Signature · 13.0% SNAP (93rd pct in IA)
Mahaska County, IA
Mahaska County stands out on SNAP (13.0%, +0.9 pts vs U.S.) with 25.6% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 25.6%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 13.0%
- on SNAP
- 22K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Mahaska County, IA
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 25.6% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +3.5 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-TYPICAL 13.0% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 14% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Keokuk County ( -0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Mahaska County ranks #1,244 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #21 of 98 counties in IA (25.6% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,244
- national by low-access %
- #21
- in IA
- 4
- low-access tracts
- 2K
- 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: 13.0% SNAP (93rd pct in IA) (+0.9 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Mahaska County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Mahaska County's 25.6% low-access share is elevated, higher than 60% of them and ranked #1,244 most-affected nationwide.
Mahaska County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
7 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
Mahaska County is mostly urban by USDA tract type (4 urban, 3 rural), so most of its low-access count comes from the 1-mile test; the 3 rural tracts are held to 10 miles.
Mahaska County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, not a full county-board reprint
- Fremont
Fremont 76%
76 % low-access
- Mahaska 25.6
Mahaska 25.6%
25.6 % low-access
- Keokuk 25.4
Keokuk 25.4%
25.4 % low-access
- Humboldt 24.5
Humboldt 24.5%
24.5 % low-access
- Palo Alto 24.4
Palo Alto 24.4%
24.4 % low-access
- Van Buren 24.3
Van Buren 24.3%
24.3 % low-access
- Grundy 0
Grundy 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 7 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 22,381 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 4 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 5,722 |
| Low-Access Share | 25.6%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,875 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 22,021 |
| Median Household Income | $70,940 |
| Poverty Rate | 12.6%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,134 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 13.0%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.0%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 3.5% |
SNAP retailers in Mahaska County
Mahaska County has 19 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 5 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 10 locations (53% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
3 towns share the 19 authorized stores; Oskaloosa holds 79% of them. 1 of the 3 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Fremont.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Oskaloosa | 15 | 3 |
| New Sharon | 3 | 1 |
| Fremont | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 10
- casey's general store 1546, fremont
- casey's general store 1682, oskaloosa
- casey's general store 2350, oskaloosa
- casey's general store 2366, oskaloosa
- casey's general store 2478, new sharon
- casey's general store 3214, oskaloosa
- casey's general store 3215, oskaloosa
- kwik star 1727, oskaloosa
- murphy usa 7005, oskaloosa
- stopngo, oskaloosa
Combination Grocery/Other · 4
- dollar general 2070, oskaloosa
- dollar general 21310, new sharon
- dollar general 2727, oskaloosa
- dollar tree 2768, oskaloosa
Super Store · 3
- fareway stores, inc. 625, oskaloosa
- hy-vee food store 1481, oskaloosa
- walmart 1393, oskaloosa
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- grubbys kettle korn, oskaloosa
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- east market grocery inc., new sharon
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 Mahaska County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →
Nationwide peers for Mahaska County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Mahaska County (13.0%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Iowa.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside IA (25.6% here).
- Sangamon County, IL · 25.6% low-access
- Maury County, TN · 25.6% low-access
- Bosque County, TX · 25.6% low-access
- Miami County, KS · 25.7% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (13.0% here).
- Livingston Parish, LA · 13.0% SNAP
- Marion County, MS · 13.0% SNAP
- Allegheny County, PA · 13.0% SNAP
- Wayne County, PA · 13.0% 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.
Iowa among West North Central states
Iowa ranks 7th of 7 West North Central states by population-weighted low-access (20.0%). Mahaska County, at 25.6%, runs 5.6 pts above the Iowa rate.
- South Dakota 29.1%
- North Dakota 28.9%
- Minnesota 27.4%
- Kansas 26.4%
- Missouri 24.9%
- Nebraska 21.9%
- Iowa 20.0%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Mahaska County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19123. 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.