PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Indiana

Howard County, IN

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

27.0%
low-access pop.
5
food-desert tracts
11.4%
on SNAP
84K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IN

The food-access picture

27.0% of Howard County residents live in a low-access area, and 5 of its 20 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

9
low-access tracts
9K
food-desert residents
7.3%
households, no vehicle
13.4%
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 Howard County's low-access share at 27.0%, above the national share. 9 of the county's 20 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 22,313 people. 5 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 8,639 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 Howard County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Howard County's 27.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 63% of them and ranked #1,151 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Howard County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 20 census tracts in Howard 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 Howard County, IN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 11 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 4 limited, 5 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 20 tracts evaluated. 11 tracts adequate (55.0%) 4 tracts limited (20.0%) 5 tracts severe / food desert (25.0%) Adequate 55% Limited 20% Severe 25% Food-access tier distribution: Howard County, IN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Howard County vs. other Indiana counties

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

% 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 Howard County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts20
Atlas Population (2010 basis)82,752
Low-Access Tracts9
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)5
Low-Access Population22,313
Low-Access Share27.0%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population8,639

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Howard County
IndicatorValue
Population83,752
Median Household Income$64,027
Poverty Rate13.4%near the national average
SNAP Households4,070
SNAP Participation Rate11.4%near the national average
Households Without a Vehicle7.3%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.4%
SNAP participation in Howard County 11.4%

About 11.4% of Howard County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 27.0% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 11.4% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 4,070 households here.
  • 7.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 5 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 Howard County

above the national share

5 of Howard County's 20 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 25.0% of all its tracts.

A further 4 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 9.

An estimated 22,313 residents, roughly 27.0% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 8,639 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 11 tracts (55.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Howard County

Howard County has 90 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 53 locations (59% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 53

  • a & c partnership inc - one stop express, kokomo
  • arg18 inc, kokomo
  • alto express kokomo, kokomo
  • amoco petroleum, kokomo
  • armaan petroleum inc, greentown
  • buddy mart, kokomo
  • buddys-mart, kokomo
  • casey's 2273, kokomo
  • casey's general store 2339, kokomo
  • casey's general store 3506, greentown
  • dixon pantry inc, kokomo
  • fast lane food, kokomo
  • fish chicken and shrimp market, kokomo
  • hs foodmart inc, kokomo
  • huck's 293, greentown
  • jay partnership inc - one stop express 13, kokomo
  • kokomo foodmart inc, kokomo
  • komo petroleum inc, kokomo
  • krishi enterprise - center food mart, kokomo
  • mahik petroleum, kokomo
  • marathon foodmart, kokomo
  • mcclure oil 9, kokomo
  • mcclure oil 53, russiaville
  • meijer gas station 141, kokomo
  • milkbarn food mart, kokomo
  • morgan express incorporated, kokomo
  • ohio street convenience inc - qwik stop 4, kokomo
  • ohio street convenience inc - qwik stop 5, kokomo
  • one stop express, kokomo
  • one stop express, kokomo
  • one stop express, kokomo
  • one stop express, kokomo
  • one stop express #21, kokomo
  • one stop express 14, kokomo
  • one stop express 15, kokomo
  • pal32 inc, kokomo
  • quick mart t/a buddys mart 4, kokomo
  • roop partnership llc, russiaville
  • russiaville food mart, russiaville
  • s g mart, kokomo
  • speedway 1213, kokomo
  • speedway 5149, kokomo
  • speedway 5154, kokomo
  • speedway 5162, kokomo
  • speedway 5163, kokomo
  • speedway 8062, kokomo
  • speedway 8063, kokomo
  • storybook express, kokomo
  • village pantry 5561, kokomo
  • village pantry 5409, kokomo
  • village pantry 5574, kokomo
  • vp23 inc, kokomo
  • woodys food stores #3 3, kokomo

Combination Grocery/Other · 22

  • cvs 2941, kokomo
  • cvs 6536, kokomo
  • cvs 6542, kokomo
  • dollar general 1514, kokomo
  • dollar general 3333, kokomo
  • dollar general 4543, kokomo
  • dollar general 7257, kokomo
  • dollartree 8152, kokomo
  • dollar general 11314, kokomo
  • dollar general 18219, russiaville
  • dollar general 21245, kokomo
  • dollar general 21797, kokomo
  • dollar general 25373, kokomo
  • dollar general store 16911, greentown
  • dollar tree 706, kokomo
  • dollar tree 7091, kokomo
  • family dollar store 3501, kokomo
  • family dollar store 6276, kokomo
  • walgreens 6944, kokomo
  • walgreens 10073, kokomo
  • walgreens 10074, kokomo
  • woodys food store 4, kokomo

Super Store · 7

  • kroger j-071, kokomo
  • kroger j-109, kokomo
  • meijer inc 141, kokomo
  • sam's club 6424, kokomo
  • save-a-lot 23775, kokomo
  • target store 111, kokomo
  • walmart 1962, kokomo

Medium Grocery Store · 4

  • hungry asian market 1, kokomo
  • spark innovations inc, greentown
  • the sunspot natural market, kokomo
  • waddell brothers grocery, russiaville

Supermarket · 2

  • aldi 44007 44007, kokomo
  • gordon food service store mp097, kokomo

Farmers' Market · 1

  • kokomo downtown farmers market, kokomo

Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1

  • top banana farm market, kokomo

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Indiana

Adams County
17.5% low-access · 6.6% SNAP
Allen County
37.8% low-access · 9.1% SNAP
Bartholomew County
36.4% low-access · 7.4% SNAP
Benton County
1.7% low-access · 11.7% SNAP
Blackford County
15.2% low-access · 14.6% SNAP
Boone County
17.9% low-access · 3.7% SNAP

Compare Howard County vs Adams County → · All Indiana counties →

Food access nationally, Indiana in context

Howard County sits inside Indiana (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 Howard County has low food access? ▼
27.0% of residents in Howard County, IN 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 Howard County? ▼
11.4% of households in Howard County receive SNAP, covering 4,070 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Howard County? ▼
The poverty rate in Howard County, IN is 13.4%, with a median household income of $64,027 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Howard County a food desert? ▼
5 of Howard County's 20 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 Howard County households lack a vehicle? ▼
7.3% of households in Howard 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.