Signature · 1 LILA tracts (100% of tracts)

Custer County, ID

Custer County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 1 LILA tracts (100% of the book) alongside 21.5% low-access.

21.5%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
4.6%
on SNAP
4K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 ID

USDA FARA access plate

County Custer County, ID

LA-ELEVATED · PHOTO-FINISH · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 21.5% low-access
  • PHOTO-FINISH -0.6 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 4.6% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.7% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 100% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Madison County (+ 0.0 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Custer County ranks #1,560 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #23 of 44 counties in ID (21.5% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,560
national by low-access %
#23
in ID
1
low-access tracts
362
food-desert residents

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).

Signature read: 1 LILA tracts (100% of tracts) .

How Custer County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Custer County's 21.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 50% of them and ranked #1,567 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Custer County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

1 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Custer County, ID USDA-defined food-access tiers: 0 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 0 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 1 tracts evaluated. 1 tracts severe / food desert (100.0%) Adequate 0% Limited 0% Severe 100% Food-access tier distribution: Custer County, ID
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Custer County has 0 urban and 1 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.

Custer County low-access neighbourhood

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

% 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 Custer County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts1
Atlas Population (2010 basis)4,368
Low-Access Tracts1
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population940
Low-Access Share21.5%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population362

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Custer County
IndicatorValue
Population4,470
Median Household Income$67,574
Poverty Rate15.8%above the national average
SNAP Households90
SNAP Participation Rate4.6%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.7%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population5.7%

Slim SNAP store book in Custer County

Custer County has 5 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 4 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 2 locations (40% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 2

  • oasis stop 'n go 24, mackay
  • stinker store 88, challis

Combination Grocery/Other · 1

  • family dollar 9358, challis

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • ivie's iga foodliner, mackay

Supermarket · 1

  • lambs foodtown, challis

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

Other Counties in Idaho

One of 43 counties in Idaho, 6 are shown here.

Compare Custer County vs Ada County → · All Idaho counties →

Food access nationally, Idaho in context

Custer County sits inside Idaho (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 Custer County, ID are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 16037. 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.