Signature · 36 SNAP-authorized stores
Mason County, MI
Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Mason 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).
- 25.7%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 12.9%
- on SNAP
- 29K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Mason County, MI
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-TYPICAL · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-ELEVATED 25.7% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +3.6 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-TYPICAL 12.9% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.5% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 13% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Dickinson County (+ 0.0 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Mason County ranks #1,238 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #26 of 80 counties in MI (25.7% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #1,238
- national by low-access %
- #26
- in MI
- 3
- low-access tracts
- 3K
- 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: 36 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Mason County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Mason County's 25.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 60% of them and ranked #1,241 most-affected nationwide.
Mason County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
8 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Mason County has 3 urban and 5 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.
Mason County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Michigan, not a full county-board reprint
- Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft 46%
46 % low-access
- Mason
Mason 25.7%
25.7 % low-access
- Dickinson
Dickinson 25.7%
25.7 % low-access
- Berrien
Berrien 25.2%
25.2 % low-access
- Washtenaw
Washtenaw 25.2%
25.2 % low-access
- Wexford
Wexford 24.8%
24.8 % low-access
- Arenac 0
Arenac 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 8 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 28,705 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 3 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 7,389 |
| Low-Access Share | 25.7%above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 2,596 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 29,207 |
| Median Household Income | $64,748 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.1%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,646 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 12.9%near the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.5%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 1.4% |
Thick SNAP store book in Mason County
Mason County has 36 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 18 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 18
- 4th ward market, ludington
- admiral 5791, scottville
- airport ez mart 216, ludington
- aj's party port, ludington
- branch grocery, branch
- express mart, ludington
- forest trail ez mart, free soil
- fountain mkt, fountain
- hamlin grocery, ludington
- je asian grocery llc 0, ludington
- meijer gas station 193, ludington
- murphy usa 6652, ludington
- pioneer party store, custer
- ten31 stop amoco, scottville
- wesco 23, ludington
- wesco 25, ludington
- wesco 28, scottville
- y country store, ludington
Combination Grocery/Other · 7
- dollar general 10682, ludington
- dollar general 8803, scottville
- dollar general 20604, free soil
- dollar general 24636, ludington
- dollar general store 17483, fountain
- dollar tree 3225, ludington
- walgreens 5560, ludington
Medium Grocery Store · 3
- northside market, ludington
- orchard market, inc., free soil
- west shore market llp, scottville
Super Store · 3
- family fare 1895, ludington
- meijer inc 193, ludington
- walmart supercenter 2102, ludington
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 2
- ludington meat company, ludington
- sanders meats, custer
Farmers' Market · 1
- ludington farmer's market, ludington
Small Grocery Store · 1
- the evergreen natural food market, ludington
Supermarket · 1
- aldi 10, ludington
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Michigan
One of 82 counties in Michigan, 6 are shown here.
Compare Mason County vs Alcona County → · All Michigan counties →
Nationwide peers for Mason County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Mason County, both outside Michigan so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MI (25.7% here).
- Stone County, MS · 25.7% low-access
- Stone County, MS · 25.7% low-access
- Madison County, KY · 25.7% low-access
- Madison County, KY · 25.7% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MI (12.9% here).
- Jefferson County, IA · 12.9% SNAP
- Jefferson County, IA · 12.9% SNAP
- Lake County, IN · 12.9% SNAP
- Lake 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, Michigan in context
Mason County sits inside Michigan (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 Mason County, MI are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 26105. 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.