Signature · 17.0% SNAP (82nd pct in TN)
Wayne County, TN
Wayne County stands out on SNAP (17.0%, +4.9 pts vs U.S.) with 24.4% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 24.4%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 17.0%
- on SNAP
- 16K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Wayne County, TN
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-DENSE
- LA-ELEVATED 24.4% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +2.3 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-HEAVY 17.0% SNAP
- VEH-TYPICAL 8.2% no vehicle
- DENSITY-DENSE 25% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Perry County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Wayne County ranks #1,341 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #26 of 93 counties in TN (24.4% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,341
- national by low-access %
- #26
- in TN
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 2K
- 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: 17.0% SNAP (82nd pct in TN) (+4.9 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Wayne County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Wayne County's 24.4% low-access share is elevated, higher than 57% of them and ranked #1,341 most-affected nationwide.
Wayne County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
All 4 of Wayne County's tracts are rural in the USDA classification, so every one is judged on the 10-mile test: a resident counts as low-access only when the nearest supermarket is more than 10 miles away.
Wayne County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Tennessee, not a full county-board reprint
- Montgomery
Montgomery 47%
47 % low-access
- Maury
Maury 25.6%
25.6 % low-access
- Haywood
Haywood 25.4%
25.4 % low-access
- Perry
Perry 24.6%
24.6 % low-access
- Wayne
Wayne 24.4%
24.4 % low-access
- McNairy
McNairy 24.1%
24.1 % low-access
- Grainger 0
Grainger 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 17,021 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 4,152 |
| Low-Access Share | 24.4%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,523 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 16,168 |
| Median Household Income | $52,294 |
| Poverty Rate | 20.0%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,018 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 17.0%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.2%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 10.9% |
SNAP retailers in Wayne County
Wayne County has 16 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 7 locations (44% of the total), followed by convenience store.
Where the store book sits, by town
4 towns share the 16 authorized stores; Waynesboro holds 50% of them. 2 of the 4 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Clifton, Iron City.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Waynesboro | 8 | 2 |
| Clifton | 4 | none |
| Collinwood | 3 | 1 |
| Iron City | 1 | none |
Combination Grocery/Other · 7
- dollar general 2082, waynesboro
- dollar general 2572, clifton
- dollar general 19912, iron city
- dollar general 22421, waynesboro
- dollar general 803, collinwood
- dollar tree 7566, waynesboro
- family dollar 13898, clifton
Convenience Store · 6
- 641 marathon, clifton
- country girl's truck stop, clifton
- lil sis's one stop, collinwood
- quik mart 13, waynesboro
- rp 09 convenience, llc, waynesboro
- waynesboro food mart, waynesboro
Supermarket · 3
- cash saver 16, waynesboro
- collinwood piggly wiggly 101, collinwood
- piggly wiggly no, 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 Tennessee
One of 94 counties in Tennessee, 6 are shown here.
Compare Wayne County vs Anderson County → · All Tennessee counties →
Nationwide peers for Wayne County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Wayne County (17.0%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Tennessee.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside TN (24.4% here).
- Jefferson County, TX · 24.4% low-access
- Geauga County, OH · 24.4% low-access
- Franklin County, OH · 24.4% low-access
- Saratoga County, NY · 24.4% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside TN (17.0% here).
- Matagorda County, TX · 17.0% SNAP
- Buckingham County, VA · 17.0% SNAP
- Smyth County, VA · 17.0% SNAP
- Norfolk city, VA · 17.0% 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.
Tennessee among East South Central states
Tennessee ranks 1st of 4 East South Central states by population-weighted low-access (27.2%). Wayne County, at 24.4%, runs 2.8 pts below the Tennessee rate.
- Tennessee 27.2%
- Mississippi 26.4%
- Alabama 24.5%
- Kentucky 19.8%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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, TN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 47181. 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.