Signature · 24.9% SNAP (100th pct in MD)
Somerset County, MD
Somerset County stands out on SNAP (24.9%, +12.8 pts vs U.S.) with 18.3% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 18.3%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 24.9%
- on SNAP
- 25K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Somerset County, MD
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-MODERATE 18.3% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -3.8 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-HEAVY 24.9% SNAP
- VEH-TYPICAL 7.6% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 14% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Montgomery County (+ 1.7 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Somerset County ranks #1,834 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #18 of 24 counties in MD (18.3% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,834
- national by low-access %
- #18
- in MD
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- food-desert residents
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).
Signature read: 24.9% SNAP (100th pct in MD) (+12.8 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Somerset County compares nationally
Somerset County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.3% low-access share that beats 41% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,834).
Somerset County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
7 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
Somerset County is mostly rural by USDA tract type (5 rural, 2 urban), so most tracts are held to the 10-mile test and only the 2 urban tracts face the 1-mile one.
Somerset County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Maryland, not a full county-board reprint
- Calvert
Calvert 38.6%
38.6 % low-access
- Baltimore
Baltimore 21.8%
21.8 % low-access
- St. Mary's
St. Mary's 21.7%
21.7 % low-access
- Montgomery
Montgomery 20%
20 % low-access
- Somerset
Somerset 18.3%
18.3 % low-access
- Garrett 14.1
Garrett 14.1%
14.1 % low-access
- Kent 1.7
Kent 1.7%
1.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 7 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 26,470 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 4,838 |
| Low-Access Share | 18.3%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,449 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 24,822 |
| Median Household Income | $64,943 |
| Poverty Rate | 16.4%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 2,076 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 24.9%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 7.6%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 20.0% |
SNAP retailers in Somerset County
Somerset County has 22 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 9 locations (41% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Where the store book sits, by town
5 towns share the 22 authorized stores; Princess Anne holds 55% of them. 3 of the 5 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Westover, Eden, Marion Station.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Princess Anne | 12 | 1 |
| Crisfield | 5 | 1 |
| Westover | 3 | none |
| Eden | 1 | none |
| Marion Station | 1 | none |
Combination Grocery/Other · 9
- dollar general 18012, westover
- dollar general 437, crisfield
- dollar general 465, princess anne
- dollar general 21871, marion station
- dollar general 23015, eden
- dollar general 25276, princess anne
- dollar tree 7852, princess anne
- family dollar store 2378, crisfield
- family dollar store 861, princess anne
Convenience Store · 9
- becky's market, princess anne
- price cutters, princess anne
- princess anne goose creek 12, princess anne
- royal farms 385, princess anne
- royal farms 97, princess anne
- shore stop 226, crisfield
- thirsty, princess anne
- westover dash in 7108, westover
- westover goose creek 5, westover
Seafood Specialty · 2
- baileys seafood & son, princess anne
- linton's seafood, crisfield
Supermarket · 2
- food lion 1153, princess anne
- food lion 2688, crisfield
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Maryland
One of 23 counties in Maryland, 6 are shown here.
Compare Somerset County vs Allegany County → · All Maryland counties →
Nationwide peers for Somerset County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Somerset County (24.9%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Maryland.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MD (18.3% here).
- Scott County, MO · 18.3% low-access
- Monroe County, IN · 18.3% low-access
- Lucas County, OH · 18.3% low-access
- Henderson County, TX · 18.3% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MD (24.9% here).
- Hardee County, FL · 24.9% SNAP
- Choctaw County, OK · 24.9% SNAP
- Socorro County, NM · 24.8% SNAP
- Cameron County, TX · 24.8% 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.
Maryland among South Atlantic states
Maryland ranks 6th of 9 South Atlantic states by population-weighted low-access (22.7%). Somerset County, at 18.3%, runs 4.4 pts below the Maryland rate.
- Georgia 30.9%
- South Carolina 28.7%
- Delaware 27.3%
- Florida 25.1%
- North Carolina 22.9%
- Maryland 22.7%
- West Virginia 21.3%
- Virginia 20.4%
- District of Columbia 4.6%
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 Somerset County, MD are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 24039. 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.