Metro area profile · Iowa
Cedar Rapids, IA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Cedar Rapids metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 279,285
- +1.0% since 2020
- Households
- 114,000
- Median household income
- $78,080
- +20.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $211,500
- Jobs located here
- 142,164
- Highest market score
- 78
- Nail salons, #11 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Cedar Rapids metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Cedar Rapids metro area. 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 279,285 people live in the Cedar Rapids metro area, in 114,000 households. Population estimates show the Cedar Rapids metro area grew 1.0% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Cedar Rapids metro area is $78,080 a year, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 20.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Cedar Rapids metro area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (73).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Cedar Rapids metro area are for nail salons (78), oil change and quick-lube shops (78) and barbershops (70). The Cedar Rapids metro area ranks #11 of 387 scored metro areas for nail salons.
The Cedar Rapids metro area takes in 3 counties: Linn County, Benton County and Jones County. For its number of households, the Cedar Rapids metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for roofing and gutter companies (89% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for mortgage brokers and lenders (58% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Cedar Rapids metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Cedar Rapids metro area with other metro areas 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 metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nail salons | 78 | #11 of 387 | 42 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 165 | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 78 | #13 of 290 | 6 | 0.5 | $21.4M | 156 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 70 | #49 of 387 | 38 | 3.3 | $3M | 161 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 70 | #54 of 382 | 19 | 1.7 | $5.2M | 115 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 70 | #69 of 387 | 138 | 12.1 | $3.3M | 108 | 169 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 69 | #29 of 197 | 5 | 0.4 | $33M | 134 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 69 | #60 of 387 | 118 | 10.4 | $1.4M | 142 | 97 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 69 | #61 of 387 | 209 | 18.3 | $1.1M | 125 | 72 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 68 | #70 of 387 | 181 | 15.9 | $3.9M | 114 | 46 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 65 | #92 of 387 | 157 | 13.8 | $1.5M | 115 | 65 |
| Convenience stores | 65 | #95 of 387 | 82 | 7.2 | $8.5M | 108 | 11 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 63 | #69 of 373 | 21 | 1.8 | Index only | 199 | 11 |
| Grocery stores | 63 | #97 of 387 | 66 | 5.8 | $10.6M | 114 | 35 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 62 | #113 of 387 | 1,118 | 98.1 | $406K | 110 | 475 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #78 of 387 | 479 | 42.0 | $241K | 113 | 100 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 61 | #120 of 387 | 98 | 8.6 | $1.7M | 95 | 102 |
| Laundromats | 59 | #119 of 364 | 19 | 1.7 | $12.1M | 97 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 59 | #130 of 386 | 62 | 5.4 | $2.7M | 111 | 44 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 58 | #117 of 386 | 45 | 3.9 | $3.7M | 117 | 22 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 57 | #139 of 387 | 90 | 7.9 | $5M | 122 | 76 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 55 | #152 of 387 | 65 | 5.7 | $4.9M | 103 | 87 |
| Tire shops | 55 | #177 of 386 | 45 | 3.9 | $2.9M | 114 | 21 |
| Pest control | 53 | #155 of 345 | 13 | 1.1 | $11M | 108 | 11 |
| Gas stations | 53 | #172 of 387 | 104 | 9.1 | $3.1M | 130 | 126 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #179 of 387 | 435 | 38.2 | $295K | 110 | 200 |
| Hair salons | 52 | #156 of 387 | 260 | 22.8 | $445K | 103 | 65 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 52 | #177 of 387 | 1,211 | 106.2 | $136K | 89 | 338 |
| Auto repair shops | 52 | #186 of 387 | 258 | 22.6 | $498K | 112 | 148 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 51 | #171 of 387 | 226 | 19.8 | Index only | 132 | 104 |
| Real estate | 51 | #174 of 387 | 292 | 25.6 | Index only | 129 | 188 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 51 | #176 of 387 | 592 | 51.9 | $767K | 116 | 236 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 51 | #192 of 381 | 38 | 3.3 | $3.4M | 110 | 32 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 50 | #194 of 387 | 114 | 10.0 | $4M | 108 | 69 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 49 | #195 of 387 | 53 | 4.6 | $2M | 99 | 30 |
| Spas and skin care | 49 | #198 of 387 | 124 | 10.9 | $933K | 106 | 26 |
| Pizza | 48 | #216 of 387 | 138 | 12.1 | $3.3M | 65 | 169 |
| Car washes and detailing | 47 | #222 of 387 | 53 | 4.6 | $2.4M | 96 | 25 |
| Funeral homes | 46 | #201 of 377 | 24 | 2.1 | $671K | 99 | 15 |
| Property management | 44 | #236 of 374 | 35 | 3.1 | Index only | 84 | 35 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 43 | #234 of 347 | 27 | 2.4 | $3.9M | 97 | 37 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 41 | #280 of 387 | 190 | 16.7 | $559K | 84 | 67 |
| Gyms | 38 | #301 of 387 | 110 | 9.6 | $965K | 74 | 37 |
| Veterinarians | 37 | #283 of 384 | 47 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 77 | 33 |
| Pet businesses | 37 | #291 of 387 | 137 | 12.0 | $723K | 82 | 71 |
| Home repair trades | 37 | #299 of 387 | 180 | 15.8 | $1.8M | 73 | 181 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 36 | #273 of 385 | 76 | 6.7 | $1.9M | 65 | 88 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 35 | #306 of 387 | 118 | 10.4 | $1.2M | 72 | 172 |
| Electricians | 35 | #314 of 383 | 38 | 3.3 | $8.4M | 70 | 72 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 33 | #312 of 386 | 48 | 4.2 | $2.1M | 81 | 35 |
| Roofing and gutters | 31 | #331 of 381 | 77 | 6.8 | $4.1M | 49 | 22 |
| House cleaning | 30 | #331 of 375 | 29 | 2.5 | $5M | 77 | 73 |
| Chiropractors | 29 | #349 of 386 | 108 | 9.5 | $1.5M | 64 | 73 |
| Home inspectors | 27 | #228 of 243 | 10 | 0.9 | Index only | 62 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 25 | #338 of 387 | 182 | 16.0 | $1.1M | 86 | 157 |
| Child care and preschools | 21 | #371 of 387 | 77 | 6.8 | $627K | 63 | 98 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.3 | $76.6M | 489 | 3 |
Household spending in the Cedar Rapids metro area
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 | $128.4M | $1,127 | 118 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $322.8M | $2,832 | 109 |
| Food away from home | $454.3M | $3,986 | 98 |
| Groceries | $699.1M | $6,132 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $115.6M | $1,014 | 101 |
| Child care and other personal services | $48.3M | $424 | 73 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $106.1M | $931 | 95 |
| Medical and dental services | $164.9M | $1,447 | 112 |
| Pets | $99.1M | $869 | 96 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $229.8M | $2,016 | 98 |
| Vehicle insurance | $195.6M | $1,716 | 88 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $317.3M | $2,783 | 92 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $143.6M | $1,260 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.6B | $14,291 | 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 the Cedar Rapids metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 279,285+1.0% since 2020
- Households
- 114,000
- Median age
- 40.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 2,009 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 138
- Median household income
- $78,080+20.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $102,989
- Median home value
- $211,500
- Jobs located here
- 142,164
- Daytime population
- 283,130Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Cedar Rapids metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. 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 the Cedar Rapids metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Cedar Rapids metro area 3
- Linn County, IA230,004 people
- Benton County, IA25,724 people
- Jones County, IA20,896 people
Other markets based in Iowa 12
- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area731,120 people
- Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area381,503 people
- Iowa City, IA metro area179,200 people
- Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area168,637 people
- Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area144,682 people
- Ames, IA metro area127,134 people
- Dubuque, IA metro area99,030 people
- Mason City, IA area49,982 people
- Clinton, IA area46,268 people
- Burlington, IA-IL area44,680 people
- Muscatine, IA area42,559 people
- Marshalltown, IA area40,114 people
Questions
How fast is the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Cedar Rapids metro area at 279,285 people in 2025, up 1.0% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 114,000 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 20.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area spend?
Households in the Cedar Rapids metro area spend about $1.6B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $699.1M on groceries and $454.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Cedar Rapids metro area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (73).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Cedar Rapids metro area, nail salons (78), oil change and quick-lube shops (78) and barbershops (70) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For nail salons, that ranks #11 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Cedar Rapids metro area is $78,080, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $211,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for roofing and gutter companies (89% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for mortgage brokers and lenders (58% 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. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in the Cedar Rapids metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Cedar Rapids metro area. 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 the Cedar Rapids metro area?
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 the Cedar Rapids metro area. 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.