PlainFoodAccess

County food-access profile · Montana

Yellowstone County, MT

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

21.3%
low-access pop.
4
food-desert tracts
7.9%
on SNAP
169K
residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA 2019 Census ACS 2024 MT

The food-access picture

21.3% of Yellowstone County residents live in a low-access area, and 4 of its 32 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts.

16
low-access tracts
9K
food-desert residents
4.3%
households, no vehicle
9.2%
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 Yellowstone County's low-access share at 21.3%, above the national share. 16 of the county's 32 census tracts are classified low-access, meaning residents there live far from a supermarket, an area covering about 31,537 people. 4 of those also meet the low-income condition that defines a food desert, home to roughly 9,420 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 Yellowstone County compares nationally

Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Yellowstone County's 21.3% low-access share is elevated, higher than 50% of them and ranked #1,581 most-affected nationwide.

lower low-accesshigher low-access

Yellowstone County: USDA Food-Access Tier Breakdown

All 32 census tracts in Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone County, MT USDA-defined food-access tiers: 16 census tracts adequate (within distance threshold), 12 limited, 4 severe (low-income low-access food desert). Total 32 tracts evaluated. 16 tracts adequate (50.0%) 12 tracts limited (37.5%) 4 tracts severe / food desert (12.5%) Adequate 50% Limited 38% Severe 13% Food-access tier distribution: Yellowstone County, MT
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas 2019

Yellowstone County vs. other Montana counties

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

% 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 Yellowstone County
IndicatorValue
Census Tracts32
Atlas Population (2010 basis)147,972
Low-Access Tracts16
Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access)4
Low-Access Population31,537
Low-Access Share21.3%near the national average
Low-Income & Low-Access Population9,420

Demographics & Assistance (Census ACS 2024)

Census ACS 2024 demographic and SNAP data for Yellowstone County
IndicatorValue
Population168,957
Median Household Income$76,570
Poverty Rate9.2%below the national average
SNAP Households5,532
SNAP Participation Rate7.9%below the national average
Households Without a Vehicle4.3%well below the national average
Group-Quarters Population2.1%
SNAP participation in Yellowstone County 7.9%

About 7.9% of Yellowstone County households receive SNAP, versus a U.S. county median in the 11–13% range (Census ACS).

What this means

  • 21.3% of residents are low-access, above the national share for U.S. counties.
  • 7.9% of households receive SNAP, the federal program that offsets food costs for 5,532 households here.
  • 4.3% of households have no vehicle, the hidden multiplier that turns distance into a real barrier.
  • 4 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 Yellowstone County

above the national share

4 of Yellowstone County's 32 census tracts are USDA-designated food deserts, low-income areas where many residents also live far from a supermarket, about 12.5% of all its tracts.

A further 12 tracts are low-access but not low-income, bringing the total low-access tract count to 16.

An estimated 31,537 residents, roughly 21.3% of the county's 2010 population, live in one of these low-access areas.

Of those, 9,420 are also low-income, the group most exposed to genuine food hardship, since limited transportation compounds a limited budget.

The remaining 16 tracts (50.0%) meet the USDA's adequate-access threshold.

SNAP retailers in Yellowstone County

Yellowstone County has 99 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 8 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 56 locations (57% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.

Convenience Store · 56

  • 3 gs convenience store 1, billings
  • 3 gs convenience store 4, billings
  • 3 gs convenience store 5, billings
  • 3 gs convenience store 6, billings
  • abarrote asuncion llc, billings
  • billings flying j 4720, billings
  • broadview oasis, llc, broadview
  • cenex zip trip 51, billings
  • cenex zip trip 52, billings
  • cenex zip trip 53, billings
  • cenex zip trip 54, billings
  • cenex zip trip 55, billings
  • cenex zip trip 56, billings
  • cenex zip trip 57, billings
  • cenex zip trip 58, billings
  • colima de mis amores, billings
  • don's car wash 3, billings
  • don's xpress center 7, billings
  • don's xpress center 9, billings
  • emerald mart 2, billings
  • fastlane c store, laurel
  • gas n go, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746087, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746108, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746266, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746274, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746275, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746280, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746284, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746285, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746385, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746470, billings
  • holiday stationstore 2746731, billings
  • isabela asian market, billings
  • on your way 105 105, billings
  • on your way 106, billings
  • stop n shop #2 2, billings
  • superpumper 80174, billings
  • superpumper 80177, billings
  • superpumper 80179, billings
  • superpumper 80207, billings
  • superpumper 80208, billings
  • superpumper 80210, billings
  • superpumper 80211, billings
  • superpumper 80212, billings
  • ta laurel 261, laurel
  • tiger town, ballantine
  • town pump of billings #3 7035, billings
  • town pump of billings 8 7115, billings
  • town pump of billings #12 1056, billings
  • town pump of billings #13 1057, billings
  • town pump of billings #4 0117, billings
  • town pump of billings 11 1053, billings
  • town pump of billings 8915, billings
  • town pump of laurel #3 1290, laurel
  • town pump of laurel 330, laurel

Combination Grocery/Other · 12

  • cvs pharmacy 5301, billings
  • cvs pharmacy 5302, billings
  • cvs pharmacy 5305, laurel
  • dollar general 25879, billings
  • dollar tree 2828, billings
  • dollar tree 3026, billings
  • dollar tree 3799, billings
  • dollar tree 5792, billings
  • family dollar 11231, billings
  • walgreens 10652, billings
  • walgreens 11503, billings
  • walgreens 12155, billings

Supermarket · 12

  • albertsons 3447, laurel
  • albertson's 3367, billings
  • albertsons 0038, billings
  • albertsons 0047, billings
  • albertsons 0630, billings
  • albertsons 1227, billings
  • albertsons 4025, billings
  • albertsons 4041, billings
  • natural grocers by vitamin cottage u056, billings
  • project mercantile, worden
  • town & country foods billings 7, billings
  • winco foods 155, billings

Super Store · 8

  • costco wholesale 1644, billings
  • sam's club 4805, billings
  • shamrock foodservice warehouse 590, billings
  • target stores t- 0171, billings
  • target stores t- 1333, billings
  • walmart sc 1956, billings
  • walmart sc 2923, billings
  • walmart sc 4412, laurel

Bakery Specialty · 5

  • franz bakery outlet 9072, billings
  • franz bakery outlet 9073, billings
  • papa murphy's take and bake mt-001, billings
  • papa murphy's take and bake mt-009, billings
  • papa murphy's take and bake mt-016, billings

Meat/Poultry Specialty · 3

  • meat palace, billings
  • project meats inc, billings
  • ranch house meat co, billings

Farmers' Market · 2

  • healthy by design gardeners' market, billings
  • yellowstone valley farmers' market, billings

Large Grocery Store · 1

  • lockwood iga, billings

Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator, currently authorized retailers.

Other Counties in Montana

Beaverhead County
20.1% low-access · 7.2% SNAP
Big Horn County
42.5% low-access · 17.5% SNAP
Blaine County
34.0% low-access · 14.7% SNAP
Broadwater County
15.4% low-access · 3.5% SNAP
Carbon County
14.9% low-access · 6.1% SNAP
Carter County
100.0% low-access · 5.3% SNAP

Compare Yellowstone County vs Beaverhead County → · All Montana counties →

Food access nationally, Montana in context

Yellowstone County sits inside Montana (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 Yellowstone County has low food access? ▼
21.3% of residents in Yellowstone County, MT 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 Yellowstone County? ▼
7.9% of households in Yellowstone County receive SNAP, covering 5,532 households (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
What is the poverty rate in Yellowstone County? ▼
The poverty rate in Yellowstone County, MT is 9.2%, with a median household income of $76,570 (Census ACS 2024).
Is Yellowstone County a food desert? ▼
4 of Yellowstone County's 32 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 Yellowstone County households lack a vehicle? ▼
4.3% of households in Yellowstone 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.