Signature · 53.1% low-access (94th pct)

Sandoval County, NM

Sandoval County sits in the upper national band on low-access (53.1%, +31 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

53.1%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
13.8%
on SNAP
154K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NM

USDA FARA access plate

County Sandoval County, NM

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-SEVERE 53.1% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +31.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 13.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 15% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: McKinley County (+ 1.6 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Sandoval County sits in the upper national band (53.1%, #173 of 3,079) with 4 LILA tracts.

#173
national by low-access %
#6
in NM
21
low-access tracts
24K
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 53.1% low-access (94th pct) (+31 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Sandoval County compares nationally

Sandoval County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 53.1% low-access share outpaces 94% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #173 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Sandoval County's elevated USDA tier split

27 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Sandoval County, NM USDA-defined food-access tiers: 6 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 17 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 27 tracts evaluated. 6 tracts adequate (22.2%) 17 tracts limited (63.0%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (14.8%) Adequate 22% Limited 63% Severe 15% Food-access tier distribution: Sandoval County, NM
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Sandoval County has 18 urban and 9 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Sandoval County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in New Mexico, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Sandoval County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts27
Atlas Population (2010 basis)131,561
Low-Access Tracts21
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population69,866
Low-Access Share53.1%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population24,236

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Sandoval County
IndicatorValue
Population153,604
Median Household Income$86,636
Poverty Rate10.0%below the national average
SNAP Households7,867
SNAP Participation Rate13.8%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.2%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.6%

Thick SNAP store book in Sandoval County

Sandoval County has 72 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 35 locations (49% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 35

  • 7-eleven 721, rio rancho
  • allsup's 102429, cuba
  • allsups 216, bernalillo
  • allsups 342, rio rancho
  • amandas jemez mountain country store, jemez springs
  • bernalillo feed & conoco, bernalillo
  • bernalillo chevron, bernalillo
  • black mesa travel center, algodones
  • claras trading post, cuba
  • chaco trade center, cuba
  • circle k 2706276, rio rancho
  • circle k 2708945, cuba
  • circle k 2741217, bernalillo
  • circle k 2741220, rio rancho
  • dk 724, rio rancho
  • good 2 go store 306, rio rancho
  • good 2 go store 308, rio rancho
  • kewa gas llc, santo domingo pueblo
  • market street express 921, rio rancho
  • murphy express 8648, bernalillo
  • murphy express 8911, rio rancho
  • red mesa express 520, cuba
  • red mesa express 526, counselor
  • regina mercantile inc, regina
  • speedway 8922, rio rancho
  • speedway 8927, bernalillo
  • speedway 8928, rio rancho
  • speedway 9114, rio rancho
  • speedway 9118, rio rancho
  • speedway 9119, rio rancho
  • speedway 9513, cuba
  • speedway 9614, san ysidro
  • speedway 9739, bernalillo
  • t & s mainstream bait shop, pena blanca
  • walatowa convenience store, jemez pueblo

Combination Grocery/Other · 17

  • cvs/ pharmacy inc 7552, rio rancho
  • dollar general 10614, rio rancho
  • dollar general 18690, rio rancho
  • dollar general 17822, san ysidro
  • dollar general 21685, cuba
  • dollar general 5731, bernalillo
  • dollar tree 2823, rio rancho
  • dollar tree 3690, rio rancho
  • dollar tree 6682, rio rancho
  • family dollar 12191, algodones
  • family dollar store 5389, bernalillo
  • family dollar store 6191, cuba
  • walgreens 2026, bernalillo
  • walgreens 12270, rio rancho
  • walgreens 4187, rio rancho
  • walgreens 5158, rio rancho
  • walgreens 5732, rio rancho

Super Store · 5

  • smiths 413, rio rancho
  • target store 1117, rio rancho
  • walmart neighborhood market 3517, rio rancho
  • walmart supercenter 3732, rio rancho
  • walmart supercenter 3731, bernalillo

Supermarket · 5

  • albertson's 923, rio rancho
  • albertsons 903, rio rancho
  • market street 921, rio rancho
  • sprouts farmers market 710, rio rancho
  • vitamin cottage natural food markets inc u037, rio rancho

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • el paisano market, rio rancho
  • rio rancho meats, rio rancho
  • the merc, placitas

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • mickeys saveway market, cuba
  • t & t supermart, bernalillo

Small Grocery Store · 2

  • daniel's store, santo domingo pueblo
  • latitudes 1, rio rancho

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphys nm035, rio rancho

Farmers' Market · 1

  • bernalillo farmers market, bernalillo

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • fresh for less, bernalillo

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in New Mexico

One of 32 counties in New Mexico, 6 are shown here.

Compare Sandoval County vs Bernalillo County → · All New Mexico counties →

Counties near Sandoval County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Sandoval County, both outside New Mexico so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NM (53.1% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NM (13.8% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Sandoval County inside a higher low-access state context

Sandoval County sits inside New Mexico (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

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 Sandoval County, NM are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 35043. 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.