Signature · 72 SNAP-authorized stores

Washington County, RI

Washington County sits in the upper national band on low-access (31.2%, +9.1 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

31.2%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
5.7%
on SNAP
130K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 RI

USDA FARA access plate

County Washington County, RI

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-ELEVATED 31.2% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +9.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 5.7% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 14% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Kent County (+ 1.0 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Washington County sits in the upper national band (31.2%, #866 of 3,079) with 4 LILA tracts.

#866
national by low-access %
#4
in RI
16
low-access tracts
10K
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: 72 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Washington County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Washington County's 31.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 72% of them and ranked #866 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Washington County's elevated USDA tier split

28 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Washington County, RI USDA-defined food-access tiers: 12 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 12 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 28 tracts evaluated. 12 tracts adequate (42.9%) 12 tracts limited (42.9%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (14.3%) Adequate 43% Limited 43% Severe 14% Food-access tier distribution: Washington County, RI
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Washington County has 17 urban and 11 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 high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Rhode Island, 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 Washington County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts28
Atlas Population (2010 basis)126,979
Low-Access Tracts16
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population39,671
Low-Access Share31.2%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population9,645

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Washington County
IndicatorValue
Population130,344
Median Household Income$106,638
Poverty Rate8.2%well below the national average
SNAP Households2,987
SNAP Participation Rate5.7%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.4%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population5.6%

Thick SNAP store book in Washington County

Washington County has 72 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 27 locations (38% of the total), followed by convenience store.

Combination Grocery/Other · 27

  • charlestown mini super,inc, charlestown
  • cvs pharmacy 2065, wakefield
  • cvs pharmacy 595, north kingstown
  • cvs pharmacy 868, kingston
  • cvs pharmacy 971, westerly
  • cvs pharmacy 1544, westerly
  • cvs pharmacy 409, narragansett
  • cvs pharmacy 8320, wyoming
  • cvs pharmacy cvs04544, north kingstown
  • cvs/pharmacy 10299, charlestown
  • dollar general 20236, wakefield
  • dollar general 21040, richmond
  • dollar tree 1724, north kingstown
  • dollar tree 3899, narragansett
  • dollar tree 5961, westerly
  • dollar tree 9594, north kingstown
  • family dollar 2289, westerly
  • mobil, westerly
  • ocean catch llc 1, wakefield
  • ocean state job lot 116, wyoming
  • ocean state job lot 119, westerly
  • ocean state job lot 123, north kingstown
  • ocean state job lot 127, wakefield
  • tase rite co inc, wakefield
  • walgreens 19189, narragansett
  • walgreens 19394, narragansett
  • walgreens 19680, n kingstown

Convenience Store · 26

  • 7-eleven #32509b, westerly
  • 7-eleven 33099b, north kingstown
  • alltown south kingston 2740, wakefield
  • bestway food mart, bradford
  • cumberland farms 1130, westerly
  • cumberland farms 1215, narragansett
  • colbea enterprises llc 15, charlestown
  • colbea enterprises, llc. 43, narragansett
  • cumberland farms 1254, wyoming
  • cumberland farms 1262, charlestown
  • cumberland farms 1293, narragansett
  • cumberland farms 1295, westerly
  • dania foodmart llc, north kingstown
  • exeter variety store, exeter
  • go gas, north kingstown
  • islander's stop, exeter
  • pete's grocery, bradford
  • reales grocery, westerly
  • ravi food mart, wakefield
  • seasons corner market 30, north kingstown
  • seasons corner market 46, narragansett
  • speedway 2823, saunderstown
  • spicer marketplace, ashaway
  • stop n go, westerly
  • tower hill convenience, north kingstown
  • west kingston xtra mart 10059, west kingston

Supermarket · 9

  • aldi 73042 73042, westerly
  • dunns corners market, westerly
  • roch's fresh food narragansett, narragansett
  • shaw's supermarket 2438, wakefield
  • stop & shop 716, n kingstown
  • stop & shop 718, narragansett
  • stop & shop 729, richmond
  • stop & shop 736, westerly
  • stop & shop 737, n kingstown

Super Store · 6

  • belmont market, wakefield
  • dave's marketplace 3, north kingstown
  • daves marketplace of wickford 5, north kingstown
  • mcquades marketplace, westerly
  • walmart 2261, n kingstown
  • walmart supercenter 1964, westerly

Farmers' Market · 1

  • south kingstown farmers market, kingston

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • westerly packing company inc, westerly

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • ma & pa's country store, hope valley

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • rippys liquor & marketplace, charlestown

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

Other Counties in Rhode Island

One of 4 counties in Rhode Island, 4 are shown here.

Compare Washington County vs Bristol County → · All Rhode Island counties →

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

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Washington County, both outside Rhode Island so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside RI (31.2% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside RI (5.7% 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 higher low-access state context

Washington County sits inside Rhode Island (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, RI are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 44009. 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.