Signature · 6.0% SNAP (19th pct in IN)

Monroe County, IN

Monroe 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.

18.3%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
6.0%
on SNAP
141K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 IN

USDA FARA access plate

County Monroe County, IN

LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-TYPICAL · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-MODERATE 18.3% low-access
  • BELOW-NATIONAL -3.8 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 6.0% SNAP
  • VEH-TYPICAL 8.4% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 13% tracts LILA

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

The food-access picture

According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Monroe County ranks #1,831 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #41 of 89 counties in IN (18.3% low-access; 4 food-desert tracts).

#1,831
national by low-access %
#41
in IN
11
low-access tracts
7K
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: 6.0% SNAP (19th pct in IN) (-6.1 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .

How Monroe County compares nationally

Monroe County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 18.3% low-access share that beats 41% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #1,834).

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Monroe County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

31 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Monroe County, IN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 20 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 7 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 31 tracts evaluated. 20 tracts adequate (64.5%) 7 tracts limited (22.6%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (12.9%) Adequate 65% Limited 23% Severe 13% Food-access tier distribution: Monroe County, IN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Monroe County has 22 urban and 9 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.

Monroe County low-access neighbourhood

Poles + nearest peers in Indiana, 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 Monroe County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts31
Atlas Population (2010 basis)137,974
Low-Access Tracts11
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population25,287
Low-Access Share18.3%below the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population7,376

ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Monroe County
IndicatorValue
Population140,965
Median Household Income$65,868
Poverty Rate19.7%above the national average
SNAP Households3,564
SNAP Participation Rate6.0%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle8.4%near the national average
Group-Quarters Population10.2%

Thick SNAP store book in Monroe County

Monroe County has 74 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 37 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 37

  • bloom pantry, bloomington
  • bloomington food mart, bloomington
  • bloomington marathon 2254, bloomington
  • circle k 29, bloomington
  • circle k 33, bloomington
  • circle k 39, bloomington
  • circle k 4700049, bloomington
  • circle k 4700056, ellettsville
  • circle k 4700079, bloomington
  • circle k 4700156, bloomington
  • circle k 4702429, bloomington
  • circle k 48, bloomington
  • convenience +, bloomington
  • express mart, bloomington
  • fairfax petro llc, bloomington
  • foodmart, ellettsville
  • friendly food pantry, bloomington
  • harrodsburg food mart, bloomington
  • jai umiya inc, bloomington
  • lakeside market, bloomington
  • misal inc, bloomington
  • murphy usa 7399, bloomington
  • on the way, bloomington
  • on the way, bloomington
  • on the way, bloomington
  • quick silver, bloomington
  • r&h petroleum inc, bloomington
  • rogers & country club food mart, bloomington
  • short stop eastside, bloomington
  • smithville food mart, bloomington
  • speedway 1327, bloomington
  • speedway 5183, bloomington
  • speedway 6009, bloomington
  • speedway 6010, bloomington
  • sunoco food mart, bloomington
  • village pantry 5499, bloomington
  • west plaza bloom inc, bloomington

Combination Grocery/Other · 13

  • cvs 10676, bloomington
  • cvs 6697, bloomington
  • cvs 6698, bloomington
  • cvs 6713, bloomington
  • cvs 8665, bloomington
  • cvs pharmacy 3195, bloomington
  • dollar general 1851, bloomington
  • dollar general 6174, bloomington
  • dollar general 9244, bloomington
  • dollar tree 1854, bloomington
  • dollar tree 1951, bloomington
  • family dollar store 5431, bloomington
  • rose hill farm stop, bloomington

Super Store · 11

  • fresh thyme market 209blm, bloomington
  • fresh thyme market 215bin, bloomington
  • hometown iga 464, bloomington
  • kroger j-091, bloomington
  • kroger j-900, bloomington
  • kroger j-928, bloomington
  • kroger j-960 960, bloomington
  • kroger 330, bloomington
  • sam's club 6437, bloomington
  • target store 1878, bloomington
  • walmart supercenter 1991, bloomington

Farmers' Market · 4

  • bethel lane farm stop nafmnp, bloomington
  • bloomington community farmers market, bloomington
  • bloomington winter farmers market, bloomington
  • people's cooperative market, bloomington

Supermarket · 4

  • aldi 44029, bloomington
  • aldi 44030 44030, bloomington
  • bloomingfoods market & deli, bloomington
  • bloomingfoods market and deli, bloomington

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • apna bazaar, bloomington
  • long cheng market, bloomington
  • world foods market, bloomington

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • b-town international market, bloomington
  • the butchers block, bloomington

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

Other Counties in Indiana

One of 91 counties in Indiana, 6 are shown here.

Compare Monroe County vs Adams County → · All Indiana counties →

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

SNAP-led peer set first for Monroe County (6.0%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Indiana.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside IN (18.3% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside IN (6.0% 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, Indiana in context

Monroe County sits inside Indiana (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 Monroe County, IN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 18105. 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.