County profile · Iowa
Marion County, IA market data
How Marion County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 34,192
- +2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 13,316
- Median household income
- $78,680
- +28.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $233,000
- Jobs located here
- 19,073
- Highest market score
- 80
- Spas and skin care, #63 of 1,769 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Marion County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Marion 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
Marion County has an estimated 34,192 people and 13,316 households. Population estimates show Marion County grew 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Marion County is $78,680, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 28.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Marion 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 (71).
Of the business types scored in Marion County, spas and skin care studios (80), primary care and pediatric clinics (79) and auto repair shops (71) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For spas and skin care studios, that ranks #63 of 1,769 scored counties.
Marion County is part of the Pella area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (51% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Marion County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Marion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spas and skin care | 80 | #63 of 1,769 | 6 | 4.5 | $2.2M | 254 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 79 | #98 of 1,656 | 5 | 3.8 | $3.8M | 214 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 71 | #309 of 2,378 | 28 | 21.0 | $603K | 136 | 15 |
| Convenience stores | 70 | #434 of 2,261 | 10 | 7.5 | $8.1M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 69 | #263 of 1,356 | 5 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 69 | #480 of 2,402 | 26 | 19.5 | $3.1M | 92 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 67 | #376 of 2,385 | 37 | 27.8 | $361K | 170 | 12 |
| Gas stations | 66 | #518 of 2,358 | 16 | 12.0 | $2.7M | 112 | 17 |
| Hair salons | 65 | #445 of 2,339 | 23 | 17.3 | $581K | 135 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 65 | #527 of 2,405 | 59 | 44.3 | $889K | 134 | 23 |
| Grocery stores | 64 | #564 of 2,070 | 7 | 5.3 | $11.6M | 125 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 62 | #365 of 1,302 | 5 | 3.8 | $3.8M | 122 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 60 | #474 of 1,451 | 8 | 6.0 | $2.1M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 59 | #411 of 1,334 | 6 | 4.5 | $2M | 100 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 58 | #854 of 2,401 | 63 | 47.3 | $268K | 100 | 22 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 56 | #876 of 2,210 | 25 | 18.8 | $1.1M | 120 | 9 |
| Physical therapy | 54 | #618 of 1,422 | 8 | 6.0 | $2.4M | 99 | 6 |
| Real estate | 54 | #861 of 2,229 | 25 | 18.8 | Index only | 174 | 18 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 54 | #992 of 2,222 | 18 | 13.5 | $2.9M | 96 | 27 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 53 | #1,058 of 2,394 | 99 | 74.3 | $192K | 126 | 40 |
| Tire shops | 52 | #724 of 1,530 | 7 | 5.3 | $2.4M | 96 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 52 | #939 of 2,176 | 22 | 16.5 | Index only | 157 | 11 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 52 | #988 of 2,087 | 20 | 15.0 | $1.3M | 104 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 52 | #1,055 of 2,272 | 20 | 15.0 | $1.3M | 103 | 9 |
| Electricians | 51 | #566 of 1,160 | 5 | 3.8 | $7.3M | 61 | 5 |
| Gyms | 50 | #930 of 1,792 | 12 | 9.0 | $1M | 77 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 50 | #1,184 of 2,405 | 137 | 102.9 | $383K | 103 | 62 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 49 | #958 of 1,889 | 12 | 9.0 | $4.4M | 106 | 11 |
| Home repair trades | 49 | #1,096 of 2,057 | 20 | 15.0 | $1.8M | 75 | 18 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 48 | #1,027 of 1,886 | 22 | 16.5 | $866K | 88 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 47 | #788 of 1,493 | 7 | 5.3 | $2.4M | 81 | 13 |
| Child care and preschools | 47 | #911 of 1,611 | 9 | 6.8 | $610K | 61 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 47 | #972 of 1,707 | 11 | 8.3 | $3.3M | 70 | 10 |
| Pizza | 47 | #1,158 of 2,090 | 15 | 11.3 | $3.5M | 69 | 27 |
| Funeral homes | 46 | #827 of 1,472 | 8 | 6.0 | $286K | 42 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,320 of 2,088 | 23 | 17.3 | $525K | 79 | 7 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 40 | #560 of 777 | 5 | 3.8 | $2.4M | 59 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #1,393 of 2,063 | 17 | 12.8 | $3.1M | 83 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 38 | #1,607 of 2,200 | 20 | 15.0 | $570K | 65 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 33 | #1,487 of 1,771 | 15 | 11.3 | $1.1M | 66 | 21 |
| Veterinarians | 31 | #1,196 of 1,485 | 9 | 6.8 | $1.3M | 47 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 31 | #1,259 of 1,490 | 16 | 12.0 | $1.2M | 50 | 11 |
| House cleaning | 26 | #780 of 847 | 5 | 3.8 | $3.3M | 52 | 8 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $2.8M | 112 | 5 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.0 | $9.1M | 108 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $5.6M | 183 | 5 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $4.5M | 267 | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $5.5M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $3.8M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.5 | $13.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $26.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | 4 |
| 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 |
Household spending in Marion 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 | $16.9M | $1,268 | 132 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $42.7M | $3,204 | 123 |
| Food away from home | $52.5M | $3,941 | 97 |
| Groceries | $81.2M | $6,096 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $13.4M | $1,003 | 100 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.5M | $412 | 71 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.1M | $907 | 92 |
| Medical and dental services | $19M | $1,430 | 111 |
| Pets | $11.4M | $856 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $26.4M | $1,986 | 97 |
| Vehicle insurance | $25.9M | $1,942 | 99 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $36.5M | $2,742 | 91 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $16.5M | $1,242 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $188.6M | $14,160 | 85 |
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 Marion County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 34,192+2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 13,316
- Median age
- 40.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 555 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 61
- Median household income
- $78,680+28.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $100,547
- Median home value
- $233,000
- Jobs located here
- 19,073
- Daytime population
- 36,093Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Marion 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 Marion 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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- Wapello County, IA35,362 people
Questions
How fast is Marion County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Marion County at 34,192 people in 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 13,316 households. Median household income rose 28.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Marion County, IA spend?
Households in Marion County spend about $188.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $81.2M on groceries and $52.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Marion 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 (71).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Marion County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Marion County are for spas and skin care studios (80), primary care and pediatric clinics (79) and auto repair shops (71). Marion County ranks #63 of 1,769 scored counties for spas and skin care studios.
How does Marion County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Marion County is $78,680 a year, 3% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $233,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Marion County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (51% 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. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion 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 Marion 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.