County profile · Iowa
Lee County, IA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Lee County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 32,306
- −3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 14,323
- Median household income
- $62,382
- +25.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $141,400
- Jobs located here
- 13,626
- Highest market score
- 64
- Dentists and orthodontists, #433 of 1,886 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Lee County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Lee 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 32,306 people live in Lee County, in 14,323 households. Population estimates show Lee County declined 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Lee County is $62,382 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Lee County 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 Lee County are for dentists and orthodontists (64), real estate agents and brokers (59) and primary care and pediatric clinics (55). Lee County ranks #433 of 1,886 scored counties for dentists and orthodontists.
Lee County is part of the Fort Madison area. For its number of households, Lee County 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 Lee County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Lee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 64 | #433 of 1,886 | 11 | 7.7 | $1.7M | 169 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 59 | #578 of 2,176 | 12 | 8.4 | Index only | 282 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 55 | #667 of 1,656 | 6 | 4.2 | $3M | 171 | 20 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 55 | #971 of 2,402 | 23 | 16.1 | $3.5M | 103 | 6 |
| Real estate | 53 | #897 of 2,229 | 17 | 11.9 | Index only | 250 | 9 |
| Tire shops | 52 | #720 of 1,530 | 6 | 4.2 | $2.7M | 109 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 52 | #839 of 1,889 | 8 | 5.6 | $6.1M | 148 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 51 | #1,017 of 2,087 | 18 | 12.6 | $1.4M | 111 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 51 | #1,097 of 2,210 | 24 | 16.8 | $1.1M | 120 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 50 | #1,158 of 2,394 | 65 | 45.4 | $281K | 184 | 40 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 47 | #1,267 of 2,222 | 18 | 12.6 | $2.7M | 90 | 18 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 46 | #1,392 of 2,385 | 48 | 33.5 | $264K | 124 | 9 |
| Grocery stores | 44 | #1,206 of 2,070 | 8 | 5.6 | $10.1M | 108 | 6 |
| Auto repair shops | 44 | #1,496 of 2,378 | 45 | 31.4 | $364K | 82 | 12 |
| Gas stations | 43 | #1,460 of 2,358 | 19 | 13.3 | $2.2M | 93 | 20 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 41 | #955 of 1,493 | 6 | 4.2 | $2.7M | 91 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 41 | #974 of 1,490 | 7 | 4.9 | $2.6M | 109 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #1,198 of 1,771 | 9 | 6.3 | $1.8M | 105 | 17 |
| Convenience stores | 40 | #1,469 of 2,261 | 12 | 8.4 | $6.7M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 39 | #1,720 of 2,401 | 77 | 53.8 | $213K | 79 | 20 |
| Car washes and detailing | 38 | #1,034 of 1,451 | 8 | 5.6 | $2M | 81 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | 34 | #1,120 of 1,472 | 6 | 4.2 | $373K | 55 | 4 |
| Pizza | 34 | #1,678 of 2,090 | 19 | 13.3 | $2.6M | 51 | 18 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 32 | #1,954 of 2,405 | 157 | 109.6 | $313K | 84 | 52 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 30 | #1,747 of 2,063 | 17 | 11.9 | $2.9M | 78 | 7 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 30 | #1,791 of 2,088 | 23 | 16.1 | $449K | 68 | 5 |
| Insurance agencies | 30 | #1,791 of 2,272 | 19 | 13.3 | $1.3M | 107 | 16 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 30 | #2,032 of 2,405 | 76 | 53.1 | $647K | 98 | 27 |
| Gyms | 28 | #1,530 of 1,792 | 11 | 7.7 | $940K | 72 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 28 | #2,075 of 2,339 | 37 | 25.8 | $343K | 80 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 27 | #1,900 of 2,057 | 19 | 13.3 | $1.8M | 76 | 22 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 26 | #1,175 of 1,327 | 10 | 7.0 | $1.6M | 53 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 23 | #1,168 of 1,302 | 8 | 5.6 | $2.3M | 73 | 5 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 18 | #1,663 of 1,707 | 11 | 7.7 | $3.2M | 67 | 15 |
| Veterinarians | 17 | #1,412 of 1,485 | 9 | 6.3 | $1.2M | 43 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 16 | #2,158 of 2,200 | 26 | 18.2 | $408K | 46 | 9 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 14 | #1,295 of 1,334 | 9 | 6.3 | $1.1M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 14 | #1,422 of 1,461 | 10 | 7.0 | $1.1M | 42 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | 7 | #1,595 of 1,611 | 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 Lee 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 | $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 Lee County
- 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+25.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Lee County at 32,306 people in 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 14,323 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in Lee County, IA spend?
Households in Lee County 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 Lee County 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 Lee County, IA?
Of the business types scored in Lee County, dentists and orthodontists (64), real estate agents and brokers (59) and primary care and pediatric clinics (55) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #433 of 1,886 scored counties.
How does Lee County, IA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Lee County 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. 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee 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.