County profile · Kansas
Ford County, KS market data
How Ford County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 33,993
- −0.6% since 2020
- Households
- 11,796
- Median household income
- $70,781
- +36.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $151,100
- Jobs located here
- 16,900
- Highest market score
- 65
- Pet businesses, #475 of 2,200 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Ford County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Ford 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
Ford County has an estimated 33,993 people and 11,796 households. Population estimates put the population change in Ford County from 2020 to 2025 at −0.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Ford County is $70,781, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 36.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Ford County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (62).
Of the business types scored in Ford County, pet businesses (65); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (62); and dentists and orthodontists (61) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #475 of 2,200 scored counties.
Ford County is part of the Dodge City area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for car washes and detailers (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (47% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Ford County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Ford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 65 | #475 of 2,200 | 11 | 9.3 | $857K | 98 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 62 | #409 of 1,771 | 5 | 4.2 | $2.8M | 166 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 61 | #527 of 1,886 | 9 | 7.6 | $1.8M | 180 | 9 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 56 | #651 of 1,656 | 9 | 7.6 | $1.8M | 100 | 10 |
| Grocery stores | 50 | #1,026 of 2,070 | 9 | 7.6 | $7.7M | 83 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 50 | #1,055 of 2,088 | 15 | 12.7 | $632K | 95 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 49 | #1,266 of 2,402 | 33 | 28.0 | $2.1M | 62 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 48 | #1,148 of 2,176 | 19 | 16.1 | Index only | 154 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 44 | #841 of 1,334 | 5 | 4.2 | $1.9M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 44 | #1,123 of 1,792 | 8 | 6.8 | $1.2M | 91 | 4 |
| Real estate | 41 | #1,561 of 2,229 | 26 | 22.0 | Index only | 142 | 13 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 41 | #1,630 of 2,394 | 92 | 78.0 | $174K | 114 | 38 |
| Convenience stores | 39 | #1,522 of 2,261 | 15 | 12.7 | $4.6M | 59 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 39 | #1,530 of 2,057 | 15 | 12.7 | $2M | 84 | 19 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 39 | #1,545 of 2,222 | 20 | 17.0 | $2.2M | 71 | 21 |
| Hair salons | 39 | #1,696 of 2,339 | 31 | 26.3 | $361K | 84 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 36 | #1,121 of 1,530 | 8 | 6.8 | $1.7M | 69 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 36 | #1,758 of 2,358 | 24 | 20.3 | $1.5M | 62 | 17 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 35 | #1,363 of 1,707 | 9 | 7.6 | $3.4M | 72 | 10 |
| Spas and skin care | 35 | #1,416 of 1,769 | 14 | 11.9 | $800K | 91 | 3 |
| Pizza | 35 | #1,644 of 2,090 | 17 | 14.4 | $2.6M | 50 | 21 |
| Auto repair shops | 35 | #1,854 of 2,378 | 43 | 36.5 | $323K | 73 | 15 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 35 | #1,961 of 2,385 | 58 | 49.2 | $193K | 91 | 11 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 33 | #1,047 of 1,327 | 7 | 5.9 | $2M | 64 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 32 | #1,141 of 1,461 | 6 | 5.1 | $1.6M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 32 | #1,671 of 2,063 | 13 | 11.0 | $3.4M | 91 | 11 |
| Nail salons | 30 | #1,141 of 1,328 | 9 | 7.6 | $1.2M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 29 | #2,069 of 2,401 | 75 | 63.6 | $185K | 69 | 25 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 28 | #1,115 of 1,302 | 9 | 7.6 | $1.8M | 57 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 26 | #1,292 of 1,451 | 10 | 8.5 | $1.4M | 55 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 25 | #1,976 of 2,210 | 34 | 28.8 | $650K | 74 | 16 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 24 | #1,864 of 2,087 | 26 | 22.0 | $850K | 67 | 16 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 23 | #2,231 of 2,405 | 168 | 142.4 | $260K | 70 | 64 |
| Chiropractors | 22 | #1,409 of 1,490 | 13 | 11.0 | $1.2M | 51 | 10 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 22 | #1,793 of 1,889 | 18 | 15.3 | $2.4M | 58 | 11 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 22 | #2,280 of 2,405 | 99 | 83.9 | $441K | 66 | 32 |
| Insurance agencies | 17 | #2,134 of 2,272 | 25 | 21.2 | $866K | 69 | 21 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $2.8M | 149 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $1.1M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $344K | 51 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | Index only | 102 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $7.7M | 91 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $5.3M | 221 | 6 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | Index only | 96 | 5 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.1M | 115 | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $11.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $15.3M | Too few | 5 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $7M | Too few | 4 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $4.7M | Too few | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.9M | Too few | 7 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $22.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | 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 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Ford 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 | $13.9M | $1,178 | 123 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $35.5M | $3,011 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $43.6M | $3,697 | 91 |
| Groceries | $69.6M | $5,900 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.2M | $950 | 95 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.2M | $359 | 62 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9.5M | $804 | 82 |
| Medical and dental services | $16M | $1,353 | 105 |
| Pets | $9.4M | $799 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $22.1M | $1,875 | 91 |
| Vehicle insurance | $21.7M | $1,836 | 94 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $30.7M | $2,601 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $13.9M | $1,182 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $159.9M | $13,558 | 81 |
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 Ford County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 33,993−0.6% since 2020
- Households
- 11,796
- Median age
- 32.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 62%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 1,098 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 31
- Median household income
- $70,781+36.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $87,372
- Median home value
- $151,100
- Jobs located here
- 16,900
- Daytime population
- 35,172Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Ford 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 Ford 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 Kansas 8
- Gray County, KS5,701 people
- Hodgeman County, KS1,652 people
- Clark County, KS1,974 people
- Edwards County, KS2,779 people
- Meade County, KS3,903 people
- Kiowa County, KS2,422 people
- Comanche County, KS1,729 people
- Finney County, KS38,084 people
Questions
How fast is Ford County, KS growing?
Population estimates put Ford County at 33,993 people in 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 11,796 households. Median household income rose 36.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Ford County, KS spend?
Households in Ford County spend about $159.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $69.6M on groceries and $43.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Ford County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 123, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (62).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Ford County, KS?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Ford County are for pet businesses (65); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (62); and dentists and orthodontists (61). Ford County ranks #475 of 2,200 scored counties for pet businesses.
How does Ford County, KS compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Ford County is $70,781 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $151,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Ford County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for car washes and detailers (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (47% 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. 37 of the 56 business types have a score in Ford 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 Ford 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 Kansas · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Ford 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 Ford 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.