Signature · 20.6% SNAP (76th pct in KY)
Mason County, KY
Mason County stands out on SNAP (20.6%, +8.5 pts vs U.S.) with 17.6% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 17.6%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 20.6%
- on SNAP
- 17K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Mason County, KY
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-GAP · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 17.6% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -4.5 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 20.6% SNAP
- VEH-GAP 9.6% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Lincoln County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Mason County ranks #1,901 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #38 of 110 counties in KY (17.6% low-access).
- #1,901
- national by low-access %
- #38
- in KY
- 1
- 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: 20.6% SNAP (76th pct in KY) (+8.5 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Mason County compares nationally
Mason County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 17.6% low-access share that beats 39% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,901).
Mason County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
5 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
Mason County is mostly rural by USDA tract type (3 rural, 2 urban), so most tracts are held to the 10-mile test and only the 2 urban tracts face the 1-mile one.
Mason County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Kentucky, not a full county-board reprint
- Robertson
Robertson 74.8%
74.8 % low-access
- Hancock 18.5
Hancock 18.5%
18.5 % low-access
- Simpson 17.9
Simpson 17.9%
17.9 % low-access
- Lincoln 17.8
Lincoln 17.8%
17.8 % low-access
- Mason 17.6
Mason 17.6%
17.6 % low-access
- Clark 16.8
Clark 16.8%
16.8 % low-access
- Ballard 0
Ballard 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 5 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 17,490 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 3,070 |
| Low-Access Share | 17.6%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,214 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 16,956 |
| Median Household Income | $52,178 |
| Poverty Rate | 18.8%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,467 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 20.6%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 9.6%above the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.4% |
SNAP retailers in Mason County
Mason County has 23 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 13 locations (57% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
2 towns share the 23 authorized stores; Maysville holds 91% of them. 1 of the 2 towns has no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Mayslick.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Maysville | 21 | 4 |
| Mayslick | 2 | none |
Convenience Store · 13
- maysville 1st stop 89, maysville
- maysville 68 food mart, maysville
- maysville valero inc, maysville
- murphy usa 6927, maysville
- nilkanth llc dba maysville food mart, maysville
- omkara 3 business llc no, maysville
- quality mart #1, maysville
- rectorville 1st stop 47, maysville
- shamrock bp, mayslick
- speedway 9562, maysville
- speedway 9732, maysville
- washington 1st stop 35, maysville
- yohan 99 inc, mayslick
Combination Grocery/Other · 5
- dollar general 0487, maysville
- dollar general 22685, maysville
- dollar tree 3286, maysville
- family dollar store 3511, maysville
- walgreens 17366, maysville
Super Store · 2
- kroger 420, maysville
- walmart store 1569, maysville
Large Grocery Store · 1
- maysville iga, maysville
Small Grocery Store · 1
- d&a wholesale & distribution, maysville
Supermarket · 1
- houchens save a lot 240, maysville
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Kentucky
One of 119 counties in Kentucky, 6 are shown here.
Compare Mason County vs Adair County → · All Kentucky counties →
Nationwide peers for Mason County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Mason County (20.6%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Kentucky.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside KY (17.6% here).
- Orleans Parish, LA · 17.6% low-access
- Randolph County, IN · 17.6% low-access
- Murray County, GA · 17.6% low-access
- Rio Grande County, CO · 17.6% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside KY (20.6% here).
- Jefferson County, FL · 20.6% SNAP
- Aroostook County, ME · 20.7% SNAP
- Brooks County, GA · 20.7% SNAP
- Adams County, OH · 20.7% 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.
Kentucky among East South Central states
Kentucky ranks 4th of 4 East South Central states by population-weighted low-access (19.8%). Mason County, at 17.6%, runs 2.2 pts below the Kentucky rate.
- Tennessee 27.2%
- Mississippi 26.4%
- Alabama 24.5%
- Kentucky 19.8%
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 Mason County, KY are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 21161. 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.