County food-access profile · California
Solano County, CA
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Solano County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).
- 21.7%
- low-access pop.
- 4
- food-desert tracts
- 11.4%
- on SNAP
- 452K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
21.7% of Solano County residents live in a low-access area, and 4 of its 96 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 36
- low-access tracts
- 16K
- food-desert residents
- 4.9%
- households, no vehicle
- 10.0%
- 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).
USDA data puts Solano County's low-access share at 21.7%, above the national share. 36 of the county's 96 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 89,524 people. 4 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 15,627 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 Solano County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Solano County's 21.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 50% of them and ranked #1,553 most-affected nationwide.
Solano County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 96 census tracts in Solano County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Solano County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- Solano 21.7
Solano County, CA
21.7 % 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 | 96 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 413,344 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 36 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 4 |
| Low-Access Population | 89,524 |
| Low-Access Share | 21.7%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 15,627 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 451,918 |
| Median Household Income | $100,401 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.0%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 17,882 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 11.4%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.9%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.3% |
About 11.4% of Solano County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 21.7% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
- 11.4% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 17,882 households here.
- 4.9% 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 Solano County
above the national share
4 of Solano County's 96 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 4.2% of all its tracts.
A further 32 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 36.
An estimated 89,524 residents, roughly 21.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 15,627 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 60 tracts (62.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Solano County
Solano County has 265 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 141 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 141
- 3 smoketeers grocery & smoke llc, vallejo
- 7 eleven 14133f, vallejo
- 7 eleven 14134e 14134e, fairfield
- 7 eleven 14148a, vallejo
- 7 eleven 16743a, vallejo
- 7 eleven 23433e 23433e, vacaville
- 7 eleven 2364 22837c, vacaville
- 7 eleven 2365-37947a 37947a, benicia
- 7 eleven 32180d 32180d, suisun city
- 7 eleven 38961a 38961a, suisun city
- 7 eleven 39058a 39058a, vallejo
- 7 eleven 39555a, vacaville
- 7 eleven store 16729f, vallejo
- 7-eleven 14147 d, fairfield
- 7-eleven 23584 c, dixon
- 7-eleven 24248 b, vacaville
- 7-eleven (gill) 14149 f, fairfield
- 7-eleven 14155 g, vacaville
- 7-eleven store 2365-26231b, benicia
- 7-eleven store 34158a 34158a, fairfield
- 7-eleven store 16055g, vacaville
- 76 gas station none, suisun city
- admiral callaghan shell 126, vallejo
- alamo food gas and car wash, vacaville
- arco am pm, dixon
- arco am/pm 83321, fairfield
- arco ampm, fairfield
- arco ampm 7090, vallejo
- arco ampm 7195, vacaville
- arco ampm 83817, fairfield
- arco marina 83087, suisun city
- b&b liquor #2, vallejo
- bonfare market 30, vallejo
- bonfare market 37, suisun city
- ben's food n liquor, vallejo
- bevbox, vallejo
- bevbox, vallejo
- bevbox vallejo 2, vallejo
- bob's liquor and food, benicia
- bonfare market 27, fairfield
- bonfare market 31, fairfield
- bonfare36 36, vallejo
- boss market, vallejo
- bud's liquor, vallejo
- central valley alz investments inc, vallejo
- central valley c-stores, vallejo mart, vallejo
- chevron 1565, vacaville
- chevron 1737, benicia
- chevron 2215, benicia
- chevron 2220, fairfield
- chevron station 1703, vallejo
- come n go, vallejo
- convenience mart, fairfield
- cordelia shell 105, fairfield
- corner market & 99 store, vallejo
- country corner liquors, fairfield
- depot food & liquor, vacaville
- discount gas grocery & liquor, vallejo
- dixon chevron, dixon
- dixon food & liquor, dixon
- dixon liquor and gas na, dixon
- dollar plus & party supplies, vallejo
- double aas smoke shop inc, vallejo
- dr.booze mini mart, fairfield
- five point liquor & grocery, vallejo
- fairfield gas, fairfield
- fairfield union 76, fairfield
- fairmont liquor, vacaville
- food fair market inc, fairfield
- food mart, vallejo
- h & s energy products 3080, vacaville
- h&s energy products llc 2043, vallejo
- h&s energy products llc 2047, fairfield
- h&s energy products llc 3042, fairfield
- h&s energy products llc 3043, fairfield
- h&s energy products llc 3048, fairfield
- h&s energy products llc 3050, vallejo
- h&s energy products llc 3052, vacaville
- h&s energy products llc 3055, vacaville
- h&s energy products llc 3056, vallejo
- h&s energy products llc 3058, vacaville
- h&s energy products llc 3060, vallejo
- h&s energy products llc 3062, vallejo
- j & r, vallejo
- jd food & gas inc, vallejo
- jolly king liquor and food, fairfield
- king wine and liquor 7, vacaville
- lakayanm goods, vallejo
- liquor mart, suisun city
- liquorland vacaville, vacaville
- little maya bakery, vallejo
- m & m liquor, vallejo
- major market, fairfield
- main st market, suisun city
- marine world shell 127, vallejo
- market plus, fairfield
- maxx for less inc, rio vista
- merchant shell 129, vacaville
- n & m market, vallejo
- north texas shell 103, fairfield
- ok express 02, vallejo
- okbah grocery shop, vallejo
- omayh food mart, vallejo
- one stop mart, vacaville
- panaderia la mexicana, fairfield
- purewal gas, vacaville
- quik stop market 550166, vacaville
- quik stop market 551159, fairfield
- rio vista chevron, rio vista
- rocket 5418, benicia
- rotten robbie 70, dixon
- royal vallejo, vallejo
- s & s liquor & grocery store 3, vallejo
- s & s liquor 1, vallejo
- s&s liquor 2 2, vallejo
- suisun port of call groceries, suisun city
- shop n save market, vallejo
- sidhus arco am pm, vacaville
- singh brother oil inc. 83054, vacaville
- smoke city 1, vallejo
- sonoma petroleum inc, vallejo
- springs market, vallejo
- springstowne bottle shop, vallejo
- stop n save, vallejo
- suisun fast fill market, suisun city
- t j market, vallejo
- the pack gift shop & tobacco, vallejo
- travis gas, fairfield
- u know smoke shop inc, vallejo
- union avenue food and liquor, fairfield
- united petroleum, dixon
- val's liquors, vallejo
- vacaville union 76, vacaville
- valero gas & food, vallejo
- vallejo chevron 015, vallejo
- vallejo food fair, vallejo
- vallejo royal 2, vallejo
- vallejo shell 11, vallejo
- walters road ampm, fairfield
- we know smoke & convenience market, vallejo
- west texas fuel and food, fairfield
Combination Grocery/Other · 32
- cvs pharmacy 3075, fairfield
- cvs pharmacy 9371, fairfield
- cvs pharmacy 9712, fairfield
- cvs pharmacy 9761, benicia
- cvs pharmacy 9819, vacaville
- cvs pharmacy 9832, vallejo
- cvs pharmacy 9917, vacaville
- cvs pharmacy 9927, vallejo
- cvs pharmacy 9950, dixon
- dollartree 10403, vallejo
- dollartree 10418, vacaville
- dollartree 11518, benicia
- dollartree 8828, vallejo
- dollartree 9271, vallejo
- desi outlet, vacaville
- dollar general 14812, vallejo
- dollar tree 1235, vacaville
- dollar tree 2341, fairfield
- dollar tree 3973, suisun city
- dollar tree 4131, vallejo
- dollar tree 4943, dixon
- dollar tree 5179, benicia
- dollar tree 5973, fairfield
- dollar tree 6438, vacaville
- family dollar 11411, rio vista
- indian-mart, fairfield
- lira's supermarket, rio vista
- mexico meat market, vacaville
- pedrick produce, dixon
- spices 4 less inc, fairfield
- walgreens 02644, vacaville
- walgreens 15432, fairfield
Super Store · 25
- 168 market, vallejo
- cardenas 213, vallejo
- costco wholesale 0132, vallejo
- costco wholesale 0453, fairfield
- costco wholesale 0694, vacaville
- county square market, vacaville
- grocery outlet fairfield 19, fairfield
- grocery outlet of dixon 455, dixon
- island pacific supermarket 2110, vallejo
- la charrita, fairfield
- lola's market 6, vallejo
- smart & final 338, vallejo
- sam's club 6433, vacaville
- smart & final 723, fairfield
- target store t-0331, vallejo
- target store t-0827, vacaville
- target store t-675, fairfield
- vallejo grocery outlet 169, vallejo
- walmart 1704, vacaville
- walmart 2048, fairfield
- walmart 5139, dixon
- walmart 5608, vacaville
- walmart neighborhood market 5007, vacaville
- walmart neighborhood market 5609, vallejo
- walmart supercenter 3708, suisun city
Supermarket · 17
- food maxx 467, fairfield
- food 4 less 07, fairfield
- food maxx 489, vallejo
- grocery outlet of vacaville 236, vacaville
- grocery outlet west vallejo 283, vallejo
- la tapatia market, vallejo
- lucky 783, vacaville
- lucky 784, vacaville
- maya supermarket, vacaville
- nugget market 11, vacaville
- raley's 330, suisun city
- raley's 331, fairfield
- raley's 332, fairfield
- raley's 343, benicia
- raley's 344, vacaville
- safeway 1109, vacaville
- safeway 1127, fairfield
Medium Grocery Store · 13
- 3j's asian market, suisun city
- amar grocery, fairfield
- asian mart fairfield, fairfield
- carniceria yoli, vacaville
- fairfield market & liquor inc, fairfield
- food basket, vallejo
- guanajuato market, vallejo
- kings market, vallejo
- la placita meat market, vacaville
- mediterranean food center, fairfield
- panaderia lupita, dixon
- sonoma meat market, vallejo
- thai market, fairfield
Small Grocery Store · 7
- carniceria lupita, dixon
- every little thing jamaican, suisun city
- guanajuato grill deli & bakery, vallejo
- international market, fairfield
- prime years nutrition 03, vallejo
- primetime nutrition 528, fairfield
- primetime nutrition 541, vacaville
Farmers' Market · 6
- benicia certified farmers' market, benicia
- downtown vacaville farmers market, vacaville
- fairfield certified farmers market, fairfield
- fairfield farmers' market, fairfield
- the zam zam farm, dixon
- vallejo farmers' market, vallejo
Large Grocery Store · 3
- bazaar, vallejo
- carniceria la reyna, inc., vacaville
- hernandez produce meat market, fairfield
Bakery Specialty · 2
- papa murphy 40, vacaville
- papa murphy's take 'n' bake ca317, benicia
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2
- carniceria san miguel meat, fairfield
- nature's bounty, vacaville
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- dixon fruit market, dixon
Military Commissary · 1
- travis commissary 1531, travis afb
Showing 250 of 265 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare Solano County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
Solano 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 Solano County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Solano County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Solano County? ▼
Is Solano County a food desert? ▼
What share of Solano 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.