Signature · 30 SNAP-authorized stores
Mason County, WV
Mason County's food-access picture is close to the national norm, with pockets that qualify as low-access. This profile breaks down who qualifies as a food desert and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it.
- 18.0%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 18.4%
- on SNAP
- 25K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Mason County, WV
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-MODERATE 18.0% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -4.1 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 18.4% SNAP
- VEH-OK 6.1% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Putnam County (+ 0.1 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Mason County ranks #1,859 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #25 of 52 counties in WV (18.0% low-access).
- #1,859
- national by low-access %
- #25
- in WV
- 2
- 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: 30 SNAP-authorized stores .
How Mason County compares nationally
Mason County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.0% low-access share that beats 41% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,863).
Mason County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Mason County has 1 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 West Virginia, not a full county-board reprint
- Gilmer
Gilmer 81.6%
81.6 % low-access
- Clay 18.4
Clay 18.4%
18.4 % low-access
- Braxton 18.3
Braxton 18.3%
18.3 % low-access
- Putnam 18.1
Putnam 18.1%
18.1 % low-access
- Mason 18
Mason 18%
18 % low-access
- Jackson 17.7
Jackson 17.7%
17.7 % low-access
- Pleasants 0
Pleasants 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 6 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 27,324 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 4,906 |
| Low-Access Share | 18.0%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,767 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 25,043 |
| Median Household Income | $49,761 |
| Poverty Rate | 19.4%above the national average |
| SNAP Households | 1,878 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 18.4%well above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 6.1%below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.4% |
Thick SNAP store book in Mason County
Mason County has 30 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 13 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 13
- camp conley mart 174, point pleasant
- go mart 47, pt pleasant
- jerry's run food mart 188, apple grove
- mt alto food mart inc, mount alto
- marathon food mart, new haven
- par mar store 38, gallipolis ferry
- par mar store 39, mason
- pauls exxon, point pleasant
- point pleasant food mart 115, point pleasant
- speedway 9163, point pleasant
- sand hill food mart 112, point pleasant
- smiths market, milton
- trippetts dandi mart, glenwood
Combination Grocery/Other · 12
- dollar general 0577, new haven
- dollar general 10026, mason
- dollar general 11893, ashton
- dollar general 17677, gallipolis ferry
- dollar general 19608, point pleasant
- dollar general 23676, point pleasant
- dollar general 25121, leon
- dollar general 4973, point pleasant
- dollar tree 7043, mason
- family dollar store 2062, point pleasant
- fruth pharmacy 1, point pleasant
- walgreens 18006, pt pleasant
Super Store · 2
- point pleasant piggly wiggly, point pleasant
- walmart supercenter 2849, mason
Fruits/Veg Specialty · 1
- honey do produce, ashton
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- farm fresh favorites, southside
Small Grocery Store · 1
- leon general llc, leon
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in West Virginia
One of 54 counties in West Virginia, 6 are shown here.
Compare Mason County vs Barbour County → · All West Virginia counties →
Nationwide peers for Mason County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Mason County, both outside West Virginia so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside WV (18.0% here).
- Fairfax County, VA · 18.0% low-access
- Fairfax County, VA · 18.0% low-access
- Le Flore County, OK · 18.0% low-access
- Le Flore County, OK · 18.0% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside WV (18.4% here).
- Lauderdale County, MS · 18.4% SNAP
- Lauderdale County, MS · 18.4% SNAP
- Winn Parish, LA · 18.4% SNAP
- Winn Parish, LA · 18.4% 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, West Virginia in context
Mason County sits inside West Virginia (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, WV are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 54053. 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.