Signature · 30 SNAP-authorized stores

Montgomery County, NC

Montgomery 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.

17.0%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
18.6%
on SNAP
26K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NC

USDA FARA access plate

County Montgomery County, NC

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-MODERATE 17.0% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -5.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-HEAVY 18.6% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 17% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Edgecombe County (+ 0.6 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Montgomery County ranks #1,945 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #51 of 100 counties in NC (17.0% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,945
national by low-access %
#51
in NC
1
low-access tracts
2K
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: 30 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Montgomery County compares nationally

Montgomery County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.0% low-access share that beats 38% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,948).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Montgomery County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Montgomery County, NC USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 6 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (83.3%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (16.7%) Adequate 83% Limited 0% Severe 17% Food-access tier distribution: Montgomery County, NC
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Montgomery County has 1 urban and 5 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Montgomery County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in North Carolina, not a full county-board reprint

% 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 Montgomery County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts6
Atlas Population (2010 basis)27,798
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population4,713
Low-Access Share17.0%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,908

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Montgomery County
IndicatorValue
Population26,007
Median Household Income$57,766
Poverty Rate15.4%near the national average
SNAP Households1,984
SNAP Participation Rate18.6%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.8%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.9%

Thick SNAP store book in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has 30 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 11 locations (37% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 11

  • dollar general 14587, candor
  • dollar general 4651, biscoe
  • dollar general 4819, troy
  • dollar general 9177, mount gilead
  • dollar general 16006, new london
  • dollar general 16843, mount gilead
  • dollar general 23819, star
  • dollar tree 5687, biscoe
  • family dollar 1315, troy
  • family dollar 7053, candor
  • moon asian market, mount gilead

Convenience Store · 10

  • c's, mount gilead
  • dd express biscoe, biscoe
  • e-zee gas, biscoe
  • home market, jackson springs
  • murphy usa 6556, biscoe
  • pilot travel center 6978, candor
  • ready mart inc. 5, biscoe
  • refuel 1140, troy
  • refuel 1155, biscoe
  • refuel 1157, mount gilead

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • fruteria lupita, candor
  • la cosecha llc, biscoe

Supermarket · 2

  • food king #1, troy
  • food king #2, biscoe

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • panaderia y pasteleria melanie, biscoe

Farmers' Market · 1

  • parsons farm, candor

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • la yurirense inc, candor

Seafood Specialty · 1

  • papa giant's fresh seafood market, mount gilead

Super Store · 1

  • walmart supercenter 2908, biscoe

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in North Carolina

One of 99 counties in North Carolina, 6 are shown here.

Compare Montgomery County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →

Nationwide peers for Montgomery County's low-access or SNAP share

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Montgomery County, both outside North Carolina so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NC (17.0% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NC (18.6% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Food access nationally, North Carolina in context

Montgomery County sits inside North Carolina (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

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

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 Montgomery County, NC are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 37123. 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.