Signature · 100.0% low-access (98th pct)
Thomas County, NE
Thomas County sits in the upper national band on low-access (100.0%, +77.9 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 100.0%
- low-access pop.
- 0
- food-desert tracts
- 4.3%
- on SNAP
- 564
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Thomas County, NE
LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-NONE · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-CLEAR
- LA-SEVERE 100.0% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +77.9 pts vs US
- LILA-NONE 0 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 4.3% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.6% no vehicle
- DENSITY-CLEAR 0% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Arthur County (+ 0.0 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Thomas County sits in the upper national band (100.0%, #45 of 3,079).
- #45
- national by low-access %
- #6
- in NE
- 1
- low-access tracts
- 224
- 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: 100.0% low-access (98th pct) (+77.9 pts vs U.S. low-access).
How Thomas County compares nationally
Thomas County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 100.0% low-access share outpaces 98% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #49 most-affected nationwide.
Thomas County's elevated USDA tier split
1 census tracts grouped by USDA classification .
By USDA urbanicity classification, Thomas County has 0 urban and 1 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.
Thomas County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Nebraska, not a full county-board reprint
- Thomas
Thomas 100%
100 % low-access
- Arthur
Arthur 100%
100 % low-access
- Blaine
Blaine 100%
100 % low-access
- Hayes
Hayes 100%
100 % low-access
- Hooker
Hooker 100%
100 % low-access
- Burt 0.7
Burt 0.7%
0.7 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 1 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 647 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 1 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 0 |
| Low-Access Population | 647 |
| Low-Access Share | 100.0%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 224 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 564 |
| Median Household Income | $65,000 |
| Poverty Rate | 8.9%below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 13 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 4.3%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.6%well below the national average |
Slim SNAP store book in Thomas County
Thomas County has 2 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 2 store categories. Combination Grocery/Other lead with 1 locations (50% of the total), followed by medium grocery store.
Combination Grocery/Other · 1
- dollar general 19581, thedford
Medium Grocery Store · 1
- ewoldts grocery, thedford
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Nebraska
One of 92 counties in Nebraska, 6 are shown here.
Compare Thomas County vs Adams County → · All Nebraska counties →
Thomas County inside a higher low-access state context
Thomas County sits inside Nebraska (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 Thomas County, NE are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 31171. 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.