County profile · Iowa
Mahaska County, IA market data
How Mahaska County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 21,880
- −1.2% since 2020
- Households
- 8,743
- Median household income
- $70,940
- +29.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $157,800
- Jobs located here
- 8,845
- Highest market score
- 69
- Dentists and orthodontists, #278 of 1,886 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Mahaska County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Mahaska 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
Mahaska County has an estimated 21,880 people and 8,743 households. Population estimates show Mahaska County declined 1.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Mahaska County is $70,940, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mahaska County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (60).
Of the business types scored in Mahaska County, dentists and orthodontists (69), sit-down restaurants (65) and medical and dental practices (64) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #278 of 1,886 scored counties.
Mahaska County is part of the Oskaloosa area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Mahaska County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Mahaska 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 | 69 | #278 of 1,886 | 5 | 5.7 | $2.3M | 236 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 65 | #520 of 2,405 | 32 | 36.6 | $987K | 149 | 11 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 64 | #579 of 2,394 | 41 | 46.9 | $283K | 185 | 13 |
| Gas stations | 62 | #645 of 2,358 | 8 | 9.2 | $3.4M | 142 | 11 |
| Home repair trades | 61 | #513 of 2,057 | 5 | 5.7 | $4.4M | 182 | 11 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 60 | #531 of 1,889 | 5 | 5.7 | $6.3M | 152 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 60 | #752 of 2,405 | 67 | 76.6 | $471K | 127 | 30 |
| Spas and skin care | 59 | #545 of 1,769 | 5 | 5.7 | $1.6M | 186 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 56 | #766 of 2,229 | 14 | 16.0 | Index only | 192 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 56 | #903 of 2,222 | 10 | 11.4 | $3.2M | 104 | 13 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #868 of 2,176 | 11 | 12.6 | Index only | 194 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 53 | #883 of 2,063 | 7 | 8.0 | $4.5M | 122 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 53 | #1,013 of 2,210 | 15 | 17.2 | $1.1M | 121 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,175 of 2,402 | 20 | 22.9 | $2.5M | 75 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 48 | #1,136 of 2,087 | 13 | 14.9 | $1.2M | 97 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | 43 | #1,251 of 2,070 | 6 | 6.9 | $8.5M | 91 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 43 | #1,366 of 2,261 | 9 | 10.3 | $5.7M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 41 | #999 of 1,530 | 5 | 5.7 | $2.1M | 84 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #1,195 of 1,771 | 5 | 5.7 | $2M | 120 | 15 |
| Gyms | 41 | #1,216 of 1,792 | 6 | 6.9 | $1.1M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 41 | #1,591 of 2,378 | 25 | 28.6 | $422K | 95 | 14 |
| Car washes and detailing | 38 | #1,027 of 1,451 | 5 | 5.7 | $2.1M | 84 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 38 | #1,729 of 2,401 | 42 | 48.0 | $251K | 94 | 22 |
| Pizza | 36 | #1,614 of 2,090 | 14 | 16.0 | $2.3M | 44 | 13 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 34 | #1,668 of 2,088 | 12 | 13.7 | $559K | 85 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 33 | #2,029 of 2,385 | 42 | 48.0 | $193K | 91 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 30 | #1,335 of 1,611 | 6 | 6.9 | $504K | 50 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 25 | #2,003 of 2,200 | 12 | 13.7 | $568K | 65 | 9 |
| Chiropractors | 24 | #1,381 of 1,490 | 9 | 10.3 | $1.3M | 54 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 23 | #2,172 of 2,339 | 29 | 33.2 | $280K | 65 | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 20 | #1,258 of 1,334 | 6 | 6.9 | $1.1M | 55 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 15 | #2,177 of 2,272 | 21 | 24.0 | $785K | 62 | 17 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.6 | $325K | 48 | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.6 | $2M | 122 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.6 | $1.7M | 38 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.6 | $2.9M | 121 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.7M | 144 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $3.4M | 53 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $7.4M | 155 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.3M | 89 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $2.3M | 83 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $5.3M | Too few | 4 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $11M | Too few | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $5.8M | Too few | 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $10.1M | Too few | 12 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $16M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $10.1M | 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 |
| 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 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Mahaska 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 | $10.6M | $1,207 | 126 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $27.1M | $3,095 | 119 |
| Food away from home | $31.6M | $3,612 | 89 |
| Groceries | $50.9M | $5,826 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $8.1M | $929 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3M | $346 | 60 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.7M | $768 | 78 |
| Medical and dental services | $11.6M | $1,326 | 103 |
| Pets | $6.8M | $779 | 86 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $16M | $1,831 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $16.5M | $1,885 | 96 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $22.1M | $2,527 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10.1M | $1,154 | 82 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $116.5M | $13,320 | 80 |
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 Mahaska County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 21,880−1.2% since 2020
- Households
- 8,743
- Median age
- 39.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 571 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 39
- Median household income
- $70,940+29.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $86,932
- Median home value
- $157,800
- Jobs located here
- 8,845
- Daytime population
- 19,874Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Mahaska 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 Mahaska 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 Mahaska County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Mahaska County at 21,880 people in 2025, down 1.2% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 8,743 households. Median household income rose 29.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Mahaska County, IA spend?
Households in Mahaska County spend about $116.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $50.9M on groceries and $31.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Mahaska County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 126, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (60).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Mahaska County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Mahaska County are for dentists and orthodontists (69), sit-down restaurants (65) and medical and dental practices (64). Mahaska County ranks #278 of 1,886 scored counties for dentists and orthodontists.
How does Mahaska County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Mahaska County is $70,940 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $157,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Mahaska County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (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. 32 of the 56 business types have a score in Mahaska 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 Mahaska 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 Mahaska 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 Mahaska 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.