Signature · 2 LILA tracts (33.3% of tracts)

Nobles County, MN

Nobles County's signature pressure is desert tracts: 2 LILA tracts (33.3% of the book) alongside 29.5% low-access.

29.5%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
9.0%
on SNAP
22K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MN

USDA FARA access plate

County Nobles County, MN

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

  • LA-ELEVATED 29.5% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +7.4 pts vs US
  • LILA-POCKET 2 food-desert tracts
  • SNAP-LIGHT 9.0% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 5.5% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-DENSE 33% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Scott County ( -0.4 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Nobles County sits in the upper national band (29.5%, #966 of 3,079) with 2 LILA tracts.

#966
national by low-access %
#36
in MN
3
low-access tracts
2K
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: 2 LILA tracts (33.3% of tracts) .

How Nobles County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Nobles County's 29.5% low-access share is elevated, higher than 69% of them and ranked #967 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Nobles County's elevated USDA tier split

6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 2 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Nobles County, MN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 3 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 1 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 6 tracts evaluated. 3 tracts adequate (50.0%) 1 tracts limited (16.7%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (33.3%) Adequate 50% Limited 17% Severe 33% Food-access tier distribution: Nobles County, MN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Nobles County has 3 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.

Nobles 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 Nobles County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts6
Atlas Population (2010 basis)21,378
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population6,309
Low-Access Share29.5%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population2,115

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Nobles County
IndicatorValue
Population22,041
Median Household Income$66,101
Poverty Rate14.0%near the national average
SNAP Households689
SNAP Participation Rate9.0%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle5.5%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.5%

SNAP retailers in Nobles County

Nobles County has 24 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 8 locations (33% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 8

  • casey's 3263, worthington
  • casey's 4379, worthington
  • holiday stationstore 2746501, worthington
  • holiday stationstore dba circle k 2746568, worthington
  • kwik trip 1028, worthington
  • kwik trip 1212, worthington
  • maverik 5117, adrian
  • mini market lupita llc, worthington

Combination Grocery/Other · 5

  • dollar general 16321, adrian
  • panaderia mi tierra, worthington
  • sayveo's asian food market, worthington
  • w-2s quality meats, worthington
  • walgreens 10189, worthington

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • myanmar seain grocery 1, worthington
  • top asian foods, worthington
  • y w s asian market, worthington

Super Store · 3

  • fareway stores, inc. 99, worthington
  • hy-vee foods 1897, worthington
  • walmart 2820, worthington

Farmers' Market · 2

  • bill & oi's farmers market, worthington
  • worthington farmer's market, worthington

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • el mexicano #3, worthington

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • ellsworth locker, ellsworth

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • v&m locker, llc, leota

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 Nobles County vs Aitkin County → · All Minnesota counties →

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

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Nobles 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 (29.5% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside MN (9.0% 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.

Nobles County inside a higher low-access state context

Nobles 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 Nobles County, MN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 27105. 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.