The Environmental Justice Index (EJI) is the first national, place-based tool designed to measure the cumulative impacts of environmental burden through the lens of human health and health equity. The EJI scores census tracts using a percentile ranking which represents the proportion of tracts that experience cumulative impacts of environmental burden and injustice equal to…
This indicator reports the percentage of population living in census tracts with no or low access to healthy retail food stores. Figures are based on the CDC Modified Retail Food Environment Index. For this indicator, low food access tracts are considered those with index scores of 10.0 or less. Source Centers for Disease Control and…
This indicator reports the number of SNAP-authorized food stores as a rate per 10,000 population. SNAP-authorized stores include grocery stores as well as supercenters, specialty food stores, and convenience stores that are authorized to accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Source US Department of Agriculture, USDA – SNAP Retailer Locator, 2025.Additional data analysis by…
This indicator reports the percentage of individuals in a county who live reasonably close to a location for physical activity. Locations for physical activity are defined as parks or recreational facilities. The numerator is the 2020 total population living in census blocks with adequate access to at least one location for physical activity (adequate access…
This indicator reports the percentage of the population with low food access. Low food access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store. Data are from the 2019 Food Access Research Atlas dataset. This indicator is relevant because it highlights populations…
This indicator reports the percentage of the low income population with low food access. Low food access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store. Data are from the April 2021 Food Access Research Atlas dataset. This indicator is relevant because…
This indicator reports the employment and household entropy score from EPA’s Smart Location Dababase, 2021. This score represents the characteristics of the built environment known to be supportive of walking, especially mixed community land use. The higher the score, the higher diversity in community land use. Source Environmental Protection Agency, EPA – Smart Location Database,…
This indicator reports the number of fast food restaurants per 100,000 population. The prevalence of fast food restaurants provides a measure of both access to healthy food and environmental influences on dietary behaviors. Fast food restaurants are defined as limited-service establishments primarily engaged in providing food services (except snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars) where patrons…
This indicator reports the number of neighborhoods in the report area that are within food deserts. Data are from the April 2021 Food Access Research Atlas dataset. Source US Department of Agriculture, USDA – Food Access Research Atlas, 2019. Source Description The Food Access Research Atlas (FARA) presents a spatial overview of food access indicators…
Healthy dietary behaviors are supported by access to healthy foods, and grocery stores are a major provider of these foods. Grocery stores are defined as supermarkets and smaller grocery stores primarily engaged in retailing a general line of food, such as canned and frozen foods; fresh fruits and vegetables; and fresh and prepared meats, fish,…