Signature · 5.1% SNAP (2nd pct in CA)
San Mateo County, CA
San Mateo County lands in the lower national band on low-access (10.5%); supermarket distance is less binding than in the upper band, though local tracts can still diverge.
- 10.5%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 5.1%
- on SNAP
- 742K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County San Mateo County, CA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 10.5% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -11.6 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 5.1% SNAP
- VEH-OK 5.8% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Humboldt County (+ 0.7 pts)
Lower-band low-access
San Mateo County lands in the lower national band (10.5%, #2,453 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.
- #2,453
- national by low-access %
- #48
- in CA
- 33
- low-access tracts
- 7K
- food-desert residents
Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.
Signature read: 5.1% SNAP (2nd pct in CA) (-7 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How San Mateo County compares nationally
San Mateo County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 10.5% low-access share that beats 22% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,453).
San Mateo County's lower-band USDA tier split
156 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
San Mateo County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (151 urban, 5 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 5 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
San Mateo County vs nearby low low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in California, not a full county-board reprint
- Sierra
Sierra 88.2%
88.2 % low-access
- Marin 11.9
Marin 11.9%
11.9 % low-access
- Humboldt 11.2
Humboldt 11.2%
11.2 % low-access
- Tulare 11.2
Tulare 11.2%
11.2 % low-access
- San Mateo 10.5
San Mateo 10.5%
10.5 % low-access
- Stanislaus 9.7
Stanislaus 9.7%
9.7 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador 0.2%
0.2 % low-access
FARA 2019 · lower low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 156 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 718,451 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 33 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 75,561 |
| Low-Access Share | 10.5%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 6,605 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 742,340 |
| Median Household Income | $158,855 |
| Poverty Rate | 6.7%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 13,399 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 5.1%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.8%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.6% |
Thick SNAP store book in San Mateo County
San Mateo County has 304 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 105 locations (35% of the total), followed by supermarket.
Where the store book sits, by town
20 towns share the 304 authorized stores; Daly City holds 17% of them. 4 of the 20 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Brisbane, El Granada, Moss Beach, Portola Valley.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Daly City | 51 | 20 |
| Redwood City | 45 | 19 |
| San Mateo | 42 | 19 |
| South San Francisco | 38 | 17 |
| San Bruno | 23 | 13 |
| Pacifica | 18 | 5 |
| Menlo Park | 15 | 8 |
| East Palo Alto | 13 | 6 |
| Millbrae | 12 | 5 |
| Burlingame | 11 | 5 |
Top 10 of 20 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 105
- 5 star food & liquor, south san francisco
- 505 petroleum, daly city
- 5th avenue shell 138, redwood city
- 7 eleven 14311e, south san francisco
- 7 eleven 14317f 14317f, san mateo
- 7 eleven 14319b, san mateo
- 7 eleven 14336f 14336f, east palo alto
- 7 eleven 15910g 15910g, san bruno
- 7 eleven 20305c, san mateo
- 7 eleven 2366 14341d, san bruno
- 7 eleven 2366-37265a 37265a, pacifica
- 7 eleven 35063a, south san francisco
- 7 eleven inc 17908c, daly city
- 7 eleven store 2366 22434e, redwood city
- 7-eleven #21480d, half moon bay
- 7-eleven 14316d, burlingame
- 7-eleven 14318, pacifica
- 7-eleven 14331f 14331f, menlo park
- 7-eleven 14337b, pacifica
- 7-eleven 14338, san carlos
- 7-eleven 14339f, redwood city
- 7-eleven 14340, daly city
- 7-eleven 15969c, daly city
- 7-eleven 18858d, millbrae
- 7-eleven store 14335d, san bruno
- 7-eleven store 14344f, south san francisco
- 7-eleven 15896e, redwood city
- 7-eleven 25411, redwood city
- 7-eleven store 22498e, south san francisco
- a b&w market, redwood city
- aj royal market, redwood city
- al's liquor, south san francisco
- am/pm 82377, belmont
- amoura inc./ dba school house grocery 1, south san francisco
- ampm 6139, foster city
- arco ampm 306, redwood city
- arco ampm 573 573, redwood city
- arco ampm 7119, millbrae
- avenue liquors, san mateo
- bayshore shell 132, burlingame
- booze and brother liquor store, millbrae
- burlingame liquors, burlingame
- chevron 1711, redwood city
- chevron 1767, daly city
- chevron 1779, daly city
- chevron station 2200, millbrae
- coast highway shell 145, pacifica
- crocker market & liquors, daly city
- dc smart 1, daly city
- daly city fast fill market 146, daly city
- eastside market 1, east palo alto
- food stop, redwood city
- friends market, south san francisco
- fuel 24/7 at westborough, south san francisco
- garden market, east palo alto
- gateway shell 146, pacifica
- gellert shell 135, daly city
- golden glaze bakery & market, redwood city
- grand 76 and circle k 2655871, south san francisco
- grand leader market, san bruno
- hickey way shell 136, daly city
- hillsdale liquor, san mateo
- hillside shell 134, daly city
- j & j market, south san francisco
- jailhouse deli & liquors, south san francisco
- kiwik serv daly city, daly city
- la dora liquors & deli, san bruno
- liquor & food mart, san mateo
- liquor land, millbrae
- liquor locker, san bruno
- marina liquors, san mateo
- market la raza, san mateo
- mid city supermarket, inc., daly city
- midtown market, brisbane
- morazan grocery store, daly city
- more for less 9, half moon bay
- mosaic market, san mateo
- new daly city market, daly city
- one stop market, east palo alto
- prima market, san mateo
- quick pick market & deli, daly city
- quik stop market #551099, pacifica
- quik stop market 551059, menlo park
- redwood city martco, redwood city
- redwood liquor, redwood city
- redwood mini market, redwood city
- rocket #5622 5622, san mateo
- royal gas, menlo park
- san bruno arco ampm 743, san bruno
- san bruno shell 173, san bruno
- sf wine & spirits, south san francisco
- sharp park market, pacifica
- shoreview liquors, san mateo
- speedway 1472, south san francisco
- speedway 4505, daly city
- speedway 4976, daly city
- sun valley dairy 1, daly city
- super discount food & liquor, redwood city
- the daly city jug shop 2, daly city
- vt petroleum, redwood city
- valero express station, south san francisco
- vera cash market, redwood city
- vira marketing llc, daly city
- win wah corporation, daly city
- woodside manor shell 176, redwood city
Supermarket · 50
- chavez meat market, redwood city
- chavez supermarket, menlo park
- dean's produce, san mateo
- deans produce, millbrae
- delucchi's market, redwood city
- jagalchi, daly city
- la loma produce 9, daly city
- la hacienda market, menlo park
- lucky 707, daly city
- lucky 726, millbrae
- lucky 745, redwood city
- lucky 748, san bruno
- lucky 749, san carlos
- mexicana produce, san bruno
- mercado mi familia, inc., half moon bay
- mi rancho market, san mateo
- mi rancho supermarket, redwood city
- mi tienda redwood, inc., redwood city
- nob hill foods 628, redwood city
- new leaf community market 1204, half moon bay
- safeway 1138, belmont
- safeway 1709, menlo park
- safeway 2719, menlo park
- safeway 3008, pacifica
- safeway 3031, daly city
- safeway 304, pacifica
- safeway 305, redwood city
- safeway 308, half moon bay
- safeway 639, san mateo
- safeway 668, belmont
- safeway 694, san mateo
- safeway 747, redwood city
- safeway 777, south san francisco
- safeway 970, san mateo
- safeway 999, foster city
- safeway 1547, burlingame
- safeway 2843, pacifica
- safeway 2878, millbrae
- safeway 3116, south san francisco
- seafood city supermarket 15, daly city
- seafood city supermarket 24, south san francisco
- soleska market, menlo park
- sprouts 276, daly city
- trader joe's 170, millbrae
- trader joe's 174, san carlos
- trader joe's 187, south san francisco
- trader joe's 245, san mateo
- trader joe's 67, san mateo
- trader joe's 69, menlo park
- trader joe's 74, daly city
Super Store · 45
- 99 ranch market 69, daly city
- 99 ranch market 82, foster city
- chavez supermarket, redwood city
- cardenas 215, east palo alto
- chavez supermarket 10, san mateo
- costco 654, south san francisco
- costco wholesale 0147, foster city
- costco wholesale 0422, south san francisco
- costco wholesale 0475, south san francisco
- costco wholesale 1042, redwood city
- foodville meats of san carlos, san carlos
- grocery outlet of pacifica 294, pacifica
- hashi market, san mateo
- kukje super market, daly city
- lunardi foods 5, belmont
- lunardi's market 2, san bruno
- lunardi's market 8, burlingame
- la estrellita market, east palo alto
- la hacienda market 6, south san francisco
- la hacienda super mercado, san mateo
- manila oriental market, daly city
- mi rancho supermarket 4, redwood city
- mollie stone's markets, burlingame
- mollie stone's markets, san mateo
- mollie stone's markets 5, san bruno
- mega mart, east palo alto
- oceana market, pacifica
- pacific supermarket, south san francisco
- pacific supermarket, south san francisco
- redwood city grocery outlet 4, redwood city
- smart & final 320, daly city
- smart & final 410, redwood city
- smart & final 441, south san francisco
- smart & final 453, san mateo
- south city grocery outlet, south san francisco
- sun's market, millbrae
- target store t-0320, colma
- target store t-0321, redwood city
- target store t-1054, san bruno
- target store t-1122, san mateo
- target store t-1407, daly city
- target store t3353, daly city
- the market at edgewood, east palo alto
- whole foods market 10150, san mateo
- whole foods market 10154, redwood city
Combination Grocery/Other · 40
- cvs 10165, daly city
- cvs pharmacy 550, san carlos
- cvs pharmacy 9216, half moon bay
- cvs pharmacy 9329, redwood city
- cvs pharmacy 9330, menlo park
- cvs pharmacy 9554, san mateo
- cvs pharmacy 9690, redwood city
- cvs pharmacy 9752, daly city
- cvs pharmacy 9807, san bruno
- cvs pharmacy 9811, burlingame
- cvs pharmacy 9833, san mateo
- cvs pharmacy 9879, foster city
- cvs pharmacy 9940, san mateo
- cvs pharmacy 9977, san mateo
- dollartree 11514, san mateo
- dollar tree 2782, belmont
- dollar tree 3275, south san francisco
- dollar tree 3847, pacifica
- dollar tree 4429, colma
- dollar tree 4505, san carlos
- dollar tree 4735, daly city
- dollar tree 5544, redwood city
- el rancho market, menlo park
- key market, redwood city
- la paradita peru, redwood city
- sun valley fine foods, pacifica
- save more meat market, pacifica
- spangler's market, el granada
- walgreens 00625, millbrae
- walgreens 01807, daly city
- walgreens 02126, san carlos
- walgreens 03296, san mateo
- walgreens 03346, south san francisco
- walgreens 05006, san mateo
- walgreens 07087, menlo park
- walgreens 11261, pacifica
- walgreens 12257, burlingame
- walgreens 15397, south san francisco
- walgreens 324, daly city
- walgreens 6655, burlingame
Medium Grocery Store · 31 (10 shown)
- alfredo's 2, south san francisco
- ayar produce market, south san francisco
- bayshore market, daly city
- besan international market, san bruno
- charlies market, east palo alto
- cunha's country store 1, half moon bay
- daly city market, daly city
- el chico produce , inc, south san francisco
- el mercadito latino 2, redwood city
- estacion san bruno market, san bruno
Showing 250 of 304 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in California
One of 57 counties in California, 6 are shown here.
Compare San Mateo County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Counties near San Mateo County's lower low-access or SNAP band
SNAP-led peer set first for San Mateo County (5.1%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside California.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside CA (10.5% here).
- Pottawatomie County, KS · 10.5% low-access
- Houghton County, MI · 10.5% low-access
- Wabasha County, MN · 10.5% low-access
- Pike County, MS · 10.5% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside CA (5.1% here).
- Routt County, CO · 5.1% SNAP
- Ada County, ID · 5.1% SNAP
- Noble County, IN · 5.1% SNAP
- Calvert County, MD · 5.1% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
California among Pacific states
California ranks 5th of 5 Pacific states by population-weighted low-access (13.3%). San Mateo County, at 10.5%, runs 2.8 pts below the California rate.
- Alaska 30.9%
- Hawaii 26.7%
- Washington 23.1%
- Oregon 16.9%
- California 13.3%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 San Mateo County, CA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 06081. 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.