Signature · 40.0% low-access (87th pct)

Wasco County, OR

Wasco County sits in the upper national band on low-access (40.0%, +17.9 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.

40.0%
low-access pop.
1
food-desert tracts
21.8%
on SNAP
27K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 OR

USDA FARA access plate

County Wasco County, OR

LA-SEVERE · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-SINGLE · SNAP-HEAVY · VEH-OK · DENSITY-MIXED

  • LA-SEVERE 40.0% low-access
  • ABOVE-NATIONAL +17.9 pts vs US
  • LILA-SINGLE 1 food-desert tract
  • SNAP-HEAVY 21.8% SNAP
  • VEH-OK 6.0% no vehicle
  • DENSITY-MIXED 13% tracts LILA

Nearest low-access peer: Grant County ( -0.2 pts)

Upper-band low-access

Wasco County sits in the upper national band (40.0%, #397 of 3,079) with 1 LILA tracts.

#397
national by low-access %
#5
in OR
3
low-access tracts
3K
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: 40.0% low-access (87th pct) (+17.9 pts vs U.S. low-access).

How Wasco County compares nationally

Wasco County sits among the nation's most food-access-constrained counties: its 40.0% low-access share outpaces 87% of the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA data, ranking #398 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Wasco County's elevated USDA tier split

8 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 1 LILA.

Food access tier distribution for Wasco County, OR USDA-defined food-access tiers: 5 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 2 limited, 1 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 8 tracts evaluated. 5 tracts adequate (62.5%) 2 tracts limited (25.0%) 1 tracts severe / food desert (12.5%) Adequate 63% Limited 25% Severe 13% Food-access tier distribution: Wasco County, OR
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

By USDA urbanicity classification, Wasco County has 5 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.

Wasco County vs nearby high low-access peers

Poles + nearest peers in Oregon, 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 Wasco County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts8
Atlas Population (2010 basis)25,213
Low-Access Tracts3
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)1
Low-Access Population10,074
Low-Access Share40.0%well above the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population3,062

ACS 2024 · elevated SNAP band

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Wasco County
IndicatorValue
Population26,552
Median Household Income$64,175
Poverty Rate11.6%below the national average
SNAP Households2,299
SNAP Participation Rate21.8%well above the national average
Households Without a Vehicle6.0%below the national average
Group-Quarters Population4.8%

Thick SNAP store book in Wasco County

Wasco County has 30 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 7 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 17 locations (57% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 17

  • astro express mart 264, the dalles
  • brenna's mosier market, mosier
  • center market 30, the dalles
  • center market 33, the dalles
  • discounts plus 4, the dalles
  • hatt's '76 fuel stop, the dalles
  • juanita's marketa 2, the dalles
  • jacks chevron, the dalles
  • jlm1 inc, the dalles
  • lone pine '76, the dalles
  • the outpost 5, the dalles
  • the way station, maupin
  • the way station at tygh valley, tygh valley
  • us market 850, the dalles
  • wamic market & supply, tygh valley
  • west 6th street, the dalles
  • west second street market, the dalles

Combination Grocery/Other · 3

  • bi-mart 645, the dalles
  • dollar tree 2098, the dalles
  • walgreens 09651, the dalles

Medium Grocery Store · 3

  • farm stand in the dalles, the dalles
  • la michoacana store, the dalles
  • maupin market, maupin

Bakery Specialty · 2

  • franz bakery thrift 9023, the dalles
  • papa murphys or-011, the dalles

Farmers' Market · 2

  • the dalles farmers' market, the dalles
  • tscc farmers market ffab, tygh valley

Super Store · 2

  • fred meyer 372, the dalles
  • grocery outlet of the dalles 152, the dalles

Supermarket · 1

  • safeway 1489, the dalles

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).

Other Counties in Oregon

One of 35 counties in Oregon, 6 are shown here.

Compare Wasco County vs Baker County → · All Oregon counties →

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

Two USDA/ACS-derived peer sets for Wasco County, both outside Oregon so the neighborhoods are not the same-state county list above.

Similar low-access share

Nearest low-access rates outside OR (40.0% here).

Similar SNAP participation

Nearest household SNAP rates outside OR (21.8% 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.

Wasco County inside a higher low-access state context

Wasco County sits inside Oregon (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 Wasco County, OR are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 41065. 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.