County profile · Iowa
Hardin County, IA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Hardin County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 16,455
- −2.2% since 2020
- Households
- 7,038
- Median household income
- $65,069
- +20.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $122,500
- Jobs located here
- 6,424
- Highest market score
- 68
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #419 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Hardin County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Hardin 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
An estimated 16,455 people live in Hardin County, in 7,038 households. Population estimates put the population change in Hardin County from 2020 to 2025 at −2.2%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Hardin County is $65,069 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 20.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Hardin County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (56).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Hardin County are for fast food and sandwich shops (68); salons, barbers and spas (62); and hair salons (58). Hardin County ranks #419 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
For its number of households, Hardin County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (6.8 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Hardin County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Hardin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 68 | #419 of 2,222 | 5 | 7.1 | $4.9M | 160 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 62 | #559 of 2,385 | 18 | 25.6 | $349K | 164 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 58 | #762 of 2,339 | 10 | 14.2 | $629K | 146 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 52 | #1,074 of 2,394 | 34 | 48.3 | $266K | 175 | 18 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 50 | #1,180 of 2,405 | 61 | 86.7 | $399K | 108 | 22 |
| Gas stations | 46 | #1,341 of 2,358 | 7 | 9.9 | $2.9M | 122 | 12 |
| Real estate | 45 | #1,329 of 2,229 | 11 | 15.6 | Index only | 191 | 6 |
| Pizza | 43 | #1,332 of 2,090 | 8 | 11.4 | $3M | 60 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 42 | #1,521 of 2,405 | 33 | 46.9 | $738K | 111 | 12 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 39 | #1,311 of 1,886 | 7 | 9.9 | $1.3M | 132 | 8 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 39 | #1,630 of 2,176 | 9 | 12.8 | Index only | 186 | 6 |
| Spas and skin care | 37 | #1,356 of 1,769 | 6 | 8.5 | $1M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 37 | #1,493 of 2,087 | 9 | 12.8 | $1.4M | 109 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 37 | #1,581 of 2,261 | 7 | 9.9 | $5.7M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 37 | #1,616 of 2,210 | 12 | 17.1 | $1M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 30 | #1,213 of 1,451 | 5 | 7.1 | $1.6M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 30 | #1,781 of 2,088 | 9 | 12.8 | $563K | 85 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 28 | #1,817 of 2,063 | 9 | 12.8 | $2.7M | 73 | 4 |
| Tire shops | 27 | #1,286 of 1,530 | 5 | 7.1 | $1.6M | 63 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 25 | #2,101 of 2,402 | 20 | 28.4 | $2M | 59 | 6 |
| Gyms | 24 | #1,608 of 1,792 | 6 | 8.5 | $845K | 65 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 23 | #1,393 of 1,490 | 6 | 8.5 | $1.5M | 63 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 22 | #1,382 of 1,472 | 10 | 14.2 | $129K | 19 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 21 | #2,235 of 2,378 | 26 | 36.9 | $302K | 68 | 15 |
| Auto repair and car care | 21 | #2,261 of 2,401 | 44 | 62.5 | $178K | 66 | 21 |
| Child care and preschools | 20 | #1,486 of 1,611 | 5 | 7.1 | $458K | 46 | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 19 | #1,658 of 1,707 | 6 | 8.5 | $2.9M | 61 | 7 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 19 | #1,743 of 1,771 | 9 | 12.8 | $873K | 52 | 9 |
| Grocery stores | 16 | #1,940 of 2,070 | 9 | 12.8 | $4.4M | 48 | 5 |
| Insurance agencies | 16 | #2,165 of 2,272 | 16 | 22.7 | $774K | 62 | 9 |
| Home repair trades | 15 | #2,041 of 2,057 | 15 | 21.3 | $1.2M | 47 | 14 |
| Pet businesses | 14 | #2,175 of 2,200 | 15 | 21.3 | $349K | 40 | 5 |
| House cleaning | 13 | #842 of 847 | 5 | 7.1 | $1.6M | 25 | 4 |
| Electricians | 8 | #1,153 of 1,160 | 6 | 8.5 | $2.9M | 24 | 7 |
| Veterinarians | 8 | #1,479 of 1,485 | 6 | 8.5 | $871K | 32 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.7 | $1.3M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $8.1M | 196 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $2.6M | 89 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $1.7M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $5.8M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $3.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $4.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.8 | $4.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $6.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $6.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $7.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | 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 |
| 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 Hardin 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 | $7.9M | $1,116 | 116 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $20.3M | $2,886 | 111 |
| Food away from home | $24.4M | $3,460 | 85 |
| Groceries | $39.9M | $5,667 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.3M | $893 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.3M | $325 | 56 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.1M | $720 | 73 |
| Medical and dental services | $9.1M | $1,287 | 100 |
| Pets | $5.2M | $743 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.5M | $1,770 | 86 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.4M | $1,759 | 90 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $17.3M | $2,454 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $7.9M | $1,117 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $91.1M | $12,949 | 78 |
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 Hardin County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 16,455−2.2% since 2020
- Households
- 7,038
- Median age
- 44.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 569 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 29
- Median household income
- $65,069+20.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $79,622
- Median home value
- $122,500
- Jobs located here
- 6,424
- Daytime population
- 15,239Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Hardin 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 Hardin 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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Questions
How fast is Hardin County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Hardin County at 16,455 people in 2025, down 2.2% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 7,038 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 20.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Hardin County, IA spend?
Households in Hardin County spend about $91.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $39.9M on groceries and $24.4M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Hardin County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (56).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Hardin County, IA?
Of the business types scored in Hardin County, fast food and sandwich shops (68); salons, barbers and spas (62); and hair salons (58) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #419 of 2,222 scored counties.
How does Hardin County, IA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Hardin County is $65,069, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $122,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (6.8 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (59% 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. 35 of the 56 business types have a score in Hardin 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 Hardin 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 Hardin 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 Hardin 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.