County profile · Iowa
Buena Vista County, IA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Buena Vista County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 20,449
- −1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 7,546
- Median household income
- $71,719
- +25.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $159,500
- Jobs located here
- 11,467
- Highest market score
- 69
- Auto repair shops, #372 of 2,378 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Buena Vista County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Buena Vista 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
An estimated 20,449 people live in Buena Vista County, in 7,546 households. Population estimates put the population change in Buena Vista County from 2020 to 2025 at −1.7%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Buena Vista County is $71,719 a year, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Buena Vista County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (64).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Buena Vista County are for auto repair shops (69), fast food and sandwich shops (66) and auto repair and car care businesses (62). Buena Vista County ranks #372 of 2,378 scored counties for auto repair shops.
Buena Vista County is part of the Storm Lake area. For its number of households, Buena Vista County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (83% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Buena Vista County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Buena Vista 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 69 | #372 of 2,378 | 15 | 19.9 | $597K | 134 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 66 | #512 of 2,222 | 8 | 10.6 | $3.6M | 117 | 8 |
| Auto repair and car care | 62 | #676 of 2,401 | 33 | 43.7 | $272K | 101 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #649 of 2,200 | 6 | 8.0 | $1M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 59 | #619 of 2,229 | 12 | 15.9 | Index only | 200 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 55 | #736 of 1,889 | 6 | 8.0 | $4.8M | 115 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 52 | #937 of 2,176 | 12 | 15.9 | Index only | 159 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 51 | #1,126 of 2,394 | 50 | 66.3 | $209K | 137 | 17 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #1,290 of 2,405 | 85 | 112.6 | $336K | 91 | 22 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,205 of 2,090 | 10 | 13.3 | $2.9M | 56 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 44 | #1,475 of 2,405 | 48 | 63.6 | $595K | 90 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 41 | #1,540 of 2,358 | 11 | 14.6 | $2.1M | 87 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #1,401 of 2,063 | 11 | 14.6 | $2.6M | 70 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 38 | #1,550 of 2,088 | 11 | 14.6 | $572K | 86 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 38 | #1,676 of 2,402 | 22 | 29.2 | $2.1M | 61 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 37 | #1,851 of 2,385 | 33 | 43.7 | $222K | 105 | 8 |
| Spas and skin care | 34 | #1,440 of 1,769 | 9 | 11.9 | $815K | 93 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 34 | #1,683 of 2,261 | 11 | 14.6 | $4.1M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 33 | #1,424 of 1,792 | 7 | 9.3 | $898K | 69 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 32 | #1,182 of 1,451 | 6 | 8.0 | $1.5M | 59 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 27 | #1,724 of 2,070 | 8 | 10.6 | $5.6M | 61 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 27 | #2,100 of 2,339 | 21 | 27.8 | $349K | 81 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 25 | #1,974 of 2,210 | 22 | 29.2 | $657K | 75 | 10 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 24 | #1,865 of 2,087 | 17 | 22.5 | $850K | 67 | 10 |
| Home repair trades | 22 | #1,968 of 2,057 | 13 | 17.2 | $1.6M | 64 | 17 |
| Chiropractors | 21 | #1,419 of 1,490 | 9 | 11.9 | $1.2M | 48 | 6 |
| Insurance agencies | 15 | #2,173 of 2,272 | 15 | 19.9 | $927K | 74 | 20 |
| Electricians | 13 | #1,144 of 1,160 | 7 | 9.3 | $2.9M | 24 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $703K | 70 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $2.6M | 265 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $296K | 44 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $5.1M | 106 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $2.3M | 78 | 7 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $2.3M | 136 | 12 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $1.6M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $2.6M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $3M | 119 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $10.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $14.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $10.4M | Too few | 6 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
| 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 |
| Property management | 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 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Buena Vista 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 | $9M | $1,188 | 124 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $22.8M | $3,021 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $28.5M | $3,782 | 93 |
| Groceries | $45.2M | $5,988 | 95 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.3M | $972 | 97 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.8M | $373 | 64 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.3M | $833 | 85 |
| Medical and dental services | $10.4M | $1,382 | 107 |
| Pets | $6.2M | $817 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $14.5M | $1,915 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $13.9M | $1,843 | 94 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $20.2M | $2,677 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9.1M | $1,211 | 86 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $104.2M | $13,804 | 83 |
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 Buena Vista County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 20,449−1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 7,546
- Median age
- 36.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 575 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 36
- Median household income
- $71,719+25.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $94,361
- Median home value
- $159,500
- Jobs located here
- 11,467
- Daytime population
- 22,374Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Buena Vista County at 20,449 people in 2025, down 1.7% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 7,546 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Buena Vista County, IA spend?
Households in Buena Vista County spend about $104.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $45.2M on groceries and $28.5M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Buena Vista County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Buena Vista County, IA?
Of the business types scored in Buena Vista County, auto repair shops (69), fast food and sandwich shops (66) and auto repair and car care businesses (62) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair shops, that ranks #372 of 2,378 scored counties.
How does Buena Vista County, IA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Buena Vista County is $71,719, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $159,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (83% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (59% 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. 28 of the 56 business types have a score in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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.