County food-access profile · Wisconsin

Outagamie County, WI

Distance to a supermarket is a real obstacle for a meaningful share of Outagamie 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).

25.3%
low-access pop.
3
food-desert tracts
8.2%
on SNAP
193K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 WI

The food-access picture

25.3% of Outagamie County residents live in a low-access area, and 3 of its 40 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

17
low-access tracts
8K
food-desert residents
4.1%
households, no vehicle
6.3%
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 Outagamie County's low-access share at 25.3%, above the national share. 17 of the county's 40 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 44,722 people. 3 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 8,456 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 Outagamie County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Outagamie County's 25.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 59% of them and ranked #1,273 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Outagamie County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 40 census tracts in Outagamie 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 Outagamie County, WI USDA-defined food-access tiers: 23 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 14 limited, 3 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 40 tracts evaluated. 23 tracts adequate (57.5%) 14 tracts limited (35.0%) 3 tracts severe / food desert (7.5%) Adequate 57% Limited 35% Severe 8% Food-access tier distribution: Outagamie County, WI
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Outagamie County vs. other Wisconsin counties

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

% 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 Outagamie County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts40
Atlas Population (2010 basis)176,695
Low-Access Tracts17
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)3
Low-Access Population44,722
Low-Access Share25.3%above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population8,456

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Outagamie County
IndicatorValue
Population192,826
Median Household Income$85,069
Poverty Rate6.3%well below the national average
SNAP Households6,395
SNAP Participation Rate8.2%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.1%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population1.7%
SNAP participation in Outagamie County 8.2%

About 8.2% of Outagamie County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 25.3% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 8.2% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 6,395 households here.
  • 4.1% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 3 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 Outagamie County

above the national share

3 of Outagamie County's 40 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 7.5% of all its tracts.

A further 14 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 17.

An estimated 44,722 residents, roughly 25.3% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 8,456 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 23 tracts (57.5%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Outagamie County

Outagamie County has 130 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 9 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 62 locations (48% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 62

  • appleton motomart 4403, appleton
  • badger mobil, appleton
  • badger motomart 3410, appleton
  • badger travel center inc, kaukauna
  • ballard gcs 822, appleton
  • ballard moto 3415, appleton
  • bb mobil 23, appleton
  • bluemound express, appleton
  • buchanan motomart 3409, appleton
  • college court 823, appleton
  • crooks moto 3413, kaukauna
  • depu llc, appleton
  • dk petroleum #1, appleton
  • good to go seymour, seymour
  • grand chute motomart 4402, appleton
  • greenville bp, greenville
  • holiday stationstore 2746554, appleton
  • kwik trip 359, appleton
  • kwik trip 405, kimberly
  • kwik trip 678, appleton
  • kwik trip 740, hortonville
  • kwik trip 792, new london
  • kaukauna mart, kaukauna
  • kensington moto 3414, appleton
  • kimberly bp, kimberly
  • kwik trip 1061, combined locks
  • kwik trip 175, appleton
  • kwik trip 181, appleton
  • kwik trip 182, appleton
  • kwik trip 200, appleton
  • kwik trip 205, appleton
  • kwik trip 209, kaukauna
  • kwik trip 225, seymour
  • kwik trip 270, kaukauna
  • kwik trip 412, appleton
  • kwik trip 452, appleton
  • kwik trip 685, appleton
  • kwik trip 887, appleton
  • kwik trip 923, little chute
  • leeman country market, shiocton
  • lttle chute moto 3412, little chute
  • meijer gas station 300, appleton
  • memorial petroleum, appleton
  • new london bp, new london
  • northland citgo, appleton
  • oneida bp, appleton
  • oneida one stop - 54 2021, oneida
  • oo station 1, little chute
  • pnh llc, kaukauna
  • refuel pantry-moasis travel plaza, little chute
  • relance fuel llc 70, appleton
  • richmond mobile, appleton
  • richmond st citgo, appleton
  • s and s cheese hut, appleton
  • sayash llc 02, appleton
  • sg petroleums llc, appleton
  • shell gas station and quick mart, appleton
  • shop and save mart convenienc, freedom
  • stop-n-go 556, appleton
  • super pantry food mart, appleton
  • thapa petroleum llc, appleton
  • wisconsin avenue pantry, appleton

Combination Grocery/Other · 31

  • asian food store, appleton
  • cvs pharmacy 5186, appleton
  • cvs pharmacy 8525, appleton
  • dollar general 14362, appleton
  • dollar general 6535, appleton
  • dollar general 6604, kaukauna
  • dollar general 19323, appleton
  • dollar general 20213, hortonville
  • dollar general 20230, black creek
  • dollar general 21851, appleton
  • dollar general 21854, kimberly
  • dollar tree 1009, appleton
  • dollar tree 5181, appleton
  • dollar tree 7529, appleton
  • dollar tree 7643, kaukauna
  • dollar tree 7651, little chute
  • dollar tree 961, appleton
  • family dollar store 3800, appleton
  • family dollar store 3915, seymour
  • mere double international market, appleton
  • oriental food market, appleton
  • sal's food, black creek
  • the free market, appleton
  • walgreens #7323 07323, appleton
  • walgreens 02921, appleton
  • walgreens 5102, appleton
  • walgreens 09682, little chute
  • walgreens 10234, grand chute
  • walgreens 10759, kaukauna
  • walgreens 12019, appleton
  • walgreens 12693, appleton

Super Store · 16

  • costco 1222, grand chute
  • don's quality market, seymour
  • festival foods 13, appleton
  • festival foods 15, appleton
  • festival foods 53, kimberly
  • meijer 300, appleton
  • pick 'n save 6403, appleton
  • pick 'n save 8118, appleton
  • pick 'n save 8123, appleton
  • piggly wiggly 384, little chute
  • piggly wiggly 385, kaukauna
  • sam's club 6321, appleton
  • target store 1248, appleton
  • target store 238, appleton
  • walmart supercenter 1982, appleton
  • woodman's food market 22, appleton

Medium Grocery Store · 7

  • appleton asian market, appleton
  • halal international market, appleton
  • jacobs market, appleton
  • lindo michoacan mexican restaurant llc, appleton
  • pahoua's super market, appleton
  • quinto sol, appleton
  • sal's foods, freedom

Supermarket · 7

  • aldi 64068, appleton
  • aldi 64069, appleton
  • aldi 64086, appleton
  • gilbert's supervalu, hortonville
  • gordon food service store mp188, appleton
  • haen meat packing, kaukauna
  • the meat block llc, greenville

Bakery Specialty · 4

  • papa murphy's pizza wi120, appleton
  • papa murphys wi004, appleton
  • papa murphys wi015, appleton
  • papa murphys wi101, kaukauna

Farmers' Market · 1

  • downtown appleton farm market, appleton

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 1

  • becks meats inc, kaukauna

Small Grocery Store · 1

  • chopra grocers, appleton

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Wisconsin

Compare Outagamie County vs Adams County → · All Wisconsin counties →

Food access nationally, Wisconsin in context

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

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

Understand the Data

Frequently Asked Questions

What share of Outagamie County has low food access?
25.3% of residents in Outagamie County, WI 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 Outagamie County?
8.2% of households in Outagamie County receive SNAP, covering 6,395 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Outagamie County?
The poverty rate in Outagamie County, WI is 6.3%, with a median household income of $85,069 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Outagamie County a food desert?
3 of Outagamie County's 40 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 Outagamie County households lack a vehicle?
4.1% of households in Outagamie 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.