County profile · Iowa
Boone County, IA market data
How Boone County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 26,799
- +0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 10,936
- Median household income
- $83,531
- +30.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $212,400
- Jobs located here
- 9,561
- Highest market score
- 78
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #169 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Boone County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Boone 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
Boone County has an estimated 26,799 people and 10,936 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Boone County grew 0.4%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Boone County is $83,531, 3% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 30.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Boone County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (71).
Of the business types scored in Boone County, fast food and sandwich shops (78), grocery and convenience stores (78) and sit-down restaurants (77) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #169 of 2,222 scored counties.
Boone County is part of the Ames metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for landscaping and lawn care companies (3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (51% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Boone County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Boone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 78 | #169 of 2,222 | 11 | 10.1 | $4M | 131 | 8 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 78 | #219 of 2,402 | 15 | 13.7 | $4.5M | 133 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 77 | #196 of 2,405 | 44 | 40.2 | $997K | 150 | 10 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 76 | #220 of 2,405 | 83 | 75.9 | $528K | 142 | 29 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 75 | #150 of 1,656 | 5 | 4.6 | $3.2M | 178 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 74 | #281 of 2,358 | 8 | 7.3 | $4.3M | 182 | 11 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 71 | #350 of 2,087 | 10 | 9.1 | $2.2M | 173 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 69 | #282 of 1,886 | 8 | 7.3 | $2M | 202 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | 69 | #428 of 2,070 | 5 | 4.6 | $13.5M | 145 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 68 | #398 of 2,394 | 45 | 41.1 | $352K | 231 | 26 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 68 | #437 of 2,210 | 17 | 15.5 | $1.3M | 146 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 67 | #521 of 2,261 | 8 | 7.3 | $8.4M | 107 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 66 | #379 of 1,530 | 5 | 4.6 | $2.7M | 110 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 65 | #462 of 2,385 | 35 | 32.0 | $318K | 150 | 7 |
| Pizza | 64 | #522 of 2,090 | 11 | 10.1 | $4M | 78 | 8 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 63 | #433 of 1,889 | 5 | 4.6 | $8.8M | 212 | 8 |
| Auto repair and car care | 59 | #775 of 2,401 | 42 | 38.4 | $327K | 122 | 21 |
| Hair salons | 57 | #839 of 2,339 | 26 | 23.8 | $428K | 100 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 52 | #1,099 of 2,378 | 29 | 26.5 | $474K | 107 | 16 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 51 | #968 of 2,063 | 10 | 9.1 | $4.4M | 118 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 50 | #1,016 of 2,057 | 12 | 11.0 | $2.5M | 103 | 21 |
| Physical therapy | 47 | #790 of 1,422 | 6 | 5.5 | $2.6M | 110 | 10 |
| Gyms | 43 | #1,169 of 1,792 | 11 | 10.1 | $911K | 70 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 42 | #1,505 of 2,229 | 24 | 21.9 | Index only | 150 | 22 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 40 | #1,495 of 2,088 | 20 | 18.3 | $501K | 76 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 38 | #1,522 of 2,272 | 14 | 12.8 | $1.5M | 120 | 15 |
| Pet businesses | 36 | #1,680 of 2,200 | 17 | 15.5 | $560K | 64 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #1,788 of 2,176 | 23 | 21.0 | Index only | 125 | 16 |
| Funeral homes | 35 | #1,101 of 1,472 | 5 | 4.6 | $326K | 48 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 33 | #1,086 of 1,334 | 8 | 7.3 | $1.3M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 28 | #1,245 of 1,485 | 6 | 5.5 | $1.6M | 58 | 8 |
| Chiropractors | 28 | #1,325 of 1,490 | 13 | 11.9 | $1.2M | 51 | 8 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 21 | #1,730 of 1,771 | 19 | 17.4 | $723K | 43 | 21 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 18 | #1,461 of 1,493 | 16 | 14.6 | $858K | 29 | 16 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $7.5M | 63 | 10 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $7.5M | 158 | 11 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $2.4M | 93 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $7.5M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 318 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.7 | $3.7M | 197 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.7 | $7.3M | 58 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.7 | $3.2M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.8 | $6.9M | Too few | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.8 | $2.3M | Too few | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.8 | $6.9M | Too few | 5 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.8 | $5.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.8 | $6.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $13.7M | Too few | 5 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $15.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $10M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Boone 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 | $13.7M | $1,257 | 131 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $34.8M | $3,181 | 123 |
| Food away from home | $43.9M | $4,010 | 99 |
| Groceries | $67.5M | $6,171 | 98 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.1M | $1,019 | 101 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.5M | $413 | 71 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10M | $916 | 93 |
| Medical and dental services | $15.9M | $1,450 | 113 |
| Pets | $9.5M | $870 | 96 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $21.9M | $2,004 | 98 |
| Vehicle insurance | $21.1M | $1,932 | 99 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $30.1M | $2,755 | 91 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $13.7M | $1,255 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $156.2M | $14,282 | 86 |
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 Boone County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 26,799+0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 10,936
- Median age
- 42.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 80%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 571 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 47
- Median household income
- $83,531+30.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $99,765
- Median home value
- $212,400
- Jobs located here
- 9,561
- Daytime population
- 23,449Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Boone 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 Boone County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Boone County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Boone County at 26,799 people in 2025, up 0.4% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 10,936 households. Median household income rose 30.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Boone County, IA spend?
Households in Boone County spend about $156.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $67.5M on groceries and $43.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Boone County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (71).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Boone County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Boone County are for fast food and sandwich shops (78), grocery and convenience stores (78) and sit-down restaurants (77). Boone County ranks #169 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does Boone County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Boone County is $83,531 a year, 3% above 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 $212,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Boone County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for landscaping and lawn care companies (3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (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. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in Boone 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 Boone 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 Boone 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 Boone 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.