% of Population on Food Stamps or SNAP (Last 12 Months), by Zip Code (ZCTA5) — California

NOTE: Gray indicates insufficient data or a suppressed estimate.

The Central Valley—particularly zip codes in and around Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties—displays consistently elevated SNAP participation rates in the 20–35% range, forming the most prominent high-utilization corridor in the state. Coastal zip codes from the Bay Area through the Central Coast and into western Los Angeles County generally register below 5–10%, reflecting the sharp economic divide between inland agricultural communities and higher-income coastal metros. Scattered pockets of yellow (40%+) appear in parts of far northern California and select urban cores, while much of the eastern Sierra and sparsely populated desert regions show as gray, indicating missing data or minimal population.

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 ACS

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