Groundwork

County profile · Iowa

Dickinson County, IA market data

How Dickinson County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.

Population, 2025
18,077
+1.7% since 2020
Households
8,845
Median household income
$75,432
+25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$270,700
Jobs located here
10,412
Highest market score
71
Primary care and pediatrics, #246 of 1,656 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Dickinson County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Dickinson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Dickinson County has an estimated 18,077 people and 8,845 households. Population estimates show Dickinson County grew 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Dickinson County is $75,432, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 25.8%, before inflation.

Relative to the U.S., household spending in Dickinson County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (74).

Of the business types scored in Dickinson County, primary care and pediatric clinics (71), convenience stores (68) and medical and dental practices (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #246 of 1,656 scored counties.

Dickinson County is part of the Spirit Lake area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for landscaping and lawn care companies (3.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (37% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Dickinson County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Dickinson 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.

Every business type in Dickinson County, IA, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Primary care and pediatrics71#246 of 1,65666.8$2.1M1196
Convenience stores68#486 of 2,26177.9$7.8M98Under 3
Doctors, dentists and clinics63#618 of 2,3944753.1$271K17825
Auto repair shops61#685 of 2,3781921.5$558K12512
Grocery and convenience stores59#842 of 2,4022022.6$2.7M805
Auto repair and car care56#927 of 2,4013640.7$294K11017
Dentists and orthodontists55#767 of 1,8861112.4$1.2M1187
HVAC and plumbing53#737 of 1,70755.7$5M10510
Hair salons53#1,021 of 2,3392123.7$429K1005
Child care and preschools52#783 of 1,61166.8$636K633
Car washes and detailing43#905 of 1,45155.7$2.1M844
Grocery stores43#1,269 of 2,07089.0$6.8M735
Pet businesses42#1,431 of 2,2001213.6$641K737
Salons, barbers and spas41#1,691 of 2,3854753.1$192K909
Gas stations40#1,589 of 2,3581517.0$1.8M7417
Nail salons38#998 of 1,32889.0$1.1M67Under 3
Fast food and sandwich shops38#1,568 of 2,2221517.0$2.4M7724
Gyms37#1,322 of 1,792910.2$942K728
Spas and skin care37#1,380 of 1,7691618.1$564K64Under 3
Gyms, studios and classes34#1,678 of 2,0881820.4$471K718
Pet grooming and boarding33#1,123 of 1,46155.7$1.5M604
Sit-down restaurants33#1,929 of 2,4056472.4$552K8332
Bakeries and dessert shops32#1,570 of 1,8891213.6$2.9M7110
Pizza31#1,771 of 2,0901415.8$2.5M5024
Insurance agencies30#1,798 of 2,2721314.7$1.2M9816
Coffee shops and cafes29#1,798 of 2,0631820.4$2M5310
Home repair trades29#1,872 of 2,0571719.2$1.5M6125
Clothing, shoes and laundry29#1,882 of 2,2103640.7$500K5719
Restaurants and cafes29#2,083 of 2,405142160.5$249K6766
Chiropractors28#1,329 of 1,4901314.7$981K4112
Clothing and shoe stores28#1,781 of 2,0873236.2$563K4419
Roofing and gutters25#1,071 of 1,17766.8$4.2M494
Real estate25#2,183 of 2,2295461.1Index only5426
Electricians24#1,064 of 1,16066.8$4.2M3511
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios23#743 of 77755.7$1.7M428
Real estate agents and brokers23#2,137 of 2,1764652.0Index only5121
Lawn, cleaning and pest control19#1,747 of 1,7712022.6$563K3442
Landscaping and lawn care18#1,462 of 1,4931517.0$751K2633
Funeral homesNot scoredNot scored44.5$382K56Under 3
Martial arts and dance studiosNot scoredNot scored44.5$2.1M105Under 3
Mortgage brokers and lendersNot scoredNot scored44.5Index only82Under 3
Property managementNot scoredNot scored44.5Index only57Under 3
Tire shopsNot scoredNot scored44.5$2.6M106Under 3
House cleaningNot scoredNot scored33.4$3.8M599
Physical therapyNot scoredNot scored33.4$4.3M177Under 3
VeterinariansNot scoredNot scored33.4$2.6M943
BarbershopsNot scoredNot scored22.3$4.5MToo fewUnder 3
Collision repair and body shopsNot scoredNot scored22.3$5.3MToo few5
LaundromatsNot scoredNot scored22.3$9MToo fewUnder 3
Optometrists and eye careNot scoredNot scored22.3$6.4MToo fewUnder 3
Pest controlNot scoredNot scored22.3$5.6MToo fewUnder 3
Pet storesNot scoredNot scored22.3$3.8MToo fewUnder 3
Oil change and quick lubeNot scoredNot scored11.1$10.6MToo fewUnder 3
Dry cleanersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Home inspectorsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Urgent care and walk-in clinicsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3

Household spending in Dickinson 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).

Annual household spending in Dickinson County, IA by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$10.6M$1,198125
Gasoline and other fuels$26.4M$2,985115
Food away from home$35.3M$3,99198
Groceries$54.3M$6,14197
Personal care products and services$9M$1,020101
Child care and other personal services$3.8M$43174
Memberships, classes and admissions$8.5M$95897
Medical and dental services$12.8M$1,442112
Pets$7.7M$87096
Clothing, shoes and related services$18M$2,03699
Vehicle insurance$16M$1,81493
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$25.1M$2,83294
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$11.3M$1,27490
Rent and homeowner costs$127.4M$14,40586

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 Dickinson County

Population, 2025 estimate
18,077+1.7% since 2020
Households
8,845
Median age
48.9
Homes lived in by their owners
77%
Vehicles per household
2.0
Land area
381 sq. mi.
People per square mile
47
Median household income
$75,432+25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$102,164
Median home value
$270,700
Jobs located here
10,412
Daytime population
20,071Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Dickinson 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 Dickinson County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Dickinson County is part of the Spirit Lake, IA area.

Questions

How fast is Dickinson County, IA growing?

Population estimates put Dickinson County at 18,077 people in 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 8,845 households. Median household income rose 25.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

How much do households in Dickinson County, IA spend?

Households in Dickinson County spend about $127.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $54.3M on groceries and $35.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Dickinson County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (74).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Dickinson County, IA?

The highest Groundwork market scores in Dickinson County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (71), convenience stores (68) and medical and dental practices (63). Dickinson County ranks #246 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.

How does Dickinson County, IA compare with the U.S.?

The median household income in Dickinson County is $75,432 a year, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $270,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Dickinson County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for landscaping and lawn care companies (3.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (37% 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. 38 of the 56 business types have a score in Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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.