PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Minnesota

Olmsted County, MN

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Olmsted County residents. This profile covers who qualifies as a food desert here and the income, SNAP, and vehicle-access context behind it, from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and the Census ACS (2024).

20.0%
low-access pop.
2
food-desert tracts
6.8%
on SNAP
164K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MN

The food-access picture

20.0% of Olmsted County residents live in a low-access area, and 2 of its 33 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

12
low-access tracts
4K
food-desert residents
6.9%
households, no vehicle
7.5%
below poverty line

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, 1-and-10-mile measure).

USDA data puts Olmsted County's low-access share at 20.0%, above the national share. 12 of the county's 33 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 28,886 people. 2 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 3,532 low-income residents.

How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts

The USDA measures food access by distance to the nearest supermarket. A census tract is "low-access" when a meaningful share of residents live more than one mile from a supermarket in urban areas, or more than ten miles in rural areas. A tract becomes a "food desert" only when it is both low-access and low-income, because distance is far harder to overcome for households without a car or a cushion in the budget. Counts on this page are aggregated from the tract level, where the federal data is actually published, so a single county figure can hide neighbourhoods that are much better or much worse served than the average. Distance also does not capture everything that shapes whether a family eats well: the presence of a full-service grocer rather than a convenience store, public transit, food pantries, and the price and quality of what is on the shelf all matter beyond the radius the Atlas can draw.

How Olmsted County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Olmsted County's 20.0% low-access share is elevated, higher than 46% of them and ranked #1,690 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Olmsted County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 33 census tracts in Olmsted County, grouped by USDA classification (see "How the USDA defines low-access and food-desert tracts" above for what each tier means).

Food access tier distribution for Olmsted County, MN USDA-defined food-access tiers: 21 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 10 limited, 2 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 33 tracts evaluated. 21 tracts adequate (63.6%) 10 tracts limited (30.3%) 2 tracts severe / food desert (6.1%) Adequate 64% Limited 30% Severe 6% Food-access tier distribution: Olmsted County, MN
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Olmsted County vs. other Minnesota counties

Share of the population living in low-access areas, compared with other counties in Minnesota

% 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 Olmsted County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts33
Atlas Population (2010 basis)144,248
Low-Access Tracts12
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)2
Low-Access Population28,886
Low-Access Share20.0%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population3,532

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Olmsted County
IndicatorValue
Population164,498
Median Household Income$95,406
Poverty Rate7.5%well below the national average
SNAP Households4,550
SNAP Participation Rate6.8%well below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.9%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.9%
SNAP participation in Olmsted County 6.8%

About 6.8% of Olmsted County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 20.0% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 6.8% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 4,550 households here.
  • 6.9% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 2 tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access).

USDA low-access figures reflect the 2019 Atlas (2010 tract populations); socioeconomic context is the latest Census ACS 5-year (2024).

What the food-access data shows for Olmsted County

above the national share

2 of Olmsted County's 33 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 6.1% of all its tracts.

A further 10 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 12.

An estimated 28,886 residents, roughly 20.0% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 3,532 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 21 tracts (63.6%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Olmsted County

Olmsted County has 92 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 35 locations (38% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 35

  • casey's 2645, stewartville
  • caseys general store 3478, stewartville
  • casey's general store 1767, rochester
  • casey's general store 2269, rochester
  • casey's general store 3238, oronoco
  • casey's general store 3624, rochester
  • holiday stationstore 2746338, rochester
  • holiday stationstore 2746423, rochester
  • holiday stationstore 2746424, rochester
  • holiday stationstore 2746425, rochester
  • holiday stationstore 2746427, rochester
  • holiday stationstore 2746429, rochester
  • holiday stationstore 2746430, rochester
  • hy-vee gas 2, rochester
  • hy-vee gas 5556, rochester
  • kwik trip 321, rochester
  • kwik trip 341, rochester
  • kwik trip 357, rochester
  • kwik trip 364, rochester
  • kwik trip 382, rochester
  • kwik trip 388, rochester
  • kwik trip 414, stewartville
  • kwik trip 418, rochester
  • kwik trip 433, rochester
  • kwik trip 438, rochester
  • kwik trip 464, rochester
  • kwik trip 622, byron
  • kwik trip 753, eyota
  • kwik trip 803, stewartville
  • kwik trip 1045, byron
  • kwik trip 279, rochester
  • kwik trip 335, rochester
  • kwik trip 590, rochester
  • kwik trip 659, rochester
  • kwik trip 672, rochester

Combination Grocery/Other · 14

  • dollartree 10151, stewartville
  • dollartree 10171, byron
  • dollar general 17079, eyota
  • dollar general 21131, byron
  • dollar general 30411, oronoco
  • dollar tree 2391, rochester
  • dollar tree 3233, rochester
  • dollar tree 7443, rochester
  • family dollar 5622, stewartville
  • mawang international store llc, rochester
  • rice n spice, rochester
  • walgreens 11834, rochester
  • walgreens 13463, rochester
  • ye olde butcher shoppe, rochester

Super Store · 14

  • costco wholesale 1125, rochester
  • fareway stores, inc. 089, stewartville
  • fareway stores, inc. 208, byron
  • fresh thyme market 512rch, rochester
  • hy-vee foods 1547, rochester
  • hy-vee foods 1548, rochester
  • hy-vee foods 1555, rochester
  • hy-vee 1556, rochester
  • people's food co-op - rochester, rochester
  • sam's club 6427, rochester
  • target store 1351, rochester
  • target store 2321, rochester
  • walmart 2812, rochester
  • walmart supercenter 1971, rochester

Medium Grocery Store · 13

  • asian pacific market, rochester
  • asian food stores, rochester
  • barakagrocery inc, rochester
  • el gallo mexican grocery 2, rochester
  • el super gallo, rochester
  • gargaar grocery llc 01, rochester
  • internatinal spices & grocery inc, rochester
  • kimis grocery store inc., rochester
  • marwo food market, rochester
  • mi mexicana market llc, rochester
  • rochester halal market, rochester
  • rowan international grocery llc 1, rochester
  • saigon oriental market co., rochester

Supermarket · 8

  • aldi 75055 75055, rochester
  • aldi 77, rochester
  • cub foods 1602, rochester
  • cub foods 1718, rochester
  • silver lake foods, rochester
  • sunshine foods 7012, chatfield
  • trader joe's 718, rochester
  • vitamin cottage natural food markets inc u103, rochester

Farmers' Market · 3

  • eyota farmers market, eyota
  • rochester farmers market, rochester
  • the village farmers market, rochester

Bakery Specialty · 2

  • papa murphy's mn005, rochester
  • papa murphy's mn007, rochester

Large Grocery Store · 2

  • bennett's eyota market, llc, eyota
  • lee market, rochester

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • nur grocery and halal meat 1, rochester

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Minnesota

Aitkin County
33.8% low-access · 8.9% SNAP
Anoka County
38.3% low-access · 7.2% SNAP
Becker County
34.5% low-access · 11.6% SNAP
Beltrami County
32.3% low-access · 13.5% SNAP
Benton County
30.0% low-access · 8.6% SNAP
Big Stone County
38.4% low-access · 9.5% SNAP

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

Food access nationally, Minnesota in context

Olmsted County sits inside Minnesota (ringed). Each state is colored by its population-weighted low-access share; click any state to compare.

AK 31 ME 13 VT 11 NH 28 WA 23 ID 26 MT 22 ND 29 MN 27 IL 20 WI 21 MI 23 NY 12 RI 24 MA 28 OR 17 NV 23 WY 30 SD 29 IA 20 IN 29 OH 25 PA 21 NJ 24 CT - CA 13 UT 24 CO 22 NE 22 MO 25 KY 20 WV 21 VA 20 MD 23 DE 27 AZ 27 NM 32 KS 26 AR 25 TN 27 NC 23 SC 29 DC 5 OK 25 LA 26 MS 26 AL 25 GA 31 HI 27 TX 25 FL 25

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Olmsted County has low food access? ▼
20.0% of residents in Olmsted County, MN live in low-access areas, more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket, per the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019).
What is the SNAP participation rate in Olmsted County? ▼
6.8% of households in Olmsted County receive SNAP, covering 4,550 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Olmsted County? ▼
The poverty rate in Olmsted County, MN is 7.5%, with a median household income of $95,406 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Olmsted County a food desert? ▼
2 of Olmsted County's 33 census tracts meet the USDA food-desert threshold (low-income and low-access). Food deserts are designated at the tract level, so conditions can vary within the county.
What share of Olmsted County households lack a vehicle? ▼
6.9% of households in Olmsted County have no vehicle available (Census ACS 2024), which compounds any distance to a supermarket.
Data Sources & Methodology

USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019): low-access and food-desert tract classifications, low-access population, and low-income low-access counts. ers.usda.gov/food-access-research-atlas

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates: population, median income, poverty, SNAP participation, vehicle access, and group quarters. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Low access is defined as living more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket; a food desert adds a low-income condition. Read the full methodology →

Data current as of (most recent source-data vintage; figures reflect the 2019 USDA Atlas and 2024 Census ACS).

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.