Market rankings · Wisconsin

Clothing, shoe and laundry businesses in Wisconsin

Markets across Wisconsin ranked by the Groundwork market score for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 4,482; 1,659 chain locations (37%)
Official establishments: 1,597; −15.7% since 2019
Household spending a year: $5B; On clothing, shoes and related services
Listings per 10k households: 18.1; 22% below the U.S.
Spending per listing: $1.1M; 26% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #5 of 51; Market score 72 · Upper middle

A site report maps the clothing, shoe and laundry businesses on map listings around any address in Wisconsin 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

As of September 2026, map listings count 4,482 clothing, shoe and laundry businesses in Wisconsin. 1,659 of them (37%) are chain locations, against 37% across the U.S. That comes to 18.1 for every 10,000 households, 22% below the U.S. rate of 23.3.

At $2,003 per household (3% below the U.S. average), households in Wisconsin spend about $5B a year on clothing, shoes and related services. That is about $1.1M of household spending for each business on map listings, 26% above the U.S. figure of $880K.

In 2023, official counts showed 1,597 businesses with payroll in Wisconsin classed as clothing and shoe stores, laundromats and dry cleaners, down 15.7% from 2019. That is one for every 1,553 households, against one for every 1,008 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count fell 12.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 42 SBA-backed loans worth $9.3M have gone to businesses classed as clothing and shoe stores, laundromats and dry cleaners in Wisconsin.

Among the 50 states and DC, Wisconsin ranks #5 for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 72 (upper middle). Of the 15 scored metro areas in or partly in Wisconsin, the Madison metro area scores highest (82). Of the 14 scored small-town markets in or partly in Wisconsin, the Platteville area scores highest (83).

Every market in Wisconsin for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin, ranked for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Madison, WI	82	526	17.4	$1.2M	+4.1%	#16 of 387
2Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	75	121	15.0	$1.3M	+0.4%	#33 of 387
3Sheboygan, WI	74	63	12.7	$1.5M	0.0%	#36 of 387
4Fond du Lac, WI	74	57	13.2	$1.5M	+0.5%	#38 of 387
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	72	2,923	19.8	$1.2M	+2.6%	#47 of 387
5Green Bay, WI	70	247	18.1	$1.1M	+2.5%	#58 of 387
6Janesville-Beloit, WI	68	121	18.0	$1.1M	+1.7%	#72 of 387
7Wausau, WI	67	111	19.2	$1M	+1.0%	#80 of 387
8Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	64	140	19.3	$1M	+1.4%	#104 of 387
9Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	61	1,312	20.0	$1M	0.0%	#122 of 387
Duluth, MN-WI	59	222	18.4	$1M	+0.2%	#132 of 387
10La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	58	142	19.7	$987K	+0.4%	#143 of 387
11Eau Claire, WI	53	164	22.8	$851K	+2.6%	#188 of 387
12Appleton, WI	49	251	25.2	$828K	+2.7%	#211 of 387
13Kenosha, WI	44	144	20.9	$981K	−0.4%	#244 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Wisconsin, ranked for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Platteville, WI	83	19	9.5	$1.9M	+0.9%	#14 of 536
2Stevens Point-Plover, WI	83	43	14.5	$1.3M	+2.2%	#18 of 536
3Menomonie, WI	81	18	10.3	$1.9M	+1.7%	#26 of 536
4Manitowoc, WI	81	35	9.9	$1.9M	+0.4%	#27 of 536
5Beaver Dam, WI	79	43	12.0	$1.6M	−0.3%	#36 of 536
6Sparta, WI	78	22	12.0	$1.5M	+0.6%	#40 of 536
7Shawano, WI	76	19	10.2	$1.8M	+1.4%	#50 of 536
8Wisconsin Rapids-Marshfield, WI	75	40	12.4	$1.5M	−0.2%	#66 of 536
9Marinette, WI-MI	73	28	9.5	$1.8M	+0.3%	#76 of 536
10Whitewater-Elkhorn, WI	54	98	22.7	$912K	+0.8%	#239 of 536
Iron Mountain, MI-WI	49	31	22.0	$811K	+0.4%	#281 of 536
11Rice Lake, WI	47	41	20.5	$890K	−0.5%	#295 of 536
12Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI	43	90	25.8	$769K	+0.3%	#330 of 536
13Baraboo, WI	38	92	32.9	$598K	+1.3%	#382 of 536

Counties

Counties in Wisconsin, ranked for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1St. Croix County, WI	90	40	10.7	$2.2M	+4.7%	#20 of 2,210
2Calumet County, WI	86	19	8.9	$2.4M	+2.9%	#60 of 2,210
3Lafayette County, WI	83	5	7.4	$2.6M	+5.2%	#92 of 2,210
4Pierce County, WI	82	20	12.6	$1.7M	+3.1%	#109 of 2,210
5Oconto County, WI	81	13	7.7	$2.5M	+2.9%	#116 of 2,210
6Washington County, WI	80	66	11.6	$1.9M	+1.8%	#134 of 2,210
7Adams County, WI	76	7	7.4	$2.4M	+5.2%	#204 of 2,210
8Waushara County, WI	75	8	7.6	$2.4M	+2.8%	#226 of 2,210
9Grant County, WI	75	19	9.5	$1.9M	+0.9%	#232 of 2,210
10Trempealeau County, WI	74	10	8.0	$2.4M	+1.1%	#254 of 2,210
11Clark County, WI	74	10	7.8	$2.4M	+1.2%	#255 of 2,210
12Burnett County, WI	74	7	9.7	$1.9M	+3.9%	#263 of 2,210
13Dunn County, WI	74	18	10.3	$1.9M	+1.7%	#264 of 2,210
14Manitowoc County, WI	74	35	9.9	$1.9M	+0.4%	#265 of 2,210
15Polk County, WI	73	28	14.3	$1.4M	+1.7%	#298 of 2,210
16Portage County, WI	73	43	14.5	$1.3M	+2.2%	#300 of 2,210
17Washburn County, WI	72	7	9.3	$2M	+2.8%	#309 of 2,210
18Iowa County, WI	72	12	11.9	$1.7M	+1.0%	#316 of 2,210
19Kewaunee County, WI	71	9	10.8	$1.8M	+1.0%	#341 of 2,210
20Dodge County, WI	71	43	12.0	$1.6M	−0.3%	#346 of 2,210
21Chippewa County, WI	71	41	15.1	$1.3M	+1.9%	#355 of 2,210
22Monroe County, WI	70	22	12.0	$1.5M	+0.6%	#381 of 2,210
23Sheboygan County, WI	68	63	12.7	$1.5M	0.0%	#432 of 2,210
24Wood County, WI	68	40	12.4	$1.5M	−0.2%	#433 of 2,210
25Dane County, WI	67	448	17.8	$1.2M	+4.9%	#463 of 2,210

Show all 72 counties

Counties in Wisconsin, ranked for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Green Lake County, WI	66	11	13.3	$1.4M	+1.5%	#488 of 2,210
27Marquette County, WI	65	7	10.0	$1.8M	+2.1%	#517 of 2,210
28Marinette County, WI	65	22	11.5	$1.5M	+1.6%	#523 of 2,210
29Fond du Lac County, WI	65	57	13.2	$1.5M	+0.5%	#525 of 2,210
30Racine County, WI	65	121	15.0	$1.3M	+0.4%	#536 of 2,210
31Waupaca County, WI	65	32	14.2	$1.3M	−0.6%	#537 of 2,210
32Shawano County, WI	64	19	11.0	$1.6M	+1.7%	#558 of 2,210
33Lincoln County, WI	64	18	14.1	$1.3M	−0.1%	#567 of 2,210
34Waukesha County, WI	64	313	18.6	$1.3M	+2.4%	#568 of 2,210
35Juneau County, WI	63	8	7.3	$2.4M	−0.5%	#578 of 2,210
36Bayfield County, WI	62	13	17.5	$1.1M	+3.4%	#639 of 2,210
37Rusk County, WI	61	5	7.9	$2.2M	−0.2%	#652 of 2,210
38Jackson County, WI	61	8	9.7	$1.9M	−0.5%	#655 of 2,210
39Columbia County, WI	61	35	14.5	$1.4M	−0.7%	#662 of 2,210
40Richland County, WI	60	8	11.0	$1.6M	−1.4%	#702 of 2,210
41Sawyer County, WI	59	11	12.5	$1.4M	+4.0%	#739 of 2,210
42Price County, WI	58	6	9.2	$1.9M	−0.3%	#768 of 2,210
43Taylor County, WI	58	11	13.7	$1.3M	+0.9%	#776 of 2,210
44Vilas County, WI	58	18	16.1	$1.1M	+2.9%	#785 of 2,210
45Rock County, WI	58	121	18.0	$1.1M	+1.7%	#788 of 2,210
46Marathon County, WI	58	111	19.2	$1M	+1.0%	#790 of 2,210
47Douglas County, WI	57	26	13.6	$1.4M	−0.8%	#806 of 2,210
48Ozaukee County, WI	57	96	25.1	$935K	+3.0%	#841 of 2,210
49Green County, WI	55	31	19.7	$1M	+0.5%	#920 of 2,210
50Winnebago County, WI	54	140	19.3	$1M	+1.4%	#965 of 2,210
51Langlade County, WI	52	11	12.4	$1.4M	+0.4%	#1,041 of 2,210
52Brown County, WI	52	225	20.3	$989K	+2.6%	#1,062 of 2,210
53Vernon County, WI	52	24	19.3	$976K	+2.4%	#1,067 of 2,210
54Buffalo County, WI	51	9	15.7	$1.2M	−0.1%	#1,087 of 2,210
55Walworth County, WI	47	98	22.7	$912K	+0.8%	#1,244 of 2,210
56Crawford County, WI	45	12	17.9	$986K	−1.1%	#1,306 of 2,210
57La Crosse County, WI	43	113	21.9	$889K	+0.3%	#1,381 of 2,210
58Ashland County, WI	43	15	22.0	$797K	+1.1%	#1,389 of 2,210
59Kenosha County, WI	41	144	20.9	$981K	−0.4%	#1,451 of 2,210
60Barron County, WI	40	41	20.5	$890K	−0.5%	#1,509 of 2,210
61Eau Claire County, WI	40	123	27.5	$713K	+3.0%	#1,523 of 2,210
62Outagamie County, WI	40	232	29.6	$702K	+2.6%	#1,526 of 2,210
63Oneida County, WI	37	42	24.0	$781K	+0.7%	#1,625 of 2,210
64Milwaukee County, WI	36	837	21.3	$875K	−1.5%	#1,659 of 2,210
65Jefferson County, WI	35	90	25.8	$769K	+0.3%	#1,694 of 2,210
66Sauk County, WI	31	92	32.9	$598K	+1.3%	#1,831 of 2,210
67Door County, WI	26	78	52.0	$380K	+1.6%	#1,959 of 2,210
Forest County, WI	Not scored	5	12.5	$1.4M	+4.4%
Pepin County, WI	Not scored	5	16.4	$1.2M	+2.2%
Iron County, WI	Not scored	4	12.9	$1.3M	−0.3%
Florence County, WI	Not scored	1	4.6	$3.9M	+4.0%
Menominee County, WI	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−1.4%

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

Questions

How many clothing, shoe and laundry businesses are in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has 4,482 clothing, shoe and laundry businesses on map listings as of September 2026. 1,659 of them (37%) are chain locations. The listings count clothing, shoe and jewelry stores, laundromats and dry cleaners. Official counts show 1,597 businesses with payroll classed as clothing and shoe stores, laundromats and dry cleaners in 2023, down 15.7% from 2019. Official counts also show 3,289 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Wisconsin spend on clothing, shoes and related services?

About $5B a year, or $2,003 per household. That is 3% below the U.S. average (an index of 97, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 4,482 clothing, shoe and laundry businesses on map listings, it comes to $1.1M per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,479,480 households in Wisconsin and national spending patterns by income.

How does Wisconsin compare with the U.S. for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses?

Wisconsin has 18.1 clothing, shoe and laundry businesses per 10,000 households, 22% below the U.S. rate of 23.3. Spending per business is $1.1M, 26% above the U.S. figure of $880K. At the national ratio of clothing, shoe and laundry businesses to household spending, Wisconsin would have about 5,641, against 4,482 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,553 households, against one for every 1,008 across the U.S. The official count fell 15.7% from 2019 to 2023, against −12.0% for the U.S.

Which market in Wisconsin has the highest market score for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses?

Among 15 scored metro areas in or partly in Wisconsin, the Madison metro area scores highest, at 82 (high). Among 14 scored small-town markets in or partly in Wisconsin, the Platteville area scores highest, at 83 (high). Among 67 scored counties in Wisconsin, St. Croix County scores highest, at 90 (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. Wisconsin scores 72 for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (upper middle), #5 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 Wisconsin. It maps the clothing, shoe and laundry businesses 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.

Clothing and shoe stores3,138 listings
Laundromats438 listings
Dry cleaners186 listings

Screening a site or an acquisition in Wisconsin?

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

Run a site report See plans