Signature · 71 SNAP-authorized stores

Missoula County, MT

Missoula 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.

19.6%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
7.5%
on SNAP
121K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MT

USDA FARA access plate

County Missoula County, MT

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN

  • LA-MODERATE 19.6% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -2.5 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-LIGHT 7.5% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.2% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-THIN 5% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Custer County ( -0.1 pts)

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Missoula County ranks #1,713 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #43 of 56 counties in MT (19.6% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).

#1,713
national by low-access %
#43
in MT
8
low-access tracts
5K
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: 71 SNAP-authorized stores .

How Missoula County compares nationally

Missoula County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 19.6% low-access share that beats 45% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,715).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Missoula County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

20 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Missoula County, MT USDA-defined food-access tiers: 12 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 7 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 20 tracts evaluated. 12 tracts adequate (60.0%) 7 tracts limited (35.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (5.0%) Adequate 60% Limited 35% Severe 5% Food-access tier distribution: Missoula County, MT
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Missoula County has 13 urban and 7 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.

Missoula County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Montana, 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 Missoula County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts20
Atlas Population (2010 basis)109,299
Low-Access Tracts8
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population21,382
Low-Access Share19.6%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population5,429

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Missoula County
IndicatorValue
Population120,672
Median Household Income$75,598
Poverty Rate10.1%below the national average
SNAP Households3,964
SNAP Participation Rate7.5%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.2%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.6%

Thick SNAP store book in Missoula County

Missoula County has 71 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 35 locations (49% of the total), followed by supermarket.

Convenience Store · 35

  • 3rd street mart, missoula
  • 70 mile super stop #2, missoula
  • chs mountain west coop 1, missoula
  • cenex zip trip 31, missoula
  • cenex zip trip 32, missoula
  • corner qwik stop 42421, missoula
  • frenchie's super stop 1, frenchtown
  • holiday stationstore 2746278, missoula
  • holiday stationstore 2746282, missoula
  • holiday stationstore 2746283, missoula
  • jacksons food stores 400, missoula
  • jacksons food stores 401, missoula
  • jacksons food stores 402, missoula
  • jays food store, missoula
  • lolo super stop 2, lolo
  • love's travel stop 753, missoula
  • missoula flying j 8202, missoula
  • montana gas n shop #2 2, seeley lake
  • ole's country store 11, missoula
  • oles country store 12, missoula
  • oles country store 2, missoula
  • potomac bar & country store, bonner
  • south avenue market #11, missoula
  • southgate market, missoula
  • town pump missoula 9 4130, missoula
  • town pump of missoula #1 0704, missoula
  • town pump of missoula 2 3400, missoula
  • town pump of missoula 8-mullan 0905, missoula
  • town pump of bonner 8500, missoula
  • town pump of lolo #1 2010, lolo
  • town pump of lolo 2 8912, lolo
  • town pump of missoula 3 5400, missoula
  • travelers rest, lolo
  • worden's market, missoula
  • zootown super stop, missoula

Supermarket · 10

  • albertsons 0020, missoula
  • albertsons 0024, missoula
  • albertsons 0043, missoula
  • albertsons 1010, missoula
  • clinton market, clinton
  • cory's valley market, seeley lake
  • lolo harvest foods, lolo
  • pattee creek market 6330, missoula
  • vitamin cottage natural food market u061, missoula
  • winco foods 165, missoula

Super Store · 8

  • costco wholesale 0067, missoula
  • good food store inc, missoula
  • orange street food farm, missoula
  • target stores t- 0885, missoula
  • walmart sc 3259, missoula
  • walmart supercenter 2147, missoula
  • yoke's fresh market 21, missoula
  • yoke's fresh market 22, missoula

Combination Grocery/Other · 6

  • cvs pharmacy 8622, missoula
  • dollar general 30331, seeley lake
  • dollar tree 3007, missoula
  • rosauers 127, missoula
  • walgreens 09351, missoula
  • walgreens 10726, missoula

Farmers' Market · 4

  • missoula farmers market 4068807663, missoula
  • missoula valley winter market, missoula
  • orchard homes' farmers' market nafmnp, missoula
  • the clark fork river market, missoula

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • grizzly grocery, missoula
  • louvar 5 distributing llc, frenchtown
  • western montana growers coop, missoula

Bakery Specialty · 2

  • papa murphys mt013 mt013, missoula
  • papa murphys take n bake pizza mt 011, missoula

Food Buying Co-op · 1

  • missoula food bank & community center, missoula

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • lolo locker, lolo

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • dama rose international food market, missoula

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

Other Counties in Montana

One of 55 counties in Montana, 6 are shown here.

Compare Missoula County vs Beaverhead County → · All Montana counties →

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

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

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside MT (19.6% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside MT (7.5% 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, Montana in context

Missoula County sits inside Montana (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 Missoula County, MT are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 30063. 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.