County profile · Iowa
Black Hawk County, IA market data
How Black Hawk County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 131,532
- +0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 54,563
- Median household income
- $66,417
- +24.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $188,900
- Jobs located here
- 75,052
- Highest market score
- 71
- Tire shops, #241 of 1,530 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Black Hawk County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Black Hawk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Black Hawk County has an estimated 131,532 people and 54,563 households. Population estimates show Black Hawk County grew 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Black Hawk County is $66,417, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 24.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Black Hawk County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 111, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (63).
Of the business types scored in Black Hawk County, tire shops (71), martial arts and dance studios (67) and HVAC and plumbing companies (66) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For tire shops, that ranks #241 of 1,530 scored counties.
Black Hawk County is part of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for physical therapy clinics (72% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for martial arts and dance studios (51% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Black Hawk County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Black Hawk County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tire shops | 71 | #241 of 1,530 | 16 | 2.9 | $3.6M | 145 | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 67 | #212 of 1,334 | 13 | 2.4 | $3.4M | 166 | 10 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 66 | #287 of 1,707 | 21 | 3.8 | $6.7M | 141 | 31 |
| Pet stores | 62 | #283 of 974 | 8 | 1.5 | $5.4M | 119 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 62 | #641 of 2,358 | 41 | 7.5 | $3.6M | 152 | 55 |
| Nail salons | 61 | #364 of 1,328 | 20 | 3.7 | $2.6M | 153 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 60 | #568 of 1,886 | 52 | 9.5 | $1.4M | 143 | 36 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 58 | #469 of 1,302 | 22 | 4.0 | $3.3M | 106 | 9 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 58 | #479 of 1,327 | 16 | 2.9 | $3.6M | 118 | 15 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 57 | #558 of 1,461 | 20 | 3.7 | $2.1M | 84 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 57 | #615 of 1,656 | 37 | 6.8 | $2M | 111 | 63 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 56 | #768 of 2,088 | 59 | 10.8 | $739K | 112 | 23 |
| Pet businesses | 56 | #820 of 2,200 | 54 | 9.9 | $795K | 91 | 24 |
| Auto repair shops | 56 | #892 of 2,378 | 107 | 19.6 | $544K | 122 | 65 |
| Gyms | 55 | #730 of 1,792 | 36 | 6.6 | $1.2M | 93 | 13 |
| Barbershops | 54 | #594 of 1,356 | 22 | 4.0 | $2.3M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 54 | #998 of 2,405 | 269 | 49.3 | $739K | 111 | 80 |
| Auto repair and car care | 54 | #1,029 of 2,401 | 200 | 36.7 | $291K | 108 | 84 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 53 | #380 of 887 | 15 | 2.7 | Index only | 125 | 3 |
| Veterinarians | 53 | #659 of 1,485 | 17 | 3.1 | $2.5M | 93 | 14 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 52 | #353 of 777 | 10 | 1.8 | $4.4M | 107 | 13 |
| Spas and skin care | 52 | #818 of 1,769 | 52 | 9.5 | $981K | 112 | 9 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 51 | #967 of 2,063 | 45 | 8.2 | $4.4M | 119 | 31 |
| Home repair trades | 50 | #1,037 of 2,057 | 63 | 11.5 | $2.2M | 92 | 66 |
| Funeral homes | 49 | #720 of 1,472 | 12 | 2.2 | $602K | 89 | 8 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #1,155 of 2,261 | 51 | 9.3 | $6.2M | 79 | 18 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 48 | #1,281 of 2,385 | 217 | 39.8 | $235K | 111 | 40 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #1,328 of 2,339 | 120 | 22.0 | $425K | 99 | 29 |
| Grocery stores | 46 | #1,136 of 2,070 | 34 | 6.2 | $9.3M | 101 | 31 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 46 | #1,352 of 2,402 | 104 | 19.1 | $3.1M | 90 | 49 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 46 | #1,359 of 2,405 | 547 | 100.3 | $363K | 98 | 214 |
| Roofing and gutters | 45 | #702 of 1,177 | 21 | 3.8 | $6.7M | 79 | 8 |
| Car washes and detailing | 45 | #855 of 1,451 | 28 | 5.1 | $2.1M | 83 | 10 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 44 | #1,147 of 1,889 | 50 | 9.2 | $4M | 96 | 31 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 44 | #1,376 of 2,222 | 78 | 14.3 | $2.5M | 83 | 103 |
| Physical therapy | 42 | #941 of 1,422 | 51 | 9.3 | $1.4M | 60 | 16 |
| Pizza | 41 | #1,405 of 2,090 | 57 | 10.4 | $3.5M | 69 | 103 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 41 | #1,474 of 2,210 | 135 | 24.7 | $754K | 86 | 33 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 39 | #1,445 of 2,087 | 104 | 19.1 | $978K | 77 | 33 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 39 | #1,644 of 2,176 | 111 | 20.3 | Index only | 121 | 35 |
| Electricians | 36 | #899 of 1,160 | 21 | 3.8 | $6.7M | 56 | 27 |
| Property management | 35 | #697 of 910 | 13 | 2.4 | Index only | 101 | 29 |
| Real estate | 34 | #1,912 of 2,229 | 143 | 26.2 | Index only | 118 | 75 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 34 | #1,959 of 2,394 | 770 | 141.1 | $95K | 62 | 149 |
| Laundromats | 33 | #576 of 785 | 11 | 2.0 | $9.3M | 74 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 33 | #1,206 of 1,490 | 48 | 8.8 | $1.5M | 64 | 25 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 29 | #1,304 of 1,493 | 39 | 7.1 | $1.6M | 56 | 47 |
| Insurance agencies | 28 | #1,860 of 2,272 | 77 | 14.1 | $1.2M | 94 | 65 |
| Child care and preschools | 26 | #1,412 of 1,611 | 42 | 7.7 | $474K | 47 | 35 |
| Pest control | 23 | #648 of 699 | 10 | 1.8 | $6.4M | 63 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 20 | #1,734 of 1,771 | 68 | 12.5 | $940K | 56 | 95 |
| House cleaning | 18 | #830 of 847 | 19 | 3.5 | $3.4M | 53 | 37 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.7 | Index only | 70 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.5 | $33.9M | 216 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.5 | $19.4M | 141 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.5 | $24.3M | 99 | Under 3 |
Household spending in Black Hawk County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $58.2M | $1,067 | 111 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $148.8M | $2,727 | 105 |
| Food away from home | $198.7M | $3,641 | 89 |
| Groceries | $317.7M | $5,822 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $51M | $935 | 93 |
| Child care and other personal services | $19.9M | $365 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $43.6M | $799 | 81 |
| Medical and dental services | $73M | $1,337 | 104 |
| Pets | $42.9M | $787 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $101.8M | $1,865 | 91 |
| Vehicle insurance | $90.4M | $1,657 | 85 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $141M | $2,584 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $63.9M | $1,171 | 83 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $732.7M | $13,428 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Black Hawk County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 131,532+0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 54,563
- Median age
- 37.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 566 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 232
- Median household income
- $66,417+24.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $89,158
- Median home value
- $188,900
- Jobs located here
- 75,052
- Daytime population
- 146,507Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Black Hawk County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Black Hawk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Iowa 8
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- Butler County, IA14,268 people
- Tama County, IA16,868 people
- Benton County, IA25,724 people
- Fayette County, IA19,288 people
- Chickasaw County, IA11,807 people
Questions
How fast is Black Hawk County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Black Hawk County at 131,532 people in 2025, up 0.4% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 54,563 households. Median household income rose 24.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Black Hawk County, IA spend?
Households in Black Hawk County spend about $732.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $317.7M on groceries and $198.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Black Hawk County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 111, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Black Hawk County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Black Hawk County are for tire shops (71), martial arts and dance studios (67) and HVAC and plumbing companies (66). Black Hawk County ranks #241 of 1,530 scored counties for tire shops.
How does Black Hawk County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Black Hawk County is $66,417 a year, 18% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $188,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Black Hawk County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for physical therapy clinics (72% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for martial arts and dance studios (51% below the U.S. rate).
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. 52 of the 56 business types have a score in Black Hawk County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Black Hawk County. It maps the competitors 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Black Hawk County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Black Hawk County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.