Signature · 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts)
Perry County, MS
Perry County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of the book) alongside 21.8% low-access.
- 21.8%
- low-access pop.
- 2
- food-desert tracts
- 9.9%
- on SNAP
- 11K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Perry County, MS
LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-ELEVATED 21.8% low-access
- PHOTO-FINISH -0.3 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 9.9% SNAP
- VEH-OK 3.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 67% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Forrest County ( -0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Perry County ranks #1,541 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #36 of 80 counties in MS (21.8% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).
- #1,541
- national by low-access %
- #36
- in MS
- 3
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- 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: 2 LILA tracts (66.7% of tracts) .
How Perry County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Perry County's 21.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 51% of them and ranked #1,541 most-affected nationwide.
Perry County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.
All 3 of Perry County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Perry County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Mississippi, not a full county-board reprint
- Quitman
Quitman 90.1%
90.1 % low-access
- Coahoma 22.3
Coahoma 22.3%
22.3 % low-access
- Yalobusha 22.2
Yalobusha 22.2%
22.2 % low-access
- Perry 21.8
Perry 21.8%
21.8 % low-access
- Forrest 21.7
Forrest 21.7%
21.7 % low-access
- Montgomery 21.4
Montgomery 21.4%
21.4 % low-access
- Covington 0
Covington 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 3 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 12,250 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 3 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 2 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,667 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.8%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,210 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 11,449 |
| Median Household Income | $49,634 |
| Poverty Rate | 18.4%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 462 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.9%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 3.8%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.0% |
SNAP retailers in Perry County
Perry County has 11 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 6 locations (55% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Where the store book sits, by town
4 towns share the 11 authorized stores; Richton holds 36% of them. 2 of the 4 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: New Augusta, Petal.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Richton | 4 | 1 |
| Beaumont | 3 | 1 |
| New Augusta | 2 | none |
| Petal | 2 | none |
Combination Grocery/Other · 6
- dollar general 8480, new augusta
- dollar general 10386, richton
- dollar general 11839, petal
- dollar general store 16725, beaumont
- family dollar 13713, petal
- family dollar 9043, richton
Convenience Store · 3
- bobbies country store, richton
- beaumont express, beaumont
- circle k 2723390, new augusta
Supermarket · 2
- cashsaver 17, beaumont
- ramey's 15, richton
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Mississippi
One of 81 counties in Mississippi, 6 are shown here.
Compare Perry County vs Adams County → · All Mississippi counties →
Nationwide peers for Perry County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Perry County, both outside Mississippi so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MS (21.8% here).
- Baltimore County, MD · 21.8% low-access
- Champaign County, IL · 21.8% low-access
- Wood County, TX · 21.8% low-access
- Mecklenburg County, VA · 21.8% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MS (9.9% here).
- Livingston County, MO · 9.9% SNAP
- Clay County, MN · 9.9% SNAP
- Worcester County, MD · 9.9% SNAP
- Sumner County, KS · 9.9% 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.
Mississippi among East South Central states
Mississippi ranks 2nd of 4 East South Central states by population-weighted low-access (26.4%). Perry County, at 21.8%, runs 4.6 pts below the Mississippi rate.
- Tennessee 27.2%
- Mississippi 26.4%
- Alabama 24.5%
- Kentucky 19.8%
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 Perry County, MS are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 28111. 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.