County profile · Iowa
Cherokee County, IA market data
How Cherokee County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 11,369
- −2.4% since 2020
- Households
- 5,045
- Median household income
- $71,269
- +26.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $158,700
- Jobs located here
- 4,572
- Highest market score
- 64
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #580 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Cherokee County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Cherokee 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
Cherokee County has an estimated 11,369 people and 5,045 households. Population estimates show Cherokee County declined 2.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Cherokee County is $71,269, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.0%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Cherokee County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (67).
Of the business types scored in Cherokee County, medical and dental practices (64); salons, barbers and spas (59); and gyms and studios (58) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #580 of 2,394 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for auto repair and car care businesses (55% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (41% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Cherokee County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Cherokee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 64 | #580 of 2,394 | 25 | 49.6 | $278K | 182 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #684 of 2,385 | 15 | 29.7 | $322K | 151 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 58 | #667 of 2,088 | 5 | 9.9 | $846K | 128 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 57 | #682 of 1,886 | 5 | 9.9 | $1.4M | 141 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 49 | #1,227 of 2,405 | 48 | 95.1 | $394K | 106 | 19 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 49 | #1,232 of 2,405 | 27 | 53.5 | $701K | 106 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 47 | #1,321 of 2,402 | 11 | 21.8 | $2.7M | 80 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 44 | #1,326 of 2,261 | 5 | 9.9 | $6M | 76 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 43 | #1,513 of 2,339 | 11 | 21.8 | $439K | 102 | 3 |
| Real estate | 42 | #1,499 of 2,229 | 9 | 17.8 | Index only | 177 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 40 | #1,486 of 2,057 | 6 | 11.9 | $2.2M | 91 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 40 | #1,504 of 2,210 | 10 | 19.8 | $964K | 109 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 40 | #1,517 of 2,200 | 6 | 11.9 | $686K | 78 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #1,782 of 2,176 | 9 | 17.8 | Index only | 140 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 34 | #1,610 of 2,063 | 6 | 11.9 | $3.2M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 34 | #1,888 of 2,401 | 28 | 55.5 | $212K | 79 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 33 | #1,624 of 2,087 | 9 | 17.8 | $1.1M | 84 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 31 | #1,978 of 2,378 | 16 | 31.7 | $372K | 84 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 29 | #1,822 of 2,272 | 7 | 13.9 | $1.3M | 104 | 6 |
| Pizza | 26 | #1,894 of 2,090 | 7 | 13.9 | $2.7M | 53 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 19 | #1,442 of 1,490 | 7 | 13.9 | $993K | 42 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $1.5M | 59 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $489K | 49 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $248K | 37 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $1.5M | 90 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $6.3M | 207 | 11 |
| Gas stations | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $5M | 211 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $9.9M | 107 | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.4M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $2M | 69 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $4.4M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 184 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.4M | 50 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $9.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $3M | Too few | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $6.6M | Too few | 8 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.0 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $13.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $9.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 |
| Pet stores | 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 Cherokee 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 | $5.9M | $1,179 | 123 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $15.1M | $2,992 | 115 |
| Food away from home | $18.9M | $3,750 | 92 |
| Groceries | $29.8M | $5,908 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.8M | $957 | 95 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2M | $388 | 67 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.2M | $838 | 85 |
| Medical and dental services | $7M | $1,378 | 107 |
| Pets | $4.1M | $815 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $9.6M | $1,910 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $9.1M | $1,811 | 93 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $13.2M | $2,618 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6M | $1,193 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $68.9M | $13,651 | 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 Cherokee County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 11,369−2.4% since 2020
- Households
- 5,045
- Median age
- 44.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 577 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 20
- Median household income
- $71,269+26.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $93,726
- Median home value
- $158,700
- Jobs located here
- 4,572
- Daytime population
- 10,108Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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
- Buena Vista County, IA20,753 people
- Ida County, IA6,911 people
- O’Brien County, IA14,126 people
- Plymouth County, IA25,747 people
- Clay County, IA16,461 people
- Sac County, IA9,689 people
- Sioux County, IA36,212 people
- Woodbury County, IA106,247 people
Questions
How fast is Cherokee County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Cherokee County at 11,369 people in 2025, down 2.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,045 households. Median household income rose 26.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Cherokee County, IA spend?
Households in Cherokee County spend about $68.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $29.8M on groceries and $18.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Cherokee County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (67).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Cherokee County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Cherokee County are for medical and dental practices (64); salons, barbers and spas (59); and gyms and studios (58). Cherokee County ranks #580 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does Cherokee County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Cherokee County is $71,269 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $158,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Cherokee County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for auto repair and car care businesses (55% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (41% 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. 21 of the 56 business types have a score in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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.
All markets in Iowa · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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.