County profile · Iowa
Iowa County, IA market data
How Iowa County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 16,504
- −1.0% since 2020
- Households
- 6,909
- Median household income
- $71,223
- +15.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $193,900
- Jobs located here
- 9,160
- Highest market score
- 73
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #278 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Iowa County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Iowa 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
Iowa County has an estimated 16,504 people and 6,909 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Iowa County declined 1.0%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Iowa County is $71,223, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 15.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Iowa County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 132, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (62).
Of the business types scored in Iowa County, fast food and sandwich shops (73); salons, barbers and spas (63); and medical and dental practices (62) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #278 of 2,222 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for clothing and shoe stores (3.7 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Iowa County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Iowa 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 | 73 | #278 of 2,222 | 6 | 8.7 | $4.3M | 141 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 63 | #524 of 2,385 | 19 | 27.5 | $349K | 164 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 62 | #652 of 2,394 | 33 | 47.8 | $286K | 188 | 14 |
| Auto repair and car care | 58 | #820 of 2,401 | 24 | 34.7 | $365K | 136 | 14 |
| Auto repair shops | 57 | #833 of 2,378 | 13 | 18.8 | $674K | 151 | 13 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 54 | #775 of 1,889 | 5 | 7.2 | $5.2M | 124 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 52 | #959 of 2,229 | 9 | 13.0 | Index only | 241 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 51 | #979 of 2,176 | 8 | 11.6 | Index only | 216 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 50 | #1,043 of 2,088 | 8 | 11.6 | $696K | 105 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 48 | #1,258 of 2,358 | 10 | 14.5 | $2.2M | 94 | 12 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 48 | #1,267 of 2,405 | 35 | 50.7 | $737K | 111 | 12 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #1,292 of 2,405 | 78 | 112.9 | $331K | 89 | 20 |
| Home repair trades | 45 | #1,258 of 2,057 | 6 | 8.7 | $3M | 124 | 16 |
| Hair salons | 44 | #1,476 of 2,339 | 16 | 23.2 | $414K | 96 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 42 | #1,215 of 1,886 | 8 | 11.6 | $1.2M | 120 | 7 |
| Pizza | 42 | #1,389 of 2,090 | 16 | 23.2 | $1.6M | 32 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 42 | #1,408 of 2,261 | 8 | 11.6 | $5.1M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 36 | #1,590 of 2,272 | 8 | 11.6 | $1.7M | 136 | 14 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 34 | #1,830 of 2,402 | 21 | 30.4 | $2M | 58 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 32 | #1,502 of 1,771 | 6 | 8.7 | $1.4M | 82 | 11 |
| Grocery stores | 31 | #1,616 of 2,070 | 6 | 8.7 | $6.8M | 74 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 31 | #1,839 of 2,200 | 9 | 13.0 | $616K | 70 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 28 | #1,824 of 2,063 | 11 | 15.9 | $2.3M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 18 | #2,124 of 2,210 | 44 | 63.7 | $296K | 34 | 19 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 17 | #2,003 of 2,087 | 41 | 59.3 | $317K | 25 | 19 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.8 | $2.4M | 99 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.8 | $281K | 41 | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.8 | $1.4M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $6M | 50 | 10 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $1.9M | 143 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $2.7M | 43 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $6M | 127 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $3.2M | 101 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $3.2M | 131 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $2.2M | 252 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $2.9M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.3 | $1.8M | 68 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $1.2M | Too few | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $4.4M | Too few | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $4.1M | Too few | 8 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $2.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $4.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $13M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $5.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $5.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 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 |
| Roofing and gutters | 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 Iowa 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 | $8.8M | $1,267 | 132 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $22.4M | $3,238 | 125 |
| Food away from home | $25.8M | $3,732 | 92 |
| Groceries | $41M | $5,940 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.6M | $959 | 95 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.5M | $361 | 62 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.6M | $806 | 82 |
| Medical and dental services | $9.5M | $1,368 | 106 |
| Pets | $5.5M | $802 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $13M | $1,884 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $13.7M | $1,978 | 101 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $18.1M | $2,615 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $8.2M | $1,192 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $94.1M | $13,618 | 82 |
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 Iowa County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 16,504−1.0% since 2020
- Households
- 6,909
- Median age
- 43.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 587 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 28
- Median household income
- $71,223+15.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $90,784
- Median home value
- $193,900
- Jobs located here
- 9,160
- Daytime population
- 16,988Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Iowa 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 Iowa County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Iowa 8
- Benton County, IA25,724 people
- Johnson County, IA156,639 people
- Keokuk County, IA9,924 people
- Linn County, IA230,004 people
- Poweshiek County, IA18,545 people
- Washington County, IA22,561 people
- Tama County, IA16,868 people
- Mahaska County, IA22,021 people
Questions
How fast is Iowa County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Iowa County at 16,504 people in 2025, down 1.0% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 6,909 households. Median household income rose 15.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Iowa County, IA spend?
Households in Iowa County spend about $94.1M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $41M on groceries and $25.8M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Iowa County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 132, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (62).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Iowa County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Iowa County are for fast food and sandwich shops (73); salons, barbers and spas (63); and medical and dental practices (62). Iowa County ranks #278 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does Iowa County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Iowa County is $71,223 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $193,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Iowa County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for clothing and shoe stores (3.7 times 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. 25 of the 56 business types have a score in Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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.