County profile · Iowa
Buchanan County, IA market data
How Buchanan County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 20,883
- +1.3% since 2020
- Households
- 8,252
- Median household income
- $78,236
- +20.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $176,000
- Jobs located here
- 6,604
- Highest market score
- 79
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #149 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Buchanan County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Buchanan 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
Buchanan County has an estimated 20,883 people and 8,252 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Buchanan County grew 1.3%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Buchanan County is $78,236, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 20.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Buchanan 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 (63).
Of the business types scored in Buchanan County, fast food and sandwich shops (79); medical and dental practices (77); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (75) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #149 of 2,222 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (66% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Buchanan County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Buchanan 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 | 79 | #149 of 2,222 | 7 | 8.5 | $4.4M | 146 | 6 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 77 | #155 of 2,394 | 35 | 42.4 | $324K | 212 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 75 | #223 of 2,210 | 6 | 7.3 | $2.6M | 295 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 75 | #236 of 2,401 | 33 | 40.0 | $314K | 117 | 9 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 73 | #173 of 2,088 | 6 | 7.3 | $1.1M | 169 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 73 | #276 of 2,087 | 5 | 6.1 | $3.1M | 246 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 73 | #308 of 2,405 | 61 | 73.9 | $510K | 138 | 23 |
| Auto repair shops | 72 | #290 of 2,378 | 18 | 21.8 | $577K | 130 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 71 | #334 of 2,405 | 28 | 33.9 | $1.1M | 167 | 12 |
| Spas and skin care | 68 | #268 of 1,769 | 5 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 182 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 66 | #360 of 1,889 | 5 | 6.1 | $6.2M | 150 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 63 | #415 of 2,176 | 9 | 10.9 | Index only | 231 | 4 |
| Real estate | 62 | #491 of 2,229 | 11 | 13.3 | Index only | 238 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 60 | #668 of 2,385 | 34 | 41.2 | $234K | 110 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 60 | #810 of 2,402 | 18 | 21.8 | $2.7M | 81 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 57 | #866 of 2,358 | 11 | 13.3 | $2.4M | 102 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 54 | #857 of 2,063 | 8 | 9.7 | $3.9M | 105 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 54 | #877 of 2,070 | 5 | 6.1 | $9.9M | 106 | 4 |
| Pizza | 54 | #880 of 2,090 | 11 | 13.3 | $2.8M | 56 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 51 | #1,092 of 2,261 | 9 | 10.9 | $5.5M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 45 | #1,442 of 2,339 | 21 | 25.4 | $380K | 88 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 44 | #860 of 1,356 | 5 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 85 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 40 | #1,195 of 1,707 | 5 | 6.1 | $4.4M | 92 | 10 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 34 | #1,194 of 1,493 | 9 | 10.9 | $1.1M | 37 | 5 |
| Chiropractors | 32 | #1,228 of 1,490 | 7 | 8.5 | $1.6M | 68 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 31 | #1,780 of 2,272 | 16 | 19.4 | $1M | 81 | 10 |
| Home repair trades | 31 | #1,827 of 2,057 | 14 | 17.0 | $1.6M | 64 | 16 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 30 | #1,584 of 1,771 | 10 | 12.1 | $984K | 59 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 29 | #1,898 of 2,200 | 13 | 15.8 | $517K | 59 | 8 |
| Veterinarians | 25 | #1,314 of 1,485 | 5 | 6.1 | $1.3M | 49 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | 21 | #1,391 of 1,472 | 7 | 8.5 | $173K | 25 | 5 |
| Roofing and gutters | 18 | #1,130 of 1,177 | 8 | 9.7 | $2.7M | 32 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.8 | $2.8M | 159 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.8 | $2.6M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.6 | $3.5M | 137 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.6 | $3.5M | 112 | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.6 | $2.2M | 172 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.6 | $2.2M | 88 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $1.5M | Too few | 6 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $5.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $21.8M | Too few | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $9.8M | Too few | 6 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $15.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $6.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $8M | 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 |
| Pest control | 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 Buchanan 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 | $10.4M | $1,258 | 131 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $26.7M | $3,232 | 125 |
| Food away from home | $31.1M | $3,769 | 93 |
| Groceries | $49.3M | $5,974 | 95 |
| Personal care products and services | $8M | $966 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3M | $366 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.7M | $816 | 83 |
| Medical and dental services | $11.3M | $1,374 | 107 |
| Pets | $6.7M | $815 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $15.6M | $1,891 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $16.2M | $1,964 | 100 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $21.8M | $2,644 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.8M | $1,193 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $113.4M | $13,741 | 82 |
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 Buchanan County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 20,883+1.3% since 2020
- Households
- 8,252
- Median age
- 40.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 82%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 571 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 36
- Median household income
- $78,236+20.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $89,957
- Median home value
- $176,000
- Jobs located here
- 6,604
- Daytime population
- 17,376Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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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- Black Hawk County, IA131,049 people
- Delaware County, IA17,558 people
- Benton County, IA25,724 people
- Bremer County, IA25,204 people
- Linn County, IA230,004 people
- Clayton County, IA17,013 people
- Jones County, IA20,896 people
Questions
How fast is Buchanan County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Buchanan County at 20,883 people in 2025, up 1.3% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 8,252 households. Median household income rose 20.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Buchanan County, IA spend?
Households in Buchanan County spend about $113.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $49.3M on groceries and $31.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Buchanan 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 (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Buchanan County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Buchanan County are for fast food and sandwich shops (79); medical and dental practices (77); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (75). Buchanan County ranks #149 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does Buchanan County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Buchanan County is $78,236 a year, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $176,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Buchanan County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (66% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (65% 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. 32 of the 56 business types have a score in Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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.