County food-access profile · California
Santa Barbara County, CA
Santa Barbara 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.
- 12.2%
- low-access pop.
- 4
- food-desert tracts
- 10.9%
- on SNAP
- 444K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
12.2% of Santa Barbara County residents live in a low-access area, and 4 of its 89 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 29
- low-access tracts
- 12K
- food-desert residents
- 5.9%
- households, no vehicle
- 14.7%
- 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).
Santa Barbara County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 12.2% per the USDA Atlas. 29 of the county's 89 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 51,901 residents who live far from a supermarket. 4 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 12,215 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 Santa Barbara County compares nationally
Santa Barbara County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 12.2% low-access share that beats 26% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,327).
Santa Barbara County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 89 census tracts in Santa Barbara County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Santa Barbara County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- Santa Barbara 12.2
Santa Barbara County, CA
12.2 % 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 | 89 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 423,895 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 29 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 4 |
| Low-Access Population | 51,901 |
| Low-Access Share | 12.2%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 12,215 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 443,701 |
| Median Household Income | $98,161 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.7%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 16,287 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 10.9%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 5.9%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 5.2% |
About 10.9% of Santa Barbara County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 12.2% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 10.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 16,287 households here.
- 5.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 4 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 Santa Barbara County
near the national share
4 of Santa Barbara County's 89 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 4.5% of all its tracts.
A further 25 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 29.
An estimated 51,901 residents, roughly 12.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 12,215 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 60 tracts (67.4%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County has 272 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 117 locations (43% of the total), followed by super store.
Convenience Store · 117
- 7 eleven 18822e, santa barbara
- 7 eleven store 13873 g, santa maria
- 7 eleven store 13900 f, santa barbara
- 7 eleven store 15191 c, goleta
- 7 eleven store 20338 c, santa barbara
- 7 eleven store 27443 b, santa maria
- 7 eleven store 38318 a, santa barbara
- 7 star food store, santa maria
- 7-eleven #16769 a, santa maria
- 7-eleven #16810 c, santa maria
- 7-eleven #26218 b, santa maria
- 7-eleven 25194 c, lompoc
- 7-eleven #36772 36772, goleta
- 7-eleven 17499 b, santa maria
- 7-eleven 18823, goleta
- 7-eleven 18828d, santa maria
- 7-eleven 35285a, lompoc
- 7-eleven 43166, santa maria
- aj grocery express, santa maria
- alexs market, lompoc
- alvin market, santa maria
- am pm, santa maria
- anita's 76 gas station, lompoc
- anita's spirit, santa maria
- arco 42894, santa maria
- arco ampm/shoreline oil, inc 42670, carpinteria
- arts market, santa barbara
- battles market inc, santa maria
- boone street market inc, santa maria
- broadway liquor, santa maria
- brownies market 2, santa barbara
- buellton shell 100, buellton
- carbaughs market inc, lompoc
- chevron 1850, santa barbara
- chevron 1867, carpinteria
- chevron 1974, santa maria
- chevron extra mile 5141, santa maria
- circle k 2721215, lompoc
- circle k 2722709200, lompoc
- city market center, carpinteria
- consrev fuel, lompoc
- copenhagen liquor, solvang
- corner market too, santa barbara
- corner stop market, santa maria
- crown liquor, santa barbara
- d&g market, lompoc
- de la guerra market inc, santa barbara
- drive in liquor, santa maria
- express mso, llc 7055, goleta
- el camino liquor, santa maria
- el gallo market, santa maria
- el milagro market, santa maria
- fairway liquor corp., santa barbara
- fiesta liquor & mkt, lompoc
- g & t family market, inc, lompoc
- gas 4 less, guadalupe
- goleta mart, goleta
- guadalupe grocery, guadalupe
- h & s energy products 2054, guadalupe
- h&s energy products, llc 2055, buellton
- hi time liquor, santa barbara
- highway 1 liquor, lompoc
- houston liquor, buellton
- international food market, goleta
- iv deli mart, goleta
- l & k liquor inc, santa maria
- lv petroleum inc., santa barbara
- la bamba market 1, santa barbara
- las positas liquor inc, santa barbara
- lompoc chevron, lompoc
- maguey liquor inc, santa maria
- main street market, guadalupe
- melody mini market, inc, santa maria
- mi fiesta liquor & beverages, santa barbara
- mi fiesta market & deli, carpinteria
- mi fiesta market & deli, santa barbara
- milpas liquor inc., santa barbara
- mission hills market 1, lompoc
- mission liquor and market corp, santa barbara
- mission mini mart inc 2211216, santa barbara
- moller retail 6111, santa barbara
- moller retail 6113, santa maria
- moller retail 6115, lompoc
- moller retail 879, santa maria
- ocean liquor, lompoc
- old town market, santa maria
- orcutt liquor, santa maria
- papas discount, santa maria
- preciosa market, santa maria
- pueblo supermarkets 1, santa maria
- red barn liquor market, lompoc
- red eye liquor, santa maria
- red sand market & deli 1, santa barbara
- rey's liquor store llc, lompoc
- riviera market, santa barbara
- rocket #5698 5698, santa barbara
- rocket 219, santa barbara
- roy's liquor & market, guadalupe
- sb liquor & crafts, santa barbara
- star mso 1465, santa barbara
- star mso 5055, santa barbara
- star mso 63201, buellton
- six pak shop 1, goleta
- solvang market, solvang
- speedway 3981, santa maria
- speedway 42066, santa barbara
- speedway 63206, santa barbara
- speedy mart, santa barbara
- speedyway 63202, santa barbara
- state shell 200, santa barbara
- stuarts valero mart 1, lompoc
- sunshine market & gas, lompoc
- tanglewood market, santa maria
- tenaya market & eatery, goleta
- the arbor, santa barbara
- the short stop market, santa maria
- v valley liquor, lompoc
Super Store · 34
- bristol farms 18, santa barbara
- costco wholesale 0474, goleta
- costco wholesale 1275, santa maria
- dollar general market 14204, lompoc
- foods co 771, lompoc
- foods co 779, santa maria
- grocery outlet of lompoc 0017, lompoc
- grocery outlet of orcutt 527, santa maria
- grocery outlet of santa barbara 326, santa barbara
- holzheus el rancho market, inc., solvang
- lazy acres 0023, santa barbara
- mercado y carniceria su mesa 2, santa maria
- new frontiers natural foods ix, solvang
- ralphs 10, goleta
- ralphs fresh fare 680, santa barbara
- smart & final 336, santa maria
- smart & final 391, santa barbara
- santa barbara grocery outlet, santa barbara
- santa cruz market sc # 1, santa barbara
- santa cruz market sc #2, goleta
- scott family fresh llc 63, santa maria
- smart & final 702, goleta
- smart & final 914, santa barbara
- smart & final 915, carpinteria
- target store 2872, goleta
- target store t-0309, santa maria
- target store t3298, santa barbara
- vallarta supermarket 46, santa maria
- vallarta supermarkets 31, santa maria
- walmart 1989, lompoc
- walmart 2507, santa maria
- walmart 5658, santa maria
- walmart neighborhood market 5659, santa maria
- whole foods market 10255, santa barbara
Combination Grocery/Other · 33
- cvs pharmacy 10913, santa barbara
- cvs pharmacy 11216, goleta
- cvs pharmacy 3153, santa maria
- cvs pharmacy 9156, goleta
- cvs pharmacy 9235, carpinteria
- cvs pharmacy 9333, santa barbara
- cvs pharmacy 9335, santa barbara
- cvs pharmacy 9394, santa maria
- cvs pharmacy 9567, santa barbara
- cvs pharmacy 9737, goleta
- cvs pharmacy 9750, santa maria
- cvs pharmacy 9821, santa maria
- cvs pharmacy 9824, santa barbara
- cvs pharmacy 9860, santa barbara
- cvs pharmacy 9871, lompoc
- cvs pharmacy 9970, buellton
- cvs pharmacy cvs11295, solvang
- dollartree 10386, santa barbara
- dollartree 10636, santa maria
- dollar tree 1502, lompoc
- dollar tree 1827, santa maria
- dollar tree 4858, santa maria
- dollar tree 5806, santa maria
- dollar tree 7178, orcutt
- dollar tree 7714, goleta
- grocery outlet of lompoc 17, lompoc
- isla vista market, goleta
- the oriental market, goleta
- walgreens 06287, santa maria
- walgreens 06288, santa maria
- walgreens 06289, goleta
- walgreens 6290, lompoc
- woody's butcher block, santa maria
Medium Grocery Store · 21
- adan 3, santa maria
- azteca meat market and deli, lompoc
- babys nutrition inc 3, santa maria
- babys nutrition inc 4, santa maria
- c & h market, new cuyama
- carnicera la mexican, lompoc
- carniceria jalisco 1, lompoc
- debu food mart, santa maria
- estrella star meat market, guadalupe
- european deli & market, santa barbara
- francisco sanchez, lompoc
- kims market, carpinteria
- la chapala, goleta
- la favorita plaza, santa maria
- la tiendita, carpinteria
- main central market, santa maria
- mercado el rey, santa barbara
- super cucas taqueria & carniceria, santa barbara
- taqueria y carniceria mayos inc, santa barbara
- vsz asian market & gift shop, santa maria
- village market, lompoc
Supermarket · 15
- aldi 79037, santa maria
- aldi 79193, lompoc
- albertson's 1348, santa maria
- albertson's 3171, lompoc
- albertson's 3324, buellton
- albertson's 354, goleta
- albertson's 355, carpinteria
- albertson's 357, goleta
- albertsons 1394, orcutt
- chapala market, santa barbara
- el toro loco, santa maria
- food maxx 450, santa maria
- food maxx 451, santa maria
- gelson's markets 17, santa barbara
- isla vista fud cooperative, goleta
Large Grocery Store · 14
- baby's nutrition 2, santa maria
- baby's nutrition 5, lompoc
- baby's nutrition 6, santa maria
- carniceria la bonita, santa maria
- el amigo abad, santa maria
- iv food coop downtown market 2, santa barbara
- la favorita market, santa maria
- la favorita market 4, lompoc
- la favorita market sm #3, santa maria
- la favorita plaza west inc, santa maria
- la favorita supermercado, guadalupe
- la puerta del sol, inc., santa maria
- mercado el rey, santa barbara
- pacific health foods, carpinteria
Farmers' Market · 7
- carpinteria, carpinteria
- goleta farmers market, goleta
- montecito, santa barbara
- route one farmers market, lompoc
- s b certified farmers mk, santa barbara
- solvang, solvang
- state street farmers' market, santa barbara
Small Grocery Store · 6
- carniceria el matador, santa maria
- el rinconsito market, solvang
- lompoc international market, lompoc
- los alamos market, los alamos
- nurtured families 2, santa maria
- wimpys liquor inc, santa maria
Bakery Specialty · 1
- papa murphy's pizza ca269, santa maria
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1
- carniceria la mia, santa maria
Military Commissary · 1
- vandenberg sfb commissary 1734, vandenberg afb
Showing 250 of 272 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare Santa Barbara County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Santa Barbara County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Santa Barbara County? ▼
Is Santa Barbara County a food desert? ▼
What share of Santa Barbara 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.