Signature · 3.1% SNAP (0th pct in NJ)

Sussex County, NJ

Sussex County sits in the upper national band on low-access (42.7%, +20.6 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

42.7%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
3.1%
on SNAP
146K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NJ

USDA FARA access plate

County Sussex County, NJ

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN

  • LA-SEVERE 42.7% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +20.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 3.1% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.3% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 2% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Ocean County (+ 0.9 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Sussex County sits in the upper national band (42.7%, #326 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.

#326
national by low-access %
#2
in NJ
19
low-access tracts
8K
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 3.1% SNAP (0th pct in NJ) (-9 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Sussex County compares nationally

Sussex County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 42.7% low-access share outpaces 90% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #327 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Sussex County's elevated USDA tier split

41 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Sussex County, NJ USDA-defined food-access tiers: 22 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 18 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 41 tracts evaluated. 22 tracts adequate (53.7%) 18 tracts limited (43.9%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (2.4%) Adequate 54% Limited 44% Severe 2% Food-access tier distribution: Sussex County, NJ
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Sussex County has 23 urban and 18 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Sussex County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in New Jersey, not a full county-board reprint

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

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Sussex County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts41
Atlas Population (2010 basis)149,265
Low-Access Tracts19
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population63,767
Low-Access Share42.7%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population7,979

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Sussex County
IndicatorValue
Population145,807
Median Household Income$116,186
Poverty Rate5.5%well below the national average
SNAP Households1,808
SNAP Participation Rate3.1%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.3%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.1%

Thick SNAP store book in Sussex County

Sussex County has 53 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 24 locations (45% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 24

  • cvs 10322, vernon
  • cvs pharmacy 2968, sparta
  • dollar general 14112, vernon
  • dollar general 12477, newton
  • dollar general 16563, wantage
  • dollar general 19687, montague
  • dollar general 7512, stanhope
  • dollar tree 4102, franklin
  • dollar tree 7913, newton
  • ideal farm and garden center 9735793893, lafayette
  • ocean state job lot 553, sparta
  • quick chek food stores 070, newton
  • quick chek food stores 17, hopatcong
  • quick chek food stores 77, franklin
  • quick chek 68, newton
  • quick chek corporation 43, sussex
  • quick chek food stores 118, lafayette
  • quick chek food stores 97, sparta
  • quickchek 170, augusta
  • quickchek 183, stanhope
  • walgreens 10439, newton
  • walgreens 15488, franklin
  • walgreens 17742, hopatcong
  • walgreens 19020, sussex

Convenience Store · 13

  • 7-eleven 11472d, sparta
  • 7-eleven store 37251a, newton
  • 7-eleven, inc. 36087h, hamburg
  • amg retail i 553, montague
  • andover krauszner, newton
  • corner deli, franklin
  • h.r.business corporation, ogdensburg
  • lake wanda store, highland lakes
  • pikan inc, stockholm
  • us gas, sussex
  • wawa store 8438, augusta
  • wawa store 8440, stanhope
  • wawa store 8444, hampton twp.

Super Store · 7

  • ronetco shop-rite of byram, stanhope
  • shop rite of franklin, franklin
  • shop rite of newton 213, newton
  • shoprite of sparta 283, sparta
  • shoprite of sussex 285, sussex
  • walmart 2090, franklin
  • walmart 2604, newton

Supermarket · 6

  • acme 1787, sussex
  • acme 2820, vernon
  • hayeks market, newton
  • stop & shop 823, sparta
  • weis markets 143, newton
  • weis markets 147, franklin

Farmers' Market · 1

  • sparta farmers market, sparta

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • sussex meat packing inc, sussex

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • e & t food market, hopatcong

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in New Jersey

One of 20 counties in New Jersey, 6 are shown here.

Compare Sussex County vs Atlantic County → · All New Jersey counties →

Counties near Sussex County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

SNAP-led peer set first for Sussex County (3.1%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside New Jersey.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NJ (42.7% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NJ (3.1% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Sussex County inside a higher low-access state context

Sussex County sits inside New Jersey (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

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

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 Sussex County, NJ are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 34037. 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.