Signature · 12.0% SNAP (87th pct in IA)

Cass County, IA

Cass County stands out on SNAP (12.0%, -0.1 pts vs U.S.) with 28.7% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.

28.7%
low-access pop.
0
food-desert tracts
12.0%
on SNAP
13K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

USDA FARA access plate

County Cass County, IA

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR

  • LA-ELEVATED 28.7% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +6.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-TYPICAL 12.0% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.7% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Lee County ( -0.4 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Cass County sits in the upper national band (28.7%, #1,021 of 3,079).

#1,021
national by low-access %
#15
in IA
3
low-access tracts
1K
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 12.0% SNAP (87th pct in IA) (-0.1 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Cass County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Cass County's 28.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 67% of them and ranked #1,025 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Cass County's elevated USDA tier split

5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .

Food access tier distribution for Cass County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 3 limited, 0 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 5 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (40.0%) 3 tracts limited (60.0%) Adequate 40% Limited 60% Severe 0% Food-access tier distribution: Cass County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Cass County has 2 urban and 3 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.

Cass County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Cass County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts5
Atlas Population (2010 basis)13,956
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)0
Low-Access Population4,012
Low-Access Share28.7%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population1,274

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Cass County
IndicatorValue
Population13,096
Median Household Income$63,013
Poverty Rate14.3%near the national average
SNAP Households699
SNAP Participation Rate12.0%near the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.7%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.7%

SNAP retailers in Cass County

Cass County has 16 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 7 locations (44% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 7

  • 21st century coop c-store, massena
  • casey's 2610, atlantic
  • casey's general store 1567, anita
  • casey's general store 2365, atlantic
  • casey's general store 2817, griswold
  • casey's general store 3035, atlantic
  • murphy usa 7164, atlantic

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • dollar general 0111, atlantic
  • dollar general 20294, griswold
  • family dollar 13700, anita

Super Store · 3

  • fareway stores, inc. 940, atlantic
  • hy-vee food store 1026, atlantic
  • walmart sc 3394, atlantic

Farmers' Market · 1

  • produce in the park, atlantic

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • tcj micro mart, atlantic

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • economy food market, massena

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in Iowa

One of 98 counties in Iowa, 6 are shown here.

Compare Cass County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →

Counties near Cass County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

SNAP-led peer set first for Cass County (12.0%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Iowa.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IA (28.7% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (12.0% here).

Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.

Cass County inside a higher low-access state context

Cass County sits inside Iowa (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Read with this county

Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .

PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Cass County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19029. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.

Note: This page presents public USDA and Census data for informational purposes and is not professional advice. Figures reflect the cited dataset vintages and may differ from the most recent local conditions. How this data is sourced & verified.