These Massachusetts Communities Receive the Most SNAP Benefits

More than one million Massachusetts residents receive SNAP benefits. More than 33 percent are in working families.

According to the Massachusetts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 15 percent of the state's population (1,024,000 people), or one in seven Massachusetts residents, receive benefits.

More than 51 percent of Massachusetts SNAP participants (more than 65 percent nationally) are in families with children. More than 51 percent (36 percent nationally) are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled.

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Nationally 41,206,900 residents, or 12 percent of the total population (one in eight), receive SNAP benefits.

According to StatisticalAtlas.com, Lawrence has the highest number of food stamp recipients in Massachusetts as a percentage of all households at 43.7 percent, or 11.2k people. Springfield is second at 37 percent, or 20.7k people.

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Holyoke is the third highest, followed by Chelsea and Lynn.

Fall River is sixth at 28.9 percent, or 11.1k people. New Bedford ranks eighth at 26.3 percent, or 10.3k people. Taunton is 18th with 18.3 percent, or 4,080 people.

Hampden and Suffolk Counties have the highest percentage of all households receiving SNAP benefits, according to the website. Bristol County is third, and Plymouth County ranks eight.

24/7WallStreet.com says Springfield is the Massachusetts city with the most people on food stamps. The site says, "Of all 360 metro areas nationwide with available data, Springfield ranks as having the 27th highest SNAP recipiency rate."

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The website ranks the Providence-Warwick metro area as having the highest SNAP recipiency rate in Rhode Island.

24/7WallStreet.com bases its findings on 2021 data. StatisticalAtlas.com says its rankings are based on U.S. Census Bureau data but does not include a year.

Despite the discrepancies in some rankings, all three websites provide interesting information about SNAP and a closer look at who exactly is in need of assistance from the program.