Signature · 12.9% SNAP (92nd pct in IA)
Jefferson County, IA
Jefferson County stands out on SNAP (12.9%, +0.8 pts vs U.S.) with 18.5% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 18.5%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 12.9%
- on SNAP
- 16K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Jefferson County, IA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 18.5% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -3.6 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-TYPICAL 12.9% SNAP
- VEH-TYPICAL 7.5% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Greene County (+ 0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Jefferson County ranks #1,816 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #46 of 98 counties in IA (18.5% low-access).
- #1,816
- national by low-access %
- #46
- in IA
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- 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: 12.9% SNAP (92nd pct in IA) (+0.8 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Jefferson County compares nationally
Jefferson County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.5% low-access share that beats 42% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,819).
Jefferson County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Jefferson County has 2 urban and 2 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.
Jefferson County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, not a full county-board reprint
- Fremont
Fremont 76%
76 % low-access
- Polk 19.4
Polk 19.4%
19.4 % low-access
- Woodbury 19.2
Woodbury 19.2%
19.2 % low-access
- Kossuth 18.7
Kossuth 18.7%
18.7 % low-access
- Greene 18.6
Greene 18.6%
18.6 % low-access
- Jefferson 18.5
Jefferson 18.5%
18.5 % low-access
- Grundy 0
Grundy 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 16,843 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 3,117 |
| Low-Access Share | 18.5%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,116 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 15,705 |
| Median Household Income | $61,620 |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 899 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 12.9%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 7.5%near the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 6.8% |
SNAP retailers in Jefferson County
Jefferson County has 13 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 8 locations (62% of the total), followed by super store.
Convenience Store · 8
- batavia bp 20, batavia
- casey's 4306, fairfield
- casey's general store 3327, fairfield
- hawkeye smoke shop, fairfield
- hy vee c store 5180, fairfield
- jet stop fairfield 600, fairfield
- logli's store, fairfield
- quality quick stop,inc, fairfield
Super Store · 3
- everybodys inc, fairfield
- hy-vee food store 1180, fairfield
- walmart supercenter 985, fairfield
Combination Grocery/Other · 2
- dollar general 7142, fairfield
- dollar tree 6780, fairfield
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Iowa
One of 98 counties in Iowa, 6 are shown here.
Compare Jefferson County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →
Nationwide peers for Jefferson County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Jefferson County (12.9%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Iowa.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside IA (18.5% here).
- Clinton County, IL · 18.5% low-access
- Clinton County, IL · 18.5% low-access
- Clay County, IL · 18.5% low-access
- Clay County, IL · 18.5% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (12.9% here).
- Lake County, IN · 12.9% SNAP
- Lake County, IN · 12.9% SNAP
- Knox County, IN · 12.9% SNAP
- Knox County, IN · 12.9% SNAP
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, Iowa in context
Jefferson County sits inside Iowa (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 Jefferson County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19101. 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.