Signature · 2 LILA tracts (40% of tracts)

Elmore County, ID

Elmore County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (40% of the book) alongside 27.2% low-access.

27.2%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
7.8%
on SNAP
29K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 ID

USDA FARA access plate

County Elmore County, ID

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-DENSE

  • LA-ELEVATED 27.2% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +5.1 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 7.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 4.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 40% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Owyhee County (+ 0.3 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Elmore County ranks #1,135 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #16 of 44 counties in ID (27.2% low-access; 2 food-desert tracts).

#1,135
national by low-access %
#16
in ID
3
low-access tracts
4K
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: 2 LILA tracts (40% of tracts) .

How Elmore County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Elmore County's 27.2% low-access share is elevated, higher than 64% of them and ranked #1,137 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Elmore County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Elmore County, ID USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 5 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (40.0%) 1 tracts limited (20.0%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (40.0%) Adequate 40% Limited 20% Severe 40% Food-access tier distribution: Elmore County, ID
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Elmore 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.

Elmore 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 Elmore County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts5
Atlas Population (2010 basis)27,038
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population7,345
Low-Access Share27.2%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population3,825

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Elmore County
IndicatorValue
Population29,321
Median Household Income$65,359
Poverty Rate10.5%below the national average
SNAP Households858
SNAP Participation Rate7.8%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.2%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.1%

SNAP retailers in Elmore County

Elmore County has 15 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 5 locations (33% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 5

  • jacksons food stores 077, mountain home
  • jacksons food stores 236, mountain home
  • key mart coner store, mountain home
  • maverik, inc 209, mtn home
  • pilot travel center 350, mountain home

Combination Grocery/Other · 2

  • dollar tree 2830, mountain home
  • family dollar 10377, glenns ferry

Medium Grocery Store · 2

  • pantera market 6, mountain home
  • southside market, glenns ferry

Supermarket · 2

  • albertsons 165, mountain home
  • grocery outlet 492, mountain home

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphy's id025, mountain home

Farmers' Market · 1

  • moho market, mountain home

Military Commissary · 1

  • mountain home afb commissary 1237, mountain home afb

Super Store · 1

  • walmart 2782, mountain home

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 Elmore County vs Ada County → · All Idaho counties →

Nationwide peers for Elmore County's low-access or SNAP share

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Elmore County, both outside Idaho so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside ID (27.2% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside ID (7.8% 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.

Food access nationally, Idaho in context

Elmore 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 Elmore County, ID are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 16039. 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.