County food-access profile · California

Stanislaus County, CA

Stanislaus 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.

9.7%
low-access pop.
9
food-desert tracts
15.5%
on SNAP
554K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 CA

The food-access picture

9.7% of Stanislaus County residents live in a low-access area, and 9 of its 94 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

20
low-access tracts
17K
food-desert residents
5.6%
households, no vehicle
13.5%
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).

Stanislaus County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 9.7% per the USDA Atlas. 20 of the county's 94 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 49,752 residents who live far from a supermarket. 9 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 17,334 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 Stanislaus County compares nationally

Stanislaus County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 9.7% low-access share that beats 20% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,511).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Stanislaus County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 94 census tracts in Stanislaus County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Stanislaus County, CA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 74 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 11 limited, 9 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 94 tracts evaluated. 74 tracts adequate (78.7%) 11 tracts limited (11.7%) 9 tracts severe / food desert (9.6%) Adequate 79% Limited 12% Severe 10% Food-access tier distribution: Stanislaus County, CA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Stanislaus County vs. other California counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California

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

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Stanislaus County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts94
Atlas Population (2010 basis)514,453
Low-Access Tracts20
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)9
Low-Access Population49,752
Low-Access Share9.7%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population17,334

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Stanislaus County
IndicatorValue
Population553,990
Median Household Income$81,468
Poverty Rate13.5%near the national average
SNAP Households27,603
SNAP Participation Rate15.5%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.6%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.1%
SNAP participation in Stanislaus County 15.5%

About 15.5% of Stanislaus County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 9.7% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 15.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 27,603 households here.
  • 5.6% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 9 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 Stanislaus County

near the national share

9 of Stanislaus County's 94 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 9.6% of all its tracts.

A further 11 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 20.

An estimated 49,752 residents, roughly 9.7% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 17,334 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 74 tracts (78.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Stanislaus County

Stanislaus County has 491 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 170 locations (35% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 170

  • 7 eleven 15883d 15883d, modesto
  • 7 eleven 17326b, oakdale
  • 7 eleven 21154f, modesto
  • 7 eleven 2368- 36042b, modesto
  • 7 eleven 39196a, ceres
  • 7 eleven 39212b 39212b, ceres
  • 7 eleven 42272a, modesto
  • 7 star liquor, turlock
  • 7-eleven 21333 c, modesto
  • 7-eleven 24490e, oakdale
  • 7-eleven 39153, modesto
  • 7-eleven 39851a, modesto
  • 7-eleven 16185c 16185c, turlock
  • 7st mini mart, modesto
  • a & m gas station, modesto
  • a-1 liquor, modesto
  • airport market, modesto
  • ajs market, modesto
  • al's oasis market, ceres
  • amigoe market, turlock
  • ampm 82601, ceres
  • airport grocery, turlock
  • ak groceries and tabacco, modesto
  • alex & son's market, modesto
  • alex & sons gas and food # 2, modesto
  • alex and sons liquor #4, ceres
  • amar beer wine & gas, turlock
  • ampm 83963, waterford
  • anshi & ayaan inc 6043, modesto
  • ap liquor, oakdale
  • aps market, ceres
  • arco 82315, modesto
  • arco am/pm #83966, ceres
  • arco am pm, newman
  • arco am pm none, patterson
  • arco am/pm 82541, turlock
  • arco am/pm 83279, modesto
  • arco ampm #83844, westley
  • arco ampm - dosanjh, inc. 82544, modesto
  • arco ampm 7120, modesto
  • arco ampm 82352, modesto
  • arco ampm 82487, ceres
  • arco ampm 83841, turlock
  • arco ampm, oakdale oil company 82660, oakdale
  • arco am/pm 83200, modesto
  • arco/am pm 83454, modesto
  • bottle n cork, modesto
  • bz mart, modesto
  • bait barn, waterford
  • bay area venture modesto inc, modesto
  • beverage house #12, modesto
  • bill's sports & bait shop, modesto
  • bonfare market #43, modesto
  • boss's one stop shop, waterford
  • bottle-n-cork liquors 2, modesto
  • coldwell market, modesto
  • central market place, ceres
  • century chevron food mart, turlock
  • century chevron food mart, turlock
  • ceres 76, ceres
  • charlie's market, ceres
  • chevron 1585, modesto
  • chevron 1587, ceres
  • chevron 1595, modesto
  • chevron 2205, riverbank
  • chevron 371143, modesto
  • chevron/extra mile # 6025 383270, modesto
  • circle k, modesto
  • circle k 2652023, oakdale
  • circle k 2654299, turlock
  • circle k 2721940, turlock
  • circle k 2728843, modesto
  • city market, newman
  • city mart and gas, modesto
  • college market, modesto
  • coolidge market, modesto
  • corona liquor, modesto
  • country store, turlock
  • creekside liquor bait n tackle, waterford
  • csu stanislaus - the market 21988, turlock
  • denair mart liquor and food, denair
  • dennis save on, ceres
  • diamond gas & mart, modesto
  • diamond gas and mart 5, modesto
  • discount groceries, modesto
  • discount liquor & cigarettes, ceres
  • dosanjh petroleum inc, salida
  • ds liquors, turlock
  • e & j kwik serv, modesto
  • eagle chevron, modesto
  • easyday gas & liquor, turlock
  • el sumeri market, modesto
  • empire gas and food, empire
  • express mart, modesto
  • express mart, oakdale
  • extra mile, turlock
  • fast mart, modesto
  • fairmont market, modesto
  • family market, modesto
  • fast and easy mart 101, modesto
  • fast stop grocery & liquor, turlock
  • fisherman bend store, newman
  • flowers bakery outlet 1171, modesto
  • fresh mart, modesto
  • frontier liquor, modesto
  • fulkerth chevron, turlock
  • g's food mart, patterson
  • gas plus mini blvd, modesto
  • gas station /c store ampm 83280, turlock
  • gill bro inc, ceres
  • gill's liquor & more, modesto
  • gill's liquor & more, modesto
  • gold coin liquor & minimart 1, modesto
  • golden state chevron, turlock
  • great gas, modesto
  • great gas morgan, inc., modesto
  • great gas waterford, waterford
  • grip and go 2512, modesto
  • hatch food & gas, modesto
  • hughson chevron incorporation, hughson
  • indian grocery and chaat, modesto
  • js market, modesto
  • jack's liquor, modesto
  • joe's food mart, modesto
  • johnny's market, modesto
  • k & r beer & wine llc, la grange
  • kaag petroleum, turlock
  • kaptan gasoline food mart, oakdale
  • keyes mart, keyes
  • ks chandi & sons, inc 82600, modesto
  • le johns, modesto
  • la aurora market, modesto
  • la loma liquor, modesto
  • lander mart, turlock
  • las palmas liquor and gas inc, modesto
  • levi's tabacco & more, modesto
  • levis market, modesto
  • liquor club, turlock
  • liquor king 1, ceres
  • liquor land, modesto
  • liquor world, modesto
  • love's travel stop 807, patterson
  • m and b minit mart, modesto
  • magic market, ceres
  • mannat enterprise, inc., modesto
  • marathon modesto gas, modesto
  • marathon oakdale gas for less, oakdale
  • matty's market, turlock
  • mchenry 76 & food mart, modesto
  • mchenry arco am/pm, modesto
  • mchenry shell 1, modesto
  • millenium food & liquor none, modesto
  • mitchell gas and wash inc., ceres
  • mo's oasis & grill, hughson
  • mobil exxon gas and mini mart, patterson
  • modesto chevron 5755, modesto
  • modesto am/pm, modesto
  • money market, oakdale
  • morses market, modesto
  • newman food store, newman
  • newman liquor, newman
  • oakdale chevron extra mile, oakdale
  • oakdale food & liquor, oakdale
  • oakdale market, oakdale
  • oakdale shell 81, modesto
  • oasis market, crows landing
  • oasis mini mart, newman
  • olsen service station, modesto
  • one stop market, patterson
  • orange market & gas, turlock

Combination Grocery/Other · 70

  • aqua-blue store, modesto
  • cvs pharmacy 2994, turlock
  • cvs pharmacy 3077, modesto
  • cvs pharmacy 3079, riverbank
  • cvs pharmacy 3944, oakdale
  • cvs pharmacy 9171, modesto
  • cvs pharmacy 9248, modesto
  • cvs pharmacy 9308, modesto
  • cvs pharmacy 9874, modesto
  • cvs pharmacy 9884, modesto
  • cvs pharmacy 9919, turlock
  • dollar general 13804, newman
  • dollar general 13964, modesto
  • dollartree 10866, modesto
  • dollartree 11507, modesto
  • dollar general 13241, waterford
  • dollar general 14683, modesto
  • dollar general 14766, ceres
  • dollar general 15230, denair
  • dollar general 15674, oakdale
  • dollar general 15845, keyes
  • dollar general 17268, modesto
  • dollar general 20555, riverbank
  • dollar general store 16169, hughson
  • dollar tree 1216, modesto
  • dollar tree 1258, modesto
  • dollar tree 1266, modesto
  • dollar tree 1574, oakdale
  • dollar tree 2351, modesto
  • dollar tree 2459, modesto
  • dollar tree 2840, riverbank
  • dollar tree 3737, patterson
  • dollar tree 3953, turlock
  • dollar tree 4613, waterford
  • dollar tree 4832, turlock
  • dollar tree 5269, hughson
  • dollar tree 5765, turlock
  • dollar tree 6261, modesto
  • dollar tree 6279, modesto
  • dollar tree 7041, modesto
  • dollartree 10117, turlock
  • family dollar 11176, modesto
  • family dollar 11188, modesto
  • family dollar 11948, modesto
  • family dollar 12258, modesto
  • family dollar store 10615, modesto
  • garcia's market, riverbank
  • hong heng market, modesto
  • indian groceries 1, turlock
  • indian spices supermarket, patterson
  • indian sweets food & spices, ceres
  • kabul express supermarket llc, modesto
  • mayars halal meat and grill, modesto
  • mr gil's market and grill, modesto
  • state foods supemarket 1, keyes
  • suarez prime deals liquidation 1, ceres
  • sunlight indian grocery store, ceres
  • super grocery depot, oakdale
  • valley produce market, modesto
  • walgreens 06355, modesto
  • walgreens 09955, patterson
  • walgreens 11705, modesto
  • walgreens 11934, oakdale
  • walgreens 2842, modesto
  • walgreens 2865, modesto
  • walgreens 2902, modesto
  • walgreens 3030, turlock
  • walgreens 4331, modesto
  • walgreens 5498, modesto
  • walgreens 7313, modesto

Bakery Specialty · 10

  • bob's take-n-bake pizza, ceres
  • bobs take n bake pizza inc, modesto
  • donatellos take & bake pizza, modesto
  • papa murphy 113, oakdale
  • papa murphy 73, modesto
  • panaderia la esperanza 1, riverbank
  • papa murphy 114, modesto
  • papa murphy ca-100, modesto
  • papa murphy's pizza 77, turlock
  • sunrise bakery & cafe, turlock

Showing 250 of 491 authorized retailers, largest categories first.

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in California

Compare Stanislaus County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →

Food access nationally, California in context

Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus County has low food access?
9.7% of residents in Stanislaus County, CA live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Stanislaus County?
15.5% of households in Stanislaus County receive SNAP, covering 27,603 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Stanislaus County?
The poverty rate in Stanislaus County, CA is 13.5%, with a median household income of $81,468 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Stanislaus County a food desert?
9 of Stanislaus County's 94 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Stanislaus County households lack a vehicle?
5.6% of households in Stanislaus County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
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.