County food-access profile · Tennessee
Rutherford County, TN
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Rutherford 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).
- 22.4%
- low-access pop.
- 5
- food-desert tracts
- 7.0%
- on SNAP
- 361K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
22.4% of Rutherford County residents live in a low-access area, and 5 of its 49 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 21
- low-access tracts
- 17K
- food-desert residents
- 2.7%
- households, no vehicle
- 9.3%
- 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 Rutherford County's low-access share at 22.4%, above the national share. 21 of the county's 49 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 58,774 people. 5 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 16,754 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 Rutherford County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Rutherford County's 22.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 52% of them and ranked #1,491 most-affected nationwide.
Rutherford County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 49 census tracts in Rutherford County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Rutherford County vs. other Tennessee counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Tennessee
- Rutherford
Rutherford County, TN
22.4 % low-access
- Anderson 10.9
Anderson County, TN
10.9 % low-access
- Bedford
Bedford County, TN
23 % low-access
- Benton
Benton County, TN
12.6 % low-access
- Bledsoe 4.7
Bledsoe County, TN
4.7 % low-access
- Blount
Blount County, TN
30.1 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 49 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 262,604 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 21 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 5 |
| Low-Access Population | 58,774 |
| Low-Access Share | 22.4%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 16,754 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 360,646 |
| Median Household Income | $85,470 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.3%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 9,079 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 7.0%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 2.7%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.3% |
About 7.0% of Rutherford County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 22.4% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 7.0% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 9,079 households here.
- 2.7% 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 Rutherford County
above the national share
5 of Rutherford County's 49 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 10.2% of all its tracts.
A further 16 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 21.
An estimated 58,774 residents, roughly 22.4% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 16,754 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 28 tracts (57.1%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Rutherford County
Rutherford County has 255 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 116 locations (45% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 116
- 7-eleven 41937h, murfreesboro
- 7-eleven 41894h, smyrna
- 7-eleven 41962h, murfreesboro
- 7-eleven store 41056h, la vergne
- 96 food mart, murfreesboro
- a & m market, murfreesboro
- a and m tobacco and beer 01, murfreesboro
- aplus 41064h, murfreesboro
- aplus 283, smyrna
- affordable asia market, smyrna
- almaville station, smyrna
- aplus 41058, murfreesboro
- beavers mart, murfreesboro
- bella flory la chapincita, murfreesboro
- boro mart, murfreesboro
- circle k 4703653, murfreesboro
- circle k 4703903, murfreesboro
- circle k 4703919, murfreesboro
- campus mart, murfreesboro
- circle k 3712, murfreesboro
- circle k 4703691, la vergne
- circle k 4703693, smyrna
- circle k 4703695, la vergne
- circle k 4703699, murfreesboro
- circle k 4703701, smyrna
- circle k 4703712, murfreesboro
- circle k 4703716, murfreesboro
- circle k 4703805, murfreesboro
- corner market, smyrna
- d & p market, murfreesboro
- dj mart, murfreesboro
- dodge store 7202, murfreesboro
- east main street market 00, murfreesboro
- ed's bait and tackle, smyrna
- familymarket, rockvale
- florence point, murfreesboro
- flowers bakery outlet 1340, smyrna
- gordons market, murfreesboro
- harry's 44, christiana
- ian's market 109, murfreesboro
- jd's market, murfreesboro
- joe's kwik mart 982, la vergne
- k food, murfreesboro
- kwik mart express 1, murfreesboro
- kwik sak, smyrna
- kwik sak 621, murfreesboro
- larros market, la vergne
- legacy station, smyrna
- love' travel stops & country stores, inc 314, christiana
- m&k market inc, smyrna
- mapco express, inc 3162, murfreesboro
- mapco express, inc. 3305, smyrna
- mapco express, inc. 3312, murfreesboro
- mapco express, inc. 3316, smyrna
- mapco express, inc. 3318, lavergne
- mapco express, inc. 3344, murfreesboro
- mapco express, inc. 3407, murfreesboro
- mapco express, inc. 3654, murfreesboro
- madi 926 inc, murfreesboro
- mahi market, murfreesboro
- max mart, murfreesboro
- meadows corner, murfreesboro
- mega market, murfreesboro
- mid tenn market, murfreesboro
- mingalar mart grocery, smyrna
- mobil foodmart, murfreesboro
- murphy express 8683, murfreesboro
- murphy usa 5675, smyrna
- my store mini mart, la vergne
- n lowry llc, smyrna
- neelys market, murfreesboro
- neighborhood market, la vergne
- neighborhood market 3, la vergne
- old fort market, murfreesboro
- pilot travel center 404, murfreesboro
- pilot travel center 52, la vergne
- quest stop, smyrna
- quick stop mercado, murfreesboro
- racetrac 2527, murfreesboro
- racetrac 2554, murfreesboro
- racetrac 2559, murfreesboro
- racetrac 2568, smyrna
- racetrac 2580, murfreesboro
- racetrac 2583, la vergne
- racetrac 2610, murfreesboro
- racetrac 2616, smyrna
- rock springs market, smyrna
- royal tobacco and beer, murfreesboro
- rr market, murfreesboro
- s church street market, murfreesboro
- serv-n-go 19, christiana
- sitane market & deli, smyrna
- smokeys market, lascassas
- speedway 7101, murfreesboro
- speedway 7107, murfreesboro
- speedway 7118, smyrna
- speedway 7138 7138, smyrna
- speedway 7164, murfreesboro
- speedway 7165, murfreesboro
- speedway 7173, murfreesboro
- stop buy tobacco & beer, la vergne
- super 9 station, murfreesboro
- taylor's market, murfreesboro
- thorntons 511617, la vergne
- thorntons 511618, murfreesboro
- thorntons 600, smyrna
- thorntons 605, murfreesboro
- thorntons 612, murfreesboro
- tigermarket 205 205, murfreesboro
- tigermart 234 234, murfreesboro
- tigermart 235 235, murfreesboro
- tigermart 237 237, murfreesboro
- tigermart 41077h, murfreesboro
- usa market, murfreesboro
- uncle sandy's bp, murfreesboro
- waldron market llc, la vergne
Combination Grocery/Other · 67
- big lots 3153, murfreesboro
- cvs 10949, smyrna
- cvs pharmacy 2179, murfreesboro
- cvs pharmacy 4110, murfreesboro
- cvs pharmacy 6414, smyrna
- cvs pharmacy 6416, murfreesboro
- cvs pharmacy 6420, murfreesboro
- dollar general 0204, murfreesboro
- dollar general 0966, murfreesboro
- dollar general 1021, murfreesboro
- dollar general 14076, murfreesboro
- dollar general 14187, lascassas
- dollar general 14264, murfreesboro
- dollar general 14834, murfreesboro
- dollar general 18448, murfreesboro
- dollar general 19499, murfreesboro
- dollar general 207, murfreesboro
- dollar general 21967, christiana
- dollar general 2728, smyrna
- dollar general 8324, murfreesboro
- dollar general 9618, murfreesboro
- dollar general 10266, smyrna
- dollar general 11382, murfreesboro
- dollar general 11429, eagleville
- dollar general 11482, murfreesboro
- dollar general 12160, rockvale
- dollar general 12170, la vergne
- dollar general 12761, christiana
- dollar general 12827, murfreesboro
- dollar general 12961, murfreesboro
- dollar general 14730, smyrna
- dollar general 15096, la vergne
- dollar general 15220, murfreesboro
- dollar general 22636, la vergne
- dollar general 23559, murfreesboro
- dollar general 30431, murfreesboro
- dollar general 3495, la vergne
- dollar general 7328, smyrna
- dollar tree 1063, smyrna
- dollar tree 1732, murfreesboro
- dollar tree 1852, murfreesboro
- dollar tree 2179, la vergne
- dollar tree 3938, smyrna
- dollar tree 4405, murfreesboro
- dollar tree 8371, murfreesboro
- family dollar store 556, smyrna
- malone quality meats, murfreesboro
- oriental food, murfreesboro
- om sai indian grocery 1, murfreesboro
- sudden service 20, murfreesboro
- sudden service 6153, smyrna
- t3 market inc f, murfreesboro
- twice daily 6149, murfreesboro
- twice daily 7760, smyrna
- twice daily 8807, smyrna
- twice daily/white bison # 6183 6183, la vergne
- walgreens 06039, la vergne
- walgreens 06277, murfreesboro
- walgreens 3953, murfreesboro
- walgreens 4905, murfreesboro
- walgreens 6676, smyrna
- walgreens 11700, murfreesboro
- walgreens 12375, smyrna
- walgreens 12514, murfreesboro
- walgreens 6693, murfreesboro
- walgreens 6910, murfreesboro
- walgreens 9064, smyrna
Super Store · 23
- bj's wholesale club, inc. 394, la vergne
- costco wholesale 1448, murfreesboro
- delicias markets, murfreesboro
- kroger 532, murfreesboro
- kroger 564, murfreesboro
- kroger co #00529-a 529, murfreesboro
- kroger co #00553 553, smyrna
- kroger l-543, murfreesboro
- kroger store 539, murfreesboro
- kroger 565, murfreesboro
- kroger 566, la vergne
- sam's club 6501, murfreesboro
- save-a-lot 24793, la vergne
- target store t-1126, murfreesboro
- target t-2360, smyrna
- walmart 406, smyrna
- walmart neighborhood market 5148, murfreesboro
- walmart neighborhood market 5182, murfreesboro
- walmart s/c 5057, murfreesboro
- walmart supercenter 2757, murfreesboro
- walmart supercenter 416, murfreesboro
- walmart supercenter 682, murfreesboro
- walmart supercenter 7020, la vergne
Supermarket · 19
- aldi, la vergne
- aldi 70023, murfreesboro
- aldi 70025, smyrna
- aldi 70102, murfreesboro
- aldi 80072 80072, murfreesboro
- aldi 70018, murfreesboro
- eagleville grocery 1, eagleville
- food lion 1581, smyrna
- fiesta market, smyrna
- gordon food service store mp141, murfreesboro
- grocery hub, smyrna
- houchens save-a-lot 130, murfreesboro
- jrs foodland, murfreesboro
- lavergne super mercado, la vergne
- publix 1016, smyrna
- publix 1164, murfreesboro
- publix 1172, murfreesboro
- publix 1163, murfreesboro
- publix 1234, murfreesboro
Medium Grocery Store · 9
- alrayan international market and restaurant, murfreesboro
- asia market & thai phooket inc, smyrna
- e and s international market, murfreesboro
- el gallito supermercado, smyrna
- grace asian grocery, smyrna
- la tienda de mi campo 1, la vergne
- maria's market inc., la vergne
- mercados marias 2, murfreesboro
- san marcos supermercado, murfreesboro
Small Grocery Store · 6
- global star market, murfreesboro
- joy international market, murfreesboro
- king international market, murfreesboro
- me sai asian market 1, murfreesboro
- st john market, murfreesboro
- vito's market and deli, murfreesboro
Large Grocery Store · 5
- kims international market inc, murfreesboro
- mercados marias 1 llc, murfreesboro
- nellys super mercado, smyrna
- smyrna fruit super mercado, smyrna
- smyrna super mercado, smyrna
Bakery Specialty · 3
- papa murphy's pizza tn004, murfreesboro
- papa murphy's pizza tn034, murfreesboro
- papa murphy's pizza tn042, smyrna
Farmers' Market · 1
- rutherford county farmers' market, murfreesboro
Seafood Specialty · 1
- gandy seafood cajun x market, murfreesboro
Showing 250 of 255 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Tennessee
Compare Rutherford County vs Anderson County → · All Tennessee counties →
Food access nationally, Tennessee in context
Rutherford County sits inside Tennessee (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 Rutherford County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Rutherford County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Rutherford County? ▼
Is Rutherford County a food desert? ▼
What share of Rutherford 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.