Signature · 17.8% SNAP (100th pct in RI)
Providence County, RI
Providence County stands out on SNAP (17.8%, +5.7 pts vs U.S.) with 15.9% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 15.9%
- low-access pop.
- 5
- food-desert tracts
- 17.8%
- on SNAP
- 665K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Providence County, RI
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-MODERATE 15.9% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -6.2 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 5 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 17.8% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 11.5% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 4% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Washington County (+ 15.3 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Providence County ranks #2,043 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #5 of 5 counties in RI (15.9% low-access; 5 food-desert tracts).
- #2,043
- national by low-access %
- #5
- in RI
- 38
- low-access tracts
- 20K
- 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: 17.8% SNAP (100th pct in RI) (+5.7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Providence County compares nationally
Providence County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 15.9% low-access share that beats 35% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,043).
Providence County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
141 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 5 LILA.
Providence County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (133 urban, 8 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 8 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Providence County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Rhode Island, not a full county-board reprint
- Bristol
Bristol 56%
56 % low-access
- Newport
Newport 33.5%
33.5 % low-access
- Kent
Kent 32.2%
32.2 % low-access
- Washington
Washington 31.2%
31.2 % low-access
- Providence 15.9
Providence 15.9%
15.9 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 141 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 626,667 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 38 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 5 |
| Low-Access Population | 99,856 |
| Low-Access Share | 15.9%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 20,441 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 664,854 |
| Median Household Income | $78,787 |
| Poverty Rate | 13.4%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 46,094 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 17.8%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 11.5%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 4.2% |
Thick SNAP store book in Providence County
Providence County has 619 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 251 locations (41% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
26 towns share the 619 authorized stores; Providence holds 36% of them. 7 of the 26 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Riverside, Chepachet, Foster, Manville, E Providence, Mapleville and 1 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Providence | 221 | 68 |
| Pawtucket | 76 | 15 |
| Cranston | 69 | 15 |
| Woonsocket | 47 | 6 |
| Johnston | 38 | 4 |
| North Providence | 27 | 3 |
| Central Falls | 23 | 4 |
| Cumberland | 23 | 6 |
| East Providence | 22 | 5 |
| Smithfield | 11 | 3 |
Top 10 of 26 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 251 (250 shown)
- 147 market & deli, pawtucket
- 1815 smith st geko, north providence
- 280, llc, providence
- 5 star general store, pawtucket
- 7 eleven - 33406a, providence
- 7 eleven 33426a, providence
- 7-eleven 32614a, smithfield
- 7-eleven 33397-a, providence
- 7-eleven 29112, providence
- 7-eleven 33338 c, providence
- 7-eleven 33413k, providence
- 7-eleven 41821h, pawtucket
- 7-eleven store 35008a, central falls
- 7-eleven store # 40271a 40271a, lincoln
- 7-eleven store #33614d 33614d, cranston
- 7-eleven store 33080b, cranston
- 71 milk store llc, providence
- a & p llc dba q-mart, pawtucket
- a & s convenience & deli, pawtucket
- a little bit of everything, pawtucket
- a to z store, east providence
- a z mini mart corp, providence
- a&b convenience, providence
- academy market, providence
- aj pharmacy, providence
- al aseel mini mart, pawtucket
- al-mall daily mart, cranston
- al-mall mini mart, cranston
- all choices 1, woonsocket
- ama's variety & mini mart, pawtucket
- american dream mini mart, rumford
- aminia llc, cranston
- annapurna llc, greenville
- arm market, providence
- asb convenience store, central falls
- atwells market, providence
- az mart llc, north providence
- bd mart, cranston
- bd mart, johnston
- best way, cumberland
- bestway, cumberland
- bestway, cumberland
- bestway, cranston
- bestway gas, pawtucket
- bismillah enterprises inc - sams food store, cranston
- bk house of cigars, pawtucket
- bodega on smith, providence
- brazilian family marker ri, east providence
- broad mart llc, providence
- broad street and fuel, cumberland
- broadway mart, east providence
- bueno grocery, woonsocket
- cumberland farms 1120, woonsocket
- cumberland farms 1206, lincoln
- cumberland farms 1210, providence
- cumberland farms 1214, central falls
- cumberland farms 1224, north providence
- cumberland farms 1227, riverside
- cumberland farms 1249, cranston
- cumberland farms 1251, smithfield
- cumberland farms 1256, n providence
- cumberland farms 1265, pawtucket
- cumberland farms 1275, cumberland
- cumberland farms 1279, cranston
- cumberland farms 1280, providence
- cumberland farms 1282, johnston
- capital farms store, central falls
- capital gulf, providence
- central mart, central falls
- central mart and deli, pawtucket
- chepachet gas & market 465, chepachet
- chopmist xtra mart 10082, north scituate
- citgo gas, cranston
- city star, woonsocket
- city star market, woonsocket
- claudio's meat market llc, providence
- colbea enterprises llc 14, cranston
- colbea enterprises llc 16, cranston
- colbea enterprises llc 17, pawtucket
- colbea enterprises llc 18, cranston
- colbea enterprises llc 20, smithfield
- colbea enterprises llc 23, johnston
- colbea enterprises llc 24, cranston
- colbea enterprises llc 25, north providence
- colbea enterprises llc 26, providence
- colbea enterprises llc 29, johnston
- colbea enterprises llc 31, lincoln
- colbea enterprises llc 33, providence
- colbea enterprises llc 36, smithfield
- colbea enterprises llc 37, woonsocket
- colbea enterprises llc 38, north providence
- colbea enterprises llc 42, providence
- colbea enterprises llc 44, east providence
- colbea enterprises llc 60, johnston
- colbea enterprises, llc. 21, north scituate
- college convenience mart, providence
- convenience on atwells, providence
- convenience plus, johnston
- country farms, pascoag
- ct gas, north smithfield
- cumberland farms 1274, north smithfield
- cumberland farms 1289, johnston
- cumberland farms 1294, woonsocket
- cumberland farms 1296, providence
- cumberland farms 1297, north providence
- cumberland farms 1302, rumford
- cumberland farms 1306, north providence
- cumberland farms 1308, providence
- daily stop 2, providence
- db mart, north providence
- dba d&d market, pawtucket
- deli pine food market inc., providence
- douglas mart, providence
- drive-thru convenience, woonsocket
- east providence mobil, riverside
- eastside mart, providence
- el shaddai market and bakery, pawtucket
- elamani enterprises inc - a&b mart, cranston
- elmwood avenue shell, providence
- emely party store and bakery llc, providence
- foster xtra mart 10077, foster
- four corners food market inc, east providence
- fresh village, cumberland
- g and n petroleum llc, providence
- garrett's family market 141, cranston
- gasoline retailers inc, johnston
- grab & go mart, north providence
- gulf express, cranston
- gulf express, cumberland
- gulf express gulf expes, pawtucket
- hamlet avenue mini mart, woonsocket
- haris brothers inc - sam's food store, north smithfield
- hartford mart, providence
- jgsm mini mart llc, providence
- jp's general store llc, foster
- joe's kwik marts 5012, providence
- johnston gas, johnston
- johnston quick mart, johnston
- jose v velasco 1, central falls
- jude inc, east providence
- kty enterprises inc, providence
- kattan market, cranston
- kattan market, cranston
- kb mart, providence
- kh mart, providence
- khout mart na, providence
- la colmena llc, pawtucket
- la familia daily grocery, providence
- la mocana market llc, providence
- la poblanita market, providence
- lasalle corner store, providence
- lees convenience store, woonsocket
- lina mart, north providence
- logee street convenience, woonsocket
- lucky mart llc dba/ snacks plus, cranston
- luckys smoke world, pawtucket
- luxe mart, johnston
- m & r convenience inc, pawtucket
- mccoy market, pawtucket
- mac's food mart, cranston
- matra llc, riverside
- mendon road gulf inc, cumberland
- mi pueblo market, central falls
- miami mart, providence
- miles mart, cumberland
- mira mart, woonsocket
- mmp a taste of italy, johnston
- moon market, cranston
- mother of the light inc - citgo food mart, johnston
- mutual mart, cranston
- mutual mart, johnston
- mutual mart, pawtucket
- mutual mart, north providence
- my first choice inc, providence
- nayco stores, lincoln
- new lanes, providence
- new metro mart, providence
- new york mini market, providence
- nouria 4120 mendon road 1137, cumberland
- ocean state mobil, cranston
- og smokes & convenience shop, pawtucket
- pc mart & gas, providence
- pawtucket express, pawtucket
- pawtucket food mart, pawtucket
- pick & pay, johnston
- pizzaworks&deli, pawtucket
- plainfield pike gulf inc, johnston
- plainfield quick mart, providence
- pontiac food mart, cranston
- portuguese & latino market llc, providence
- pro latino market, providence
- quick mart, cranston
- quality fuel and mart, providence
- quick fuel market 1, johnston
- quick stop, woonsocket
- regency plaza market, providence
- riverside food mart, riverside
- riverside market, riverside
- roadrunners pitt stop, woonsocket
- royal fuel, riverside
- rumford food mart & deli, rumford
- rusty lantern market 4038, providence
- savers mart ii 2, providence
- shop n go, johnston
- saad food mart inc, pawtucket
- sam's food mart, providence
- sam's market, providence
- sams food store, north providence
- sams food store, providence
- sams food stores, woonsocket
- sams tobacco and convenience llc, providence
- sav store 280, cranston
- savers mart, cranston
- seasons corner market 45, north smithfield
- seasons corner market 70, cumberland
- shish me up, pawtucket
- shiv 86 inc, mapleville
- shop n go, johnston
- shopy galaxy boutique & african store, pawtucket
- silvermart no, pawtucket
- sjm brothers, providence
- smith hill stop and go, providence
- social street shell, woonsocket
- speedpay food mart inc, central falls
- speedway 2817, johnston
- speedway 2820, cranston
- speedway 2821, smithfield
- speedway 2824, providence
- speedway 2829, north providence
- speedway 2831, providence
- speedway 45847, pawtucket
- st francis d assisi convenience, providence
- stop quick mart, woonsocket
- sufi express, cranston
- sufi inc, woonsocket
- sunoco, pawtucket
- t & d market, woonsocket
- taunton ave irving, east providence
- the corner store llc, east providence
- the joint on the corner, manville
- the main oasis, pawtucket
- the new placita market, providence
- thurbers ave services inc/thurbers ave food mart, providence
- tienda y panaderia zacapa llc, central falls
- tofy mart, providence
- tong dee asian market, woonsocket
- twin river mini mart n/a, smithfield
- u daddy smoke shop and food mart, central falls
- u save gas inc, pawtucket
- union ave shell, providence
Showing 250 of 619 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Rhode Island
One of 4 counties in Rhode Island, 4 are shown here.
Compare Providence County vs Bristol County → · All Rhode Island counties →
Nationwide peers for Providence County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Providence County (17.8%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Rhode Island.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside RI (15.9% here).
- Chester County, SC · 15.9% low-access
- Somerset County, PA · 15.9% low-access
- Delaware County, PA · 15.9% low-access
- Adams County, PA · 15.9% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside RI (17.8% here).
- Lackawanna County, PA · 17.8% SNAP
- Hawaii County, HI · 17.8% SNAP
- Stone County, AR · 17.8% SNAP
- Blair County, PA · 17.9% 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.
Rhode Island among New England states
Rhode Island ranks 3rd of 5 New England states by population-weighted low-access (23.6%). Providence County, at 15.9%, runs 7.7 pts below the Rhode Island rate.
- Massachusetts 27.8%
- New Hampshire 27.5%
- Rhode Island 23.6%
- Maine 13.4%
- Vermont 11.2%
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 Providence County, RI are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 44007. 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.