Signature · 3 LILA tracts (30% of tracts)

Marshall County, IA

Marshall County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 3 LILA tracts (30% of the book) alongside 28.1% low-access.

28.1%
low-access pop.
3
food-desert tracts
9.2%
on SNAP
40K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IA

USDA FARA access plate

County Marshall County, IA

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

  • LA-ELEVATED 28.1% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +6.0 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 3 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 9.2% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 30% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Warren County (+ 0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Marshall County ranks #1,078 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #18 of 98 counties in IA (28.1% low-access; 3 food-desert tracts).

#1,078
national by low-access %
#18
in IA
5
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: 3 LILA tracts (30% of tracts) .

How Marshall County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Marshall County's 28.1% low-access share is elevated, higher than 66% of them and ranked #1,079 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Marshall County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

10 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 3 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Marshall County, IA USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 10 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (50.0%) 2 tracts limited (20.0%) 3 tracts severe / food desert (30.0%) Adequate 50% Limited 20% Severe 30% Food-access tier distribution: Marshall County, IA
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Marshall County has 6 urban and 4 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.

Marshall County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, 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 Marshall County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts10
Atlas Population (2010 basis)40,648
Low-Access Tracts5
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population11,422
Low-Access Share28.1%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population3,909

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Marshall County
IndicatorValue
Population40,114
Median Household Income$73,315
Poverty Rate11.2%below the national average
SNAP Households1,425
SNAP Participation Rate9.2%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.5%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population3.1%

Thick SNAP store book in Marshall County

Marshall County has 41 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 20 locations (49% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 20

  • casey's general store 1414, state center
  • casey's general store 1441, marshalltown
  • casey's general store 1564, marshalltown
  • casey's general store 2543, albion
  • casey's general store 3228, marshalltown
  • casey's general store 3508, marshall town
  • caseys general store 1303, marshalltown
  • depot grocery, marshalltown
  • eastside liquor and grocery 1, marshalltown
  • food & gas mart, marshalltown
  • git-n-go 34, marshalltown
  • git-n-go 35, marshalltown
  • hanumanta inc, le grand
  • hy-vee gas 5403, marshalltown
  • kwik star 394, marshalltown
  • kwik star 607, marshalltown
  • kwik star 706, marshalltown
  • prime stop, melbourne
  • the depot express, gilman
  • yesway 1148, marshalltown

Combination Grocery/Other · 9

  • dollar general 2019, marshalltown
  • dollar general 21858, marshalltown
  • dollar general 23804, le grand
  • dollar general 24997, albion
  • dollar general 4206, marshalltown
  • dollar tree 1028, marshalltown
  • family dollar 2186, marshalltown
  • first store, marshalltown
  • walgreens 3196, marshalltown

Medium Grocery Store · 6

  • abarrotes la salud, marshalltown
  • golden karen, marshalltown
  • golden land asian food inc, marshalltown
  • grocery store y tortilleria la vecindad, marshalltown
  • state center hometown foods, state center
  • zamora fresh market, marshalltown

Super Store · 3

  • fareway stores, inc. 467, marshalltown
  • hy-vee food and drugstore 1403, marshalltown
  • walmart sc 581, marshalltown

Farmers' Market · 1

  • marshalltown farmers market, marshalltown

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • supermarket villachuato, marshalltown

Supermarket · 1

  • aldi 72043, marshalltown

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 Marshall County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IA (28.1% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (9.2% 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, Iowa in context

Marshall 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 Marshall County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19127. 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.