County profile · Iowa
Hamilton County, IA market data
How Hamilton County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 14,944
- −0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 6,434
- Median household income
- $72,432
- +18.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $156,400
- Jobs located here
- 5,890
- Highest market score
- 69
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #380 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Hamilton County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Hamilton 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
Hamilton County has an estimated 14,944 people and 6,434 households. Population estimates put the population change in Hamilton County from 2020 to 2025 at −0.5%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Hamilton County is $72,432, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 18.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Hamilton County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (66).
Of the business types scored in Hamilton County, medical and dental practices (69); salons, barbers and spas (64); and sit-down restaurants (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #380 of 2,394 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery and convenience stores (50% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Hamilton County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Hamilton 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 | 69 | #380 of 2,394 | 31 | 48.2 | $287K | 188 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 64 | #504 of 2,385 | 21 | 32.6 | $296K | 139 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 63 | #630 of 2,405 | 31 | 48.2 | $781K | 118 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 61 | #501 of 2,176 | 5 | 7.8 | Index only | 325 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 61 | #525 of 2,229 | 6 | 9.3 | Index only | 341 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 61 | #630 of 2,339 | 11 | 17.1 | $565K | 131 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 60 | #779 of 2,405 | 63 | 97.9 | $384K | 104 | 14 |
| Auto repair and car care | 59 | #770 of 2,401 | 23 | 35.7 | $348K | 130 | 12 |
| Pet businesses | 57 | #766 of 2,200 | 6 | 9.3 | $868K | 99 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 55 | #966 of 2,222 | 10 | 15.5 | $2.4M | 79 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 54 | #993 of 2,378 | 15 | 23.3 | $534K | 120 | 10 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #900 of 2,088 | 8 | 12.4 | $687K | 104 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 52 | #858 of 1,886 | 7 | 10.9 | $1.3M | 129 | 5 |
| Pizza | 51 | #999 of 2,090 | 8 | 12.4 | $3M | 60 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 48 | #1,208 of 2,210 | 14 | 21.8 | $879K | 100 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 45 | #1,304 of 2,261 | 7 | 10.9 | $5.5M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 43 | #1,307 of 2,087 | 12 | 18.7 | $1M | 81 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 43 | #1,466 of 2,358 | 10 | 15.5 | $2M | 85 | 13 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #1,205 of 1,771 | 5 | 7.8 | $1.5M | 92 | 9 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 41 | #1,343 of 2,063 | 7 | 10.9 | $3.5M | 93 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 40 | #1,018 of 1,490 | 5 | 7.8 | $1.8M | 74 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 40 | #1,246 of 1,769 | 7 | 10.9 | $887K | 101 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 38 | #1,297 of 1,792 | 6 | 9.3 | $916K | 70 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 33 | #1,863 of 2,402 | 18 | 28.0 | $2.1M | 63 | 6 |
| Funeral homes | 30 | #1,226 of 1,472 | 5 | 7.8 | $227K | 33 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | 28 | #1,692 of 2,070 | 6 | 9.3 | $6.4M | 68 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 28 | #1,878 of 2,057 | 10 | 15.5 | $1.7M | 71 | 14 |
| Insurance agencies | 27 | #1,890 of 2,272 | 11 | 17.1 | $1.1M | 90 | 9 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $6.1M | 146 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $2M | 79 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $2M | 65 | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $4.3M | 36 | 7 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $1.9M | 66 | 6 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.2 | $4.3M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.7 | $2.7M | 107 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.7 | $1.7M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $1.2M | Too few | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $8.6M | Too few | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $2.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.1 | $4.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $8.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $7.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.6 | Index only | Too few | 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 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Laundromats | 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 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 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 Hamilton 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 | $8M | $1,244 | 130 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $20.3M | $3,162 | 122 |
| Food away from home | $24.2M | $3,765 | 92 |
| Groceries | $38.2M | $5,932 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.2M | $965 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.5M | $385 | 66 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.5M | $854 | 87 |
| Medical and dental services | $8.9M | $1,382 | 107 |
| Pets | $5.2M | $810 | 89 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.3M | $1,913 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.4M | $1,925 | 98 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $17.2M | $2,675 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $7.7M | $1,203 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $88.7M | $13,780 | 83 |
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 Hamilton County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 14,944−0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 6,434
- Median age
- 43.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 577 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 26
- Median household income
- $72,432+18.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $92,073
- Median home value
- $156,400
- Jobs located here
- 5,890
- Daytime population
- 13,997Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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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- Wright County, IA12,791 people
- Boone County, IA26,668 people
- Story County, IA100,466 people
- Hardin County, IA16,639 people
- Humboldt County, IA9,591 people
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- Greene County, IA8,688 people
Questions
How fast is Hamilton County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Hamilton County at 14,944 people in 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 6,434 households. Median household income rose 18.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Hamilton County, IA spend?
Households in Hamilton County spend about $88.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $38.2M on groceries and $24.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Hamilton County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (66).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Hamilton County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Hamilton County are for medical and dental practices (69); salons, barbers and spas (64); and sit-down restaurants (63). Hamilton County ranks #380 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does Hamilton County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Hamilton County is $72,432 a year, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $156,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Hamilton County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery and convenience stores (50% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (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. 28 of the 56 business types have a score in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.