County food-access profile · Washington
Spokane County, WA
Spokane 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.
- 16.7%
- low-access pop.
- 12
- food-desert tracts
- 15.8%
- on SNAP
- 549K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
16.7% of Spokane County residents live in a low-access area, and 12 of its 105 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 34
- low-access tracts
- 21K
- food-desert residents
- 6.8%
- households, no vehicle
- 11.7%
- 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).
Spokane County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 16.7% per the USDA Atlas. 34 of the county's 105 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 78,648 residents who live far from a supermarket. 12 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 21,372 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 Spokane County compares nationally
Spokane County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 16.7% low-access share that beats 37% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,973).
Spokane County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 105 census tracts in Spokane County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Spokane County vs. other Washington counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Washington
- Spokane
Spokane County, WA
16.7 % low-access
- Adams
Adams County, WA
41.7 % low-access
- Asotin 13.8
Asotin County, WA
13.8 % low-access
- Benton
Benton County, WA
22.8 % low-access
- Chelan
Chelan County, WA
18.1 % low-access
- Clallam
Clallam County, WA
38.2 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 105 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 471,221 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 34 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 12 |
| Low-Access Population | 78,648 |
| Low-Access Share | 16.7%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 21,372 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 549,056 |
| Median Household Income | $78,582 |
| Poverty Rate | 11.7%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 34,596 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 15.8%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.8%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.8% |
About 15.8% of Spokane County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 16.7% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 15.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 34,596 households here.
- 6.8% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 12 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 Spokane County
near the national share
12 of Spokane County's 105 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 11.4% of all its tracts.
A further 22 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 34.
An estimated 78,648 residents, roughly 16.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 21,372 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 71 tracts (67.6%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Spokane County
Spokane County has 346 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 173 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 173
- 7-eleven # 18256c, spokane
- 7-eleven 18043 g, spokane
- 7-eleven 18071e, spokane valley
- 7-eleven 32703 b, spokane
- 7-eleven 20522c, spokane valley
- 7-eleven 26255e 26255, spokane
- airway heights food mart, airway heights
- altamont liquor & grocery, spokane
- amerimart, spokane
- amerimart # 4 4, spokane valley
- ameripride south hill, spokane
- anthem food & fuel, mead
- bains bros, spokane
- bains liquor mart maple, spokane
- bains mart 2nd ave, spokane
- bains mart mission, spokane valley
- blue whale food mart, spokane
- bob-mart, deer park
- boondocks, elk
- boong grocery and deli, spokane
- bowdish market, spokane valley
- broadway mini mart, spokane valley
- buruk mini mart, spokane
- chattaroy quick stop, chattaroy
- cheney conoco, cheney
- cheney market, cheney
- circle k 2746520, spokane
- circle k 2746536, spokane
- circle k 2746558, spokane valley
- city fuel, spokane
- city fuel, spokane
- conoco, spokane
- division express, spokane
- downtown quick stop, spokane
- downtown quick stop iii, spokane
- driscoll one stop #1-010, spokane
- e-z mart, spokane
- express mart, deer park
- european delicatessen 4, spokane
- evergreen exxon, spokane valley
- fancher food mart 1, spokane valley
- fast food mart, spokane
- four lakes grocery, four lakes
- francis market, spokane
- freeman store, valleyford
- full stop, spokane
- g & b grocery, spokane
- garland mart, spokane
- grand 14, spokane
- hai's mini mart, spokane
- hamilton market, spokane
- harper conoco, spokane
- harry's food mart, spokane valley
- hayford food mart, spokane
- hico village, spokane valley
- hico village, spokane valley
- hillyard grocery, spokane
- holiday stationstore 2746287, spokane valley
- holiday stationstore 2746288, spokane
- holiday stationstore 2746289, spokane valley
- indiana market, spokane
- indy food mart, spokane valley
- jax foods, spokane
- jb foods, spokane
- jackpot food mart 01-005, spokane valley
- jacksons food stores # 249 249, spokane
- jacksons food stores # 250 250, spokane valley
- jk gas & grocery, spokane
- jmt xpressmart elk, elk
- joe's mini market, spokane
- jolly mart, spokane
- k & b groceries, spokane
- kalya ava mini mart, spokane
- lebanon deli and grocery, spokane
- levis minit market, deer park
- liberty food mart, spokane
- liberty lake market, liberty lake
- liquor & more, spokane
- m & k grocery, spokane
- maverik #592, airway heights
- maverik 454, cheney
- maverik 559, spokane valley
- maverik 567, spokane
- maverik 570, spokane
- maverik 613, spokane
- maverik 667, spokane valley
- maverik inc 558, spokane
- maverik, inc 447, mead
- maverik, inc 473, spokane valley
- maverik, inc 655, spokane
- maverik, inc 717, spokane
- medical lake quick stop, medical lake
- midway stop, colbert
- millwood grocery & spirits, spokane
- mission food mart, spokane
- mobile1 1, ford
- monroe food mart, spokane
- nga empire foods, spokane
- neighborhood grocery inc., spokane
- newman lake quick stop, newman lake
- nine mile store, nine mile falls
- northtown market, spokane
- northwest foodmart, spokane
- pdq & food & fuel 10, mead
- palouse 21, spokane
- petro spokane 339, spokane
- prime express, spokane valley
- quick stop, spokane
- quik stop, spokane
- r&b super stop 7, spokane
- r&b super stop #10, spokane
- r&b super stop #8, spokane
- r&b super stop #9, spokane valley
- raja market, spokane valley
- rich's gas & deli, spokane valley
- rocket market bakery and cafe, spokane
- rockford mini mart, rockford
- royal express mart, spokane valley
- s & s petroleum 62135, spokane valley
- s & s petroleum 62136, spokane valley
- s & s petroleum 62138, spokane valley
- s & s petroleum 62149, spokane
- s & s petroleum 62166, spokane
- s & s petroleum 62510, spokane
- s&b mart, spokane
- sammy's pit stop, spokane valley
- sams foodmart, spokane
- sams liquor, spokane
- sams stop & shop a, spokane valley
- save mart, spokane
- smokers outlet groceries, spokane
- spangle foods, spangle
- speedi shoppe, airway heights
- stop n shop, spokane
- store on thor, spokane
- sullivan food mart chevron, spokane valley
- sullivan mart, spokane valley
- sunset food mart, spokane
- sunset liquor & grocery, spokane
- super c store, spokane
- super gas & grocery, cheney
- super store, spokane valley
- sure save, spokane
- the piggy mart, spokane
- taj groceries, cheney
- town mart, spokane
- towns conoco, spokane
- ug mart, spokane
- unity food mart, spokane
- valley view conoco, spokane valley
- valley grocery and gas, spokane valley
- wellesley market, spokane
- wiele one stop, spokane
- zag'z liquor store, spokane
- nomnom 62104, spokane
- nomnom 62105, spokane
- nomnom 62107, spokane valley
- nomnom 62110, spokane
- nomnom 62111, liberty lake
- nomnom 62113, spokane
- nomnom 62115, spokane valley
- nomnom 62120, spokane
- nomnom 62124, spokane
- nomnom 62127, spokane
- nomnom 62128, spokane
- nomnom 62129, spokane valley
- nomnom 62134, airway heights
- nomnom 62135, spokane
- nomnom p62137, spokane
- nomnom p62139, spokane
- nomnom p62140, deer park
- nomnom p62141, mead
- nomnom p62102, spokane
Combination Grocery/Other · 46
- asian world food market, spokane
- bi-mart 674, cheney
- bi-mart 678, deer park
- cvs pharmacy 11637, spokane
- cvs pharmacy 11657, spokane valley
- cvs pharmacy 11683, spokane
- dollartree 10188, spokane
- dollartree 8742, spokane
- ds market washington inc, spokane
- dollar general 23630, elk
- dollar general 23919, chattaroy
- dollar tree 2449, spokane
- dollar tree 2672, spokane valley
- dollar tree 2677, spokane
- dollar tree 2693, spokane
- dollar tree 2701, spokane valley
- dollar tree 3077, cheney
- dollar tree 3438, spokane
- dollar tree 4220, spokane valley
- dollar tree 5453, deer park
- dollar tree 5860, spokane valley
- dollar tree 6322, airway heights
- dollar tree 8275, spokane
- enjera market, spokane
- huckleberry's natural market 160, spokane
- hope market, spokane
- lieng and phane oriental market, spokane valley
- north spokane grocery outlet, spokane
- rosauers fd-drug ctr 102, spokane
- rosauers fd-drug ctr 107, spokane
- rosauers fd-drug ctr 110, spokane
- rosauers fd-drug ctr 126, spokane
- rosauers fd-drug ctr 129, spokane
- rosauers fd/drug ctr 103, spokane valley
- super 1 foods 134, spokane
- sahils halal market, spokane
- walgreens 02205, spokane
- walgreens 05818, spokane
- walgreens 07034, spokane
- walgreens 07846, millwood
- walgreens 10788, liberty lake
- walgreens 10946, spokane
- walgreens 1993, spokane valley
- walgreens 5817, spokane
- walgreens 5913, spokane
- walgreens 5914, spokane valley
Bakery Specialty · 18
- franz bakery outlet 9040, spokane valley
- franz bakery outlet 9042, spokane
- franz bakery outlet 9044, spokane valley
- mr. js take and bake pizza, spokane
- p & m pies wa005, spokane
- papa murphys wa-114, spokane valley
- papa murphy's wa007, spokane
- papa murphy's wa014, spokane
- papa murphy's wa089, spokane valley
- papa murphy's wa092, spokane
- papa murphy's wa101, spokane valley
- papa murphy's wa115, spokane
- papa murphy's wa142, spokane
- papa murphy's wa149, spokane
- papa murphy's wa153, cheney
- papa murphy's wa203, spokane
- papa murphy's wa214, deer park
- papa murphys wa094, liberty lake
Farmers' Market · 9
- emerson-garfield farmers' market, spokane
- fairwood farmers market, spokane
- hillyard farmers market, spokane
- kendall yards night market, spokane
- liberty lake farmers market, liberty lake
- millwood farmers market, millwood
- south perry farmers' market, spokane
- spokane farmers market, spokane
- the west central farmer's market, spokane
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 2
- farm fresh fruit, spokane valley
- green's fresh market, spokane
Large Grocery Store · 2
- main market co-op, spokane
- the scale house market, spokane valley
Showing 250 of 346 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Washington
Compare Spokane County vs Adams County → · All Washington counties →
Food access nationally, Washington in context
Spokane County sits inside Washington (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 Spokane County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Spokane County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Spokane County? ▼
Is Spokane County a food desert? ▼
What share of Spokane 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.