County food-access profile · California
Orange County, CA
Orange 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.
- 8.7%
- low-access pop.
- 6
- food-desert tracts
- 8.5%
- on SNAP
- 3.2M
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
8.7% of Orange County residents live in a low-access area, and 6 of its 582 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 115
- low-access tracts
- 34K
- food-desert residents
- 4.8%
- households, no vehicle
- 9.5%
- 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).
Orange County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 8.7% per the USDA Atlas. 115 of the county's 582 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 261,041 residents who live far from a supermarket. 6 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 33,752 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 Orange County compares nationally
Orange County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 8.7% low-access share that beats 17% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,586).
Orange County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 582 census tracts in Orange County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Orange County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- Orange 8.7
Orange County, CA
8.7 % low-access
- Alameda 8.1
Alameda County, CA
8.1 % low-access
- Alpine
Alpine County, CA
57 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador County, CA
0.2 % low-access
- Butte 19.1
Butte County, CA
19.1 % low-access
- Calaveras 14.7
Calaveras County, CA
14.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 582 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 3,010,232 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 115 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 6 |
| Low-Access Population | 261,041 |
| Low-Access Share | 8.7%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 33,752 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,165,820 |
| Median Household Income | $116,289 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.5%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 91,924 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 8.5%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.8%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.7% |
About 8.5% of Orange County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 8.7% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 8.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 91,924 households here.
- 4.8% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 6 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 Orange County
near the national share
6 of Orange County's 582 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 1.0% of all its tracts.
A further 109 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 115.
An estimated 261,041 residents, roughly 8.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 33,752 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 467 tracts (80.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Orange County
Orange County has 1,496 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 205 locations (14% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 205
- afrikana market, anaheim
- ambala sweets & spices, anaheim
- anh minh supermarket, westminster
- best vegetarian world, santa ana
- boutique samoa market 3, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 09758, la habra
- cvs pharmacy 10223, la habra
- cvs pharmacy 10225, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 10806, tustin
- cvs pharmacy 11111, brea
- cvs pharmacy 3057, laguna niguel
- cvs pharmacy 4043, los alamitos
- cvs pharmacy 5837, buena park
- cvs pharmacy 5841, santa ana
- cvs pharmacy 6710, ladera ranch
- cvs pharmacy 6768, irvine
- cvs pharmacy 6770, rancho santa margarita
- cvs pharmacy 6782, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 7079, fullerton
- cvs pharmacy 7088, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 819, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 8830, costa mesa
- cvs pharmacy 8834, foothill ranch
- cvs pharmacy 8843, seal beach
- cvs pharmacy 8846, trabuco canyon
- cvs pharmacy 8849, santa ana
- cvs pharmacy 8850, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 8855, santa ana
- cvs pharmacy 8861, buena park
- cvs pharmacy 8862, garden grove
- cvs pharmacy 8863, laguna niguel
- cvs pharmacy 8869, irvine
- cvs pharmacy 8872, aliso viejo
- cvs pharmacy 8874, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 8877, tustin
- cvs pharmacy 8880, laguna niguel
- cvs pharmacy 8881, newport beach
- cvs pharmacy 8882, san clemente
- cvs pharmacy 8883, santa ana
- cvs pharmacy 8885, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 8890, tustin
- cvs pharmacy 8891, mission viejo
- cvs pharmacy 8893, san clemente
- cvs pharmacy 9119, orange
- cvs pharmacy 9242, mission viejo
- cvs pharmacy 9246, laguna woods
- cvs pharmacy 9373, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 9481, stanton
- cvs pharmacy 9483, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 9484, costa mesa
- cvs pharmacy 9485, mission viejo
- cvs pharmacy 9486, irvine
- cvs pharmacy 9491, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 9492, yorba linda
- cvs pharmacy 9497, irvine
- cvs pharmacy 9510, westminster
- cvs pharmacy 9540, newport beach
- cvs pharmacy 9551, seal beach
- cvs pharmacy 9555, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 9560, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 9561, irvine
- cvs pharmacy 9562, irvine
- cvs pharmacy 9569, fountain valley
- cvs pharmacy 9575, cypress
- cvs pharmacy 9577, huntington beach
- cvs pharmacy 9581, dana point
- cvs pharmacy 9583, santa ana
- cvs pharmacy 9587, lake forest
- cvs pharmacy 9591, laguna beach
- cvs pharmacy 9598, fullerton
- cvs pharmacy 9725, orange
- cvs pharmacy 9744, orange
- cvs pharmacy 9747, placentia
- cvs pharmacy 9753, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 9759, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 9760, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 9762, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 9774, anaheim
- cvs pharmacy 9831, la habra
- cvs pharmacy 9863, costa mesa
- cvs pharmacy 9905, yorba linda
- cvs pharmacy 9912, dana point
- cvs pharmacy 9924, laguna niguel
- cvs pharmacy cvs11420, corona del mar
- cali foodies wholesale, garden grove
- carniceria la costenita, santa ana
- cecinas perez 1, santa ana
- chung's grocery, garden grove
- corredor oaxaqueno oc, anaheim
- dollartree 10421, anaheim
- dollartree 10494, cypress
- dollartree 10498, brea
- dollartree 10520, huntington beach
- dollartree 10537, huntington beach
- dollartree 10542, placentia
- dollartree 10552, huntington beach
- dollartree 10556, orange
- dollartree 10564, tustin
- dollartree 10571, tustin
- dollartree 10572, santa ana
- dollartree 10891, orange
- dollartree 8702, aliso viejo
- dollartree 8775, la habra
- dollartree 8867, anaheim
- dollartree 8918, orange
- dollartree 9636, la palma
- dollartree 9670, fullerton
- dale mini market 1, anaheim
- dollar tree 1823, cypress
- dollar tree 1924, anaheim
- dollar tree 1954, la habra
- dollar tree 2039, fullerton
- dollar tree 2053, garden grove
- dollar tree 2325, orange
- dollar tree 2474, westminster
- dollar tree 3262, buena park
- dollar tree 4021, mission viejo
- dollar tree 4307, westminster
- dollar tree 4370, fountain valley
- dollar tree 4437, fullerton
- dollar tree 4525, capistrano beach
- dollar tree 4530, santa ana
- dollar tree 4678, garden grove
- dollar tree 4714, santa ana
- dollar tree 4725, garden grove
- dollar tree 4758, tustin
- dollar tree 4788, buena park
- dollar tree 4933, orange
- dollar tree 5010, fountain valley
- dollar tree 5023, seal beach
- dollar tree 5053, huntington beach
- dollar tree 5131, anaheim
- dollar tree 5335, costa mesa
- dollar tree 5341, san juan capistrano
- dollar tree 5706, mission viejo
- dollar tree 5862, santa ana
- dollar tree 5864, buena park
- dollar tree 7201, laguna woods
- dollar tree 7374, fountain valley
- dollar tree 7741, trabuco canyon
- dollar tree 8282, foothill ranch
- dollar tree 8283, placentia
- dollar tree 8293, westminster
- dollar tree 8611, san clemente
- dollar tree 8622, lake forest
- dollar tree 8623, anaheim
- dollartree 9135, lake forest
- el toro meat market, santa ana
- el pollotote pollo fresco 2, anaheim
- ha met jackfruit, garden grove
- india spices and groceries inc., tustin
- international india bazaar, fullerton
- kotto market, fullerton
- la aguila market, westminster
- la bahia de acapulco market, santa ana
- little india 1, fullerton
- maponaru, garden grove
- mother's market & kitchen, anaheim
- mother's market & kitchen, brea
- mother's market & kitchen, costa mesa
- mother's market & kitchen, santa ana
- mother's market & kitchen, irvine
- mother's market & kitchen, laguna woods
- mother's market & kitchen, huntington beach
- mr pollo fresco, garden grove
- mr. pollo fresco inc., garden grove
- nam hoa market, garden grove
- namaste plaza, irvine
- nina's indian and british grocery, lake forest
- oc mart, garden grove
- pollo fresco llc, anaheim
- santa ana market, santa ana
- tambuli seafood market, cypress
- terrible's 285, newport beach
- thaison noodles, inc., westminster
- urthly vegan market, garden grove
- walgreens 01750, fullerton
- walgreens 02162, westminster
- walgreens 05672, la habra
- walgreens 05744, anaheim
- walgreens 05771, huntington beach
- walgreens 05881, huntington beach
- walgreens 05972, garden grove
- walgreens 06157, anaheim
- walgreens 06187, garden grove
- walgreens 06215, fullerton
- walgreens 06388, santa ana
- walgreens 06954, anaheim
- walgreens 06975, laguna niguel
- walgreens 07286, tustin
- walgreens 07629, cypress
- walgreens 07679, buena park
- walgreens 09089, huntington beach
- walgreens 09197, placentia
- walgreens 09883, irvine
- walgreens 10336, orange
- walgreens 11241, aliso viejo
- walgreens 11652, costa mesa
- walgreens 11786, irvine
- walgreens 12140, huntington beach
- walgreens 12573, fountain valley
- walgreens 12916, rancho santa margarita
- walgreens 9534, fountain valley
- walgreens 9977, anaheim
- young's market, garden grove
Convenience Store · 43
- #1 chilled beer & vino grocery mart, la habra
- .bp ampm arco 42373, buena park
- 10951 imperial hwy inc 47050, stanton
- 17 food store, buena park
- 1st and fairview market, santa ana
- 7 eleven # 25985 25985, yorba linda
- 7 eleven 26846c, irvine
- 7 eleven 34344b, huntington beach
- 7 eleven store 13779 a, garden grove
- 7 eleven store 13794d, costa mesa
- 7 eleven store 13795 b, costa mesa
- 7 eleven store 13801 e, laguna hills
- 7 eleven store 13823 g, fountain valley
- 7 eleven store 14009 a, brea
- 7 eleven store 16927 a, fountain valley
- 7 eleven store 16995 d, fullerton
- 7 eleven store 17032e, anaheim
- 7 eleven store 17171 c, anaheim
- 7 eleven store 17782 f, westminster
- 7 eleven store 17839 e, tustin
- 7 eleven store 17840 e, buena park
- 7 eleven store 17841f, la habra
- 7 eleven store 18040 d, huntington beach
- 7 eleven store 18226e, costa mesa
- 7 eleven store 18771 g, stanton
- 7 eleven store 18838 f, brea
- 7 eleven store 20488 f, la palma
- 7 eleven store 21066 f, santa ana
- 7 eleven store 22080 c, santa ana
- 7 eleven store 22646 b, lake forest
- 7 eleven store 23162 d, anaheim
- 7 eleven store 25242 e, laguna hills
- 7 eleven store 25509 c, anaheim
- 7 eleven store 25703d, newport beach
- 7 eleven store 26073 d, anaheim
- 7 eleven store 26109 b, los alamitos
- 7 eleven store 26185 d, garden grove
- 7 eleven store 26314 d, orange
- 7 eleven store 26659 d, sunset beach
- 7 eleven store 26764 d, orange
- 7 eleven store 26766d, westminster
- 7 eleven store 27265 d, santa ana
- 7 eleven store 27331 c, westminster
Bakery Specialty · 2
- carrusel bakery & raspados, anaheim
- las tres princesas bakery, santa ana
Showing 250 of 1,496 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare Orange County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
Orange County sits inside California (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 Orange County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Orange County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Orange County? ▼
Is Orange County a food desert? ▼
What share of Orange 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.