Market rankings · Iowa

Auto repair shops in Iowa

Every metro area, small-town market and county in Iowa, ranked by the Groundwork market score for auto repair shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 3,172; 464 chain locations (15%)
Official establishments: 1,718; −1.3% since 2019
Household spending a year: $1.5B; On vehicle maintenance and repairs
Listings per 10k households: 24.1; 12% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $470K; 6% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #32 of 51; Market score 46 · Lower middle

A site report maps the auto repair shops on map listings around any address in Iowa by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Iowa has 3,172 auto repair shops on map listings as of September 2026. Of those, 464 are chain locations, or 15%, against 16% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 24.1, 12% above the U.S. rate of 21.5.

At $1,134 per household (18% above the U.S. average), households in Iowa spend about $1.5B a year on vehicle maintenance and repairs. That works out to $470K per shop, 6% above the U.S. figure of $445K. The spending figure covers all vehicle maintenance and repairs, not only auto repair shops.

In 2023, official counts showed 1,718 businesses with payroll in Iowa classed as mechanical, body and glass repair, down 1.3% from 2019. That is one for every 766 households, against one for every 955 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 2.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 45 SBA-backed loans worth $8.9M have gone to businesses classed as mechanical, body and glass repair in Iowa.

Among the 50 states and DC, Iowa ranks #32 for auto repair shops, with a Groundwork market score of 46 (lower middle). Of the 9 scored metro areas in or partly in Iowa, the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area scores highest (79). Of the 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in Iowa, the Pella area scores highest (79).

Every market in Iowa for auto repair shops

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Iowa, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Iowa, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	79	594	20.1	$558K	+6.7%	#15 of 387
2Iowa City, IA	71	136	18.8	$553K	+4.1%	#50 of 387
Omaha, NE-IA	70	771	19.8	$558K	+4.2%	#53 of 387
3Ames, IA	62	107	21.5	$520K	+2.2%	#97 of 387
4Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	58	139	20.0	$551K	+0.5%	#125 of 387
5Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	53	126	22.7	$507K	+1.0%	#175 of 387
6Cedar Rapids, IA	52	258	22.6	$498K	+1.0%	#186 of 387
7Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	51	343	21.2	$488K	−0.9%	#194 of 387
8Dubuque, IA	37	100	24.4	$443K	+0.1%	#288 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Iowa, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Pella, IA	79	28	21.0	$603K	+2.3%	#25 of 538
2Storm Lake, IA	75	15	19.9	$597K	−1.7%	#42 of 538
3Spirit Lake, IA	70	19	21.5	$558K	+1.7%	#75 of 538
4Marshalltown, IA	70	34	21.9	$536K	−0.5%	#76 of 538
5Spencer, IA	64	17	23.3	$452K	−0.8%	#122 of 538
6Le Mars, IA	55	27	26.2	$481K	0.0%	#217 of 538
7Muscatine, IA	55	47	27.1	$418K	−3.0%	#223 of 538
8Ottumwa, IA	50	44	31.4	$343K	−0.3%	#288 of 538
9Fort Madison, IA	49	45	31.4	$364K	−3.6%	#294 of 538
10Oskaloosa, IA	47	25	28.6	$422K	−1.2%	#310 of 538
11Clinton, IA	43	52	26.7	$422K	−0.9%	#346 of 538
12Mason City, IA	38	64	28.2	$389K	−1.5%	#389 of 538
13Burlington, IA-IL	38	56	28.2	$382K	−2.5%	#390 of 538
14Carroll, IA	37	23	26.1	$414K	−2.0%	#398 of 538
15Fort Dodge, IA	36	44	28.6	$383K	−0.4%	#411 of 538

Counties

Counties in Iowa, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Dallas County, IA	95	53	12.5	$964K	+17.8%	#5 of 2,378
2Tama County, IA	78	11	16.4	$738K	−1.5%	#150 of 2,378
3Johnson County, IA	75	100	15.8	$647K	+4.6%	#211 of 2,378
4Buchanan County, IA	72	18	21.8	$577K	+1.3%	#290 of 2,378
5Marion County, IA	71	28	21.0	$603K	+2.3%	#309 of 2,378
6Polk County, IA	70	404	19.7	$549K	+4.8%	#347 of 2,378
7Buena Vista County, IA	69	15	19.9	$597K	−1.7%	#372 of 2,378
8Grundy County, IA	69	13	25.4	$499K	+0.2%	#389 of 2,378
9Bremer County, IA	68	19	19.6	$626K	+1.1%	#412 of 2,378
10Story County, IA	66	78	20.0	$537K	+2.7%	#495 of 2,378
11Crawford County, IA	63	10	15.8	$771K	−1.5%	#589 of 2,378
12Poweshiek County, IA	63	15	19.2	$574K	−1.4%	#600 of 2,378
13Marshall County, IA	62	34	21.9	$536K	−0.5%	#654 of 2,378
14Madison County, IA	62	17	25.4	$510K	+3.8%	#659 of 2,378
15Dickinson County, IA	61	19	21.5	$558K	+1.7%	#685 of 2,378
16Warren County, IA	61	57	27.6	$456K	+9.0%	#701 of 2,378
17Clay County, IA	60	17	23.3	$452K	−0.8%	#739 of 2,378
18Iowa County, IA	57	13	18.8	$674K	−1.0%	#833 of 2,378
19Scott County, IA	57	158	21.6	$489K	+0.4%	#857 of 2,378
20Louisa County, IA	56	8	18.9	$694K	−3.7%	#882 of 2,378
21Black Hawk County, IA	56	107	19.6	$544K	+0.4%	#892 of 2,378
22Harrison County, IA	56	16	26.3	$488K	+0.4%	#901 of 2,378
23Linn County, IA	55	206	21.5	$508K	+0.7%	#944 of 2,378
24Hamilton County, IA	54	15	23.3	$534K	−0.5%	#993 of 2,378
25Union County, IA	53	8	15.6	$677K	−2.5%	#1,037 of 2,378

Show all 99 counties

Counties in Iowa, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Jones County, IA	53	20	24.4	$486K	+2.9%	#1,052 of 2,378
27Boone County, IA	52	29	26.5	$474K	+0.4%	#1,099 of 2,378
28Lyon County, IA	52	13	29.0	$456K	+3.6%	#1,106 of 2,378
29Benton County, IA	52	32	31.4	$437K	+1.8%	#1,114 of 2,378
30Mills County, IA	49	17	31.5	$422K	+2.6%	#1,238 of 2,378
31Muscatine County, IA	49	47	27.1	$418K	−3.0%	#1,241 of 2,378
32Jasper County, IA	49	47	31.3	$381K	+0.9%	#1,250 of 2,378
33Plymouth County, IA	48	27	26.2	$481K	0.0%	#1,277 of 2,378
34Woodbury County, IA	48	101	24.8	$449K	+0.7%	#1,286 of 2,378
35Pottawattamie County, IA	47	92	24.4	$448K	−0.7%	#1,328 of 2,378
36Appanoose County, IA	45	16	30.8	$358K	−1.7%	#1,449 of 2,378
37Wapello County, IA	45	44	31.4	$343K	−0.3%	#1,453 of 2,378
38Lee County, IA	44	45	31.4	$364K	−3.6%	#1,496 of 2,378
39O’Brien County, IA	43	16	27.5	$445K	+0.5%	#1,518 of 2,378
40Winneshiek County, IA	42	22	27.0	$458K	−1.6%	#1,547 of 2,378
41Clayton County, IA	42	23	30.6	$372K	−1.1%	#1,562 of 2,378
42Floyd County, IA	41	16	24.6	$487K	−4.4%	#1,577 of 2,378
43Dubuque County, IA	41	100	24.4	$443K	+0.1%	#1,583 of 2,378
44Mahaska County, IA	41	25	28.6	$422K	−1.2%	#1,591 of 2,378
45Guthrie County, IA	41	16	34.8	$385K	+1.6%	#1,607 of 2,378
46Sioux County, IA	41	46	36.2	$368K	+2.5%	#1,616 of 2,378
47Cedar County, IA	40	23	30.2	$423K	−0.7%	#1,650 of 2,378
48Delaware County, IA	40	23	31.2	$398K	+1.3%	#1,660 of 2,378
49Chickasaw County, IA	40	17	34.0	$374K	−2.8%	#1,667 of 2,378
50Winnebago County, IA	39	14	30.2	$351K	−3.8%	#1,710 of 2,378
51Clinton County, IA	38	52	26.7	$422K	−0.9%	#1,730 of 2,378
52Hancock County, IA	37	13	27.8	$435K	−2.2%	#1,768 of 2,378
53Shelby County, IA	37	18	36.9	$341K	−0.2%	#1,785 of 2,378
54Fayette County, IA	36	24	28.8	$398K	−2.1%	#1,809 of 2,378
55Jackson County, IA	35	28	34.0	$372K	−0.8%	#1,839 of 2,378
56Kossuth County, IA	34	19	29.0	$418K	−3.2%	#1,866 of 2,378
57Mitchell County, IA	34	17	37.0	$349K	+0.6%	#1,888 of 2,378
58Carroll County, IA	33	23	26.1	$414K	−2.0%	#1,906 of 2,378
59Butler County, IA	33	22	37.5	$356K	−2.0%	#1,919 of 2,378
60Des Moines County, IA	32	49	28.5	$373K	−2.0%	#1,939 of 2,378
61Webster County, IA	31	44	28.6	$383K	−0.4%	#1,977 of 2,378
62Cherokee County, IA	31	16	31.7	$372K	−2.4%	#1,978 of 2,378
63Wright County, IA	31	18	33.6	$354K	−0.9%	#1,986 of 2,378
64Allamakee County, IA	31	24	40.3	$308K	+1.2%	#1,998 of 2,378
65Cerro Gordo County, IA	30	56	28.7	$368K	−1.5%	#2,017 of 2,378
66Jefferson County, IA	29	19	27.3	$368K	−2.5%	#2,046 of 2,378
67Washington County, IA	29	36	40.1	$293K	+0.6%	#2,065 of 2,378
68Henry County, IA	27	22	28.8	$391K	−5.4%	#2,102 of 2,378
69Montgomery County, IA	27	16	34.9	$314K	−3.2%	#2,118 of 2,378
70Page County, IA	24	21	33.6	$315K	−2.3%	#2,180 of 2,378
71Hardin County, IA	21	26	36.9	$302K	−2.2%	#2,235 of 2,378
72Cass County, IA	20	27	46.2	$241K	−1.2%	#2,259 of 2,378
Franklin County, IA	Not scored	13	31.0	$376K	−1.2%
Keokuk County, IA	Not scored	20	49.2	$250K	−2.0%
Calhoun County, IA	Not scored	12	30.1	$387K	−3.4%
Sac County, IA	Not scored	6	13.9	$850K	−2.7%
Clarke County, IA	Not scored	11	27.0	$412K	−1.6%
Humboldt County, IA	Not scored	12	28.4	$428K	−2.0%
Howard County, IA	Not scored	12	31.8	$387K	−0.8%
Emmet County, IA	Not scored	12	29.5	$375K	−2.5%
Davis County, IA	Not scored	12	37.5	$340K	+1.3%
Palo Alto County, IA	Not scored	9	23.8	$491K	−1.0%
Lucas County, IA	Not scored	11	29.7	$390K	+2.6%
Greene County, IA	Not scored	7	17.8	$621K	−1.0%
Monona County, IA	Not scored	10	25.8	$477K	−2.4%
Decatur County, IA	Not scored	11	36.0	$323K	−0.9%
Monroe County, IA	Not scored	8	25.9	$496K	−2.5%
Adair County, IA	Not scored	11	34.0	$384K	−1.3%
Worth County, IA	Not scored	8	25.2	$534K	−1.3%
Van Buren County, IA	Not scored	8	27.6	$425K	−1.2%
Pocahontas County, IA	Not scored	9	30.0	$410K	−3.5%
Ida County, IA	Not scored	4	13.1	$900K	−3.4%
Wayne County, IA	Not scored	10	39.0	$296K	+3.6%
Fremont County, IA	Not scored	13	46.1	$284K	−0.8%
Osceola County, IA	Not scored	7	26.6	$487K	−3.6%
Taylor County, IA	Not scored	11	44.2	$278K	−0.5%
Audubon County, IA	Not scored	10	38.5	$285K	−3.0%
Ringgold County, IA	Not scored	10	52.7	$244K	0.0%
Adams County, IA	Not scored	5	32.5	$374K	−2.5%

Markets with fewer than 5 auto repair shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many auto repair shops are in Iowa?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 3,172 auto repair shops in Iowa. 464 of them (15%) are chain locations. The listings count general, specialty, body and glass repair shops. Official counts show 1,718 businesses with payroll classed as mechanical, body and glass repair in 2023, down 1.3% from 2019. Official counts also show 2,664 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Iowa spend on vehicle maintenance and repairs?

About $1.5B a year, or $1,134 per household. That is 18% above the U.S. average (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,172 auto repair shops on map listings, it comes to $470K per shop. That spending covers all vehicle maintenance and repairs, which auto repair shops share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,315,707 households in Iowa and national spending patterns by income.

How does Iowa compare with the U.S. for auto repair shops?

Iowa has 24.1 auto repair shops per 10,000 households, 12% above the U.S. rate of 21.5. Spending per shop is $470K, 6% above the U.S. figure of $445K. At the U.S. ratio of auto repair shops to household spending, Iowa would have about 3,355, against 3,172 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 766 households, against one for every 955 across the U.S. The official count fell 1.3% from 2019 to 2023, against +2.1% for the U.S.

Which market in Iowa has the highest market score for auto repair shops?

Among 9 scored metro areas in or partly in Iowa, the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area scores highest, at 79 (high). Among 15 scored small-town markets in or partly in Iowa, the Pella area scores highest, at 79 (high). Among 72 scored counties in Iowa, Dallas County scores highest, at 95 (very high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Iowa scores 46 for auto repair shops (lower middle), #32 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Iowa. It maps the auto repair shops on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Auto repair and car care5,496 listings
Collision repair and body shops511 listings
Car washes and detailing671 listings
Tire shops578 listings
Oil change and quick lube59 listings
Gas stations1,367 listings
Insurance agencies2,325 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in Iowa?

A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.

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