County profile · Iowa
Tama County, IA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Tama County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 16,796
- −1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 6,720
- Median household income
- $70,781
- +26.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $148,600
- Jobs located here
- 4,985
- Highest market score
- 78
- Auto repair shops, #150 of 2,378 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Tama County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Tama 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 16,796 people live in Tama County, in 6,720 households. Population estimates show Tama County declined 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Tama County is $70,781 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 26.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Tama 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 (58).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Tama County are for auto repair shops (78), auto repair and car care businesses (74) and medical and dental practices (63). Tama County ranks #150 of 2,378 scored counties for auto repair shops.
For its number of households, Tama County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (91% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for salons, barbers and spas (50% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Tama County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Tama 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 78 | #150 of 2,378 | 11 | 16.4 | $738K | 166 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 74 | #254 of 2,401 | 24 | 35.7 | $338K | 126 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 63 | #624 of 2,394 | 36 | 53.6 | $245K | 160 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #592 of 2,385 | 16 | 23.8 | $387K | 182 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 58 | #714 of 2,200 | 5 | 7.4 | $1M | 118 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 58 | #732 of 2,087 | 5 | 7.4 | $2.4M | 192 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 58 | #770 of 2,210 | 7 | 10.4 | $1.7M | 198 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 56 | #856 of 2,339 | 11 | 16.4 | $563K | 131 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 54 | #1,024 of 2,405 | 63 | 93.8 | $382K | 103 | 16 |
| Real estate | 52 | #953 of 2,229 | 7 | 10.4 | Index only | 293 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 49 | #1,073 of 2,176 | 7 | 10.4 | Index only | 233 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 47 | #939 of 1,656 | 5 | 7.4 | $1.8M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 46 | #1,064 of 1,889 | 5 | 7.4 | $4.8M | 116 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,204 of 2,090 | 8 | 11.9 | $3M | 59 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 46 | #1,259 of 2,261 | 6 | 8.9 | $6.5M | 82 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 43 | #1,271 of 2,063 | 6 | 8.9 | $4M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 41 | #1,588 of 2,405 | 36 | 53.6 | $668K | 101 | 11 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 40 | #1,482 of 2,088 | 8 | 11.9 | $625K | 94 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 40 | #1,502 of 2,057 | 9 | 13.4 | $1.9M | 77 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 35 | #1,646 of 2,272 | 11 | 16.4 | $1.2M | 92 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 35 | #1,793 of 2,358 | 14 | 20.8 | $1.5M | 63 | 11 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 32 | #1,891 of 2,402 | 17 | 25.3 | $2.3M | 68 | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 24 | #1,377 of 1,490 | 6 | 8.9 | $1.5M | 61 | 4 |
| Gyms | 22 | #1,642 of 1,792 | 7 | 10.4 | $714K | 55 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 17 | #1,924 of 2,070 | 9 | 13.4 | $4.3M | 47 | 6 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.0 | $569K | 57 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.0 | $296K | 44 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.0 | $4.2M | 50 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.0 | $2M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $2.9M | 298 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $8M | 263 | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $5.6M | 118 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $2.9M | 122 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.5 | $2.1M | 236 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $8.4M | Too few | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $6.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $2.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $7.7M | Too few | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $7.7M | Too few | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.8M | Too few | 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 |
| House cleaning | 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 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 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 Tama 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 | $8.1M | $1,208 | 126 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $21M | $3,118 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $24.1M | $3,581 | 88 |
| Groceries | $39M | $5,803 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.2M | $921 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.3M | $339 | 58 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5M | $744 | 76 |
| Medical and dental services | $8.8M | $1,310 | 102 |
| Pets | $5.2M | $772 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12.2M | $1,812 | 88 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.7M | $1,894 | 97 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $16.9M | $2,507 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $7.7M | $1,143 | 81 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $88.9M | $13,228 | 79 |
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 Tama County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 16,796−1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 6,720
- Median age
- 42.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 721 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 23
- Median household income
- $70,781+26.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $83,931
- Median home value
- $148,600
- Jobs located here
- 4,985
- Daytime population
- 13,338Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Tama 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 Tama 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
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- Grundy County, IA12,384 people
- Poweshiek County, IA18,545 people
- Benton County, IA25,724 people
- Black Hawk County, IA131,049 people
- Iowa County, IA16,507 people
- Jasper County, IA37,954 people
- Hardin County, IA16,639 people
Questions
How fast is Tama County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Tama County at 16,796 people in 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 6,720 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 26.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in Tama County, IA spend?
Households in Tama County spend about $88.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $39M on groceries and $24.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Tama 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 (58).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Tama County, IA?
Of the business types scored in Tama County, auto repair shops (78), auto repair and car care businesses (74) and medical and dental practices (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair shops, that ranks #150 of 2,378 scored counties.
How does Tama County, IA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Tama County is $70,781, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $148,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (91% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for salons, barbers and spas (50% 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 Tama 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 Tama 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 Tama 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 Tama 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.