County food-access profile · California
San Francisco County, CA
Most of San Francisco County sits within reach of a supermarket, better than most U.S. counties. This profile covers who, if anyone, qualifies as a food desert here, plus the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).
- 0.6%
- low-access pop.
- 3
- food-desert tracts
- 11.4%
- on SNAP
- 830K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
0.6% of San Francisco County residents live in a low-access area, and 3 of its 195 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 4
- low-access tracts
- 2K
- food-desert residents
- 30.2%
- households, no vehicle
- 11.2%
- 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).
By the USDA's measure, San Francisco County fares better than most: just 0.6% of residents live in a low-access tract, below the national share. Still, 4 of the county's 195 tracts meet that threshold, covering about 4,707 people who live far from a supermarket, and 3 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 2,436 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 Francisco County compares nationally
Food access in San Francisco County compares favorably nationally: its 0.6% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 3% of them (rank #3,047).
San Francisco County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 195 census tracts in San Francisco County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
San Francisco County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- San Francisco 0.6
San Francisco County, CA
0.6 % 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 | 195 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 805,235 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 4 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 3 |
| Low-Access Population | 4,707 |
| Low-Access Share | 0.6%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 2,436 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 830,235 |
| Median Household Income | $140,970 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.2%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 41,556 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 11.4%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 30.2%well above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.2% |
About 11.4% of San Francisco County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 0.6% of residents are low-access, below the national share for U.S. counties.
- 11.4% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 41,556 households here.
- 30.2% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 3 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 Francisco County
below the national share
3 of San Francisco County's 195 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 1.5% of all its tracts.
A further 1 tract is low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 4.
An estimated 4,707 residents, roughly 0.6% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 2,436 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 191 tracts (97.9%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in San Francisco County
San Francisco County has 535 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 164 locations (31% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 164
- 1010 market, san francisco
- 17th and noe market, san francisco
- 19th ave liquor, san francisco
- 19th ave shell 150, san francisco
- 3j family market, san francisco
- 49ers liquors and groceries n/a, san francisco
- 6th street market, san francisco
- 7 eleven 20450c, san francisco
- 7 eleven 20473c, san francisco
- 7 eleven 2366-20643d 20643d, san francisco
- 7 eleven 35696a, san francisco
- 7 eleven inc 23342f, san francisco
- 7 eleven store 2366 22627d, san francisco
- 7 eleven store 2366 35722a, san francisco
- 7-eleven 21389, san francisco
- 7-eleven 33006b, san francisco
- 7-eleven store 34977a, san francisco
- a.m.s. market, san francisco
- abc market, san francisco
- all seasons market, san francisco
- amal's deli, san francisco
- amro market, san francisco
- bay view liquor, san francisco
- bay food market, san francisco
- bay food mini market, san francisco
- bernal heights stop and shop, san francisco
- big save market, san francisco
- brother mini market, san francisco
- brothers supermarket inc, san francisco
- bryant supermarket, san francisco
- bus stop liquors and deli, san francisco
- charlies drugs, san francisco
- cadillac grocery, san francisco
- california grocery, san francisco
- california shell 156, san francisco
- castro liquor & wine, san francisco
- central haight market, san francisco
- central park natural, san francisco
- chevron 1512, san francisco
- chevron 1539, san francisco
- chevron 1712, san francisco
- chevron 1727, san francisco
- chevron 1768, san francisco
- city choice market, san francisco
- city gas, san francisco
- civic center market, san francisco
- convenience deli & grocery, san francisco
- cool guys, san francisco
- diana mkt 2, san francisco
- dalda's community maarket, san francisco
- deena's market, san francisco
- deli shack, san francisco
- discount grocers, san francisco
- divisadero union 76, san francisco
- downtown grocery, san francisco
- eddy st bodega, san francisco
- el dorado market, san francisco
- eureka market zidan inc, san francisco
- excelsior liquors, san francisco
- freds liquor & grocery, san francisco
- food 24 hr convenience market, san francisco
- food 24 market, san francisco
- food on the run, san francisco
- fords grocery, san francisco
- franklin market, san francisco
- fulton food shop, san francisco
- g & h liquors & grocery, san francisco
- g & s liquor and convenience store,inc, san francisco
- g&f inc, san francisco
- go go market & deli, san francisco
- gabby's market & deli, san francisco
- geary wine and spirits, san francisco
- george's market, san francisco
- golden corner market, san francisco
- golden market, san francisco
- golden village market inc, san francisco
- grand mini market, san francisco
- grove street market, san francisco
- guerrero hill market, san francisco
- habibi markeet 1, san francisco
- habibi market, san francisco
- hamtini discount, san francisco
- harrison shell 155, san francisco
- harvest hills market, san francisco
- hayes market, san francisco
- healthy u, san francisco
- hollow cow market dbi, san francisco
- holloway market, san francisco
- hollywood food center, san francisco
- horizon market, san francisco
- hyde-ofarrelle market, san francisco
- icu deli inc, san francisco
- icu market & deli inc, san francisco
- imperial square liquors, san francisco
- j & w market, san francisco
- j mart, san francisco
- jerusalem market, san francisco
- jacks market inc, san francisco
- jupiter market, san francisco
- k & d market, san francisco
- king's bakery, san francisco
- kansas food market, san francisco
- key food market, san francisco
- kwik & convenient, san francisco
- lan lan market inc, san francisco
- larkin corner market, san francisco
- lee's food market, san francisco
- lincoln unocal, san francisco
- lincoln way shell 154, san francisco
- m & m short stop, san francisco
- m & w market, san francisco
- mission-silver market, san francisco
- martells liquor & grocery, san francisco
- maurice's corner, san francisco
- mcallister liquor and grocery, san francisco
- mid city market, san francisco
- mike's market, san francisco
- mikes liquors & grocerie, san francisco
- mission dolores market, san francisco
- mission martco 356457, san francisco
- mission shell 170, san francisco
- norman's liquor, san francisco
- neill's liquor & groceries, san francisco
- new college hill market, san francisco
- new hampshire market, san francisco
- new star ell, san francisco
- new york tobacco, san francisco
- nicks food 1659, san francisco
- nob hill liquor, san francisco
- noors snacks, san francisco
- o'farrell liquors, san francisco
- oak hill market, san francisco
- olive, san francisco
- olooneys market, san francisco
- oxbridge market, san francisco
- park presidio liquors, san francisco
- parkside market liquor and deli, san francisco
- pay and save market none, san francisco
- pine & taylor market, san francisco
- plaza snacks & deli 1, san francisco
- polk market 4152405317, san francisco
- polk-n-post convenience store, san francisco
- potrero shell 159, san francisco
- punj liquor, san francisco
- round the clock, san francisco
- rapti liquor & grocery 1, san francisco
- ray market and deli inc, san francisco
- ricci's market, san francisco
- richland market, san francisco
- roxie food center sf, san francisco
- royal market and bakery, san francisco
- rubin's market, san francisco
- s & m liquor and market inc, san francisco
- s & w market, san francisco
- sf 3rd street shell 153, san francisco
- sf liquor and food mart, san francisco
- stewart's market, san francisco
- saabis groceries, san francisco
- salem grocery, san francisco
- sam's market, san francisco
- samy's liquor, san francisco
- sav more market, san francisco
- serve u market, san francisco
- sf discount market, san francisco
Combination Grocery/Other · 86
- arguello super market, san francisco
- abc supermarket, san francisco
- benco trading, san francisco
- boss supermarket, san francisco
- cvs 10080, san francisco
- cvs 10188, san francisco
- cvs pharmacy 10330, san francisco
- cvs pharmacy 11004, san francisco
- cvs pharmacy 11107, san francisco
- cvs pharmacy 1983, san francisco
- cvs pharmacy 4675, san francisco
- clement dung market, san francisco
- dai chung wah trading inc, san francisco
- dai hing wor grocery, san francisco
- dong hing llc, san francisco
- europa plus, san francisco
- g & z lucky store llc, san francisco
- golden way trading company 1, san francisco
- good luck market, san francisco
- guang long, san francisco
- gus's community market, san francisco
- gus's market channel, san francisco
- haight street market, san francisco
- huaxing produce inc. 1, san francisco
- huizhong trade co llc, san francisco
- j & l vegi supermarket 1, san francisco
- j & s produce inc., san francisco
- jbc market, san francisco
- jai ho indian grocery, san francisco
- jin yang market, san francisco
- jugao dry goods store, san francisco
- jumbo trading company llc, san francisco
- kwong tai, san francisco
- long win food, llc, san francisco
- marakie grocery, san francisco
- mei shen, san francisco
- mei shen ginseng corporation, san francisco
- mi duo duo market, san francisco
- mulan's market, san francisco
- new fruit garden llc, san francisco
- new rainbow house llc, san francisco
- new world market, san francisco
- noriega produce, san francisco
- portola grocery outlet, san francisco
- roxie market, san francisco
- s & m ginseng, san francisco
- salama halal meat, san francisco
- sf noriega new century seafood market inc, san francisco
- sk&l trading llc, san francisco
- sun sun trading co, san francisco
- superb garden grocery, san francisco
- tai hing, inc, san francisco
- tan hua sf llc, san francisco
- tan tan trading company inc., san francisco
- tiantian market inc, san francisco
- vallejo seafood company, san francisco
- vegiland market inc 1, san francisco
- walgreens 00887, san francisco
- walgreens 00896, san francisco
- walgreens 01109, san francisco
- walgreens 01297, san francisco
- walgreens 01327, san francisco
- walgreens 01626, san francisco
- walgreens 02521, san francisco
- walgreens 02705, san francisco
- walgreens 05599, san francisco
- walgreens 06557, san francisco
- walgreens 06625, san francisco
- walgreens 07043, san francisco
- walgreens 07150, san francisco
- walgreens 1054, san francisco
- walgreens 13670, san francisco
- walgreens 15127, san francisco
- walgreens 2088, san francisco
- walgreens 2152, san francisco
- walgreens 3475, san francisco
- walgreens 4231, san francisco
- walgreens 4275, san francisco
- walgreens 4529, san francisco
- walgreens 4570, san francisco
- walgreens 4609, san francisco
- walgreens 893, san francisco
- wei ye co inc, san francisco
- wl trading inc, san francisco
- yangtze market 2, san francisco
- yinxing food co, san francisco
Showing 250 of 535 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare San Francisco County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
San Francisco 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 Francisco County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in San Francisco County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in San Francisco County? ▼
Is San Francisco County a food desert? ▼
What share of San Francisco 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.