Metro area profile · Iowa
Dubuque, IA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Dubuque metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 99,381
- +0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 40,989
- Median household income
- $77,630
- +23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $237,300
- Jobs located here
- 58,941
- Highest market score
- 72
- Primary care and pediatrics, #50 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Dubuque metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Dubuque 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 99,381 people live in the Dubuque metro area, in 40,989 households. Population estimates show the Dubuque metro area grew 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Dubuque metro area is $77,630 a year, 4% 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 the Dubuque metro area 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 (71).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Dubuque metro area are for primary care and pediatric clinics (72), nail salons (69) and barbershops (64). The Dubuque metro area ranks #50 of 387 scored metro areas for primary care and pediatric clinics.
The Dubuque metro area is made up of one county, Dubuque County. For its number of households, the Dubuque metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for nail salons (47% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Dubuque metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Dubuque 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 72 | #50 of 387 | 22 | 5.4 | $2.7M | 149 | 39 |
| Nail salons | 69 | #41 of 387 | 13 | 3.2 | $3.1M | 188 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 64 | #86 of 387 | 14 | 3.4 | $2.9M | 155 | Under 3 |
| Property management | 63 | #73 of 374 | 6 | 1.5 | Index only | 173 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 61 | #113 of 387 | 43 | 10.5 | $1.4M | 138 | 39 |
| Grocery stores | 61 | #113 of 387 | 20 | 4.9 | $12.4M | 134 | 15 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 58 | #124 of 387 | 205 | 50.0 | $785K | 118 | 71 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 58 | #140 of 387 | 68 | 16.6 | $3.7M | 108 | 20 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 56 | #160 of 387 | 59 | 14.4 | $2.7M | 89 | 66 |
| Tire shops | 55 | #178 of 386 | 17 | 4.1 | $2.6M | 104 | 6 |
| Pet stores | 54 | #160 of 382 | 7 | 1.7 | $5M | 110 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 52 | #172 of 387 | 356 | 86.9 | $164K | 108 | 148 |
| Convenience stores | 51 | #197 of 387 | 38 | 9.3 | $6.6M | 83 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 50 | #195 of 387 | 33 | 8.1 | $4.9M | 118 | 31 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 49 | #192 of 387 | 18 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 102 | 10 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 49 | #200 of 387 | 450 | 109.8 | $357K | 96 | 165 |
| Real estate | 48 | #195 of 387 | 105 | 25.6 | Index only | 127 | 62 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #205 of 387 | 55 | 13.4 | $671K | 101 | 25 |
| Electricians | 48 | #212 of 383 | 10 | 2.4 | $11.2M | 93 | 22 |
| House cleaning | 47 | #213 of 375 | 7 | 1.7 | $7.2M | 113 | 22 |
| Pizza | 46 | #230 of 387 | 44 | 10.7 | $3.7M | 72 | 66 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 46 | #236 of 387 | 182 | 44.4 | $225K | 106 | 48 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 46 | #239 of 386 | 17 | 4.1 | $3.4M | 110 | 12 |
| Gyms | 44 | #252 of 387 | 29 | 7.1 | $1.3M | 98 | 15 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 42 | #240 of 347 | 8 | 2.0 | $4.6M | 114 | 15 |
| Roofing and gutters | 41 | #266 of 381 | 13 | 3.2 | $8.6M | 102 | 11 |
| Spas and skin care | 41 | #271 of 387 | 43 | 10.5 | $952K | 109 | 12 |
| Auto repair and car care | 40 | #270 of 387 | 165 | 40.3 | $269K | 100 | 85 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 40 | #278 of 387 | 94 | 22.9 | Index only | 113 | 37 |
| Home repair trades | 38 | #284 of 387 | 52 | 12.7 | $2.2M | 89 | 73 |
| Funeral homes | 37 | #270 of 377 | 12 | 2.9 | $527K | 78 | 6 |
| Auto repair shops | 37 | #288 of 387 | 100 | 24.4 | $443K | 100 | 67 |
| Physical therapy | 37 | #295 of 386 | 29 | 7.1 | $2M | 84 | 20 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 36 | #285 of 381 | 14 | 3.4 | $3.2M | 103 | 17 |
| Hair salons | 35 | #338 of 387 | 107 | 26.1 | $382K | 89 | 29 |
| Pest control | 33 | #284 of 345 | 5 | 1.2 | $10.1M | 99 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 32 | #309 of 387 | 120 | 29.3 | $676K | 77 | 41 |
| Car washes and detailing | 32 | #329 of 387 | 22 | 5.4 | $2M | 80 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 31 | #320 of 387 | 54 | 13.2 | $2.1M | 87 | 46 |
| Pet businesses | 31 | #329 of 387 | 51 | 12.4 | $684K | 78 | 26 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 31 | #336 of 387 | 57 | 13.9 | $2.8M | 76 | 28 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 31 | #340 of 387 | 29 | 7.1 | $3.9M | 81 | 40 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 28 | #326 of 387 | 95 | 23.2 | $854K | 67 | 38 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 28 | #343 of 386 | 23 | 5.6 | $1.5M | 60 | 9 |
| Veterinarians | 26 | #347 of 384 | 18 | 4.4 | $1.9M | 71 | 14 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 26 | #355 of 387 | 40 | 9.8 | $1.3M | 76 | 78 |
| Child care and preschools | 25 | #356 of 387 | 23 | 5.6 | $733K | 73 | 29 |
| Chiropractors | 22 | #376 of 386 | 55 | 13.4 | $1.1M | 44 | 38 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 20 | #370 of 385 | 28 | 6.8 | $1.8M | 62 | 48 |
| Insurance agencies | 16 | #376 of 387 | 71 | 17.3 | $957K | 76 | 61 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $20.3M | 129 | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $20.3M | 162 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.7 | Index only | 494 | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.7 | $19.5M | 79 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $44.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Dubuque 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 | $44.3M | $1,081 | 113 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $112.2M | $2,737 | 105 |
| Food away from home | $160.8M | $3,924 | 96 |
| Groceries | $248.9M | $6,073 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $40.9M | $998 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $16.9M | $412 | 71 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $36.9M | $900 | 92 |
| Medical and dental services | $58.4M | $1,426 | 111 |
| Pets | $34.9M | $851 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $81.1M | $1,979 | 96 |
| Vehicle insurance | $67.9M | $1,658 | 85 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $111.9M | $2,729 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $50.7M | $1,237 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $578M | $14,102 | 85 |
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 Dubuque metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 99,381+0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 40,989
- Median age
- 39.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 608 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 163
- Median household income
- $77,630+23.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $100,177
- Median home value
- $237,300
- Jobs located here
- 58,941
- Daytime population
- 105,695Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Dubuque 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 Dubuque 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 Dubuque metro area 1
- Dubuque County, IA99,030 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
- Cedar Rapids, IA metro area276,624 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
- 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 Dubuque, IA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Dubuque metro area at 99,381 people in 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 40,989 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 23.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Dubuque, IA metro area spend?
Households in the Dubuque metro area spend about $578M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $248.9M on groceries and $160.8M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Dubuque metro area 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 (71).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Dubuque, IA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Dubuque metro area, primary care and pediatric clinics (72), nail salons (69) and barbershops (64) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #50 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Dubuque, IA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Dubuque metro area is $77,630, 4% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $237,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for nail salons (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. 50 of the 56 business types have a score in the Dubuque 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 Dubuque 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 Dubuque 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 Dubuque 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.