Signature · 20.9% SNAP (79th pct in MS)
Wayne County, MS
Wayne County stands out on SNAP (20.9%, +8.8 pts vs U.S.) with 17.9% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 17.9%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 20.9%
- on SNAP
- 20K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Wayne County, MS
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-MODERATE 17.9% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -4.2 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-HEAVY 20.9% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 25% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Lincoln County ( -0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Wayne County ranks #1,873 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #47 of 80 counties in MS (17.9% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,873
- national by low-access %
- #47
- in MS
- 3
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- food-desert residents
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).
Signature read: 20.9% SNAP (79th pct in MS) (+8.8 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Wayne County compares nationally
Wayne County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.9% low-access share that beats 40% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,873).
Wayne County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Wayne County has 1 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.
Wayne County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Mississippi, not a full county-board reprint
- Quitman
Quitman 90.1%
90.1 % low-access
- Winston 18.7
Winston 18.7%
18.7 % low-access
- Humphreys 18.5
Humphreys 18.5%
18.5 % low-access
- Wayne 17.9
Wayne 17.9%
17.9 % low-access
- Lincoln 17.7
Lincoln 17.7%
17.7 % low-access
- Warren 17.2
Warren 17.2%
17.2 % low-access
- Covington 0
Covington 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 20,747 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 3 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 3,717 |
| Low-Access Share | 17.9%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,463 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,718 |
| Median Household Income | $37,619 |
| Poverty Rate | 22.8%well above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,605 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 20.9%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.0%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.5% |
SNAP retailers in Wayne County
Wayne County has 23 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 9 locations (39% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 9
- dollar general 0894, waynesboro
- dollar general 11808, waynesboro
- dollar general 15255, buckatunna
- dollar general 24817, waynesboro
- dollar general store 17808, waynesboro
- dollar tree 2432, waynesboro
- family dollar 13201, state line
- family dollar store 379, waynesboro
- walgreens 12929, waynesboro
Convenience Store · 9
- beat four grocery & grill, waynesboro
- chickasawhay farm fresh foods, waynesboro
- clara grocery & grill, waynesboro
- clark's 45, gulfport
- clarks 12, waynesboro
- clarks 2, waynesboro
- clarks 3, buckatunna
- clarks 4, waynesboro
- murphy usa 7781, waynesboro
Super Store · 3
- normans food outlet, waynesboro
- ramey's 24, waynesboro
- walmart s/c 785, waynesboro
Large Grocery Store · 1
- cashsaver 37, state line
Seafood Specialty · 1
- waynesboro shrimp company, waynesboro
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Mississippi
One of 81 counties in Mississippi, 6 are shown here.
Compare Wayne County vs Adams County → · All Mississippi counties →
Nationwide peers for Wayne County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Wayne County (20.9%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Mississippi.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MS (17.9% here).
- Simpson County, KY · 17.9% low-access
- Simpson County, KY · 17.9% low-access
- Harnett County, NC · 17.9% low-access
- Harnett County, NC · 17.9% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MS (20.9% here).
- Vinton County, OH · 20.9% SNAP
- Vinton County, OH · 20.9% SNAP
- Le Flore County, OK · 20.9% SNAP
- Le Flore County, OK · 20.9% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
Food access nationally, Mississippi in context
Wayne County sits inside Mississippi (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 Wayne County, MS are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 28153. 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.