Signature · 47.3% low-access (92nd pct)

McLeod County, MN

McLeod County sits in the upper national band on low-access (47.3%, +25.2 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

47.3%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
7.8%
on SNAP
37K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MN

USDA FARA access plate

County McLeod County, MN

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

  • LA-SEVERE 47.3% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +25.2 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 7.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 3.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 29% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Washington County ( -1.5 pts)

Upper-band low-access

McLeod County sits in the upper national band (47.3%, #236 of 3,079) with 2 LILA tracts.

#236
national by low-access %
#3
in MN
5
low-access tracts
4K
food-desert residents

Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.

Signature read: 47.3% low-access (92nd pct) (+25.2 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How McLeod County compares nationally

McLeod County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 47.3% low-access share outpaces 92% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #236 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

McLeod County's elevated USDA tier split

7 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for McLeod County, MN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 2 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 3 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 7 tracts evaluated. 2 tracts adequate (28.6%) 3 tracts limited (42.9%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (28.6%) Adequate 29% Limited 43% Severe 29% Food-access tier distribution: McLeod County, MN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, McLeod County has 4 urban and 3 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.

McLeod County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Minnesota, not a full county-board reprint

% low-access
Source USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas As of 2019 edition

FARA 2019 · elevated low-access

USDA Food Access Research Atlas 2019 indicators for McLeod County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts7
Atlas Population (2010 basis)36,651
Low-Access Tracts5
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population17,346
Low-Access Share47.3%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population4,371

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for McLeod County
IndicatorValue
Population36,798
Median Household Income$80,084
Poverty Rate8.7%below the national average
SNAP Households1,184
SNAP Participation Rate7.8%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle3.4%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.9%

Thick SNAP store book in McLeod County

McLeod County has 35 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 15 locations (43% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 15

  • caseys general store 3474, lester prairie
  • casey's general store 1673, winsted
  • casey's general store 1688, glencoe
  • casey's general store 2010, glencoe
  • casey's general store 2173, hutchinson
  • casey's general store 2655, carver
  • casey's general store 3505, stewart
  • celine stop glencoe inc, glencoe
  • chandler go for it gas inc, glencoe
  • holiday stationstore 2746542, hutchinson
  • hy-vee dollar fresh 1220, glencoe
  • kwik trip 1049, glencoe
  • kwik trip 316, hutchinson
  • shiva lc, hutchinson
  • speedway 4315, hutchinson

Combination Grocery/Other · 10

  • dollartree 10460, hutchinson
  • dollartree 8091, glencoe
  • dollar general 15046, winsted
  • dollar general 16835, silver lake
  • dollar general 22090, brownton
  • dollar general 22218, hutchinson
  • dollar general 22546, lester prairie
  • dollar general 30296, glencoe
  • dollar tree 1296, hutchinson
  • walgreens 15680, hutchinson

Super Store · 4

  • cash wise foods 3011, hutchinson
  • coborn's marketplace 2027, glencoe
  • target store 1210, hutchinson
  • walmart supercenter 1738, hutchinson

Supermarket · 2

  • aldi 72018, hutchinson
  • glenns super valu, winsted

Bakery Specialty · 1

  • papa murphy's take n bake pizza mn022, hutchinson

Farmers' Market · 1

  • hutchinson farmers mkt - hutchinson downtown assn, hutchinson

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • benny's meat market, hutchinson

Medium Grocery Store · 1

  • la zacatecana, glencoe

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in Minnesota

One of 86 counties in Minnesota, 6 are shown here.

Compare McLeod County vs Aitkin County → · All Minnesota counties →

Counties near McLeod County's elevated low-access or SNAP band

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside MN (47.3% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside MN (7.8% 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.

McLeod County inside a higher low-access state context

McLeod County sits inside Minnesota (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 McLeod County, MN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 27085. 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.