County food-access profile · California
Tulare County, CA
Tulare 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.
- 11.2%
- low-access pop.
- 16
- food-desert tracts
- 24.1%
- on SNAP
- 479K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
11.2% of Tulare County residents live in a low-access area, and 16 of its 78 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 24
- low-access tracts
- 22K
- food-desert residents
- 4.5%
- households, no vehicle
- 17.9%
- 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).
Tulare County's low-access share sits near the national share, at 11.2% per the USDA Atlas. 24 of the county's 78 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 49,416 residents who live far from a supermarket. 16 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 21,739 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 Tulare County compares nationally
Tulare County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 11.2% low-access share that beats 23% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,400).
Tulare County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 78 census tracts in Tulare County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Tulare County vs. other California counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in California
- Tulare 11.2
Tulare County, CA
11.2 % low-access
- Alameda 8.1
Alameda County, CA
8.1 % low-access
- Alpine
Alpine County, CA
57 % low-access
- Amador 0.2
Amador County, CA
0.2 % low-access
- Butte 19.1
Butte County, CA
19.1 % low-access
- Calaveras 14.7
Calaveras County, CA
14.7 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 78 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 442,179 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 24 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 16 |
| Low-Access Population | 49,416 |
| Low-Access Share | 11.2%well below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 21,739 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 478,693 |
| Median Household Income | $71,300 |
| Poverty Rate | 17.9%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 34,511 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 24.1%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.5%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.2% |
About 24.1% of Tulare County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 11.2% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 24.1% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 34,511 households here.
- 4.5% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 16 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 Tulare County
near the national share
16 of Tulare County's 78 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 20.5% of all its tracts.
A further 8 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 24.
An estimated 49,416 residents, roughly 11.2% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 21,739 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 54 tracts (69.2%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Tulare County
Tulare County has 427 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 179 locations (42% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 179
- .99 mart, visalia
- 4b market and gas, tulare
- 63 circle k / 76, visalia
- 7 eleven 22738d 22738d, visalia
- 7 eleven 2368 22014b, visalia
- 7 eleven 24462e 24462e, visalia
- 8 and 10 market, porterville
- 98 cents discount store & plus, dinuba
- a & k market, visalia
- a country store, visalia
- a-1 food & gas mart, visalia
- aj's quikmart, visalia
- alpaugh grocery, alpaugh
- aaaa liquor, visalia
- aden market, cutler
- akal travel plaza, delano
- al's mini mart, porterville
- alawdi market, ivanhoe
- all seasons market, porterville
- am pm, visalia
- amigos market, earlimart
- ampm, tulare
- applegate market, porterville
- arco ampm 42923, visalia
- arco am pm 25788, dinuba
- arco am/pm, visalia
- arco ampm, visalia
- arco ampm 42386, tulare
- arco ampm 83284, pixley
- asheely, llc, visalia
- bob's tiny mart, porterville
- ben maddox pik n go, visalia
- best truck stop, pixley
- beverage house liquor # 10, visalia
- big b's travel center #2, delano
- big discount store, cutler
- big o gas, deli & grill, orosi
- black stone market, tulare
- bob's truck stop, pixley
- c & e market, tulare
- c & l mini mart, porterville
- candies la canasta, visalia
- casablanca market, visalia
- chevron extra mile 5494, porterville
- chinowth git n go, visalia
- circle 7 liquor, visalia
- circle 7 shop n go, tulare
- circle k 2652013, tulare
- circle k 2654059, visalia
- complete convenience center, delano
- cornerstone market, sultana
- cutler food mart, cutler
- cutler liquor, cutler
- day n nite mini mart, lindsay
- double d market, visalia
- day & night market, tulare
- dinuba food center, dinuba
- dinuba gas&food mart, dinuba
- dinuba quick shop inc, dinuba
- dollar store & more, orosi
- drive in liquor mart, tulare
- ducor handy market, ducor
- e z pick-n-go, visalia
- exeter pik n go, exeter
- express mart & gas, porterville
- express mini mart, visalia
- earlimart market, earliment
- el triams, llc, traver
- express gas mart, alpaugh
- ez mart, visalia
- ez shop n go, strathmore
- f & m market, tulare
- farmer's market, porterville
- fastrip food store 702, farmersville
- fastrip food store 780, lindsay
- family market, ivanhoe
- family market, dinuba
- family mini mart, porterville
- farmersville food mart, farmersville
- fast & easy farmersville, farmersville
- fast & friendly market, lindsay
- fastway market, richgrove
- flying j travel plaza 1071, tulare
- four seasons handy market, visalia
- frank's liquor, visalia
- franks stop and go market, porterville
- friendly liquor, porterville
- gas ranch mini mart, woodlake
- gill food mart & gas 81, visalia
- griffan gas liquor and food, tulare
- guadalajara meat market, exeter
- hari's market, porterville
- henderson ave chevron, porterville
- ivanhoe market, ivanhoe
- j & a party supplies, terra bella
- j street mini mart, tulare
- jack's git-n-go, tulare
- joe's westside market, porterville
- jack's gas #7, inc., woodlake
- jack's gas & deli, inc., orosi
- jack's gas 3, inc., visalia
- jeev global inc, tulare
- kang's food mart, tulare
- kwik korner market, orosi
- lake liquor, woodlake
- lemon cove market, lemon cove
- lakeside market & laundry, woodlake
- lees mini mart, visalia
- lindsay chevron, lindsay
- lindsay food mart, lindsay
- lindsay fuel 83758, lindsay
- lindsay liquor, lindsay
- liquor locker, dinuba
- liquor store, visalia
- love's travel stop 382, tulare
- lucky wholesale outlet, porterville
- main general store, pixley
- monson market, dinuba
- morton express mart, porterville
- mota's mini-mart & gas station, ivanhoe
- mt&y oriental food market, visalia
- my probeedor, woodlake
- n & s mini mart, porterville
- n square no, visalia
- neighbor mart, porterville
- new pixley mini mart, pixley
- north star gas & food, tulare
- olive mini mart, porterville
- oasis market & truck stop, ducor
- omega handy market, porterville
- on the go food store #2, farmersville
- on the rocks liquor, porterville
- orange belt market, lindsay
- orosi food mart, orosi
- oxxo food & gas, lindsay
- preet market, tulare
- prince food & gas, visalia
- prince mart, lemon cove
- panaderia la chonita, porterville
- pari mart truck stop, goshen
- park view market, pixley
- pixley handy market, pixley
- plainview market, strathmore
- plaza market, visalia
- popler mini mart, porterville
- portavilla market, porterville
- porterville ampm 83471, porterville
- porterville liquor inc, porterville
- prince food mart, pixley
- prince liquor, visalia
- prosperity food land, tulare
- prosperity mini mart & gas, tulare
- quick-n-handy mart & deli, dinuba
- quality mini market, lindsay
- quick 'n handy mart & deli 2, visalia
- quick fill #2 inc, tulare
- quick jack's food store, visalia
- quick trip liquor, tulare
- qwik stop, porterville
- ranch market, porterville
- rj food & gas, dinuba
- remmy market inc, kingsburg
- richgrove handi market, richgrove
- rocket #0255 255, goshen
- rozis market, visalia
- rup's market, porterville
- s & a gas, earlimart
- save n ez, tulare
- sub station, woodlake
- sam's market, earlimart
- sams 7 liquor, tulare
- sams mini mart, farmersville
- save center gas and food, porterville
- seven oaks market, california hot springs
- seville food mart, visalia
- shah market llc, visalia
- shepherd's market, visalia
- sherwood handy market, porterville
- shop n save market, porterville
Combination Grocery/Other · 62
- big discount store, tulare
- cvs pharmacy 2541, visalia
- cvs pharmacy 2944, porterville
- cvs pharmacy 35, porterville
- cvs pharmacy 5551, tulare
- cvs pharmacy 912, tulare
- cvs pharmacy 9176, tulare
- cvs pharmacy 9271, visalia
- cvs pharmacy 9500, visalia
- cvs pharmacy 9845, porterville
- dollar general 13623, tulare
- dollar general 14188, woodlake
- dollar general 18056, porterville
- dollar general 18363, goshen
- dollartree 10579, visalia
- dollartree 6313, porterville
- dollartree 8119, tulare
- dollar general 13759, porterville
- dollar general 14536, earlimart
- dollar general 14749, tulare
- dollar general 15329, exeter
- dollar general 15469, strathmore
- dollar general 16711, pixley
- dollar general 17588, orosi
- dollar general 18634, visalia
- dollar general 18862, lindsay
- dollar general 19019, farmersville
- dollar general store 16052, tipton
- dollar general store 16842, porterville
- dollar tree 1207, tulare
- dollar tree 1245, porterville
- dollar tree 1253, visalia
- dollar tree 3184, dinuba
- dollar tree 3493, farmersville
- dollar tree 4142, visalia
- dollar tree 5234, lindsay
- dollar tree 5237, exeter
- dollar tree 6291, visalia
- dollar tree 7485, tulare
- dollar tree 7513, visalia
- dulceria alebrijes 3, porterville
- el monte discount store, dinuba
- family dollar 10005, woodlake
- family dollar 10030, tulare
- family dollar 10251, ivanhoe
- family dollar 11772, pixley
- family dollar 8774, tulare
- family dollar 9109, dinuba
- family dollar 9212, orosi
- family dollar 9416, visalia
- family dollar store 10457, terra bella
- family dollar store 10706, porterville
- farmersville market inc 1, farmersville
- panaderia la nueva era, porterville
- royal spice grocery, tulare
- the shoppe at bravo farms, traver
- walgreens 06683, visalia
- walgreens 09844, porterville
- walgreens 10002, tulare
- walgreens 11407, visalia
- walgreens 3476, visalia
- you-be's u-bake pizza, visalia
Bakery Specialty · 9
- el trigal bakery, lindsay
- mom's u bake, porterville
- our little pizza place take & bake llc, visalia
- panaderia la cabana, porterville
- papa murphys take-n-bake ca310, visalia
- pepe's bakery, dinuba
- pesci's take n bake pizza, farmersville
- traders take-n-bake pizza, visalia
- you-be's u-bake pizza, dinuba
Showing 250 of 427 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in California
Compare Tulare County vs Alameda County → · All California counties →
Food access nationally, California in context
Tulare 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 Tulare County has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Tulare County? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Tulare County? ▼
Is Tulare County a food desert? ▼
What share of Tulare 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.