Signature · 34.5% low-access (80th pct)
Worcester County, MA
Worcester County sits in the upper national band on low-access (34.5%, +12.4 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 34.5%
- low-access pop.
- 18
- food-desert tracts
- 15.9%
- on SNAP
- 868K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Worcester County, MA
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-CLUSTER · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 34.5% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +12.4 pts vs US
- LILA-CLUSTER 18 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 15.9% SNAP
- VEH-TYPICAL 8.3% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 10% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Norfolk County (+ 1.2 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Worcester County sits in the upper national band (34.5%, #628 of 3,079) with 18 LILA tracts.
- #628
- national by low-access %
- #5
- in MA
- 82
- low-access tracts
- 41K
- 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: 34.5% low-access (80th pct) (+12.4 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Worcester County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Worcester County's 34.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 80% of them and ranked #628 most-affected nationwide.
Worcester County's elevated USDA tier split
172 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 18 LILA.
Worcester County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (141 urban, 31 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 31 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Worcester County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Massachusetts, not a full county-board reprint
- Barnstable
Barnstable 51%
51 % low-access
- Norfolk
Norfolk 35.7%
35.7 % low-access
- Worcester
Worcester 34.5%
34.5 % low-access
- Dukes
Dukes 32.2%
32.2 % low-access
- Berkshire
Berkshire 30.9%
30.9 % low-access
- Essex
Essex 30.1%
30.1 % low-access
- Suffolk 1
Suffolk 1%
1 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 172 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 798,552 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 82 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 18 |
| Low-Access Population | 275,296 |
| Low-Access Share | 34.5%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 40,893 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 867,788 |
| Median Household Income | $95,939 |
| Poverty Rate | 10.3%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 53,441 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 15.9%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 8.3%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.3% |
Thick SNAP store book in Worcester County
Worcester County has 640 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 12 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 332 locations (52% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
65 towns share the 640 authorized stores; Worcester holds 32% of them. 29 of the 65 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Winchendon, Blackstone, Berlin, Brookfield, Southborough, Warren and 23 more.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | 202 | 46 |
| Leominster | 43 | 12 |
| Fitchburg | 38 | 4 |
| Milford | 30 | 11 |
| Gardner | 22 | 4 |
| Shrewsbury | 22 | 9 |
| Southbridge | 19 | 3 |
| Webster | 16 | 2 |
| Westborough | 16 | 4 |
| Athol | 13 | 2 |
Top 10 of 65 towns by store count.
Convenience Store · 332 (250 shown)
- 1099 grafton llc, worcester
- 590 southbridge gas and market llc, worcester
- 7 eleven 35487h, milford
- 7-11 mart, worcester
- 7-eleven #33200b, worcester
- 7-eleven 34385a, webster
- 7-eleven 33686a, worcester
- 7-eleven 34425b 34425, shrewsbury
- 7-eleven 34426a, worcester
- 7-eleven 34429a, worcester
- 7-eleven 25009, worcester
- 7-eleven 34427c 34427, worcester
- 7-eleven 34430b, westborough
- 7-eleven 37447b, worcester
- 7-eleven 37499b, leominster
- 76 food mart, leominster
- 94 spencer express llc, spencer
- a&t inc dba top dollar plus 1, worcester
- a-1 mart, gardner
- a.l prime energy 130, worcester
- a1 go mart, winchendon
- a1 plus convenience, holden
- a1 plus convenience, worcester
- abs gas & go, fitchburg
- abc mini market, worcester
- al prime - fitchburg # 129 129, fitchburg
- al prime energy 139, fitchburg
- alltown ashburnham 323, ashburnham
- alltown fitchburg 2770, fitchburg
- alltown gardner 327, gardner
- alltown leominster 306, leominster
- alltown market oxford crossing 664, oxford
- alltown market warren 10024, warren
- alltown north oxford 10096, north oxford
- alltown westborough 2720, westborough
- amz convenience inc, worcester
- andy's variety inc., westborough
- aplus, oxford
- apple country market, clinton
- applegreen barre 2028, barre
- ash pharmacy, worcester
- athol mini mart corp/corner store, athol
- barre general store, barre
- belmont convenience, worcester
- beltres groceries, fitchburg
- big w variety, worcester
- blackstone market no, blackstone
- boskis market, worcester
- boylston gas and market, llc 219, boylston
- bp gas station, fitchburg
- bp n/p, worcester
- brazilian flavors bakery, clinton
- burke's market, gardner
- castleway market, fitchburg
- country farm, southbridge
- cumberland farms 6660, gilbertville
- cumberland farms 6682, northbridge
- cumberland farms 6686, fiskdale
- cumberland farms 6687, baldwinville
- cumberland farms 6688, athol
- cumberland farms 6706, athol
- cumberland farms 6719, e brookfield
- cumberland farms 6762, fitchburg
- canaan fuels, milford
- cedar street market, milford
- charlies mini mart, milford
- charlton gas & market 103, charlton
- cheng's mini-mart, inc 8400, worcester
- citgo mart, fitchburg
- corner store, worcester
- cote's variety, fitchburg
- country convenience, athol
- country corner citgo inc, west brookfield
- country farms, charlton
- country farms, leominster
- country mart, athol
- cow farm mini market, worcester
- crossroads market place, leicester
- crystal gas, whitinsville
- cumberland farm 178, fitchburg
- cumberland farms 0119, worcester
- cumberland farms 0177, lancaster
- cumberland farms 0192, leominster
- cumberland farms 0217, worcester
- cumberland farms 0221, clinton
- cumberland farms 6, westminster
- cumberland farms 6672, winchendon
- cumberland farms 6695, brookfield
- cumberland farms 6705, east templeton
- cumberland farms 6720, leicester
- cumberland farms 6737, northborough
- cumberland farms 6746, north grafton
- cumberland farms 6751, southbridge
- cumberland farms 6753, lancaster
- cumberland farms 6754, gardner
- cumberland farms 6758, west boylston
- cumberland farms 6769, westborough
- cumberland farms, inc 0036, oxford
- cumberland farms, inc 0133, grafton
- cumberland farms, inc 0163, leicester
- cumberland farms, inc 0164, south grafton
- cumberland farms, inc 0166, auburn
- cumberland farms, inc 0190, blackstone
- cumberland farms, inc 0191, dudley
- cumberland farms, inc 0197, hopedale
- cumberland farms, inc 0203, north oxford
- cumberland farms, inc 3471, oxford
- cumberland farms, inc 6725, southborough
- cumberland farms, inc 6765, uxbridge
- cumberland farms, inc. 6761, leominster
- daily convenience 0, auburn
- daou's convenience, southbridge
- downtown quik mart, leominster
- drew food mart, worcester
- eb mobil mart, east brookfield
- edgemere mini mart, worcester
- ez mart convenience store, douglas
- east main street gas & market llc 517, webster
- edgemere mini mart, shrewsbury
- edgemere mini mart, worcester
- edgemere mini mart, worcester
- el coqui market 2 parker, gardner
- el primo meat market corp, leominster
- energy north 2121, berlin
- energy north 2123, webster
- energy north 2133, athol
- express fuel . food 102, fitchburg
- express fuel food 101, fitchburg
- family farms 10, worcester
- family farms 11, rutland
- family farms 12, leominster
- family farms 2, worcester
- family farms 3, worcester
- family farms 6, upton
- family farms 8, shrewsbury
- family farms 9, worcester
- family mini market, worcester
- fitchburg quick mart, fitchburg
- fitchburg variety, fitchburg
- fk island market, leominster
- gateway food shops, worcester
- gateway food shops, worcester
- gateway food shops, worcester
- george's variety, millville
- gilbert market, webster
- gulf express mart 102, worcester
- harissa valley mart, cherry valley
- helens variety, northborough
- heritage xtra mart 10022, sturbridge
- hermanos lejanos market inc, worcester
- honey farms, northborough
- honey farms 2759, oxford
- honey farms 2760, worcester
- honey farms 2761, charlton
- honey farms 3812, worcester
- honey farms 3825, worcester
- honey farms 3827, webster
- honey farms 3829, lunenburg
- honey farms 3830, fitchburg
- honey land farm mini mart, gardner
- honey land mini mart, fitchburg
- hubbardston market na, hubbatdston
- hubbardston one stop shop, hubbardston
- in and out convenience store inc, northborough
- j k mart, worcester
- jacks variety, worcester
- jaxx country variety, lunenburg
- jay's variety, gardner
- jayzi mart leominster inc, leominster
- jd's market, llc, blackstone
- jimmy's variety store, worcester
- jpp food mart, worcester
- kanes shell inc, auburn
- kannagi inc - charlton country store, charlton
- kelly square gulf, worcester
- kgdas corp, worcester
- kwik pik convenience, worcester
- kwik stop, dudley
- larrys variety, athol
- latinas flavor stop, webster
- leicester gas & market llc 467, leicester
- lincoln street gulf 100, worcester
- lucky mart, sturbridge
- lucky mart 1, worcester
- lunenburg gas & market 404, lunenburg
- m & m market, worcester
- mpg 143, milford
- mac's auto repair & convenience store n/a, webster
- mahant baker's variety inc, lunenburg
- mais brazil inc, worcester
- marketplace on the common, barre
- md-market llc, blackstone
- millbury xtra mart 10093, millbury
- mini mart, southbridge
- mini variedades ecuatoriano, milford
- mobil 1957, worcester
- mobil mart, worcester
- mr. edwards, sturbridge
- mr. mike's mini mart athol 310, athol
- new g & m grocery, worcester
- north brookfield farms llc., north brookfield
- north end variety, uxbridge
- nouria 1066, westborough
- nouria 137 east main street 1186, webster
- nouria 138 southbridge street 1042, north oxford
- nouria 139 coolidge road 1175, berlin
- nouria 139 medway road 1041, milford
- nouria 257 west boylston street 1061, west boylston
- nouria 26 commercial road 1275, leominster
- nouria 264 timpany boulevard 1028, gardner
- nouria 271 boston turnpike 1048, shrewsbury
- nouria 29 maple avenue 1049, shrewsbury
- nouria 30 lackey dam road 1022, douglas
- nouria 328 shrewsbury street 1012, boylston
- nouria 340 grove street 1075, worcester
- nouria 4 oak street 1252, gardner
- nouria 436 lancaster street 1033, leominster
- nouria 466 lincoln street 1076, worcester
- nouria 6 pearson boulevard 1029, gardner
- nouria 611 southbridge street 1007, auburn
- nouria 64 river road west 1010, berlin
- nouria 719 southbridge street 1078, worcester
- nouria 93 gardner road 1073, winchendon
- nouria 97 cedar street 1190, milford
- om nepali store llc 1, shrewsbury
- one quick stop, whitinsville
- one stop beer & wine, holden
- one stop mini market, worcester
- one stop plaza convenience ll inc, winchendon
- ortega's market, worcester
- oxford market, north oxford
- papa carlos variety, clinton
- park ave gas & market, worcester
- patriot gas, dudley
- patriot gas and convenience, fitchburg
- perry's market, worcester
- petromax, southbridge
- pilot travel center 222, sturbridge
- plantation country store, west brookfield
- plantation st shell, worcester
- plaza liquors, southbridge
- pleasant street gulf, worcester
- pleasant things, worcester
- plumley village store inc, worcester
- popcorn market, worcester
- providence st xtra mart 10087, worcester
- quaker deli and convenience, uxbridge
- quick corner, southbridge
- quinsigamond gas & market llc 516, worcester
- rebel 889, leominster
Showing 250 of 640 authorized retailers, largest categories first.
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Massachusetts
One of 13 counties in Massachusetts, 6 are shown here.
Compare Worcester County vs Barnstable County → · All Massachusetts counties →
Counties near Worcester County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Worcester County, both outside Massachusetts so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MA (34.5% here).
- Becker County, MN · 34.5% low-access
- Galveston County, TX · 34.5% low-access
- Llano County, TX · 34.5% low-access
- Mackinac County, MI · 34.6% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MA (15.9% here).
- Oceana County, MI · 15.9% SNAP
- East Baton Rouge Parish, LA · 15.9% SNAP
- Jasper County, MS · 15.9% SNAP
- Harrison County, KY · 15.9% 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.
Massachusetts among New England states
Massachusetts ranks 1st of 5 New England states by population-weighted low-access (27.8%). Worcester County, at 34.5%, runs 6.7 pts above the Massachusetts rate.
- Massachusetts 27.8%
- New Hampshire 27.5%
- Rhode Island 23.6%
- Maine 13.4%
- Vermont 11.2%
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 Worcester County, MA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 25027. 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.