Signature · 38.2% low-access (85th pct)

Rio Arriba County, NM

Rio Arriba County sits in the upper national band on low-access (38.2%, +16.1 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

38.2%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
18.8%
on SNAP
40K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NM

USDA FARA access plate

County Rio Arriba County, NM

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ELEVATED 38.2% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +16.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 18.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.8% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Lincoln County (+ 0.2 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Rio Arriba County sits in the upper national band (38.2%, #475 of 3,079).

#475
national by low-access %
#14
in NM
6
low-access tracts
0
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 38.2% low-access (85th pct) (+16.1 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Rio Arriba County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Rio Arriba County's 38.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 85% of them and ranked #475 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Rio Arriba County's elevated USDA tier split

9 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Rio Arriba County, NM USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 6 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 9 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (33.3%) 6 tracts limited (66.7%) Adequate 33% Limited 67% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Rio Arriba County, NM
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Rio Arriba County has 2 urban and 7 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Rio Arriba County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in New Mexico, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Rio Arriba County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts9
Atlas Population (2010 basis)40,246
Low-Access Tracts6
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population15,361
Low-Access Share38.2%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population0

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Rio Arriba County
IndicatorValue
Population40,070
Median Household Income$57,155
Poverty Rate18.2%above the national average
SNAP Households2,948
SNAP Participation Rate18.8%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.8%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.9%

Thick SNAP store book in Rio Arriba County

Rio Arriba County has 39 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 13 locations (33% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 13

  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 5994, espanola
  • carniceria ortega 1, espanola
  • dollar general 14151, hernandez
  • dollar general 16906, alcalde
  • dollar general 30855, chama
  • dollar general store 16409, espanola
  • dollar tree 5738, espanola
  • family dollar 11508, abiquiu
  • family dollar 11799, tierra amarilla
  • family dollar store 4839, chama
  • family dollar store 8180, dulce
  • grajeda's produce, espanola
  • walgreens 5157, espanola

Convenience Store · 13

  • allsups 314, espanola
  • bode's general store, abiquiu
  • el cuerno, llc, cebolla
  • la tiendita de ulibarri na, alcalde
  • michaels mini mart & pkg liq, velarde
  • murphy express 8693, espanola
  • ohkay travel center, ohkay owingeh
  • rio chama chevron, hernandez
  • speedway 9132, espanola
  • speedway 9135, espanola
  • speedway 9261, espanola
  • speedway 9321, chama
  • triple s shortstop, espanola

Farmers' Market · 4

  • abiquiu farmers market, abiquiu
  • dixon farmers market, dixon
  • espanola farmers market, espanola
  • rio grande farmers market, embudo

Supermarket · 3

  • center market, espanola
  • jicarilla shopping center, dulce
  • lowes 18, chama

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • c4 enterprises, inc., tierra amarilla
  • deedees finest beef jerky, espanola

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • dixon coop market, dixon
  • el moreno mini market llc, espanola

Super Store · 2

  • food king 93, espanola
  • walmart 2656, espanola

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in New Mexico

One of 32 counties in New Mexico, 6 are shown here.

Compare Rio Arriba County vs Bernalillo County → · All New Mexico counties →

Counties near Rio Arriba County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Rio Arriba County, both outside New Mexico so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NM (38.2% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NM (18.8% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Rio Arriba County inside a higher low-access state context

Rio Arriba County sits inside New Mexico (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

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 Rio Arriba County, NM are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 35039. 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.