County food-access profile · Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County, PA
Most of Philadelphia County sits within reach of a supermarket, better than most U.S. counties. This profile covers who, if anyone, qualifies as a food desert here, plus the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).
- 1.1%
- low-access pop.
- 5
- food-desert tracts
- 26.2%
- on SNAP
- 1.6M
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
1.1% of Philadelphia County residents live in a low-access area, and 5 of its 381 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 15
- low-access tracts
- 5K
- food-desert residents
- 27.9%
- households, no vehicle
- 21.4%
- 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).
By the USDA's measure, Philadelphia County fares better than most: just 1.1% of residents live in a low-access tract, below the national share. Still, 15 of the county's 381 tracts meet that threshold, covering about 16,423 people who live far from a supermarket, and 5 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 4,767 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 Philadelphia County compares nationally
Food access in Philadelphia County compares favorably nationally: its 1.1% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 4% of them (rank #3,008).
Philadelphia County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 381 census tracts in Philadelphia County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Philadelphia County vs. other Pennsylvania counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia 1.1
Philadelphia County, PA
1.1 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, PA
15.9 % low-access
- Allegheny
Allegheny County, PA
26.4 % low-access
- Armstrong 5.2
Armstrong County, PA
5.2 % low-access
- Beaver
Beaver County, PA
32.5 % low-access
- Bedford
Bedford County, PA
22.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 381 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 1,526,006 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 15 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 5 |
| Low-Access Population | 16,423 |
| Low-Access Share | 1.1%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 4,767 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,579,706 |
| Median Household Income | $61,953 |
| Poverty Rate | 21.4%well above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 177,955 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 26.2%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 27.9%well above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.0% |
About 26.2% of Philadelphia County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 1.1% of residents are low-access, below the national share for U.S. counties.
- 26.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 177,955 households here.
- 27.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 5 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 Philadelphia County
below the national share
5 of Philadelphia County's 381 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 1.3% of all its tracts.
A further 10 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 15.
An estimated 16,423 residents, roughly 1.1% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 4,767 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 366 tracts (96.1%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County has 1,609 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 190 locations (12% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 190
- cvs 10090, philadelphia
- cvs 10459, philadelphia
- cvs 10526, philadelphia
- cvs 5867, philadelphia
- cvs 8984, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 1064, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 1196, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2074, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2077, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2113, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2120, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2121, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2255, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2266, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2986, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 771, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 780, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy inc 660, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 11136, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 11170, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 11371, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 11436, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 1913, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2159, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2166, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2170, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2222, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2299, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2397, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2398, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2704, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2755, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2783, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 2866, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 371, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 4007, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 450, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy 740, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy cvs11219, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy cvs11356, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy cvs11404, philadelphia
- cvs pharmacy inc 1545, philadelphia
- chin myanmar store llc 2010, philadelphia
- cumberland deli grocery inc, philadelphia
- dgx store 18538, philadelphia
- dollar general 11242, philadelphia
- dollar general 14498, philadelphia
- dollar general 18313, philadelphia
- dollar general 19280, philadelphia
- dollar general 7879, philadelphia
- dollar general 9185, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1627, philadelphia
- dollar tree 4536, philadelphia
- dollartree 4892, philadelphia
- dollartree 5861, philadelphia
- dollartree 6160, philadelphia
- dollartree 8177, philadelphia
- dollartree 9760, philadelphia
- dollar general 10788, philadelphia
- dollar general 11045, philadelphia
- dollar general 12067, philadelphia
- dollar general 13319, philadelphia
- dollar general 13755, philadelphia
- dollar general 15941, philadelphia
- dollar general 16819, philadelphia
- dollar general 18244, philadelphia
- dollar general 19279, philadelphia
- dollar general 20221, philadelphia
- dollar general 21360, philadelphia
- dollar general 23121, philadelphia
- dollar general 23123, philadelphia
- dollar general 23127, philadelphia
- dollar general 23474, philadelphia
- dollar general 24103, philadelphia
- dollar general 25797, philadelphia
- dollar general 30955, philadelphia
- dollar general 31461, philadelphia
- dollar general 7912, philadelphia
- dollar general 8962, philadelphia
- dollar general 9532, philadelphia
- dollar plus 1, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1436, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1604, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1612, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1619, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1624, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1655, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1656, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1688, philadelphia
- dollar tree 1781, philadelphia
- dollar tree 3106, philadelphia
- dollar tree 3300, philadelphia
- dollar tree 3574, philadelphia
- dollar tree 3594, philadelphia
- dollar tree 3783, philadelphia
- dollar tree 3834, philadelphia
- dollar tree 3984, philadelphia
- dollar tree 4269, philadelphia
- dollar tree 4507, philadelphia
- dollar tree 4634, philadelphia
- dollar tree 5729, philadelphia
- dollar tree 5776, philadelphia
- dollar tree 5872, philadelphia
- dollar tree 7151, philadelphia
- dollar tree 7154, philadelphia
- dollar tree 7290, philadelphia
- dollar tree 730, philadelphia
- dollar tree 7448, philadelphia
- dollar tree 7688, philadelphia
- dollar tree 7784, philadelphia
- dollar tree 7834, philadelphia
- dollar tree 8578, philadelphia
- dollar tree 9706, philadelphia
- downtown cheese, philadelphia
- essence ginseng inc 218, philadelphia
- family dollar 10200, philadelphia
- family dollar 11194, philadelphia
- family dollar 11349, philadelphia
- family dollar 11370, philadelphia
- family dollar 11774, philadelphia
- family dollar 12238, philadelphia
- family dollar 12440, philadelphia
- family dollar 12520, philadelphia
- family dollar 2871, philadelphia
- family dollar 3153, philadelphia
- family dollar 3364, philadelphia
- family dollar 5756, philadelphia
- family dollar 5835, philadelphia
- family dollar 6054, philadelphia
- family dollar 6201, philadelphia
- family dollar 6496, philadelphia
- family dollar 6739, philadelphia
- family dollar 6868, philadelphia
- family dollar 6928, philadelphia
- family dollar 6929, philadelphia
- family dollar 7150, philadelphia
- family dollar 7151, philadelphia
- family dollar 7338, philadelphia
- family dollar 7559, philadelphia
- family dollar 8371, philadelphia
- family dollar 8419, philadelphia
- family dollar 8623, philadelphia
- family dollar 8948, philadelphia
- family dollar 9215, philadelphia
- family dollar store 10581, philadelphia
- family dollar stores 11814, philadelphia
- four seasons seafood llc, philadelphia
- giant dollar plus, inc., philadelphia
- gold coast market, philadelphia
- handmade frozen food, philadelphia
- hatville deli llc, philadelphia
- jerusalem corner store, inc, philadelphia
- jackson mini mart co, philadelphia
- jin hui cheng, philadelphia
- jm and s grocery store, philadelphia
- lancaster county dairy, llc, philadelphia
- lesouk market, philadelphia
- mk groceries llc, philadelphia
- merkato baltena llc, philadelphia
- moms seafood, philadelphia
- myra market, philadelphia
- natures nutrition centers, philadelphia
- national wholesale liquidators, philadelphia
- new spring garden market inc, philadelphia
- pwodwi lakay pa, philadelphia
- quick stop 9 llc, philadelphia
- r&r produce inc, philadelphia
- rising star grocery, philadelphia
- rokhat market llc, philadelphia
- roses 479, philadelphia
- seafood house inc, philadelphia
- shun li live poultry, philadelphia
- siem reap grocery, philadelphia
- sita t african grocery store, philadelphia
- smith's pharmacy, philadelphia
- southwest live poultry inc, philadelphia
- steve jamaican grocery, philadelphia
- sweet t's bakery & snack shop llc, philadelphia
- the head nut, philadelphia
- todee junction grocery store llc, philadelphia
- tuck hing company, philadelphia
- walgreens 07336, philadelphia
- walgreens 07543, philadelphia
- walgreens 07544, philadelphia
- walgreens 12084, philadelphia
- walgreens 13141, philadelphia
- walgreens 4926, philadelphia
- weavers way co-op 4, philadelphia
- yaffa co inc, philadelphia
- zero point mini market, philadelphia
Convenience Store · 53
- 1 stop deli & grocery 1, philadelphia
- 1600 jackson mini mart 1 llc, philadelphia
- 1913 s 10th st grocery store, philadelphia
- 21 mini market inc, philadelphia
- 2601 triple l grocery store, philadelphia
- 27th mini market inc, philadelphia
- 3 brother food market 1, philadelphia
- 3 kings dulcelandia, philadelphia
- 3rd jackson grocery, philadelphia
- 5087 cho's market, inc, philadelphia
- 5414 wyalusing food market 1 inc, philadelphia
- 54th food market 1 inc, philadelphia
- 55 food market iii 1, philadelphia
- 58 street food market inc 2, philadelphia
- 58 th master food market ii inc, philadelphia
- 59th minimarket inc, philadelphia
- 7 brother minimarket inc, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 11340a, philadelphia
- 7 eleven 11336k, philadelphia
- 7 eleven inc 33285 t, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 20452d, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 21048e, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 22652e, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 23335d, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 24839c, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 26179f, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 33305a, philadelphia
- 7 eleven store 34908a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 20006e, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 22479a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 25452b, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 33516a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 40091h, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 40200h, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 40457a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven inc f 36955a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 2408 23854d, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 24586c, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 32661e, philadelphia
- 7-eleven, inc. 26291n, philadelphia
- 7-eleven 20530-e, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store #11348g, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store #25469c 25469c, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store #33515b, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store #36493b, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store #38579a 38579a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 2408 26040d, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 2408 36108a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 2408 36875a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 2408-35020a 35020a, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 2412 26135d, philadelphia
- 7-eleven store 40134a, philadelphia
- 7th & ritner convenience, philadelphia
Bakery Specialty · 7
- denise's delicacies, philadelphia
- oteri's pastry co, philadelphia
- oteris bakery, philadelphia
- oteris pastry company, philadelphia
- patrice with the treats, philadelphia
- sweets & treats factory, philadelphia
- tiffany's bakery, philadelphia
Showing 250 of 1,609 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Pennsylvania
Compare Philadelphia County vs Adams County → · All Pennsylvania counties →
Food access nationally, Pennsylvania in context
Philadelphia County sits inside Pennsylvania (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 Philadelphia County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Philadelphia County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Philadelphia County? ▼
Is Philadelphia County a food desert? ▼
What share of Philadelphia 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.