County food-access profile · Minnesota
Ramsey County, MN
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Ramsey County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).
- 20.8%
- low-access pop.
- 15
- food-desert tracts
- 11.4%
- on SNAP
- 543K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
20.8% of Ramsey County residents live in a low-access area, and 15 of its 136 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 45
- low-access tracts
- 27K
- food-desert residents
- 10.2%
- households, no vehicle
- 12.3%
- 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).
USDA data puts Ramsey County's low-access share at 20.8%, above the national share. 45 of the county's 136 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 105,842 people. 15 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 26,521 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 Ramsey County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Ramsey County's 20.8% low-access share is elevated, higher than 48% of them and ranked #1,622 most-affected nationwide.
Ramsey County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 136 census tracts in Ramsey County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Ramsey County vs. other Minnesota counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Minnesota
- Ramsey
Ramsey County, MN
20.8 % low-access
- Aitkin
Aitkin County, MN
33.8 % low-access
- Anoka
Anoka County, MN
38.3 % low-access
- Becker
Becker County, MN
34.5 % low-access
- Beltrami
Beltrami County, MN
32.3 % low-access
- Benton
Benton County, MN
30 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 136 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 508,640 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 45 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 15 |
| Low-Access Population | 105,842 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.8%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 26,521 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 542,945 |
| Median Household Income | $81,568 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.3%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 25,313 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 11.4%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 10.2%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.1% |
About 11.4% of Ramsey County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 20.8% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 11.4% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 25,313 households here.
- 10.2% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 15 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 Ramsey County
above the national share
15 of Ramsey County's 136 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 11.0% of all its tracts.
A further 30 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 45.
An estimated 105,842 residents, roughly 20.8% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 26,521 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 91 tracts (66.9%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Ramsey County
Ramsey County has 341 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 129 locations (38% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 129
- 1ne stop food market inc, saint paul
- adams food and fuel 1, saint paul
- airport marathon, saint paul
- ak tobacco llc, saint paul
- amira grocery inc, saint paul
- armon super usa, saint paul
- b dale shell, saint paul
- bp on rice, saint paul
- bricks snacks and tobacco, saint paul
- capitol city station, inc., saint paul
- chi town grill and grocery, saint paul
- circle k #2653854, saint paul
- clark 2376 1, saint paul
- como oriental market, saint paul
- como raymond holiday 3841, saint paul
- division street fuels, saint paul
- east market grocery & tobacco, saint paul
- east side market, saint paul
- eastern heights amoco, saint paul
- express lane 5515, saint paul
- fleming's auto services, inc, saint paul
- gramsie corner mart, saint paul
- grand stop, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746004, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746005, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746043, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746045, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746167, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746301, maplewood
- holiday 3503, saint paul
- holiday 3816, saint paul
- holiday 3842 3842, saint paul
- holiday gas 3806, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746007, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746031, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746215, white bear lake
- holiday stationstore 2746224, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746341, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746368, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746372, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746389, white bear lake
- holiday stationstore 2746436, maplewood
- holiday stationstore 2746472, mahtomedi
- holiday stationstore 2746480, maplewood
- holiday stationstore 3585, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 440, saint paul
- holiday stationstores 2746586, saint paul
- holiday stationstores 2746588, saint paul
- j&l market llc, saint paul
- jimmys food market, saint paul
- jimmy's hot chicken & market, saint paul
- kitty's corner 2, saint paul
- kitty's corner 3, saint paul
- kwik trip 1169, north st. paul
- kwik trip 152, saint paul
- lucky's station 8, saint paul
- maggie's superette, saint paul
- maplewood holiday 3519, maplewood
- marathon, saint paul
- marshall stop, saint paul
- maryland one stop food n fuel inc, saint paul
- maryland supermarket, saint paul
- mek latin & asia grocery inc 1, saint paul
- minipac llc, saint paul
- mna grocery, saint paul
- nb minnoco xpress inc, saint paul
- naya bp inc., saint paul
- new brighton bp, saint paul
- noor gas station, saint paul
- north end market, saint paul
- north oaks holiday 3566, saint paul
- phoenix market, saint paul
- premium stop, saint paul
- prime mart gas, saint paul
- quick mart, saint paul
- red sea market, saint paul
- rice st market, saint paul
- rosedale bp, saint paul
- roseville winner, saint paul
- snap market, saint paul
- sam's market & deli inc, saint paul
- shoreview quik stop, saint paul
- speedway 4020, saint paul
- speedway 4022, maplewood
- speedway 4023, saint paul
- speedway 4038, saint paul
- speedway 4040, saint paul
- speedway 4089, maplewood
- speedway 4115, roseville
- speedway 4116, saint paul
- speedway 4210, saint paul
- speedway 4264, saint paul
- speedway 4317, saint paul
- speedway 4340, white bear lake
- speedway 4353, saint paul
- speedway 4356, saint paul
- speedway 4357, white bear lake
- speedway 4358, saint paul
- speedway 4359, saint paul
- speedway 4413, saint paul
- speedway 4421, saint paul
- speedway 4430, saint paul
- speedway 4471, saint paul
- speedway 4502, saint paul
- speedway 4520, roseville
- speedway 5517, saint paul
- speedway 7024, saint paul
- speedway 7025, saint paul
- speedway 7030, saint paul
- speedy food, saint paul
- super usa, saint paul
- superamerica 4151, saint paul
- superamerica 4419, saint paul
- superamerica 4428, saint paul
- superamerica # 4032 4032, saint paul
- superamerica 4420, saint paul
- tobasi stop, saint paul
- tobasi stop #2, saint paul
- the one stop market, saint paul
- the station of m.v no, saint paul
- town mart, saint paul
- twins market, saint paul
- university one, saint paul
- wash-n-fill express of new brighton, saint paul
- west 7th st marathon, st paul
- white bear bait, saint paul
- white bear express, saint paul
- winner gas, saint paul
- yasin market food, saint paul
Combination Grocery/Other · 52
- 88 oriental foods, saint paul
- addis market, saint paul
- assafo african market, saint paul
- bf yang foods llc 1, saint paul
- bf yang trading llc, saint paul
- cvs 1751, saint paul
- cvs 1776, white bear lake
- cvs 5161, saint paul
- cvs 7175, saint paul
- cvs pharmacy 10902, saint paul
- cvs pharmacy 4573, saint paul
- dollar general 10816, saint paul
- dollar tree 4713, saint paul
- dollartree 4006, saint paul
- dollartree 4836, saint paul
- dollar general 19172, saint paul
- dollar general 19173, saint paul
- dollar tree 1295, saint paul
- dollar tree 2396, saint paul
- dollar tree 3150, saint paul
- dollar tree 3683, saint paul
- dollar tree 4588, saint paul
- dollar tree 4817, new brighton
- dollar tree 6202, saint paul
- dollar tree 751, saint paul
- family dollar store 2361, saint paul
- hamro bazaar llc, maplewood
- hand 2 mouth african market, north saint
- joyful african foods, saint paul
- kao produce llc, st paul
- karenni grocery store, maplewood
- mo's tropical wholesale inc, saint paul
- morelli's market, saint paul
- morelos bakery llc, saint paul
- papa murphys, saint paul
- rice factory, saint paul
- walgreens 2142, saint paul
- walgreens 01751, saint paul
- walgreens 03187, white bear lake
- walgreens 06447, saint paul
- walgreens 06995, saint paul
- walgreens 07388, saint paul
- walgreens 09795, saint paul
- walgreens 10473, saint paul
- walgreens 11421, saint paul
- walgreens 12403, saint paul
- walgreens 13685, roseville
- walgreens 13690, saint paul
- walgreens 15123, arden hills
- walgreens 15272, saint paul
- walgreens 15560, saint paul
- walgreens 16476, st paul
Medium Grocery Store · 30
- 75 market and deli, inc, saint paul
- ashama grocery and meat market, saint paul
- asian & nepali market, saint paul
- asian market 1423, saint paul
- borchert's meat market, saint paul
- centromex supermercado, saint paul
- convenience store #1, saint paul
- family foods market, saint paul
- flicker meat company, saint paul
- friendly, saint paul
- global food market inc 1, saint paul
- global grocery, saint paul
- highlight llc, saint paul
- highlightstore, saint paul
- hoa mei supermarket, saint paul
- karen grocery inc., saint paul
- karen village grocery inc, saint paul
- kim's fresh market, saint paul
- kwe ka baung grocery, saint paul
- kyaw karen market inc, saint paul
- la guadalupana supermercado 1, saint paul
- lays food market llc, saint paul
- luckymuajyeejshop, saint paul
- mae la grocery, saint paul
- mcknight market, saint paul
- midway grocery, saint paul
- midway grocery & market, saint paul
- milton halal market & deli, saint paul
- mini super la chiquis, saint paul
- original karen market, saint paul
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 14
- bless produce, st paul
- cxl fresh produce d8, saint paul
- dao thao market muaj yeej 179, saint paul
- fuengfah, saint paul
- ge produce llc, saint paul
- k & n tropical produce llc, saint paul
- kkm flourish market, saint paul
- lucky yang produce, saint paul
- m'er produce 175, st paul
- muaj hmoo 217, saint paul
- sg produce, saint paul
- stacy produce d18, saint paul
- txais tos luag ntxhi produce 216, saint paul
- vabvee produce 210, st. paul
Farmers' Market · 7
- eastside farmer's market, saint paul
- little canada farmers market, little canada
- midcity farmers' market 1, saint paul
- st paul growers association inc, saint paul
- st. luke's farmers' market, saint paul
- urban roots' mobile market, saint paul
- west side farmers market, saint paul
Large Grocery Store · 7
- bymore sueprmercado, saint paul
- el quetzal market, saint paul
- hampden park coop, saint paul
- little saigon supermarket inc, saint paul
- market fresh, saint paul
- viengchan market 1, saint paul
- widmer's supermarket, saint paul
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 7
- 7 star meat market, saint paul
- angus meats, saint paul
- big steer meats, saint paul
- better choice, saint paul
- como meat, saint paul
- seventh inc., saint paul
- von hanson's meats market, saint paul
Bakery Specialty · 4
- papa murphys take n bake pizza, white bear lake
- papa murphy's pizza mn132, saint paul
- papa murphys mn042, saint paul
- papa murphys pizza, vadnais heights
Showing 250 of 341 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Minnesota
Compare Ramsey County vs Aitkin County → · All Minnesota counties →
Food access nationally, Minnesota in context
Ramsey County sits inside Minnesota (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 Ramsey County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Ramsey County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Ramsey County? ▼
Is Ramsey County a food desert? ▼
What share of Ramsey 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.