Small-town market profile · Kentucky
Mount Sterling, KY area market data
How the Mount Sterling area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 48,428
- +3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 18,181
- Median household income
- $55,208
- +23.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $151,900
- Jobs located here
- 13,375
- Highest market score
- 81
- Lawn, cleaning and pest control, #20 of 481 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Mount Sterling area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Mount Sterling 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 Mount Sterling area has an estimated 48,428 people and 18,181 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Mount Sterling area grew 3.1%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Mount Sterling area is $55,208, 32% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 23.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Mount Sterling area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Of the business types scored in the Mount Sterling area, lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (81); landscaping and lawn care companies (80); and restaurants and cafes (77) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies, that ranks #20 of 481 scored small-town markets.
The Mount Sterling area takes in 3 counties: Montgomery County, Bath County and Menifee County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (60% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Mount Sterling area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Mount Sterling 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 81 | #20 of 481 | 8 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 172 | 14 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 80 | #18 of 399 | 6 | 3.3 | $3.8M | 131 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 77 | #40 of 538 | 115 | 63.3 | $501K | 135 | 47 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 75 | #25 of 535 | 7 | 3.9 | $1.4M | 206 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 74 | #72 of 537 | 20 | 11.0 | $2.4M | 189 | 20 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 72 | #50 of 387 | 5 | 2.8 | $3.3M | 109 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 72 | #61 of 538 | 67 | 36.9 | $860K | 130 | 18 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 68 | #67 of 529 | 9 | 5.0 | $6.4M | 173 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 67 | #91 of 441 | 6 | 3.3 | $2.8M | 111 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 66 | #79 of 536 | 28 | 15.4 | Index only | 200 | 13 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 65 | #86 of 533 | 26 | 14.3 | Index only | 171 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 65 | #127 of 538 | 69 | 38.0 | $242K | 90 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 64 | #126 of 538 | 41 | 22.6 | $408K | 92 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 63 | #126 of 431 | 7 | 3.9 | $2.4M | 95 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | 62 | #122 of 526 | 17 | 9.4 | $2.6M | 107 | 23 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #140 of 538 | 59 | 32.5 | $235K | 110 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 59 | #156 of 527 | 22 | 12.1 | $610K | 69 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #178 of 526 | 13 | 7.2 | $1.3M | 136 | 9 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 56 | #156 of 400 | 6 | 3.3 | $2.9M | 93 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 52 | #196 of 426 | 7 | 3.9 | $2.5M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 50 | #207 of 398 | 8 | 4.4 | $1.7M | 62 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 49 | #286 of 537 | 27 | 14.9 | $2.1M | 70 | 27 |
| Barbershops | 48 | #211 of 377 | 7 | 3.9 | $2M | 105 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 47 | #263 of 458 | 10 | 5.5 | $1.7M | 98 | 23 |
| Spas and skin care | 46 | #297 of 504 | 13 | 7.2 | $1.1M | 122 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 45 | #334 of 529 | 27 | 14.9 | $3.7M | 47 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 44 | #241 of 387 | 9 | 5.0 | $1.5M | 59 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 44 | #337 of 538 | 35 | 19.3 | $396K | 92 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 42 | #229 of 365 | 9 | 5.0 | $284K | 42 | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 42 | #313 of 476 | 12 | 6.6 | $3.7M | 78 | 17 |
| Pizza | 42 | #336 of 520 | 24 | 13.2 | $2.4M | 47 | 27 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 42 | #355 of 538 | 117 | 64.4 | $149K | 98 | 43 |
| Gas stations | 41 | #373 of 536 | 53 | 29.2 | $1.1M | 44 | 29 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 40 | #385 of 538 | 49 | 27.0 | $2M | 60 | 12 |
| Grocery stores | 39 | #364 of 506 | 17 | 9.4 | $5.8M | 63 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 37 | #389 of 536 | 39 | 21.5 | $750K | 85 | 16 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 32 | #424 of 536 | 34 | 18.7 | $860K | 68 | 16 |
| Physical therapy | 29 | #341 of 400 | 13 | 7.2 | $1.3M | 56 | 8 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $2.4M | 184 | 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $3.5M | 207 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $2M | 204 | 10 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $14.8M | 123 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $3.2M | 158 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $4.5M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $28.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $14.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $22.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $29.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $23M | Too few | 6 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $16.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $23M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 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 | 3 |
Household spending in the Mount Sterling 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 | $16.7M | $920 | 96 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $55.7M | $3,063 | 118 |
| Food away from home | $57.6M | $3,168 | 78 |
| Groceries | $99.1M | $5,450 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $13.9M | $762 | 76 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.1M | $338 | 58 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $9.6M | $526 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $17.4M | $958 | 74 |
| Pets | $13.4M | $738 | 81 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $29.2M | $1,609 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $47.6M | $2,616 | 134 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $44.3M | $2,437 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $23M | $1,267 | 90 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $242.2M | $13,323 | 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 the Mount Sterling area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 48,428+3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 18,181
- Median age
- 40.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 679 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 70
- Median household income
- $55,208+23.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $75,334
- Median home value
- $151,900
- Jobs located here
- 13,375
- Daytime population
- 41,916Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Mount Sterling 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 Mount Sterling 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 Mount Sterling area 3
- Montgomery County, KY28,395 people
- Bath County, KY12,851 people
- Menifee County, KY6,230 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 Mount Sterling, KY area growing?
Population estimates put the Mount Sterling area at 48,428 people in 2025, up 3.1% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,181 households. Median household income rose 23.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Mount Sterling, KY area spend?
Households in the Mount Sterling area spend about $242.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $99.1M on groceries and $57.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Mount Sterling area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Mount Sterling, KY area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Mount Sterling area are for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (81); landscaping and lawn care companies (80); and restaurants and cafes (77). The Mount Sterling area ranks #20 of 481 scored small-town markets for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies.
How does the Mount Sterling, KY area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Mount Sterling area is $55,208 a year, 32% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $151,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Mount Sterling area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (60% 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. 38 of the 56 business types have a score in the Mount Sterling 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 Mount Sterling 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 Mount Sterling 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 Mount Sterling 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.