Signature · 26.5% low-access (62nd pct)

LaSalle County, IL

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

26.5%
low-access pop.
5
food-desert tracts
14.8%
on SNAP
109K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IL

USDA FARA access plate

County LaSalle County, IL

LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-ELEVATED 26.5% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +4.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 5 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-HEAVY 14.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 18% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Winnebago County ( -0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, LaSalle County ranks #1,185 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #37 of 102 counties in IL (26.5% low-access; 5 food-desert tracts).

#1,185
national by low-access %
#37
in IL
14
low-access tracts
9K
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: 26.5% low-access (62nd pct) (+4.4 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How LaSalle County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, LaSalle County's 26.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 62% of them and ranked #1,186 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

LaSalle County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

28 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 5 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for LaSalle County, IL USDA-defined food-access tiers: 14 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 9 limited, 5 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 28 tracts evaluated. 14 tracts adequate (50.0%) 9 tracts limited (32.1%) 5 tracts severe / food desert (17.9%) Adequate 50% Limited 32% Severe 18% Food-access tier distribution: LaSalle County, IL
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, LaSalle County has 17 urban and 11 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.

LaSalle County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Illinois, 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 LaSalle County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts28
Atlas Population (2010 basis)113,924
Low-Access Tracts14
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)5
Low-Access Population30,203
Low-Access Share26.5%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population8,569

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for LaSalle County
IndicatorValue
Population108,714
Median Household Income$73,045
Poverty Rate13.9%near the national average
SNAP Households6,729
SNAP Participation Rate14.8%above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.0%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.8%

Other Counties in Illinois

One of 101 counties in Illinois, 6 are shown here.

Compare LaSalle County vs Adams County → · All Illinois counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IL (26.5% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IL (14.8% 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, Illinois in context

LaSalle County sits inside Illinois (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 LaSalle County, IL are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 17099. 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.