County food-access profile · Virginia
Virginia Beach city, VA
Virginia Beach city'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.
- 17.5%
- low-access pop.
- 7
- food-desert tracts
- 6.6%
- on SNAP
- 456K
- residents (ACS 2024)
The food-access picture
17.5% of Virginia Beach city residents live in a low-access area, and 7 of its 99 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.
- 34
- low-access tracts
- 11K
- food-desert residents
- 4.6%
- households, no vehicle
- 8.6%
- 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).
Virginia Beach city's low-access share sits near the national share, at 17.5% per the USDA Atlas. 34 of the county's 99 census tracts are flagged low-access, covering roughly 76,781 residents who live far from a supermarket. 7 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 11,181 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 Virginia Beach city compares nationally
Virginia Beach city lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.5% low-access share that beats 39% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,912).
Virginia Beach city: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
All 99 census tracts in Virginia Beach city, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).
Virginia Beach city vs. other Virginia counties
Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Virginia
- Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city, VA
17.5 % low-access
- Accomack 2.2
Accomack County, VA
2.2 % low-access
- Albemarle
Albemarle County, VA
11.9 % low-access
- Alexandria city 0
Alexandria city, VA
0 % low-access
- Alleghany
Alleghany County, VA
16.4 % low-access
- Amelia
Amelia County, VA
16.5 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 99 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 437,994 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 34 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 7 |
| Low-Access Population | 76,781 |
| Low-Access Share | 17.5%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 11,181 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 456,349 |
| Median Household Income | $92,968 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.6%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 11,892 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 6.6%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.6%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.7% |
About 6.6% of Virginia Beach city households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).
What this means
- 17.5% of residents are low-access, near the national share for U.S. counties.
- 6.6% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 11,892 households here.
- 4.6% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
- 7 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 Virginia Beach city
near the national share
7 of Virginia Beach city's 99 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 7.1% of all its tracts.
A further 27 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 34.
An estimated 76,781 residents, roughly 17.5% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.
Of those, 11,181 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.
The remaining 65 tracts (65.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.
SNAP retailers in Virginia Beach city
Virginia Beach city has 276 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 129 locations (47% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 129
- 7 eleven 16753, virginia beach
- 7 eleven 38162a 38162a, virginia beach
- 7 eleven store 36966j, virginia beach
- 7- eleven 38161a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 24187j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 33540b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 10907j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 10912j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 18969j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 20474, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 25134c, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 25849j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 33316j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 35868j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 37079a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 37100a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 37119a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 37124a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 39255h, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 42128h, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc 21883h, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 10892a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 10904a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 16280a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 16613b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 18222a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 19374a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 20040a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 22727a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 23127b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 23995a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 24186a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 25027b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 25843b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 26156c, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 26611a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 26642a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 29213a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 32872b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 33279a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 33537a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 33638a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven inc f 36973a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven store 10900j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven store 37047a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven store 37568h, virginia beach
- 7-eleven, inc. 10889j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven, inc. 10911j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven, inc. 26588j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven, inc. 33367j, virginia beach
- 7-eleven #10906b 10906b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven #20241b 20241b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven #37293b 37293b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven #41958a 41958a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 10798a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 10913b 10913b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 17451a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 18184, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 19989c, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 25101b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 26002b 26002b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 26067b 26067b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 26670a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 27338a 27338a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 33316b 33316b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 33349b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 34728b 34728b, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 36965a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 37564a 37564a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 38165a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 38166a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 38167a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 38566a 38566a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 38770a 38770a, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 39177c, virginia beach
- 7-eleven 41687a 41687a, virginia beach
- breez in, virginia beach
- birdneck food mart, virginia beach
- birdneck shell, virginia beach
- bouleverd stop, virginia beach
- bp one, virginia beach
- circle d food mart, virginia beach
- flowers bakery outlet 502, virginia beach
- freedom food mart 7, virginia beach
- harris convenience store, virginia beach
- holiday food store 1, virginia beach
- independence shell, virginia beach
- indian lakes food mart, virginia beach
- jr. market 10, virginia beach
- joe's kwik mart 8410, virginia beach
- joe's kwik mart 8411, virginia beach
- jr. market 211, virginia beach
- jr. market 9 9, virginia beach
- leila's mediterranean, virginia beach
- love food mart, virginia beach
- love food mart 9, virginia beach
- luk oil mini mart, virginia beach
- lynnhaven shell, virginia beach
- lynnhaven sunoco, virginia beach
- malbon bros. corner mart, virginia beach
- miller's 564, virginia beach
- miller's 568, virginia beach
- mini mart, virginia beach
- quick food mart, virginia beach
- quick mart, virginia beach
- reon bp, virginia beach
- royal farms 175, virginia beach
- royal farms 445, virginia beach
- shell general booth, virginia beach
- shell newtown, virginia beach
- smokers choice3 tobacco & convenience, virginia beach
- sunoco shore drive, virginia beach
- super food mart, virginia beach
- tinee giant 440, virginia beach
- tinee giant 565, virginia beach
- tinee giant 568, virginia beach
- tinee giant citgo 430, virginia beach
- wawa 671, virginia beach
- wawa 675, virginia beach
- wawa 678, virginia beach
- wawa 679, virginia beach
- wawa 690, virginia beach
- wawa 694, virginia beach
- wawa 8608, virginia beach
- wawa 8609, virginia beach
- wawa 8618, virginia beach
- wasana mini mart, virginia beach
- wawa 8670, virginia beach
- wawa store 8678, virginia beach
Combination Grocery/Other · 60
- cvs 10018, virginia beach
- cvs 2776, virginia beach
- cvs 4935, virginia beach
- cvs 5802, virginia beach
- cvs 5893, virginia beach
- cvs pharmacy 3052, virginia beach
- cvs pharmacy 8226, virginia beach
- cvs pharmacy 8302, virginia beach
- cvs pharmacy 8938, virginia beach
- dollar tree 103, virginia beach
- dollar tree 124, virginia beach
- dollartree 10809, virginia beach
- dollartree 8713, virginia beach
- dollartree 8957, virginia beach
- dollartree 9250, virginia beach
- dollar general 22123, virginia beach
- dollar general 24818, virginia beach
- dollar general 2873, virginia beach
- dollar general 3007, virginia beach
- dollar general 3035, virginia beach
- dollar general 3205, virginia beach
- dollar general 3714, virginia beach
- dollar general 6333, virginia beach
- dollar general 6362, virginia beach
- dollar general 8204, virginia beach
- dollar general 8544, virginia beach
- dollar general 8675, virginia beach
- dollar general 8949, virginia beach
- dollar tree 10109, virginia beach
- dollar tree 128, virginia beach
- dollar tree 166, virginia beach
- dollar tree 1750, virginia beach
- dollar tree 1829, virginia beach
- dollar tree 257, virginia beach
- dollar tree 4778, virginia beach
- dollar tree 5601, virginia beach
- dollar tree 5755, virginia beach
- dollar tree 6736, virginia beach
- dollar tree 6875, virginia beach
- dollar tree 782, virginia beach
- dollar tree 8256, virginia beach
- dollar tree 8340, virginia beach
- dollar tree 8875, virginia beach
- family dollar 11574, virginia beach
- family dollar 1911, virginia beach
- family dollar store 8145, virginia beach
- walgreens 05783, virginia beach
- walgreens 4527, virginia beach
- walgreens 04446, virginia beach
- walgreens 06633, virginia beach
- walgreens 06634, virginia beach
- walgreens 06740, virginia beach
- walgreens 06790, virginia beach
- walgreens 07133, virginia beach
- walgreens 09158, virginia beach
- walgreens 09195, virginia beach
- walgreens 12032, virginia beach
- walgreens 13109, virginia beach
- walgreens 15087, virginia beach
- walgreens 15447, virginia beach
Super Store · 34
- b js wholesale club 36, virginia beach
- farmers international foods, virginia beach
- grand mart, virginia beach
- harris teeter 239, virginia beach
- harris teeter 161, virginia beach
- harris teeter 181, virginia beach
- harris teeter 350, virginia beach
- harris teeter 369, virginia beach
- harris teeter 419, virginia beach
- harris teeter 459, virginia beach
- harris teeter 464, virginia beach
- harris teeter 467, virginia beach
- kroger 532, virginia beach
- kroger 533, virginia beach
- kroger 539, virginia beach
- kroger 537, virginia beach
- kroger 540, virginia beach
- lidl 1057, virginia beach
- lidl 1105, virginia beach
- lidl 1140, virginia beach
- lidl 1299, virginia beach
- sam's club 4711, virginia beach
- target 2396, virginia beach
- target 2770, virginia beach
- target store 1047, virginia beach
- target store 1105, virginia beach
- walmart 5922, virginia beach
- walmart neighborhood market 4220, virginia beach
- walmart neighborhood market 6226, virginia beach
- walmart supercenter 1688, virginia beach
- walmart supercenter 2529, virginia beach
- walmart supercenter 3216, virginia beach
- walmart supercenter 4064, virginia beach
- whole foods market 10466, virginia beach
Supermarket · 9
- aldi 80016, virginia beach
- aldi 80025, virginia beach
- aldi 80030, virginia beach
- aldi 80035, virginia beach
- aldi 80061, virginia beach
- aldi 80062, virginia beach
- e mart, virginia beach
- enson market, virginia beach
- food lion 1155, virginia beach
Small Grocery Store · 7
- kielbasa 2, virginia beach
- la tapatia 4, virginia beach
- metro mart n/a, virginia beach
- mi patria international groceries, virginia beach
- mundo latino, llc, virginia beach
- nicks oriental express grocery, virginia beach
- tienda latina la bendicion, virginia beach
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 3
- country butcher shop, virginia beach
- shopwise meat market, virginia beach
- village butcher shop, virginia beach
Medium Grocery Store · 3
- delicate oriental grocery, virginia beach
- four seasons marketllc, virginia beach
- organic food depot, virginia beach
Large Grocery Store · 2
- american asian good food market inc, virginia beach
- asia grocery, virginia beach
Delivery Route · 1
- directfood, virginia beach
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- s&h produce inc., virginia beach
Military Commissary · 1
- oceana nas commissary 2822, virginia beach
Showing 250 of 276 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.
Other Counties in Virginia
Compare Virginia Beach city vs Accomack County → · All Virginia counties →
Food access nationally, Virginia in context
Virginia Beach city sits inside Virginia (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 Virginia Beach city has low food access? ▼
What is the SNAP participation rate in Virginia Beach city? ▼
What is the poverty rate in Virginia Beach city? ▼
Is Virginia Beach city a food desert? ▼
What share of Virginia Beach city 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.