| Consuming less sodium (Na) and more potassium (K) through diets low in processed foods reduces cardiovascular disease risk. Dietary intake may be affected by neighborhood-level poverty, with fast food and other less-healthy options more prevalent in high-poverty areas. Racial segregation has been shown to be associated with both poor, and healthier dietary habits but data are limited. This study presents relationships between individual-level poverty and Na, K, and Na:K ratios, and explores potential interaction with neighborhood-level poverty and segregation using two-level hierarchical linear models. Data from the 2010 Heart Follow-Up Study, a cross-sectional study with 24-hour urine collection data and self-reported health behaviors (n=1656), were analyzed. Neighborhood-level poverty and segregation were defined by aggregated zip-code areas. Degree of racial segregation was measured with the isolation index, describing minority group member exposure to one another. Scaled weights were included to accommodate clustering and disproportionate sampling. Individual-level poverty was associated with higher Na intake and Na:K ratios after adjustment for neighborhood-level poverty and segregation. Na intake and Na:K ratios were higher in very high vs. low poverty neighborhoods. Hispanics in highly segregated neighborhoods had higher K intake, lower Na intake, and lower Na:K ratios than non-segregated Hispanics. Individual-level poverty significantly interacted with segregation; compared to high-income peers, low-income segregated Asians had lower Na:K ratios, while low-income segregated Hispanics had higher ratios. The impact of individual-level income on Na and K intake may be modified by segregation, particularly in Asian and Hispanic ethnic enclaves. Practical consideration of neighborhood composition may enhance impact of dietary behavior change interventions. |