Small-town market profile · Kentucky
Middlesborough, KY area market data
How the Middlesborough area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 22,829
- −4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 9,939
- Median household income
- $31,354
- +19.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $89,000
- Jobs located here
- 7,622
- Highest market score
- 67
- Insurance agencies, #125 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Middlesborough area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Middlesborough area. 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
The Middlesborough area has an estimated 22,829 people and 9,939 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Middlesborough area from 2020 to 2025 at −4.8%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Middlesborough area is $31,354, 61% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 19.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Middlesborough area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 105, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (38).
Of the business types scored in the Middlesborough area, insurance agencies (67), home repair companies (59) and real estate businesses (54) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #125 of 537 scored small-town markets.
The Middlesborough area is made up of one county, Bell County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (71% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Middlesborough area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Middlesborough area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 67 | #125 of 537 | 7 | 7.0 | $2.9M | 233 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 59 | #146 of 526 | 5 | 5.0 | $4M | 164 | 3 |
| Real estate | 54 | #206 of 536 | 11 | 11.1 | Index only | 241 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 44 | #335 of 533 | 7 | 7.0 | Index only | 301 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 39 | #365 of 507 | 6 | 6.0 | $4.3M | 103 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 35 | #428 of 527 | 8 | 8.0 | $740K | 84 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 34 | #429 of 538 | 20 | 20.1 | $355K | 80 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 34 | #430 of 536 | 18 | 18.1 | $1.4M | 57 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 26 | #470 of 536 | 18 | 18.1 | $764K | 60 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 25 | #474 of 536 | 24 | 24.1 | $573K | 65 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 25 | #501 of 529 | 12 | 12.1 | $2.1M | 57 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 24 | #494 of 538 | 41 | 41.3 | $173K | 64 | 12 |
| Convenience stores | 19 | #488 of 529 | 13 | 13.1 | $3.7M | 46 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 19 | #527 of 538 | 55 | 55.3 | $464K | 70 | 16 |
| Physical therapy | 15 | #390 of 400 | 9 | 9.1 | $886K | 37 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 14 | #414 of 431 | 5 | 5.0 | $1.4M | 57 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 10 | #530 of 535 | 13 | 13.1 | $289K | 44 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 8 | #538 of 538 | 100 | 100.6 | $255K | 69 | 49 |
| Funeral homes | 7 | #361 of 365 | 7 | 7.0 | $200K | 29 | 5 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 7 | #535 of 538 | 30 | 30.2 | $1.6M | 47 | 10 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 6 | #526 of 526 | 13 | 13.1 | $614K | 62 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 6 | #538 of 538 | 90 | 90.6 | $89K | 58 | 34 |
| Gyms | 4 | #506 of 506 | 10 | 10.1 | $376K | 29 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 3 | #440 of 441 | 6 | 6.0 | $1.2M | 47 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 3 | #458 of 458 | 13 | 13.1 | $614K | 34 | 22 |
| Grocery stores | 3 | #504 of 506 | 15 | 15.1 | $3.2M | 34 | 7 |
| Spas and skin care | 2 | #504 of 504 | 12 | 12.1 | $515K | 59 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 2 | #520 of 520 | 14 | 14.1 | $1.8M | 36 | 29 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 2 | #537 of 537 | 22 | 22.1 | $1.2M | 38 | 29 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 1 | #400 of 400 | 7 | 7.0 | $1.1M | 36 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 1 | #538 of 538 | 47 | 47.3 | $132K | 62 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 1 | #538 of 538 | 28 | 28.2 | $221K | 51 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.0 | $1.5M | 82 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.0 | $2M | 83 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.0 | $5M | 104 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.0 | $890K | 89 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.0 | $1.3M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.0 | $2.1M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.0 | $3.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.0 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $13.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $13.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $10.6M | Too few | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $10.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $19.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 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 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 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 | 4 |
Household spending in the Middlesborough area
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 | $714 | 75 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $24.3M | $2,447 | 94 |
| Food away from home | $25.5M | $2,566 | 63 |
| Groceries | $47.6M | $4,792 | 76 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.2M | $622 | 62 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.7M | $269 | 46 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.8M | $378 | 38 |
| Medical and dental services | $8M | $803 | 62 |
| Pets | $5.9M | $595 | 65 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $13.8M | $1,384 | 67 |
| Vehicle insurance | $20.5M | $2,064 | 105 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $19.9M | $1,999 | 66 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10.6M | $1,067 | 76 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $114.8M | $11,552 | 69 |
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 the Middlesborough area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 22,829−4.8% since 2020
- Households
- 9,939
- Median age
- 40.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 59%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.6
- Land area
- 359 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 65
- Median household income
- $31,354+19.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $49,259
- Median home value
- $89,000
- Jobs located here
- 7,622
- Daytime population
- 23,467Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Middlesborough area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 the Middlesborough area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Middlesborough area 1
- Bell County, KY23,509 people
Other markets based in Kentucky 12
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area1,372,558 people
- Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area522,560 people
- Bowling Green, KY metro area186,959 people
- Elizabethtown, KY metro area127,049 people
- Owensboro, KY metro area112,762 people
- Paducah, KY-IL metro area102,748 people
- Corbin, KY area149,689 people
- Richmond-Berea, KY area125,967 people
- Pikeville, KY area91,951 people
- Frankfort, KY area76,195 people
- Somerset, KY area65,897 people
- Henderson, KY area57,122 people
Questions
How fast is the Middlesborough, KY area growing?
Population estimates put the Middlesborough area at 22,829 people in 2025, down 4.8% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 9,939 households. Median household income rose 19.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Middlesborough, KY area spend?
Households in the Middlesborough area spend about $114.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $47.6M on groceries and $25.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Middlesborough area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 105, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (38).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Middlesborough, KY area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Middlesborough area are for insurance agencies (67), home repair companies (59) and real estate businesses (54). The Middlesborough area ranks #125 of 537 scored small-town markets for insurance agencies.
How does the Middlesborough, KY area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Middlesborough area is $31,354 a year, 61% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 4.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $89,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Middlesborough area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (71% 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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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. 32 of the 56 business types have a score in the Middlesborough area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Middlesborough area. 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 Kentucky · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Middlesborough area?
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 the Middlesborough area. 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.