PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · North Dakota

Cass County, ND

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Cass County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

21.0%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
6.2%
on SNAP
193K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 ND

The food-access picture

21.0% of Cass County residents live in a low-access area, and 2 of its 33 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

10
low-access tracts
5K
food-desert residents
6.8%
households, no vehicle
11.0%
below poverty line

Low access = living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket. Food deserts add a low-income condition (USDA LILA, 1-and-10-mile measure).

USDA data puts Cass County's low-access share at 21.0%, above the national share. 10 of the county's 33 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 31,499 people. 2 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 4,885 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Cass County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Cass County's 21.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 49% of them and ranked #1,603 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Cass County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 33 census tracts in Cass County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Cass County, ND USDA-defined food-access tiers: 23 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 8 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 33 tracts evaluated. 23 tracts adequate (69.7%) 8 tracts limited (24.2%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (6.1%) Adequate 70% Limited 24% Severe 6% Food-access tier distribution: Cass County, ND
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Cass County vs. other North Dakota counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in North Dakota

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

Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for Cass County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts33
Atlas Population (2010 basis)149,778
Low-Access Tracts10
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population31,499
Low-Access Share21.0%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population4,885

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Cass County
IndicatorValue
Population193,400
Median Household Income$75,555
Poverty Rate11.0%below the national average
SNAP Households5,219
SNAP Participation Rate6.2%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.8%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.3%
SNAP participation in Cass County 6.2%

About 6.2% of Cass County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 21.0% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 6.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 5,219 households here.
  • 6.8% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 2 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Cass County

above the national share

2 of Cass County's 33 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 6.1% of all its tracts.

A further 8 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 10.

An estimated 31,499 residents, roughly 21.0% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 4,885 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 23 tracts (69.7%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Cass County

Cass County has 117 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 11 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 51 locations (44% of the total), followed by super store.

Convenience Store · 51

  • brake time 241703, fargo
  • brake time 241704, fargo
  • casey's 3296, fargo
  • casey's 3349, fargo
  • casey's 3350, fargo
  • casey's 3351, fargo
  • casey's 3353, fargo
  • casey's 3354, fargo
  • casey's 3356, west fargo
  • casey's 3360, fargo
  • casey's 3365, fargo
  • casey's 3366, fargo
  • casey's 3369, fargo
  • casey's 3370, fargo
  • casey's 3857, fargo
  • casey's general store 3893, fargo
  • caseys general store 3477, fargo
  • casey's general store 3231, horace
  • caseys general store 3541, fargo
  • circle k 2746555, fargo
  • circle k 2746570, fargo
  • circle k 3865 3865, horace
  • daily's market, fargo
  • fargo grocery llc, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746096, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746124, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746399, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746418, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746454, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746469, west fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746505, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 2746514, west fargo
  • holiday stationstore 3818, fargo
  • holiday stationstore 3863, fargo
  • kwik star 1272, fargo
  • kwik star 1749, fargo
  • loves travel stop 353, fargo
  • petro serve usa 060, west fargo
  • petro serve usa 065, casselton
  • petro serve usa 080, fargo
  • petro serve usa 083, fargo
  • petro serve usa 084, fargo
  • petro serve usa 087, fargo
  • petro serve usa 088, fargo
  • petro serve usa 66, harwood
  • pilot travel center 685, fargo
  • sarah's m&m grocery llc, page
  • simonson station - fargo 13, fargo
  • store 1222, fargo
  • superpumper 80239, fargo
  • superpumper 80240, west fargo

Super Store · 17

  • cash wise foods 3012, fargo
  • cash wise foods 3045, west fargo
  • cash wise foods 3050, fargo
  • costco wholesale 1119, west fargo
  • family fare 103, west fargo
  • family fare 115, fargo
  • family fare 116, fargo
  • hornbacher's 2685, fargo
  • hornbacher's 2687, fargo
  • hornbacher's 2689, fargo
  • hornbacher's 2690, west fargo
  • hornbacher's 2692, fargo
  • hornbacher's 2693, fargo
  • sam's club 8172, fargo
  • target stores t- 0061, fargo
  • walmart sc 4352, fargo
  • walmart supercenter 1581, fargo

Medium Grocery Store · 16

  • 7 day's grocery llc, fargo
  • al noor market, fargo
  • community family market, fargo
  • esther's african market, fargo
  • fargo fresh, fargo
  • fargo halal market, fargo
  • fm international foods, fargo
  • gateway service center c-store, fargo
  • global foods market inc, fargo
  • himalayan grocery, fargo
  • moonlight grocery and cafe llc, fargo
  • pj enterprise llc, fargo
  • seema middle eastern market, fargo
  • som grocery, fargo
  • somali business center, fargo
  • susan african food market 10, fargo

Combination Grocery/Other · 14

  • alsager meats lllp, fargo
  • cvs pharmacy 8612, fargo
  • cvs pharmacy 8613, fargo
  • dollartree 10683, fargo
  • dollartree 11056, fargo
  • dollartree 9339, fargo
  • dollar general 19914, west fargo
  • dollar general 22024, casselton
  • dollar tree 3133, fargo
  • dollar tree 6366, fargo
  • elegance mart llc, fargo
  • family dollar 5568, west fargo
  • meats by john and wayne, fargo
  • walgreens 11552, fargo

Bakery Specialty · 5

  • papa murphy's pizza nd001, fargo
  • papa murphy's pizza nd005, fargo
  • papa murphy's pizza nd009, fargo
  • papa murphy's pizza nd013, fargo
  • rockstar pizza factory / wicked willie's, fargo

Supermarket · 4

  • aldi 72001, fargo
  • aldi 72113, fargo58104
  • asian and american supermarket, llc, fargo
  • vitamin cottage natural food markets inc u098, fargo

Small Grocery Store · 3

  • bethel makola market, fargo
  • buffalo food market, buffalo
  • mama g african store llc, fargo

Delivery Route · 2

  • dakota country foods, west fargo
  • lakeland fine foods, fargo

Farmers' Market · 2

  • growing together community gardens, fargo
  • red river market, fargo

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2

  • alsager meats lllp, fargo
  • prime cut meats, fargo

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • lotus blossom inc, fargo

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in North Dakota

Adams County
22.6% low-access · 12.6% SNAP
Barnes County
30.2% low-access · 6.3% SNAP
Benson County
42.7% low-access · 20.5% SNAP
Billings County
100.0% low-access
Bottineau County
45.4% low-access · 5.2% SNAP
Bowman County
29.8% low-access · 5.1% SNAP

Compare Cass County vs Adams County → · All North Dakota counties →

Food access nationally, North Dakota in context

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

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Cass County has low food access? ▼
21.0% of residents in Cass County, ND live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Cass County? ▼
6.2% of households in Cass County receive SNAP, covering 5,219 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Cass County? ▼
The poverty rate in Cass County, ND is 11.0%, with a median household income of $75,555 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Cass County a food desert? ▼
2 of Cass County's 33 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Cass County households lack a vehicle? ▼
6.8% of households in Cass County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.