Updated May 2026
Urban Gardening Statistics 2026: City Growing, Rooftop Gardens & Food Deserts
25+ urban gardening statistics — urban farm market size, community garden participation, rooftop farming, container gardening adoption, and how city growing is addressing food access gaps.
Urban gardening has grown from a fringe practice to a recognized component of city food systems. These statistics document the scale of growing food in cities — in containers, on rooftops, in community plots, and in vertical farms — and the food access gaps it addresses.
Urban Farming Market
$17.5B
global urban farming market size in 2023
— Allied Market Research, 202425.1%
CAGR for the urban farming market through 2030
— Allied Market Research, 2024880M
people globally engaged in urban agriculture in some form
— FAO Report, 202415–20%
of global food supply estimated to be produced in or near cities
— FAO, 2024Community Gardens
18,000+
community gardens in the United States as of 2024
— American Community Gardening Association, 20243 years
average wait time for a plot in high-demand urban community gardens (NYC, Chicago)
— ACGA, 2024$750
average annual value of produce grown per community garden plot
— University of Wisconsin Extension, 202476%
of community gardeners report improved mental health and social connection
— RHS Community Gardening Study, 2024Container Gardening
60%
of apartment dwellers who garden use containers exclusively
— NGA, 2024#1
tomatoes — most commonly grown food plant in containers (compact/patio varieties)
— Proven Winners, 2024$85
average annual produce yield from a 5-gallon container tomato plant
— NGA, 202440×40 cm
minimum recommended container size for most vegetable crops
— University Extension, 2024Food Access Impact
19M
Americans living in food deserts with limited access to fresh produce
— USDA, 202440%
of urban community gardens prioritize underserved neighborhoods in their location planning
— ACGA, 20242×
higher fruit and vegetable consumption in neighborhoods with community gardens
— Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2023$1.1B
estimated annual food savings for families participating in urban gardening programs
— USDA Community Food Projects, 2024🛒 Top Picks for Urban Gardening
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grow vegetables in an apartment?
Yes — containers are effective for many crops. Tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, peppers, and even cucumbers can thrive on a south-facing balcony or patio. A 5-gallon container tomato plant can yield $85 worth of produce (NGA). The key is a minimum 6 hours of direct sun.
How many community gardens are there in the US?
18,000+ as of 2024 (ACGA). Wait times for plots in high-demand cities (NYC, Chicago) average 3 years. Most urban gardeners use containers in the interim. Demand consistently outpaces supply — a persistent challenge for city planning departments.
Does urban gardening address food deserts?
Meaningfully but not completely. Community gardens in underserved neighborhoods double local fruit and vegetable consumption (Johns Hopkins, 2023). The USDA estimates $1.1B in annual food savings for participating families — but 19 million Americans still live in food deserts with inadequate access.
Cite This Page
Urban Gardening Statistics 2026: City Growing, Rooftop Gardens & Food Deserts. WhatCanGrow. https://whatcangrow.com/stats/urban-gardening-statistics-2026. Accessed 2026.
Urban Gardening Statistics 2026: City Growing, Rooftop Gardens & Food Deserts. WhatCanGrow. https://whatcangrow.com/stats/urban-gardening-statistics-2026. Accessed 2026.