Small-town market profile · Iowa
Fort Madison, IA area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Fort Madison area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- Population, 2025
- 32,306
- −3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 14,323
- Median household income
- $62,382
- Median home value
- $141,400
- Jobs located here
- 13,626
- Highest market score
- 64
- Dentists and orthodontists, #132 of 526 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Fort Madison area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Fort Madison 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 32,306 people live in the Fort Madison area, in 14,323 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Fort Madison area from 2020 to 2025 at −3.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the Fort Madison area is $62,382 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Set against the U.S., households in the Fort Madison area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (57).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Fort Madison area are for dentists and orthodontists (64), grocery and convenience stores (62) and real estate agents and brokers (60). The Fort Madison area ranks #132 of 526 scored small-town markets for dentists and orthodontists.
The Fort Madison area is made up of one county, Lee County. For its number of households, the Fort Madison area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for collision repair and body shops (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (73% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Fort Madison area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Fort Madison area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 64 | #132 of 526 | 11 | 7.7 | $1.7M | 169 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 62 | #155 of 538 | 23 | 16.1 | $3.5M | 103 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 60 | #129 of 533 | 12 | 8.4 | Index only | 282 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 58 | #156 of 431 | 6 | 4.2 | $2.7M | 109 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 58 | #204 of 536 | 24 | 16.8 | $1.1M | 120 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 57 | #213 of 536 | 18 | 12.6 | $1.4M | 111 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 56 | #210 of 538 | 65 | 45.4 | $281K | 184 | 40 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 56 | #222 of 537 | 18 | 12.6 | $2.7M | 90 | 18 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 55 | #193 of 458 | 6 | 4.2 | $3M | 171 | 20 |
| Real estate | 54 | #204 of 536 | 17 | 11.9 | Index only | 250 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 52 | #229 of 507 | 8 | 5.6 | $6.1M | 148 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 51 | #261 of 536 | 19 | 13.3 | $2.2M | 93 | 20 |
| Auto repair shops | 49 | #294 of 538 | 45 | 31.4 | $364K | 82 | 12 |
| Grocery stores | 48 | #281 of 506 | 8 | 5.6 | $10.1M | 108 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 47 | #306 of 538 | 48 | 33.5 | $264K | 124 | 9 |
| Chiropractors | 45 | #244 of 426 | 7 | 4.9 | $2.6M | 109 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 45 | #325 of 529 | 12 | 8.4 | $6.7M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 45 | #328 of 538 | 77 | 53.8 | $213K | 79 | 20 |
| Car washes and detailing | 43 | #281 of 441 | 8 | 5.6 | $2M | 81 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | 39 | #248 of 365 | 6 | 4.2 | $373K | 55 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 39 | #274 of 399 | 6 | 4.2 | $2.7M | 91 | 11 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 39 | #386 of 538 | 157 | 109.6 | $313K | 84 | 52 |
| Pizza | 38 | #386 of 520 | 19 | 13.3 | $2.6M | 51 | 18 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 37 | #354 of 481 | 9 | 6.3 | $1.8M | 105 | 17 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 35 | #422 of 538 | 76 | 53.1 | $647K | 98 | 27 |
| Insurance agencies | 33 | #415 of 537 | 19 | 13.3 | $1.3M | 107 | 16 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 32 | #453 of 529 | 17 | 11.9 | $2.9M | 78 | 7 |
| Gyms | 30 | #437 of 506 | 11 | 7.7 | $940K | 72 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 29 | #475 of 526 | 19 | 13.3 | $1.8M | 76 | 22 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 28 | #480 of 535 | 23 | 16.1 | $449K | 68 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 27 | #343 of 387 | 10 | 7.0 | $1.6M | 53 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 27 | #354 of 400 | 8 | 5.6 | $2.3M | 73 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 27 | #491 of 538 | 37 | 25.8 | $343K | 80 | 8 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 19 | #362 of 378 | 9 | 6.3 | $1.1M | 57 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 19 | #470 of 476 | 11 | 7.7 | $3.2M | 67 | 15 |
| Veterinarians | 18 | #385 of 398 | 9 | 6.3 | $1.2M | 43 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 16 | #520 of 527 | 26 | 18.2 | $408K | 46 | 9 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 15 | #377 of 387 | 10 | 7.0 | $1.1M | 42 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | 10 | #447 of 454 | 14 | 9.8 | $340K | 34 | 14 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $3.2M | 168 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $8.7M | 73 | 7 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $4.6M | 190 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $8.7M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $3.2M | 362 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $8.5M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $4.2M | 253 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | Index only | 111 | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $3.4M | 85 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $5.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $25.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $15.9M | Too few | 6 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $16.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 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 the Fort Madison 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 | $16.4M | $1,143 | 119 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $42.2M | $2,944 | 113 |
| Food away from home | $49.2M | $3,434 | 84 |
| Groceries | $80.6M | $5,628 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $12.7M | $885 | 88 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.8M | $332 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.3M | $722 | 73 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.2M | $1,273 | 99 |
| Pets | $10.6M | $741 | 81 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $25.4M | $1,772 | 86 |
| Vehicle insurance | $25.6M | $1,788 | 91 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $34.9M | $2,433 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $15.9M | $1,112 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $184.4M | $12,873 | 77 |
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 Fort Madison area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 32,306−3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 14,323
- Median age
- 42.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 518 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 64
- Median household income
- $62,382
- Average household income
- $79,169
- Median home value
- $141,400
- Jobs located here
- 13,626
- Daytime population
- 31,700Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Fort Madison area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison area 1
- Lee County, IA32,893 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
- 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
Questions
How fast is the Fort Madison, IA area growing?
Population estimates put the Fort Madison area at 32,306 people in 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 14,323 households.
How much do households in the Fort Madison, IA area spend?
Households in the Fort Madison area spend about $184.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $80.6M on groceries and $49.2M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Fort Madison area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (57).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Fort Madison, IA area?
Of the business types scored in the Fort Madison area, dentists and orthodontists (64), grocery and convenience stores (62) and real estate agents and brokers (60) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #132 of 526 scored small-town markets.
How does the Fort Madison, IA area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Fort Madison area is $62,382, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $141,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for collision repair and body shops (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (73% 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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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. 39 of the 56 business types have a score in the Fort Madison area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison 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.