Inflation has driven up the prices of nearly all goods and services, including necessary items such as groceries. The cost of a carton of eggs was 32% higher in May compared to a year ago. According to a report by Moody’s Analytics, American families pay $311 more each month, on average, for essential goods compared to one year ago. To survive the price hikes, millions of Americans may have to rely on the government’s food assistance benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
As of 2020, roughly 13.8 million U.S. households, about one in 10, received SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. At the more local level, there are many affluent places where SNAP assistance is relatively uncommon.
To find the 50 metropolitan areas with the lowest SNAP recipiency rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of households that received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. As of 2020, 11.4% of U.S. households received SNAP benefits. Among the 50 metro areas on this list, that share ranges from 7.5% to as low as 4.1% of households.
While factors such as assets and household composition impact whether a household qualifies for the benefit, SNAP recipiency is primarily determined by income. So, as might be expected, metros with higher incomes tend to have relatively fewer households receiving SNAP benefits. The national median household income is $64,994. Out of the 50 metropolitan areas on this list, 35 have higher median household incomes. In the San Jose metropolitan statistical area, which has the second-lowest SNAP recipiency rate, the typical household has an income of $129,343. These are the states where the most children live in Poverty.
Because income is the primary determinant for SNAP recipiency, unemployment is a major determinant in how many people receive benefits, as those workers who are out of a job are likely to have little to no income. All but three of the metros on this list have five-year average unemployment rates lower than the national five-year unemployment rate of 5.3%. The Bismarck, North Dakota, metropolitan area has a five year unemployment rate of 2.4%, the lowest of any U.S. metro area. These are the states with the worst spikes in unemployment since the pandemic began.
Click here to see metros with the lowest SNAP recipiency rates
To determine the metros with the lowest SNAP recipiency rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of households that received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
We used the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Metros were ranked based on the share of households that received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months as of 2020. To break ties, we used the number of households that received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months.
Additional information on poverty rate, median household income, and unemployment rate are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.
50. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.5%
> Poverty rate: 9.8% — 52nd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $62,438 — 132nd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.8% — 143rd lowest of 384 metros
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49. Kansas City, MO-KS
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.4%
> Poverty rate: 9.9% — 58th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $69,240 — 74th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.2% — 76th lowest of 384 metros
48. Gettysburg, PA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.4%
> Poverty rate: 7.9% — 12th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $68,411 — 80th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.8% — 52nd lowest of 384 metros
47. Raleigh-Cary, NC
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.2%
> Poverty rate: 9.2% — 40th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $78,706 — 29th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.3% — 83rd lowest of 384 metros
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46. Iowa City, IA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.1%
> Poverty rate: 16.0% — 98th highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $63,131 — 119th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.6% — 34th lowest of 384 metros
45. Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.1%
> Poverty rate: 21.4% — 15th highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $55,475 — 149th lowest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.1% — 73rd lowest of 384 metros
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44. Naples-Marco Island, FL
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.1%
> Poverty rate: 11.0% — 95th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $70,217 — 67th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.4% — 92nd lowest of 384 metros
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43. Madison, WI
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.1%
> Poverty rate: 10.4% — 75th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $73,807 — 51st highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 2.5% — 2nd lowest of 384 metros
42. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.1%
> Poverty rate: 10.9% — 93rd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $82,426 — 22nd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 5.9% — 112th highest of 384 metros
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41. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.0%
> Poverty rate: 8.3% — 19th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $82,887 — 20th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.7% — 39th lowest of 384 metros
40. Ann Arbor, MI
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.0%
> Poverty rate: 13.9% — 166th highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $75,730 — 44th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.5% — 107th lowest of 384 metros
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39. Fargo, ND-MN
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.0%
> Poverty rate: 11.2% — 108th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $65,995 — 96th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.1% — 9th lowest of 384 metros
38. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.0%
> Poverty rate: 17.4% — 65th highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $52,826 — 97th lowest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.8% — 46th lowest of 384 metros
37. Harrisonburg, VA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 7.0%
> Poverty rate: 14.4% — 141st highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $59,261 — 185th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.8% — 43rd lowest of 384 metros
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36. Barnstable Town, MA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.9%
> Poverty rate: 6.7% — 3rd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $76,863 — 37th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.0% — 66th lowest of 384 metros
35. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.9%
> Poverty rate: 9.2% — 38th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $61,756 — 145th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.9% — 55th lowest of 384 metros
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34. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.8%
> Poverty rate: 8.9% — 30th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $89,295 — 10th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 5.1% — 177th lowest of 384 metros
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33. Manchester-Nashua, NH
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.8%
> Poverty rate: 7.4% — 7th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $82,099 — 23rd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.0% — 64th lowest of 384 metros
32. Casper, WY
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.7%
> Poverty rate: 9.6% — 48th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $62,168 — 135th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.3% — 82nd lowest of 384 metros
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31. St. George, UT
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.7%
> Poverty rate: 10.0% — 62nd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $61,747 — 146th highest of 384 metros (tied)
> Unemployment rate: 3.4% — 21st lowest of 384 metros
30. Logan, UT-ID
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.7%
> Poverty rate: 14.1% — 153rd highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $60,466 — 166th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 2.6% — 4th lowest of 384 metros
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29. Winchester, VA-WV
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.7%
> Poverty rate: 9.1% — 37th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $69,417 — 71st highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.3% — 81st lowest of 384 metros
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28. Manhattan, KS
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6%
> Poverty rate: 17.8% — 56th highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $54,488 — 125th lowest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.7% — 38th lowest of 384 metros
27. Ocean City, NJ
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6%
> Poverty rate: 9.9% — 60th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $72,385 — 57th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 6.5% — 61st highest of 384 metros
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26. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.6%
> Poverty rate: 7.6% — 9th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $106,415 — 3rd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.8% — 144th lowest of 384 metros
25. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.4%
> Poverty rate: 10.6% — 81st lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $67,723 — 85th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.7% — 134th lowest of 384 metros
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24. Cheyenne, WY
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.3%
> Poverty rate: 8.9% — 32nd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $69,369 — 72nd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.6% — 125th lowest of 384 metros
23. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.3%
> Poverty rate: 10.2% — 69th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $80,852 — 26th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.6% — 113th lowest of 384 metros
22. State College, PA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.2%
> Poverty rate: 17.8% — 57th highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $61,921 — 141st highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.1% — 68th lowest of 384 metros
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21. Appleton, WI
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.2%
> Poverty rate: 6.8% — 4th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $70,261 — 66th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.0% — 7th lowest of 384 metros
20. Rochester, MN
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.2%
> Poverty rate: 7.8% — 11th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $76,787 — 38th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.3% — 14th lowest of 384 metros
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19. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.1%
> Poverty rate: 12.1% — 138th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $61,761 — 144th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.5% — 31st lowest of 384 metros
18. Salt Lake City, UT
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.0%
> Poverty rate: 8.4% — 22nd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $77,102 — 34th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.8% — 48th lowest of 384 metros
17. Ames, IA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 6.0%
> Poverty rate: 17.0% — 70th highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $60,442 — 167th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 5.0% — 164th lowest of 384 metros
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16. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.9%
> Poverty rate: 8.3% — 18th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $83,289 — 18th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.1% — 71st lowest of 384 metros
15. Ogden-Clearfield, UT
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.9%
> Poverty rate: 6.7% — 2nd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $78,680 — 30th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 2.9% — 6th lowest of 384 metros
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14. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.9%
> Poverty rate: 8.8% — 27th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $86,173 — 13th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.6% — 119th lowest of 384 metros
13. Midland, TX
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.8%
> Poverty rate: 9.8% — 53rd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $82,768 — 21st highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.4% — 24th lowest of 384 metros
12. Fort Collins, CO
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.8%
> Poverty rate: 11.1% — 100th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $76,366 — 41st highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 5.1% — 179th lowest of 384 metros
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11. Fairbanks, AK
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.7%
> Poverty rate: 6.5% — the lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $76,464 — 39th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 6.2% — 87th highest of 384 metros
10. Bismarck, ND
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.6%
> Poverty rate: 7.6% — 10th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $72,886 — 53rd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 2.4% — the lowest of 384 metros
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9. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.4%
> Poverty rate: 8.5% — 24th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $110,837 — 2nd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.8% — 139th lowest of 384 metros
8. Lawrence, KS
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.3%
> Poverty rate: 16.5% — 81st highest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $61,020 — 157th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.3% — 85th lowest of 384 metros
7. Charlottesville, VA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.2%
> Poverty rate: 11.1% — 103rd lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $75,176 — 47th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.5% — 28th lowest of 384 metros
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6. Provo-Orem, UT
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.2%
> Poverty rate: 10.1% — 65th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $76,864 — 36th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 3.7% — 40th lowest of 384 metros
5. The Villages, FL
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 5.0%
> Poverty rate: 8.8% — 26th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $59,618 — 177th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.7% — 132nd lowest of 384 metros
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4. Boulder, CO
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 4.7%
> Poverty rate: 11.2% — 105th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $87,476 — 12th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.5% — 104th lowest of 384 metros
3. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 4.4%
> Poverty rate: 11.1% — 99th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $77,948 — 32nd highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.4% — 95th lowest of 384 metros
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 4.4%
> Poverty rate: 7.2% — 6th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $129,343 — the highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.3% — 87th lowest of 384 metros
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1. Napa, CA
> Households receiving SNAP benefits: 4.1%
> Poverty rate: 7.5% — 8th lowest of 384 metros
> Median household income: $92,219 — 7th highest of 384 metros
> Unemployment rate: 4.5% — 103rd lowest of 384 metros
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