County profile · Iowa
O’Brien County, IA market data
How O’Brien County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 14,220
- +0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 5,809
- Median household income
- $68,356
- +27.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $173,100
- Jobs located here
- 6,296
- Highest market score
- 69
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #390 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in O’Brien County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of O’Brien 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
O’Brien County has an estimated 14,220 people and 5,809 households. Population estimates put the population change in O’Brien County from 2020 to 2025 at +0.5%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in O’Brien County is $68,356, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 27.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in O’Brien County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 128, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (60).
Of the business types scored in O’Brien County, fast food and sandwich shops (69), pizza places (50) and sit-down restaurants (50) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #390 of 2,222 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (23% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in O’Brien County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares O’Brien 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 | 69 | #390 of 2,222 | 5 | 8.6 | $4.2M | 138 | 8 |
| Pizza | 50 | #1,042 of 2,090 | 6 | 10.3 | $3.5M | 69 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 50 | #1,183 of 2,405 | 32 | 55.1 | $660K | 99 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 50 | #1,200 of 2,405 | 59 | 101.6 | $358K | 97 | 20 |
| Real estate | 49 | #1,117 of 2,229 | 9 | 15.5 | Index only | 199 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 46 | #1,372 of 2,394 | 43 | 74.0 | $179K | 118 | 16 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 46 | #1,395 of 2,385 | 21 | 36.2 | $259K | 122 | 6 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 45 | #1,133 of 1,886 | 7 | 12.1 | $1.1M | 112 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 44 | #1,365 of 2,176 | 9 | 15.5 | Index only | 158 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 43 | #1,471 of 2,358 | 10 | 17.2 | $1.8M | 77 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 43 | #1,518 of 2,378 | 16 | 27.5 | $445K | 100 | 21 |
| Convenience stores | 42 | #1,414 of 2,261 | 7 | 12.1 | $4.9M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 41 | #1,129 of 1,656 | 6 | 10.3 | $1.3M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 37 | #1,070 of 1,472 | 8 | 13.8 | $140K | 21 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 36 | #1,672 of 2,210 | 14 | 24.1 | $764K | 87 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 35 | #1,108 of 1,451 | 8 | 13.8 | $890K | 35 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 35 | #1,389 of 1,792 | 5 | 8.6 | $889K | 68 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 34 | #1,737 of 2,057 | 9 | 15.5 | $1.7M | 68 | 9 |
| Hair salons | 34 | #1,904 of 2,339 | 14 | 24.1 | $388K | 90 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 33 | #1,705 of 2,088 | 9 | 15.5 | $494K | 75 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 32 | #1,655 of 2,087 | 12 | 20.7 | $891K | 70 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 31 | #1,846 of 2,200 | 9 | 15.5 | $507K | 58 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 30 | #2,038 of 2,401 | 38 | 65.4 | $187K | 70 | 23 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 27 | #1,841 of 2,063 | 10 | 17.2 | $2.1M | 57 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 26 | #2,080 of 2,402 | 19 | 32.7 | $1.8M | 53 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 25 | #1,942 of 2,272 | 10 | 17.2 | $1.1M | 89 | 12 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 22 | #1,184 of 1,302 | 5 | 8.6 | $1.5M | 49 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 21 | #1,422 of 1,490 | 8 | 13.8 | $963K | 40 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 19 | #1,908 of 2,070 | 10 | 17.2 | $3.4M | 37 | 7 |
| Electricians | 14 | #1,139 of 1,160 | 6 | 10.3 | $2.5M | 21 | 6 |
| Child care and preschools | 13 | #1,569 of 1,611 | 6 | 10.3 | $338K | 34 | 7 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.9 | $1.8M | 58 | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.9 | $1.1M | 55 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.9 | $1.1M | 42 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $2.2M | 134 | 5 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $1.8M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $1.5M | 34 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.2 | $1.8M | 207 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $10.6M | Too few | 4 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $7.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $3.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $10.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.7M | Too few | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $14.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | 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 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | 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 O’Brien 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 | $7.1M | $1,225 | 128 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $18.3M | $3,158 | 122 |
| Food away from home | $21.1M | $3,635 | 89 |
| Groceries | $34M | $5,852 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.4M | $935 | 93 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2M | $349 | 60 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.4M | $765 | 78 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.7M | $1,327 | 103 |
| Pets | $4.6M | $785 | 86 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.7M | $1,842 | 90 |
| Vehicle insurance | $11.1M | $1,916 | 98 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $14.9M | $2,561 | 85 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6.7M | $1,161 | 82 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $77.8M | $13,387 | 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 O’Brien County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 14,220+0.5% since 2020
- Households
- 5,809
- Median age
- 40.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 573 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 25
- Median household income
- $68,356+27.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $84,439
- Median home value
- $173,100
- Jobs located here
- 6,296
- Daytime population
- 12,761Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in O’Brien 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 O’Brien 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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- Clay County, IA16,461 people
- Lyon County, IA12,162 people
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- Buena Vista County, IA20,753 people
Questions
How fast is O’Brien County, IA growing?
Population estimates put O’Brien County at 14,220 people in 2025, up 0.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 5,809 households. Median household income rose 27.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in O’Brien County, IA spend?
Households in O’Brien County spend about $77.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $34M on groceries and $21.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in O’Brien County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 128, 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 O’Brien County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in O’Brien County are for fast food and sandwich shops (69), pizza places (50) and sit-down restaurants (50). O’Brien County ranks #390 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does O’Brien County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in O’Brien County is $68,356 a year, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $173,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, O’Brien County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (23% 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. 31 of the 56 business types have a score in O’Brien 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 O’Brien 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 O’Brien 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 O’Brien 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.