County food-access profile · California
San Joaquin County, CA
San Joaquin 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.
- 14.4%
- low-access pop.
- 14
- food-desert tracts
- 15.6%
- on SNAP
- 797K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
14.4% of San Joaquin County residents live in a low-access area, and 14 of its 139 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 34
- low-access tracts
- 31K
- food-desert residents
- 5.1%
- households, no vehicle
- 12.4%
- 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 Joaquin County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 14.4% per the USDA Atlas. 34 of the county's 139 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 98,773 residents who live far from a supermarket. 14 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 31,081 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 Joaquin County compares nationally
San Joaquin County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 14.4% low-access share that beats 31% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,165).
San Joaquin County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 139 census tracts in San Joaquin County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
San Joaquin County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- San Joaquin 14.4
San Joaquin County, CA
14.4 % 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 | 139 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 685,306 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 34 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 14 |
| Low-Access Population | 98,773 |
| Low-Access Share | 14.4%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 31,081 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 797,334 |
| Median Household Income | $92,179 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.4%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 38,226 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 15.6%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.1%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.8% |
About 15.6% of San Joaquin County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 14.4% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 15.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 38,226 households here.
- 5.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 14 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 Joaquin County
near the national share
14 of San Joaquin County's 139 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 10.1% of all its tracts.
A further 20 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 34.
An estimated 98,773 residents, roughly 14.4% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 31,081 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 105 tracts (75.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County has 596 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 176 locations (30% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 176
- 1 stop shop plus, stockton
- 11th street market, tracy
- 24 - 7 market, stockton
- 610 cherokee petroleum, lodi
- 7 eleven 14117d, stockton
- 7 eleven 14113b 14113b, stockton
- 7 eleven 17647e, manteca
- 7 eleven 19976d, manteca
- 7 eleven 20304c, tracy
- 7 eleven 20680d, stockton
- 7 eleven 34451b, stockton
- 7 eleven 38153b, stockton
- 7 eleven 38616a, stockton
- 7 eleven 38877a 38877a, stockton
- 7 eleven 41187a, stockton
- 7 eleven 41341a, stockton
- 7 eleven 41342a, stockton
- 7 eleven 41530a, manteca
- 7 eleven 41531a 41531a, tracy
- 7 eleven store 2369 35355a, stockton
- 7-eleven 21756c, manteca
- 7-eleven 32262b, tracy
- 7-eleven / wine country station 2368-39087, lodi
- 7-eleven 20632 20632, stockton
- 76 express tiger no. 1, stockton
- 76 gas station, stockton
- 88 market & grill, clements
- a & m smoke shop and groceries, stockton
- a a discount market, stockton
- a&a gas & food mart, stockton
- a-1 market, stockton
- az smoke shop, stockton
- airport liquor, stockton
- amar liquor & more, manteca
- amar liquor no 3, manteca
- angkor liquor, stockton
- arch arco ampm 82606, stockton
- arco ampm, manteca
- arco am pm, stockton
- arco am/pm # 83927 83927, stockton
- arco am/pm 83333, tracy
- arco ampm, stockton
- arco ampm 2, manteca
- arco ampm 7049, lodi
- arco ampm 7092, stockton
- arco ampm 7161, stockton
- arco ampm 7193, stockton
- arco ampm 82602, tracy
- arco ampm 82695, stockton
- arco ampm 83230 83230, ripon
- arco ampm 83831, manteca
- arco ampm# 82617 arco 82617, manteca
- arco cherokee gas & mart, lodi
- arco victor rd, lodi
- b & e liquors, stockton
- bonfare market 35, tracy
- bevmo bevmo 60, stockton
- biachi market, stockton
- bills 76, lodi
- black diamond smoke shop, lodi
- bobs market, tracy
- brickhouse liquors 1, lodi
- brothers market, stockton
- byron market, tracy
- california stop, stockton
- casa del pueblo, lodi
- chevron station 2227, manteca
- circle 7 food store, stockton
- collegeville market & cafe, stockton
- collierville country store, acampo
- cali market, stockton
- calpark grocery&liquor 702, stockton
- carniceria tierra caliente, stockton
- charterway shell, stockton
- chater way petro, stockton
- chevron 1561, manteca
- chevron 1563, tracy
- chevron 1580, stockton
- chevron 1705, stockton
- chevron 1714, ripon
- chevron 1731, stockton
- chevron 1758, manteca
- chevron 207530, lodi
- chevron 2218, stockton
- chevron 2222, tracy
- chevron 2223, stockton
- chevron extra mile em5773, manteca
- chevron north main, manteca
- chevron station 1718, tracy
- circle k, farmington
- circle k, stockton
- circle k ck 2654315, manteca
- city smoke & groceries 1, stockton
- clements ridge produce and bakery, clements
- colonial energy ce 40138, lockeford
- corona liquor, stockton
- country market, tracy
- country marketplace, stockton
- countryside liquor and gas, lodi
- court house market, stockton
- crown liquors tracy, tracy
- delta food market, stockton
- delta liquor, stockton
- diamond gas and food mart, manteca
- diamond gas and market 10, tracy
- discount liquor, manteca
- discount liquor & grocery, stockton
- discount liquor and mini mart, stockton
- discount market, stockton
- downtown liquor & market, lodi
- e & l market, lodi
- el lucero mexican products, lodi
- eagle market, stockton
- el amigo market, stockton
- el dorado food mart, stockton
- el molcajete eastside market, lodi
- el vino food mart n/a, lodi
- emil's liquor & sport shop, escalon
- ernies general store inc, stockton
- escalon mini mart, escalon
- express fuel & mart inc., stockton
- express liquor, stockton
- f & f market, stockton
- fagundes meats and catering inc., manteca
- family market & liquor, tracy
- family mart, stockton
- family meat market, stockton
- fast & easy mart 104, lathrop
- fast & easy mart morada 60, stockton
- fast and easy mart 103, stockton
- fast lane central valley 6040, lathrop
- fast n esy 16, manteca
- five star market, stockton
- flag city arco ampm, lodi
- flag city shell, lodi
- flame mini mart, lodi
- flying j travel plaza 1017, lathrop
- food mart gasoline, stockton
- foodmart, stockton
- forlando food and liqours, stockton
- fremont arco 05450, stockton
- french camp market, french camp
- gas co, manteca
- gaslo food mart, stockton
- georges mini mart, lockeford
- golden bull liquor & more, stockton
- grant line shell 375, tracy
- grappa market, ripon
- green frog & liquor, stockton
- guatelinda market llc, stockton
- h & s energy products 3081, stockton
- h&m smoke shop & mini - mart, stockton
- h&s 3083, tracy
- h&s 3084, tracy
- h&s energy products llc 3034, manteca
- h&s energy products llc 3035, lathrop
- hammer liquor, stockton
- hammer/i-5 arco, stockton
- harding way liquor, stockton
- harney lane inc., lodi
- hi deli & grocery, stockton
- jahant food and fuel stop inc, acampo
- jamar service, stockton
- jimmy's grocery & deli, tracy
- jimmy's oasis, tracy
- jimmys market, manteca
- la favorita, french camp
- la mexicana de ripon, ripon
- lakewood chevron, lodi
- lathrop gas & food inc., lathrop
- liquor maxx, stockton
- liquor maxx 2, stockton
- local food market, stockton
- lodi liquor, lodi
- los altos family market, stockton
- los primos market, stockton
Combination Grocery/Other · 67
- a1 ag farmers market, lathrop
- afghan market, tracy
- artesian natural foods inc., stockton
- cvs pharmacy 3908, tracy
- cvs pharmacy 5403, manteca
- cvs pharmacy 9147, stockton
- cvs pharmacy 9243, lodi
- cvs pharmacy 9261, lodi
- cvs pharmacy 9830, stockton
- cvs pharmacy 9855, tracy
- cvs pharmacy 9866, manteca
- cvs pharmacy 9949, ripon
- currys ii, stockton
- dollar general 14353, manteca
- dollartree 10406, tracy
- dollartree 10524, lodi
- dollartree 10582, tracy
- dollartree 1260, stockton
- dollar general 13568, manteca
- dollar general 14661, escalon
- dollar general 15928, lockeford
- dollar general 25626, stockton
- dollar savers, escalon
- dollar tree 1238, manteca
- dollar tree 1240, stockton
- dollar tree 1263, stockton
- dollar tree 2189, manteca
- dollar tree 2983, tracy
- dollar tree 3771, stockton
- dollar tree 4403, lodi
- dollar tree 5193, stockton
- dollar tree 5403, stockton
- dollar tree 5525, stockton
- dollar tree 5531, escalon
- dollar tree 6120, lodi
- dollar tree 7648, ripon
- dollar tree 8467, stockton
- family dollar 11867, stockton
- family dollar store 11298, stockton
- fiesta mix, stockton
- good start nutrition, stockton
- happy bazaar 1, stockton
- meat connect, stockton
- mi esperanza carniceria, tracy
- n & h market, stockton
- papa murphy's pizza ca163, lodi
- punjabi bazar, manteca
- punjabi brother indian supermarket 1, manteca
- raj grocery store, manteca
- sk mart grocery, stockton
- super star market, stockton
- taaza naan, tracy
- vaaj market, stockton
- walgreens 09716, ripon
- walgreens 10454, manteca
- walgreens 10482, stockton
- walgreens 10631, lathrop
- walgreens 10766, tracy
- walgreens 12549, stockton
- walgreens 13984, stockton
- walgreens 15398, stockton
- walgreens 2434, tracy
- walgreens 2680, stockton
- walgreens 2770, stockton
- walgreens 2961, lodi
- walgreens 9723, stockton
- zacky market, stockton
Bakery Specialty · 7
- papa murphy 60, manteca
- papa murphy's pizza ca272, stockton
- papa murphy's take n bake pizza 256, stockton
- papa murphy's take n bake pizza ca068, stockton
- papa murphys take and bake pizza ca063, tracy
- papa murphys take n bake 074, stockton
- papa murphys take n bake pizza ca098, stockton
Showing 250 of 596 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare San Joaquin County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
San Joaquin 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 Joaquin County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in San Joaquin County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in San Joaquin County? ▼
Is San Joaquin County a food desert? ▼
What share of San Joaquin 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.