County food-access profile · California
San Diego County, CA
San Diego County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 14.9%
- low-access pop.
- 25
- food-desert tracts
- 9.9%
- on SNAP
- 3.3M
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
14.9% of San Diego County residents live in a low-access area, and 25 of its 627 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 186
- low-access tracts
- 86K
- food-desert residents
- 5.5%
- households, no vehicle
- 10.3%
- 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).
San Diego County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 14.9% per the USDA Atlas. 186 of the county's 627 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 462,046 residents who live far from a supermarket. 25 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 85,525 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 San Diego County compares nationally
San Diego County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 14.9% low-access share that beats 32% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,130).
San Diego County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 627 census tracts in San Diego County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
San Diego County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- San Diego 14.9
San Diego County, CA
14.9 % low-access
- Alameda 8.1
Alameda County, CA
8.1 % low-access
- Alpine
Alpine County, CA
57 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador County, CA
0.2 % low-access
- Butte 19.1
Butte County, CA
19.1 % low-access
- Calaveras 14.7
Calaveras County, CA
14.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 627 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 3,095,313 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 186 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 25 |
| Low-Access Population | 462,046 |
| Low-Access Share | 14.9%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 85,525 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,288,774 |
| Median Household Income | $106,268 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.3%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 116,541 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.9%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.5%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.3% |
About 9.9% of San Diego County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 14.9% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 9.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 116,541 households here.
- 5.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 25 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 San Diego County
near the national share
25 of San Diego County's 627 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 4.0% of all its tracts.
A further 161 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 186.
An estimated 462,046 residents, roughly 14.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 85,525 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 441 tracts (70.3%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in San Diego County
San Diego County has 1,743 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 204 locations (12% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 204
- axum market, san diego
- addis market, san diego
- african caribbean food market, san diego
- al hindi market, san diego
- ariana international market, el cajon
- ariana produce, san diego
- barons market 5, san diego
- brothers butcher shop 1, el cajon
- cvs 10508, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 10182, chula vista
- cvs pharmacy 10743, carlsbad
- cvs pharmacy 10819, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 10919, spring valley
- cvs pharmacy 11331, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 11363, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 11445, oceanside
- cvs pharmacy 20954, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 3025, alpine
- cvs pharmacy 3068, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 3914, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 3942, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 3951, solana beach
- cvs pharmacy 4768, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 6332, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 6368, vista
- cvs pharmacy 7127, san marcos
- cvs pharmacy 7962, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 8818, san marcos
- cvs pharmacy 8833, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 8842, el cajon
- cvs pharmacy 8857, vista
- cvs pharmacy 8859, chula vista
- cvs pharmacy 8866, oceanside
- cvs pharmacy 9102, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9103, escondido
- cvs pharmacy 9104, escondido
- cvs pharmacy 9105, poway
- cvs pharmacy 9108, escondido
- cvs pharmacy 9109, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9110, fallbrook
- cvs pharmacy 9111, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9112, lemon grove
- cvs pharmacy 9113, chula vista
- cvs pharmacy 9114, el cajon
- cvs pharmacy 9115, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9120, imperial beach
- cvs pharmacy 9121, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9131, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9135, encinitas
- cvs pharmacy 9137, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9138, national city
- cvs pharmacy 9141, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9145, santee
- cvs pharmacy 9148, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9154, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9162, la mesa
- cvs pharmacy 9165, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9166, san marcos
- cvs pharmacy 9167, el cajon
- cvs pharmacy 9169, la mesa
- cvs pharmacy 9173, el cajon
- cvs pharmacy 9175, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9177, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9181, encinitas
- cvs pharmacy 9187, solana beach
- cvs pharmacy 9192, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9193, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9194, ramona
- cvs pharmacy 9195, la jolla
- cvs pharmacy 9197, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9240, chula vista
- cvs pharmacy 9247, del mar
- cvs pharmacy 9268, la jolla
- cvs pharmacy 9479, carlsbad
- cvs pharmacy 9524, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9528, carlsbad
- cvs pharmacy 9532, oceanside
- cvs pharmacy 9538, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9549, oceanside
- cvs pharmacy 9558, san marcos
- cvs pharmacy 9574, vista
- cvs pharmacy 9585, oceanside
- cvs pharmacy 9632, chula vista
- cvs pharmacy 9783, national city
- cvs pharmacy 9922, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9926, la jolla
- cvs pharmacy 9937, san diego
- cvs pharmacy 9959, escondido
- cvs pharmacy 9961, san marcos
- cvs pharmacy 9963, san diego
- california produce market llc, national city
- cherokee market, san diego
- christian book and nutrition, national city
- dollartree 10362, san diego
- dollartree 10382, ramona
- dollartree 10503, el cajon
- dollartree 10505, el cajon
- dollartree 10509, chula vista
- dollartree 10526, poway
- dollartree 10549, la mesa
- dollartree 10554, national city
- dollartree 10557, san diego
- dollartree 10562, san diego
- dollartree 10563, san diego
- dollartree 10565, santee
- dollartree 10566, san diego
- dollartree 10575, san marcos
- dollartree 10581, san ysidro
- dollartree 11054, san diego
- dollartree 8644, escondido
- dollartree 8724, chula vista
- dollartree 9177, san marcos
- dollartree 9835, la mesa
- dollar general 20969, campo
- dollar general 23225, borrego springs
- dollar tree 2324, escondido
- dollar tree 2507, oceanside
- dollar tree 2521, carlsbad
- dollar tree 2575, vista
- dollar tree 2889, national city
- dollar tree 2965, san diego
- dollar tree 2982, escondido
- dollar tree 3194, santee
- dollar tree 3195, spring valley
- dollar tree 3207, el cajon
- dollar tree 3757, la mesa
- dollar tree 3821, san diego
- dollar tree 3883, oceanside
- dollar tree 3958, fallbrook
- dollar tree 4162, encinitas
- dollar tree 4271, san diego
- dollar tree 4552, vista
- dollar tree 4616, alpine
- dollar tree 4939, spring valley
- dollar tree 4941, oceanside
- dollar tree 4988, oceanside
- dollar tree 4996, chula vista
- dollar tree 5003, ramona
- dollar tree 5034, chula vista
- dollar tree 5041, poway
- dollar tree 5182, san ysidro
- dollar tree 5274, san diego
- dollar tree 5502, el cajon
- dollar tree 5543, lakeside
- dollar tree 5716, san diego
- dollar tree 5733, san diego
- dollar tree 5854, san diego
- dollar tree 6005, bonita
- dollar tree 6113, san marcos
- dollar tree 6707, san diego
- dollar tree 7232, san diego
- dollar tree 7389, chula vista
- dollar tree 7393, lemon grove
- dollar tree 7616, imperial beach
- dollar tree 7678, oceanside
- dollar tree 7751, el cajon
- dollar tree 7831, chula vista
- dollar tree 7912, santee
- dollar tree 7986, national city
- dollartree 10374, escondido
- foodland supermarket, san diego
- family dollar 10313, vista
- family dollar 10886, vista
- gtm discount general stores, chula vista
- harvest ranch market #2, encinitas
- kako dates & nuts, el cajon
- kupanda african and caribbean market, san diego
- la posta market 2, imperial beach
- lilac foods, valley center
- los reyes tortilleria, vista
- manolo farmers market #5, san diego
- mi reina tortilleria, escondido
- motherland african caribbean plaza, san diego
- north park produce, san diego
- origins grocer, san diego
- sakata mini mart, san diego
- san diego indian spice, san diego
- saray butcher shop, el cajon
- simons one dollar store and up, el cajon
- thousand petal lotus, vista
- walgreens 02623, chula vista
- walgreens 05455, escondido
- walgreens 05456, vista
- walgreens 05700, escondido
- walgreens 05844, el cajon
- walgreens 06094, san diego
- walgreens 06255, chula vista
- walgreens 07176, san diego
- walgreens 07751, oceanside
- walgreens 07867, chula vista
- walgreens 07869, national city
- walgreens 09433, oceanside
- walgreens 09817, santee
- walgreens 11081, fallbrook
- walgreens 11653, encinitas
- walgreens 11654, san diego
- walgreens 11990, lakeside
- walgreens 12143, san diego
- walgreens 12421, poway
- walgreens 12915, lemon grove
- walgreens 13161, san diego
- walgreens 13834, san diego
- walgreens 13859, coronado
- walgreens 15388, san diego
Convenience Store · 42
- 13th street market, imperial beach
- 1st & ivy market, san diego
- 2nd street gas and market 83630, el cajon
- 3 brothers liquor, el cajon
- 32nd & broadway market, san diego
- 3rd ave mini mart, chula vista
- 4 js mini mart, san diego
- 4 seasons market, san diego
- 5 star market & liquor, la mesa
- 5 star market & liquor, chula vista
- 7 eleven 13644 13644 f, san diego
- 7 eleven #32825a, bonita
- 7 eleven 13597d, escondido
- 7 eleven 13615g, oceanside
- 7 eleven 13620, encinitas
- 7 eleven 13624d, poway
- 7 eleven 13642f, san diego
- 7 eleven 13649 e, la mesa
- 7 eleven 13662e, lakeside
- 7 eleven 16073, san diego
- 7 eleven 16852a, san diego
- 7 eleven 18087, encinitas
- 7 eleven 18547c, chula vista
- 7 eleven 19526b, san diego
- 7 eleven 19628f, san diego
- 7 eleven 19883d, san diego
- 7 eleven 20321e, santee
- 7 eleven 20722, san diego
- 7 eleven 2112-39139, san diego
- 7 eleven 21788f, el cajon
- 7 eleven 21790, san diego
- 7 eleven 21793, escondido
- 7 eleven 21799b, san diego
- 7 eleven 21803, escondido
- 7 eleven 23982c, imperial beach
- 7 eleven 24155, san diego
- 7 eleven 26910, san diego
- 7 eleven 32708, san diego
- 7 eleven 33160b, vista
- 7 eleven 33694, san diego
- 7 eleven 33970, san marcos
- 7 eleven 34358b, san diego
Bakery Specialty · 4
- bread deluxe bakery, national city
- city sweets 1, el cajon
- royal sweets, el cajon
- the habibi sweets, el cajon
Showing 250 of 1,743 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare San Diego County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
San Diego County sits inside California (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 San Diego County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in San Diego County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in San Diego County? ▼
Is San Diego County a food desert? ▼
What share of San Diego 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.