Signature · 33.9% SNAP (100th pct in NC)

Washington County, NC

Washington County stands out on SNAP (33.9%, +21.8 pts vs U.S.) with 1.4% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

1.4%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
33.9%
on SNAP
11K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 NC

USDA FARA access plate

County Washington County, NC

LA-ADEQUATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ADEQUATE 1.4% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -20.7 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 33.9% SNAP
  • VEH-GAP 14.1% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Currituck County (+ 0.1 pts)

Lower-band low-access

Washington County lands in the lower national band (1.4%, #2,992 of 3,079); local tracts can still diverge from the county mean.

#2,992
national by low-access %
#95
in NC
0
low-access tracts
37
food-desert residents

Lower-band county means still leave tract outliers on the table below.

Signature read: 33.9% SNAP (100th pct in NC) (+21.8 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Washington County compares nationally

Food access in Washington County compares favorably nationally: its 1.4% low-access share is lower than the vast majority of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, higher than only 5% of them (rank #2,992).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Washington County's lower-band USDA tier split

3 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Washington County, NC USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 3 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (100.0%) Adequate 100% Limited 0% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Washington County, NC
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Washington County has 0 urban and 3 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.

Washington County vs nearby low low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in North Carolina, not a full county-board reprint

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

FARA 2019 · lower low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Washington County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts3
Atlas Population (2010 basis)13,228
Low-Access Tracts0
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population179
Low-Access Share1.4%well below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population37

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Washington County
IndicatorValue
Population10,812
Median Household Income$41,813
Poverty Rate24.1%well above the national average
SNAP Households1,608
SNAP Participation Rate33.9%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle14.1%well above the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.4%

SNAP retailers in Washington County

Washington County has 18 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 7 locations (39% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 7

  • dollar general 2449, plymouth
  • dollar general 12454, roper
  • dollar general 22576, creswell
  • dollar general 30143, plymouth
  • dollar general 30266, plymouth
  • dollar tree 5222, plymouth
  • walgreens 16130, plymouth

Convenience Store · 7

  • carol's variety shop 2, plymouth
  • carols variety shop inc 3155986, plymouth
  • duck thru food store 49, plymouth
  • royal farms 546, plymouth
  • speedway 6966, plymouth
  • speedway 8288, plymouth
  • speedway 8668, plymouth

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • mark's supermarket nc inc, creswell

Seafood Specialty · 1

  • bay brothers seafood market market 1, plymouth

Super Store · 1

  • piggly wiggly #54, plymouth

Supermarket · 1

  • food lion 541, plymouth

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

Other Counties in North Carolina

One of 99 counties in North Carolina, 6 are shown here.

Compare Washington County vs Alamance County → · All North Carolina counties →

Counties near Washington County's lower low-access or SNAP band

SNAP-led peer set first for Washington County (33.9%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside North Carolina.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside NC (1.4% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside NC (33.9% 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.

Washington County inside a lower low-access state context

Washington County sits inside North Carolina (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 Washington County, NC are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 37187. 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.