County profile · Iowa
Cerro Gordo County, IA market data
How Cerro Gordo County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 42,372
- −1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 19,538
- Median household income
- $68,189
- +26.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $166,400
- Jobs located here
- 22,381
- Highest market score
- 63
- Barbershops, #379 of 1,356 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Cerro Gordo County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Cerro Gordo 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
Cerro Gordo County has an estimated 42,372 people and 19,538 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Cerro Gordo County declined 1.5%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Cerro Gordo County is $68,189, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Cerro Gordo County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (63).
Of the business types scored in Cerro Gordo County, barbershops (63), child care centers and preschools (54) and nail salons (50) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For barbershops, that ranks #379 of 1,356 scored counties.
Cerro Gordo County is part of the Mason City area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for primary care and pediatric clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Cerro Gordo County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Cerro Gordo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbershops | 63 | #379 of 1,356 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.7M | 195 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 54 | #702 of 1,611 | 5 | 2.6 | $1.4M | 143 | 11 |
| Nail salons | 50 | #701 of 1,328 | 10 | 5.1 | $1.8M | 110 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | 50 | #712 of 1,422 | 11 | 5.6 | $2.4M | 100 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 50 | #1,145 of 2,358 | 14 | 7.2 | $3.8M | 157 | 28 |
| Funeral homes | 43 | #892 of 1,472 | 7 | 3.6 | $452K | 67 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 42 | #1,431 of 2,222 | 26 | 13.3 | $2.8M | 90 | 39 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 42 | #1,516 of 2,402 | 45 | 23.0 | $2.5M | 75 | 13 |
| Convenience stores | 41 | #1,441 of 2,261 | 21 | 10.7 | $5.4M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 40 | #942 of 1,334 | 10 | 5.1 | $1.6M | 79 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 40 | #1,031 of 1,530 | 14 | 7.2 | $1.5M | 59 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 40 | #1,539 of 2,200 | 30 | 15.4 | $518K | 59 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 39 | #1,200 of 1,656 | 34 | 17.4 | $779K | 44 | 16 |
| Pizza | 38 | #1,510 of 2,090 | 19 | 9.7 | $3.8M | 74 | 39 |
| Real estate | 36 | #1,827 of 2,229 | 43 | 22.0 | Index only | 142 | 28 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 33 | #1,041 of 1,302 | 13 | 6.7 | $2M | 65 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 33 | #1,044 of 1,327 | 10 | 5.1 | $2.1M | 67 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 33 | #1,120 of 1,461 | 9 | 4.6 | $1.7M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 33 | #1,131 of 1,485 | 8 | 4.1 | $1.9M | 71 | 7 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 32 | #1,579 of 1,886 | 27 | 13.8 | $981K | 100 | 23 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 32 | #1,800 of 2,210 | 52 | 26.6 | $706K | 80 | 16 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 32 | #1,953 of 2,405 | 110 | 56.3 | $652K | 98 | 47 |
| Car washes and detailing | 31 | #1,184 of 1,451 | 10 | 5.1 | $2.1M | 82 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 31 | #1,613 of 2,070 | 16 | 8.2 | $7.1M | 77 | 13 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 31 | #1,993 of 2,176 | 41 | 21.0 | Index only | 118 | 19 |
| Chiropractors | 30 | #1,274 of 1,490 | 15 | 7.7 | $1.8M | 74 | 12 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 30 | #1,717 of 2,087 | 40 | 20.5 | $918K | 72 | 16 |
| Auto repair shops | 30 | #2,017 of 2,378 | 56 | 28.7 | $368K | 83 | 28 |
| Gyms | 29 | #1,514 of 1,792 | 18 | 9.2 | $884K | 68 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 29 | #1,776 of 2,063 | 22 | 11.3 | $3.3M | 88 | 19 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 29 | #1,820 of 2,088 | 33 | 16.9 | $482K | 73 | 12 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 28 | #710 of 777 | 5 | 2.6 | $3.2M | 78 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 28 | #1,533 of 1,707 | 21 | 10.7 | $2.4M | 51 | 15 |
| Auto repair and car care | 27 | #2,116 of 2,401 | 102 | 52.2 | $202K | 75 | 37 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 27 | #2,125 of 2,405 | 223 | 114.1 | $322K | 87 | 105 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 27 | #2,187 of 2,394 | 290 | 148.4 | $91K | 60 | 62 |
| Electricians | 25 | #1,050 of 1,160 | 8 | 4.1 | $6.4M | 53 | 14 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 23 | #1,768 of 1,889 | 23 | 11.8 | $3.1M | 75 | 19 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 23 | #2,263 of 2,385 | 109 | 55.8 | $169K | 79 | 31 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 22 | #1,425 of 1,493 | 14 | 7.2 | $1.6M | 56 | 21 |
| Spas and skin care | 22 | #1,671 of 1,769 | 26 | 13.3 | $708K | 81 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 20 | #2,005 of 2,057 | 39 | 20.0 | $1.3M | 54 | 40 |
| Hair salons | 20 | #2,225 of 2,339 | 67 | 34.3 | $275K | 64 | 20 |
| Roofing and gutters | 15 | #1,142 of 1,177 | 10 | 5.1 | $5.1M | 60 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 15 | #1,762 of 1,771 | 24 | 12.3 | $961K | 57 | 40 |
| Insurance agencies | 13 | #2,204 of 2,272 | 35 | 17.9 | $915K | 73 | 31 |
| House cleaning | 10 | #845 of 847 | 9 | 4.6 | $2.6M | 40 | 16 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.0 | $3.9M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $12.2M | 98 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $10.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $23.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | 4 |
| 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 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Cerro Gordo 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 | $20.6M | $1,055 | 110 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $52.6M | $2,691 | 104 |
| Food away from home | $71.8M | $3,673 | 90 |
| Groceries | $114.2M | $5,847 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $18.4M | $943 | 94 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.2M | $368 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $15.9M | $815 | 83 |
| Medical and dental services | $26.5M | $1,355 | 105 |
| Pets | $15.5M | $795 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $36.7M | $1,879 | 91 |
| Vehicle insurance | $32M | $1,639 | 84 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $50.9M | $2,604 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $23.1M | $1,180 | 83 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $264M | $13,510 | 81 |
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 Cerro Gordo County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 42,372−1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 19,538
- Median age
- 45.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 70%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 568 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 75
- Median household income
- $68,189+26.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $92,087
- Median home value
- $166,400
- Jobs located here
- 22,381
- Daytime population
- 45,188Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Cerro Gordo County at 42,372 people in 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 19,538 households. Median household income rose 26.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Cerro Gordo County, IA spend?
Households in Cerro Gordo County spend about $264M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $114.2M on groceries and $71.8M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Cerro Gordo County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 110, 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 Cerro Gordo County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Cerro Gordo County are for barbershops (63), child care centers and preschools (54) and nail salons (50). Cerro Gordo County ranks #379 of 1,356 scored counties for barbershops.
How does Cerro Gordo County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Cerro Gordo County is $68,189 a year, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $166,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Cerro Gordo County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for primary care and pediatric clinics (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (43% 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. 47 of the 56 business types have a score in Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo 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.