Signature · 14.5% SNAP (98th pct in IA)
Montgomery County, IA
Montgomery County stands out on SNAP (14.5%, +2.4 pts vs U.S.) with 20.7% low-access from USDA FARA 2019.
- 20.7%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 14.5%
- on SNAP
- 10K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Montgomery County, IA
LA-ELEVATED · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-ELEVATED 20.7% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -1.4 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-HEAVY 14.5% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.0% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Cerro Gordo County (+ 0.9 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Montgomery County ranks #1,632 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #38 of 98 counties in IA (20.7% low-access).
- #1,632
- national by low-access %
- #38
- in IA
- 2
- low-access tracts
- 795
- 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: 14.5% SNAP (98th pct in IA) (+2.4 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Montgomery County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Montgomery County's 20.7% low-access share is elevated, higher than 48% of them and ranked #1,632 most-affected nationwide.
Montgomery County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
4 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
Montgomery County is mostly rural by USDA tract type (2 rural, 2 urban), so most tracts are held to the 10-mile test and only the 2 urban tracts face the 1-mile one.
Montgomery County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, not a full county-board reprint
- Fremont
Fremont 76%
76 % low-access
- Cerro Gordo 21.6
Cerro Gordo 21.6%
21.6 % low-access
- Montgomery 20.7
Montgomery 20.7%
20.7 % low-access
- Franklin 19.7
Franklin 19.7%
19.7 % low-access
- Harrison 19.7
Harrison 19.7%
19.7 % low-access
- Madison 19.7
Madison 19.7%
19.7 % low-access
- Grundy 0
Grundy 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 4 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 10,740 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 2 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,223 |
| Low-Access Share | 20.7%near the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 795 |
ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 10,214 |
| Median Household Income | $63,666 |
| Poverty Rate | 15.3%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 667 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 14.5%above the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.0%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.1% |
SNAP retailers in Montgomery County
Montgomery County has 10 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 3 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 5 locations (50% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Where the store book sits, by town
3 towns share the 10 authorized stores; Red Oak holds 70% of them. 2 of the 3 towns have no grocery-grade outlet, only convenience or dollar/combination stores: Villisca, Stanton.
| Town | SNAP stores | Grocery-grade |
|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 7 | 2 |
| Villisca | 2 | none |
| Stanton | 1 | none |
Convenience Store · 5
- casey's general store 1496, red oak
- casey's general store 1728, red oak
- casey's general store 2803, villisca
- casey's general store 3502, stanton
- cubby's red oak 301, red oak
Combination Grocery/Other · 3
- dollar general 20282, villisca
- dollar general 2291, red oak
- family dollar 13277, red oak
Super Store · 2
- fareway stores, inc. 841, red oak
- hy-vee food store 1544, red oak
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Iowa
One of 98 counties in Iowa, 6 are shown here.
Compare Montgomery County vs Adair County → · All Iowa counties →
Nationwide peers for Montgomery County's low-access or SNAP share
SNAP-led peer set first for Montgomery County (14.5%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Iowa.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside IA (20.7% here).
- Fayette County, KY · 20.7% low-access
- Elbert County, GA · 20.7% low-access
- Lea County, NM · 20.7% low-access
- Franklin County, NY · 20.7% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (14.5% here).
- Menard County, IL · 14.5% SNAP
- East Feliciana Parish, LA · 14.5% SNAP
- Stephens County, GA · 14.5% SNAP
- Carroll County, GA · 14.5% 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.
Iowa among West North Central states
Iowa ranks 7th of 7 West North Central states by population-weighted low-access (20.0%). Montgomery County, at 20.7%, runs 0.7 pts above the Iowa rate.
- South Dakota 29.1%
- North Dakota 28.9%
- Minnesota 27.4%
- Kansas 26.4%
- Missouri 24.9%
- Nebraska 21.9%
- Iowa 20.0%
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted by state; divisions per the U.S. Census Bureau. National state map
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 Montgomery County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19137. 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.