Signature · 15.4% low-access (33rd pct)
Tama County, IA
Tama 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.
- 15.4%
- low-access pop.
- 1
- food-desert tracts
- 9.6%
- on SNAP
- 17K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Tama County, IA
LA-MODERATE · BELOW-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED
- LA-MODERATE 15.4% low-access
- BELOW-NATIONAL -6.7 pts vs US
- LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
- SNAP-LIGHT 9.6% SNAP
- VEH-OK 2.5% no vehicle
- DENSITY-MIXED 17% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Jones County (+ 0.2 pts)
The food-access picture
According to the USDA Food Access Research Atlas, Tama County ranks #2,087 of 3,079 U.S. counties by low-access share and #56 of 98 counties in IA (15.4% low-access; 1 food-desert tracts).
- #2,087
- national by low-access %
- #56
- in IA
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 1K
- 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: 15.4% low-access (33rd pct) (-6.7 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Tama County compares nationally
Tama County lands in the middle of the national distribution: a 15.4% low-access share that beats 33% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data (rank #2,087).
Tama County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown
6 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Tama County has 1 urban and 5 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.
Tama County low-access neighbourhood
Poles + nearest peers in Iowa, not a full county-board reprint
- Fremont
Fremont 76%
76 % low-access
- Marion 15.9
Marion 15.9%
15.9 % low-access
- Plymouth 15.9
Plymouth 15.9%
15.9 % low-access
- Appanoose 15.7
Appanoose 15.7%
15.7 % low-access
- Jones 15.6
Jones 15.6%
15.6 % low-access
- Tama 15.4
Tama 15.4%
15.4 % low-access
- Grundy 0
Grundy 0%
0 % low-access
Food Access (USDA FARA 2019)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 6 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 17,767 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 1 |
| Low-Access Population | 2,731 |
| Low-Access Share | 15.4%below the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 1,184 |
Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 16,868 |
| Median Household Income | $70,781 |
| Poverty Rate | 14.8%near the national average |
| SNAP Households | 647 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 9.6%below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 2.5%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 2.1% |
SNAP retailers in Tama County
Tama County has 16 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 6 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 7 locations (44% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 7
- casey's general store 2653, toledo
- casey's general store 2821, gladbrook
- caseys general store 1029, tama
- caseys general store 1131, dysart
- kwik star 710, toledo
- meskwaki travel plaza, tama
- sinclair food mart, traer
Combination Grocery/Other · 5
- dollar general 15311, toledo
- dollar general 23302, dysart
- dollar general 30839, tama
- family dollar 13147, gladbrook
- family dollar 13304, tama
Large Grocery Store · 1
- hometown family market, gladbrook
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- el gallito llc, tama
Super Store · 1
- fareway stores, inc. 792, toledo
Supermarket · 1
- hometown foods traer, traer
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.
Nationwide peers for Tama County's low-access or SNAP share
Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Tama County, both outside Iowa so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside IA (15.4% here).
- Allen County, KS · 15.4% low-access
- Allen County, KS · 15.4% low-access
- Grenada County, MS · 15.4% low-access
- Grenada County, MS · 15.4% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside IA (9.6% here).
- Twin Falls County, ID · 9.6% SNAP
- Twin Falls County, ID · 9.6% SNAP
- Hall County, GA · 9.6% SNAP
- Hall County, GA · 9.6% 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.
Food access nationally, Iowa in context
Tama County sits inside Iowa (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 Tama County, IA are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 19171. 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.