County profile · Iowa
Carroll County, IA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Carroll County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 20,303
- −2.0% since 2020
- Households
- 8,801
- Median household income
- $72,930
- +23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $176,000
- Jobs located here
- 10,716
- Highest market score
- 56
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #889 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Carroll County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Carroll 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 20,303 people live in Carroll County, in 8,801 households. Population estimates put the population change in Carroll County from 2020 to 2025 at −2.0%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Carroll County is $72,930 a year, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 23.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Carroll County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (65).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Carroll County are for fast food and sandwich shops (56); convenience stores (53); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (47). Carroll County ranks #889 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
Carroll County is part of the Carroll area. For its number of households, Carroll County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for car washes and detailers (3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (47% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Carroll County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Carroll 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 | 56 | #889 of 2,222 | 9 | 10.2 | $3.7M | 121 | 16 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #1,006 of 2,261 | 7 | 8.0 | $7.5M | 95 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 47 | #966 of 1,771 | 7 | 8.0 | $1.5M | 90 | 6 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 45 | #1,115 of 1,886 | 8 | 9.1 | $1.5M | 153 | 12 |
| Pizza | 45 | #1,230 of 2,090 | 8 | 9.1 | $4.1M | 81 | 16 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,307 of 2,088 | 13 | 14.8 | $572K | 86 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 44 | #1,441 of 2,402 | 22 | 25.0 | $2.4M | 70 | 5 |
| Real estate | 42 | #1,503 of 2,229 | 18 | 20.5 | Index only | 155 | 10 |
| Nail salons | 41 | #927 of 1,328 | 5 | 5.7 | $1.7M | 102 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 41 | #1,478 of 2,200 | 12 | 13.6 | $593K | 68 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 40 | #978 of 1,422 | 5 | 5.7 | $2.4M | 100 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 40 | #1,564 of 2,176 | 16 | 18.2 | Index only | 139 | 6 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #1,654 of 2,394 | 56 | 63.6 | $215K | 141 | 40 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 39 | #1,044 of 1,493 | 5 | 5.7 | $2.1M | 72 | 6 |
| Barbershops | 38 | #960 of 1,356 | 5 | 5.7 | $1.7M | 90 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 36 | #1,779 of 2,405 | 96 | 109.1 | $345K | 93 | 39 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 36 | #1,799 of 2,405 | 52 | 59.1 | $637K | 96 | 17 |
| Auto repair shops | 33 | #1,906 of 2,378 | 23 | 26.1 | $414K | 93 | 16 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 30 | #1,085 of 1,302 | 5 | 5.7 | $2.4M | 77 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | 30 | #1,216 of 1,472 | 5 | 5.7 | $301K | 44 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 29 | #1,499 of 1,707 | 6 | 6.8 | $3.9M | 82 | 12 |
| Grocery stores | 29 | #1,672 of 2,070 | 9 | 10.2 | $5.8M | 62 | 5 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 29 | #1,790 of 2,063 | 12 | 13.6 | $2.8M | 75 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 29 | #1,858 of 2,057 | 11 | 12.5 | $2.1M | 88 | 25 |
| Hair salons | 29 | #2,051 of 2,339 | 24 | 27.3 | $354K | 82 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 28 | #2,183 of 2,385 | 49 | 55.7 | $173K | 81 | 10 |
| Gyms | 26 | #1,577 of 1,792 | 10 | 11.4 | $744K | 57 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 25 | #1,640 of 1,769 | 14 | 15.9 | $606K | 69 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 24 | #1,996 of 2,210 | 27 | 30.7 | $622K | 71 | 11 |
| Auto repair and car care | 23 | #2,210 of 2,401 | 48 | 54.5 | $198K | 74 | 22 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 21 | #1,931 of 2,087 | 23 | 26.1 | $731K | 58 | 11 |
| Gas stations | 20 | #2,209 of 2,358 | 18 | 20.5 | $1.3M | 57 | 17 |
| Veterinarians | 19 | #1,393 of 1,485 | 6 | 6.8 | $1.2M | 44 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 17 | #1,387 of 1,451 | 10 | 11.4 | $952K | 38 | 5 |
| Chiropractors | 17 | #1,463 of 1,490 | 13 | 14.8 | $928K | 39 | 9 |
| Child care and preschools | 16 | #1,538 of 1,611 | 7 | 8.0 | $478K | 48 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 8 | #2,257 of 2,272 | 19 | 21.6 | $777K | 62 | 27 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.5 | $8.3M | 200 | 6 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $3.2M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.4M | 93 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $4M | 226 | 11 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $7.8M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $3.2M | 127 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $11.7M | Too few | 13 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $5.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $3.7M | Too few | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $16.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $16.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.4M | Too few | 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 Carroll 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 | $9.5M | $1,081 | 113 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $24.3M | $2,756 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $33.1M | $3,763 | 92 |
| Groceries | $52.2M | $5,937 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $8.5M | $964 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.3M | $380 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $7.4M | $846 | 86 |
| Medical and dental services | $12.1M | $1,371 | 106 |
| Pets | $7.1M | $808 | 89 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $16.8M | $1,910 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $14.8M | $1,678 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $23.4M | $2,659 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10.6M | $1,201 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $121M | $13,748 | 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 Carroll County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 20,303−2.0% since 2020
- Households
- 8,801
- Median age
- 41.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 570 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 36
- Median household income
- $72,930+23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $93,964
- Median home value
- $176,000
- Jobs located here
- 10,716
- Daytime population
- 20,571Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Carroll 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 Carroll 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 Carroll County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Carroll County at 20,303 people in 2025, down 2.0% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 8,801 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 23.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in Carroll County, IA spend?
Households in Carroll County spend about $121M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $52.2M on groceries and $33.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Carroll County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (65).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Carroll County, IA?
Of the business types scored in Carroll County, fast food and sandwich shops (56); convenience stores (53); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (47) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #889 of 2,222 scored counties.
How does Carroll County, IA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Carroll County is $72,930, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.0% 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. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for car washes and detailers (3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (47% 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. 37 of the 56 business types have a score in Carroll 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 Carroll 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 Carroll 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 Carroll 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.