montgomery village
- 7-eleven inc f 28823b, kensington
- 7-eleven inc f 28838, silver spring
- 7-eleven inc f 32882a, germantown
- 7-eleven inc f 32961, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven inc f 32967b, germantown
- 7-eleven inc f 33250a, rockville
- 7-eleven inc f 33708, silver spring
- 7-eleven inc f 34366a, silver spring
- 7-eleven store 11713a, silver spring
- 7-eleven store 26881a, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven, inc. 11570j, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven #33558b 33558b, rockville
- 7-eleven 11572b, silver spring
- 7-eleven 11577c, silver spring
- 7-eleven 11586b, rockville
- 7-eleven 11590b, kensington
- 7-eleven 20096c, silver spring
- 7-eleven 22053b, silver spring
- 7-eleven 22921b, silver spring
- 7-eleven 23693c, derwood
- 7-eleven 23706b, kensington
- 7-eleven 25403c, silver spring
- 7-eleven 25667, silver spring
- 7-eleven 26360c 3, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven 27368c, damascus
- 7-eleven 27591d, germantown
- 7-eleven 28808a, takoma park
- 7-eleven 28840c, bethesda
- 7-eleven 29216b, silver spring
- 7-eleven 29763c, rockville
- 7-eleven 32879c, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven 34140c, germantown
- 7-eleven 34560b, gaithersburg
- 7-eleven 37715a, rockville
- 7-eleven 38133a, takoma park
- 7-eleven 39815a 7301, germantown
- 7-eleven 42092a, boyds
- 7-eleven store 11567d, derwood
- 7-eleven store 28862b, rockville
- 7-eleven store 36460a, gaithersburg
- a plus sunoco 1, takoma park
- addis beer and wine 1, silver spring
- ahadu market, silver spring
- american food mart llc, silver spring
- aspen hills citgo, silver spring
- caravan market and deli, gaithersburg
- dash in 1873, silver spring
- dickerson market, dickerson
- e&c enterprises inc 39789a 7302, germantown
- e&c enterprises inc 39796a 2292, silver spring
- ertters market, silver spring
- gondal enterprises inc. 1, gaithersburg
- gude drive liberty, rockville
- h2 african international market, gaithersburg
- island pride food market, gaithersburg
- lenox beer and wine gourmet market, silver spring
- o portugues, derwood
- ritata mart, silver spring
- royal farms 233, gaithersburg
- selectos supermarket, montgomery village
- sheetz 783, gaithersburg
- sheger international market, takoma park
- sozach convenience inc 1, rockville
- town center sunoco, germantown
- wawa store 8536, gaithersburg
- wheaton shell service, silver spring
Combination Grocery/Other · 80
- adarash market #3 3, rockville
- adarash market #4 4, silver spring
- adarash market 2, silver spring
- african international market 2, gaithersburg
- cvs pharmacy 1459, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1461, burtonsville
- cvs pharmacy 1463, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1490, gaithersburg
- cvs pharmacy 1492, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1499, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1831, bethesda
- cvs pharmacy 2221, kensington
- cvs pharmacy 10321, ashton
- cvs pharmacy 10398, rockville
- cvs pharmacy 10894, rockville
- cvs pharmacy 11452, chevy chase
- cvs pharmacy 1177, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1431, olney
- cvs pharmacy 1441, rockville
- cvs pharmacy 1449, potomac
- cvs pharmacy 1452, gaithersburg
- cvs pharmacy 1468, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1475, bethesda
- cvs pharmacy 1477, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1479, bethesda
- cvs pharmacy 1485, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy 1494, bethesda
- cvs pharmacy 1500, damascus
- cvs pharmacy 1501, montgomery village
- cvs pharmacy 1502, rockville
- cvs pharmacy 1504, derwood
- cvs pharmacy 1513, rockville
- cvs pharmacy 169, rockville
- cvs pharmacy 1797, poolesville
- cvs pharmacy 1879, rockville
- cvs pharmacy 1880, germantown
- cvs pharmacy 5460, germantown
- cvs pharmacy cvs03517, silver spring
- cvs pharmacy cvs11406, gaithersburg
- cvs/pharmacy 11054, clarksburg
- dollar general 18669, germantown
- dollar general 19005, silver spring
- dollar tree 1704, montgomery village
- dollartree 10100, gaithersburg
- dollartree 10695, silver spring
- dollartree 9162, silver spring
- dollartree 9221, silver spring
- dollartree 9355, rockville
- dollar general 14838, poolesville
- dollar tree 1365, montgomery village
- dollar tree 1668, rockville
- dollar tree 1680, silver spring
- dollar tree 4512, rockville
- dollar tree 4983, damascus
- dollar tree 702, silver spring
- dollar tree 7952, derwood
- dollar tree 969, germantown
- ethio plus, silver spring
- fairland international market, silver spring
- family dollar 9293, gaithersburg
- genet ethiopian market, silver spring
- gulele ethioipian market n/a, gaithersburg
- india bazaar 1003, germantown
- lali market, silver spring
- livingwell, silver spring
- maryland international mart, rockville
- megenang etiopian market, silver spring
- mehret ethiopian market, silver spring
- taste of europe, gaithersburg
- walgreens 11140, takoma park
- walgreens 13149, potomac
- walgreens 15117, rockville
- walgreens 17638, potomac
- walgreens 17928, gaithersburg
- walgreens 18255, silver spring
- walgreens 19339, silver spring
- walgreens 19966, germantown
- walgreens 19987, olney
- walimart halal market, silver spring
- wheaton tropical market, wheaton
Medium Grocery Store · 40
- a-one halal meat & grocery, germantown
- americas supermarket store, silver spring
- arat kilo market, silver spring
- aria halal supermarket, rockville
- asadurs market, rockville
- awdamet market, silver spring
- bismillah 355 n/a765, rockville
- dana bazaar, rockville
- deshi bazar, gaithersburg
- el-shahid halal meat and grocery, takoma park
- engocha market, silver spring
- ethio sangam spices, silver spring
- european delight, rockville
- f martinez market corporation, silver spring
- food world, germantown
- gaithersburg supermarket llc, gaithersburg
- global international grocery inc, silver spring
- gotera depot, silver spring
- grocerylanka, kensington
- guru groceries & chaat house 3012514400, bethesda
- hung phat, wheaton
- la carreta grocery, gaithersburg
- la mixteca grocery store 1, silver spring
- la salvadorenita grocery, silver spring
- latino market & jewelry, silver spring
- medina market, gaithersburg
- miguelenos latin market, rockville
- mundo market ii, silver spring
- nannfe market, germantown
- nazareno market, germantown
- nazret import llc, silver spring
- parivar grocery, rockville
- russian gourmets, rockville
- spicy america inc, silver spring
- spicey mart, silver spring
- takoma park grocery store, takoma park
- tropical latino market, montgomery village
- twinbrook myanmar mini mart, rockville
- village bazaar halal meat & grocery, gaithersburg
- zam zam market, gaithersburg
Small Grocery Store · 11
- a & h convenience market, silver spring
- african caribbean market, montgomery village
- african international market inc. 1, germantown
- el amigo grocery, silver spring
- euro market, germantown
- famas market, silver spring
- golden bakery & market, derwood
- selam ethio market, silver spring
- white oak towers convenience store, llc 3016225382, silver spring
- world fashion international african food 1, takoma park
- y and e incorporated 1, takoma park
Large Grocery Store · 10
- americana grocery of md, silver spring
- adarash market 1, silver spring
- all african food stores, gaithersburg
- angkor super market, silver spring
- bethesda community food store, inc, cabin john
- germantown halal meat & grocery, germantown
- gourmet bazaar, rockville
- india bazaar 1001, gaithersburg
- international food warehouse, gaithersburg
- universal supermarket inc, takoma park
Farmers' Market · 9
- city of gaithersburg farmer's market, gaithersburg
- crossroads farmers market, takoma park
- freshfarm downtown silver spring farmers market, silver spring
- freshfarm centronia langley park market, takoma park
- milk lady markets, derwood
- olney farmers market nafmnp, olney
- rockville farmers market, rockville
- shady grove farmers market, rockville
- takoma park farmers market, takoma park
Super Store · 3
- amazon fresh maf1, chevy chase
- amazon fresh mag5, chevy chase
- amazon fresh mah5, gaithersburg
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2
- el gaucho meat and fish 1, silver spring
- rockville gourmet halal market, rockville
Delivery Route · 1
- community farmshare, derwood
Military Commissary · 1
- forest glen commissary 2532, silver spring
Seafood Specialty · 1
- ocean city seafood llc, silver spring
Showing 250 of 377 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Maryland
Compare Montgomery County vs Allegany County → · All Maryland counties →
Food access nationally, Maryland in context
Montgomery County sits inside Maryland (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.