PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Texas

Starr County, TX

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Starr 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).

33.9%
low-access pop.
8
food-desert tracts
42.5%
on SNAP
66K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 TX

The food-access picture

33.9% of Starr County residents live in a low-access area, and 8 of its 15 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

8
low-access tracts
14K
food-desert residents
10.4%
households, no vehicle
33.5%
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).

USDA data puts Starr County's low-access share at 33.9%, above the national share. 8 of the county's 15 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 20,661 people. 8 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 14,469 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 Starr County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Starr County's 33.9% low-access share is elevated, higher than 78% of them and ranked #678 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Starr County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 15 census tracts in Starr 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 Starr County, TX USDA-defined food-access tiers: 7 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 8 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 15 tracts evaluated. 7 tracts adequate (46.7%) 8 tracts severe / food desert (53.3%) Adequate 47% Limited 0% Severe 53% Food-access tier distribution: Starr County, TX
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Starr County vs. other Texas counties

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

% 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 Starr County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts15
Atlas Population (2010 basis)60,968
Low-Access Tracts8
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)8
Low-Access Population20,661
Low-Access Share33.9%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population14,469

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Starr County
IndicatorValue
Population66,067
Median Household Income$37,639
Poverty Rate33.5%well above the national average
SNAP Households8,146
SNAP Participation Rate42.5%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle10.4%above the national average
Group-Quarters Population0.8%
SNAP participation in Starr County 42.5%

About 42.5% of Starr County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 33.9% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 42.5% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 8,146 households here.
  • 10.4% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 8 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 Starr County

above the national share

8 of Starr County's 15 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 53.3% of all its tracts.

An estimated 20,661 residents, roughly 33.9% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 14,469 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 7 tracts (46.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Starr County

Starr County has 97 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 60 locations (62% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 60

  • 7 days express #3, rio grande city
  • a & a grocery, rio grande city
  • angies drive thru 9562564146, rio grande city
  • auto deposito nuevo leon, rio grande city
  • bandidos drive thru, roma
  • buddy's groceries 00001, rio grande city
  • canales drive inn grocery inc, rio grande city
  • carniceria el 20 1, rio grande city
  • circle 7 express, rio grande city
  • dyamex distributors, llc, rio grande city
  • el tigre food store 02, rio grande city
  • el tigre food store 09, rio grande city
  • el tigre food store 23, roma
  • el gallito country store, grulla
  • el jefe's drive thru, roma
  • el padrinos drive-in, rio grande city
  • el patron drive thru 1, rio grande city
  • el tigre food store 17, escobares
  • flor del rio grocery, rio grande city
  • fairground mart, rio grande city
  • g & c convenience store, roma
  • hillside grocery store 1, rio grande city
  • hilltop 2.0, rio grande city
  • jr groceries, rio grande city
  • la cabana, roma
  • la mexicana drive thru, rio grande city
  • la palma grocery 1, rio grande city
  • la pika drive in, rio grande city
  • lane's meat market 1, san isidro
  • las buganbilias drive thru 1, rio grande city
  • las carnalas drive inn 1, rio grande city
  • las palmas drive thru 1, rio grande city
  • lopez grocery, roma
  • los altos drive thru, rio grande city
  • los toxicos drive thru 1, roma
  • los vaqueros express, rio grande city
  • mr navas station, roma
  • mac drive thru, rio grande city
  • maggies xpress, rio grande city
  • mendoza's grocery and laundromat llc, rio grande city
  • mi ranchito country store llc 1, rio grande city
  • mike's drive thru, rio grande city
  • mike's washateria, roma
  • munchy-landia drive thru llc, roma
  • murphy usa 7630, rio grande city
  • omarias, roma
  • r.a drive thru, roma
  • rio quick stop, rio grande city
  • stripes 2206, rio grande city
  • stripes 40599, rio grande city
  • stripes 40600, roma
  • stripes 40601h, rio grande city
  • solis grocery & meat market, roma
  • speedy's grocery store drive thru, rio grande city
  • stripes store 42001h, rio grande city
  • t & r service station, la grulla
  • tejano mart #327, rio grande city
  • the country store 1, rio grande city
  • the quest express 1, roma
  • tonis drive thru, rio grande city

Combination Grocery/Other · 19

  • dollar general 10241, rio grande city
  • dollar general 11057, roma
  • dollar general 18184, rio grande city
  • dollar general 4496, roma
  • dollar general 11354, rio grande city
  • dollar general 12118, rio grande city
  • dollar general 13146, rio grande city
  • dollar general 21889, rio grande city
  • dollar general 22165, roma
  • dollar general 23877, roma
  • dollar general 24886, rio grande city
  • dollar general 25736, roma
  • dollar tree 2773, rio grande city
  • dollar tree 4883, roma
  • dollartree plus 8908, rio grande city
  • family dollar 3273, roma
  • family dollar 6172, roma
  • family dollar 8196, rio grande city
  • family dollar 9118, rio grande city

Large Grocery Store · 4

  • border town foods 2, rio grande city
  • border town foods 6, rio grande city
  • saenz mini mart, roma
  • siempre grocery plus #1, rio grande city

Supermarket · 4

  • border town foods, rio grande city
  • border town foods 4, rio grande city
  • border town foods 5, roma
  • heb 013, rio grande city

Bakery Specialty · 3

  • la reynera distributors, rio grande city
  • panaderia y pasteleria gonzalez, roma
  • sticky fingers, rio grande city

Small Grocery Store · 3

  • 3 aces grocery store, roma
  • la carniceria llc, rio grande city
  • la huaxteca tortilla factory, roma

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • carnes finas del valle, rio grande city
  • carnes finas del valle llc, roma

Super Store · 2

  • riverview family center 1, roma
  • walmart 1958, rio grande city

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Texas

Anderson County
43.8% low-access · 18.0% SNAP
Andrews County
26.8% low-access · 13.0% SNAP
Angelina County
26.0% low-access · 16.7% SNAP
Aransas County
31.7% low-access · 8.6% SNAP
Archer County
18.3% low-access · 6.5% SNAP
Armstrong County
99.7% low-access · 3.4% SNAP

Compare Starr County vs Anderson County → · All Texas counties →

Food access nationally, Texas in context

Starr County sits inside Texas (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Starr County has low food access? ▼
33.9% of residents in Starr County, TX 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 Starr County? ▼
42.5% of households in Starr County receive SNAP, covering 8,146 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Starr County? ▼
The poverty rate in Starr County, TX is 33.5%, with a median household income of $37,639 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Starr County a food desert? ▼
8 of Starr County's 15 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 Starr County households lack a vehicle? ▼
10.4% of households in Starr 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.