County profile · Iowa
Webster County, IA market data
How Webster County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 36,838
- −0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 15,375
- Median household income
- $68,975
- +45.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $153,800
- Jobs located here
- 17,395
- Highest market score
- 56
- Barbershops, #536 of 1,356 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Webster County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Webster 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
Webster County has an estimated 36,838 people and 15,375 households. Population estimates show Webster County declined 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Webster County is $68,975, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 45.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Webster County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (59).
Of the business types scored in Webster County, barbershops (56), coffee shops and cafes (56) and fast food and sandwich shops (55) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For barbershops, that ranks #536 of 1,356 scored counties.
Webster County is part of the Fort Dodge area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for car washes and detailers (89% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (42% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Webster County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Webster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbershops | 56 | #536 of 1,356 | 5 | 3.3 | $2.8M | 148 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 56 | #765 of 2,063 | 12 | 7.8 | $4.5M | 122 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 55 | #946 of 2,222 | 18 | 11.7 | $3M | 99 | 22 |
| Physical therapy | 54 | #604 of 1,422 | 7 | 4.6 | $2.9M | 120 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 54 | #1,029 of 2,402 | 31 | 20.2 | $2.8M | 84 | 7 |
| Nail salons | 53 | #585 of 1,328 | 6 | 3.9 | $2.3M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 53 | #817 of 1,889 | 12 | 7.8 | $4.5M | 109 | 6 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 51 | #636 of 1,327 | 5 | 3.3 | $3.4M | 109 | 5 |
| Grocery stores | 51 | #969 of 2,070 | 9 | 5.9 | $9.8M | 105 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 51 | #1,147 of 2,405 | 141 | 91.7 | $386K | 104 | 53 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 49 | #958 of 1,886 | 13 | 8.5 | $1.6M | 158 | 17 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 47 | #950 of 1,656 | 14 | 9.1 | $1.4M | 81 | 15 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 47 | #1,307 of 2,405 | 74 | 48.1 | $736K | 111 | 25 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 47 | #1,346 of 2,385 | 60 | 39.0 | $233K | 109 | 9 |
| Hair salons | 46 | #1,378 of 2,339 | 33 | 21.5 | $423K | 98 | 7 |
| Chiropractors | 45 | #878 of 1,490 | 8 | 5.2 | $2.5M | 106 | 7 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 44 | #1,343 of 2,088 | 19 | 12.4 | $604K | 91 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 43 | #878 of 1,461 | 5 | 3.3 | $2.4M | 93 | 4 |
| Pizza | 43 | #1,330 of 2,090 | 17 | 11.1 | $3.2M | 63 | 22 |
| Funeral homes | 42 | #918 of 1,472 | 5 | 3.3 | $484K | 71 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 40 | #1,530 of 2,210 | 41 | 26.7 | $678K | 77 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 39 | #1,452 of 2,087 | 31 | 20.2 | $897K | 71 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 39 | #1,517 of 2,261 | 17 | 11.1 | $5.2M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 38 | #1,680 of 2,176 | 27 | 17.6 | Index only | 137 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 36 | #1,073 of 1,485 | 7 | 4.6 | $1.7M | 62 | 4 |
| Real estate | 36 | #1,829 of 2,229 | 35 | 22.8 | Index only | 133 | 18 |
| Pet businesses | 35 | #1,717 of 2,200 | 21 | 13.7 | $561K | 64 | 8 |
| Gas stations | 35 | #1,782 of 2,358 | 24 | 15.6 | $1.8M | 76 | 25 |
| Car washes and detailing | 34 | #1,129 of 1,451 | 11 | 7.2 | $1.5M | 61 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 34 | #1,174 of 1,530 | 11 | 7.2 | $1.5M | 61 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | 34 | #1,438 of 1,769 | 16 | 10.4 | $873K | 100 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 33 | #1,075 of 1,334 | 7 | 4.6 | $1.6M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 33 | #1,261 of 1,611 | 6 | 3.9 | $877K | 88 | 12 |
| Property management | 32 | #768 of 910 | 7 | 4.6 | Index only | 52 | 3 |
| Gyms | 32 | #1,442 of 1,792 | 12 | 7.8 | $956K | 73 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 32 | #1,446 of 1,707 | 10 | 6.5 | $3.8M | 80 | 15 |
| Auto repair shops | 31 | #1,977 of 2,378 | 44 | 28.6 | $383K | 86 | 31 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 30 | #1,279 of 1,493 | 11 | 7.2 | $1.6M | 54 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 30 | #1,570 of 1,771 | 14 | 9.1 | $1.2M | 74 | 20 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 30 | #2,094 of 2,394 | 171 | 111.2 | $118K | 78 | 50 |
| Auto repair and car care | 28 | #2,084 of 2,401 | 80 | 52.0 | $210K | 78 | 38 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 24 | #1,161 of 1,302 | 11 | 7.2 | $1.8M | 59 | 5 |
| Electricians | 20 | #1,098 of 1,160 | 7 | 4.6 | $5.4M | 45 | 12 |
| Home repair trades | 20 | #2,000 of 2,057 | 25 | 16.3 | $1.5M | 63 | 33 |
| Laundromats | 18 | #721 of 785 | 5 | 3.3 | $5.6M | 44 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 17 | #2,128 of 2,272 | 27 | 17.6 | $975K | 78 | 31 |
| Roofing and gutters | 14 | #1,150 of 1,177 | 8 | 5.2 | $4.8M | 56 | 6 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.6 | $2.9M | 65 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.0 | $5.8M | 91 | 9 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.0 | $5.6M | 41 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $10.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $27.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 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 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 6 |
Household spending in Webster 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 | $16.8M | $1,095 | 114 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $43.3M | $2,819 | 109 |
| Food away from home | $54.4M | $3,540 | 87 |
| Groceries | $88.1M | $5,728 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $14M | $909 | 90 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.3M | $342 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $11.5M | $746 | 76 |
| Medical and dental services | $20.2M | $1,316 | 102 |
| Pets | $11.8M | $766 | 84 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $27.8M | $1,808 | 88 |
| Vehicle insurance | $26.3M | $1,712 | 88 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $38.1M | $2,476 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $17.5M | $1,135 | 80 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $201.3M | $13,090 | 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 Webster County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 36,838−0.4% since 2020
- Households
- 15,375
- Median age
- 39.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 70%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 716 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 52
- Median household income
- $68,975+45.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $83,997
- Median home value
- $153,800
- Jobs located here
- 17,395
- Daytime population
- 38,670Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Webster 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 Webster 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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- Pocahontas County, IA7,046 people
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- Boone County, IA26,668 people
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Questions
How fast is Webster County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Webster County at 36,838 people in 2025, down 0.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 15,375 households. Median household income rose 45.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Webster County, IA spend?
Households in Webster County spend about $201.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $88.1M on groceries and $54.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Webster County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (59).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Webster County, IA?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Webster County are for barbershops (56), coffee shops and cafes (56) and fast food and sandwich shops (55). Webster County ranks #536 of 1,356 scored counties for barbershops.
How does Webster County, IA compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Webster County is $68,975 a year, 15% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $153,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Webster County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for car washes and detailers (89% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (42% 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. 47 of the 56 business types have a score in Webster 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 Webster 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 Webster 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 Webster 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.