PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Iowa

Dubuque County, IA

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Dubuque 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).

23.3%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
8.0%
on SNAP
99K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

The food-access picture

23.3% of Dubuque County residents live in a low-access area, and 4 of its 26 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

13
low-access tracts
5K
food-desert residents
6.1%
households, no vehicle
9.7%
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 Dubuque County's low-access share at 23.3%, above the national share. 13 of the county's 26 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 21,776 people. 4 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 5,286 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 Dubuque County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Dubuque County's 23.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 55% of them and ranked #1,421 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Dubuque County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 26 census tracts in Dubuque 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 Dubuque County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 13 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 9 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 26 tracts evaluated. 13 tracts adequate (50.0%) 9 tracts limited (34.6%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (15.4%) Adequate 50% Limited 35% Severe 15% Food-access tier distribution: Dubuque County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Dubuque County vs. other Iowa counties

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

% 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 Dubuque County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts26
Atlas Population (2010 basis)93,653
Low-Access Tracts13
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population21,776
Low-Access Share23.3%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population5,286

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Dubuque County
IndicatorValue
Population99,030
Median Household Income$77,630
Poverty Rate9.7%below the national average
SNAP Households3,275
SNAP Participation Rate8.0%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.1%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.2%
SNAP participation in Dubuque County 8.0%

About 8.0% of Dubuque County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 23.3% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 8.0% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 3,275 households here.
  • 6.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 4 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 Dubuque County

above the national share

4 of Dubuque County's 26 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 15.4% of all its tracts.

A further 9 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 13.

An estimated 21,776 residents, roughly 23.3% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 5,286 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 13 tracts (50.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Dubuque County

Dubuque County has 81 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 43 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 43

  • a & z mart, dubuque
  • beecher store inc 1, dubuque
  • big 10 mart 11, dubuque
  • big 10 mart 12, dubuque
  • bright future, inc., dubuque
  • casey's 4334, epworth
  • casey's 2420, dubuque
  • casey's 5135, dubuque
  • casey's general store 2421, dubuque
  • casey's general store 2561, farley
  • casey's general store 2585, dyersville
  • casey's general store 3473, dubuque
  • caseys general store 1065, dubuque
  • caseys general store 3077, peosta
  • caseys general store 77, cascade
  • central grocery and beauty inc, dubuque
  • dubuque tobacco & grocery, dubuque
  • ez stop i, dubuque
  • fas mart 5159, dubuque
  • fuel express food mart, dubuque
  • greenwoods grocery llc, farley
  • hartig drug company 2, dubuque
  • hartig drug company 8, dubuque
  • hy-vee c-store 1-5159, dubuque
  • hy-vee gas #2 5160, dubuque
  • hy-vee gas 5162, dubuque
  • kwik star 1184, dubuque
  • kwik star 1284, dubuque
  • kwik star 236, dubuque
  • kwik star 495, dubuque
  • kwik stop 16th st 300, dubuque
  • kwik stop 16th street 325, dubuque
  • kwik stop 48, dubuque
  • kwik stop 58, dubuque
  • kwik stop 72, dubuque
  • kwik stop 76, dubuque
  • kwik stop 78, dubuque
  • kwik stop 84, dubuque
  • kwik stop 86, dubuque
  • kwik stop peosta 82, peosta
  • liquor tobacco & grocery 1, dubuque
  • sundstop 003, dyersville
  • super stop 3, dubuque

Combination Grocery/Other · 16

  • dollartree 10811, dubuque
  • dollar general 10074, dubuque
  • dollar general 17628, cascade
  • dollar general 24049, peosta
  • dollar general 30996, epworth
  • dollar general 6896, dubuque
  • dollar general 7138, dyersville
  • dollar general 7289, dubuque
  • dollar tree 4092, dubuque
  • dollar tree 773, dubuque
  • dollar tree 8302, dubuque
  • family dollar 13189, dyersville
  • family dollar 1599, dubuque
  • walgreens 09708, dubuque
  • walgreens 11942, dubuque
  • walgreens 6154, dubuque

Super Store · 12

  • dollar fresh 1163, dyersville
  • eagle country market, dubuque
  • fareway stores, inc. 008, dyersville
  • fareway stores, inc. 114, dubuque
  • fareway stores, inc. 168, peosta
  • hartig drug company 3, dubuque
  • hy-vee food store 1159, dubuque
  • hy-vee food store 1160, dubuque
  • hy-vee food store 1162, dubuque
  • sam's club 4973, dubuque
  • target stores t- 0086, dubuque
  • walmart sc 2004, dubuque

Medium Grocery Store · 4

  • cremer grocery co inc, dubuque
  • ez stop ii, dubuque
  • hornbill asian market 3, dubuque
  • silkers, epworth

Supermarket · 4

  • aldi 64080, dubuque
  • aldi 64081, dubuque
  • brothers market 718, cascade
  • vitamin cottage natural grocers u153, dubuque

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphy's pizza ia013, dubuque

Farmers' Market · 1

  • dubuque farmers' market, dubuque

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Iowa

Adair County
8.0% low-access · 9.8% SNAP
Adams County
6.4% low-access · 9.5% SNAP
Allamakee County
10.9% low-access · 8.3% SNAP
Appanoose County
15.7% low-access · 13.3% SNAP
Audubon County
7.4% low-access · 8.4% SNAP
Benton County
17.0% low-access · 4.8% SNAP

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

Food access nationally, Iowa in context

Dubuque County sits inside Iowa (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 Dubuque County has low food access? ▼
23.3% of residents in Dubuque County, IA 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 Dubuque County? ▼
8.0% of households in Dubuque County receive SNAP, covering 3,275 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Dubuque County? ▼
The poverty rate in Dubuque County, IA is 9.7%, with a median household income of $77,630 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Dubuque County a food desert? ▼
4 of Dubuque County's 26 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 Dubuque County households lack a vehicle? ▼
6.1% of households in Dubuque 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.