Small-town market profile · Minnesota
Albert Lea, MN area market data
How the Albert Lea area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 30,440
- −1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 12,846
- Median household income
- $71,023
- +32.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $171,100
- Jobs located here
- 11,051
- Highest market score
- 81
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #21 of 538 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Albert Lea area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea area has an estimated 30,440 people and 12,846 households. Population estimates show the Albert Lea area declined 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Albert Lea area is $71,023, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 32.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Albert Lea area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 115, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (63).
Of the business types scored in the Albert Lea area, medical and dental practices (81), pet businesses (70) and bakeries and dessert shops (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #21 of 538 scored small-town markets.
The Albert Lea area is made up of one county, Freeborn County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for electricians (3.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Albert Lea area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Albert Lea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 81 | #21 of 538 | 44 | 34.3 | $394K | 258 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 70 | #56 of 527 | 11 | 8.6 | $928K | 106 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 67 | #73 of 507 | 7 | 5.4 | $6.8M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 66 | #89 of 504 | 7 | 5.4 | $1.7M | 198 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 65 | #122 of 538 | 112 | 87.2 | $423K | 114 | 48 |
| Pizza | 62 | #136 of 520 | 8 | 6.2 | $5.9M | 116 | 23 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 60 | #149 of 535 | 14 | 10.9 | $743K | 112 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 60 | #173 of 529 | 10 | 7.8 | $7.5M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 60 | #180 of 538 | 51 | 39.7 | $277K | 103 | 19 |
| Physical therapy | 59 | #139 of 400 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.9M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 57 | #192 of 538 | 56 | 43.6 | $845K | 127 | 24 |
| Chiropractors | 53 | #184 of 426 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.9M | 121 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 53 | #198 of 476 | 6 | 4.7 | $5.6M | 117 | 12 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #215 of 533 | 18 | 14.0 | Index only | 177 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #231 of 538 | 45 | 35.0 | $270K | 127 | 10 |
| Hair salons | 53 | #244 of 538 | 28 | 21.8 | $434K | 101 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 52 | #168 of 387 | 5 | 3.9 | $2.8M | 92 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 52 | #243 of 536 | 15 | 11.7 | $2.4M | 101 | 18 |
| Auto repair shops | 52 | #261 of 538 | 30 | 23.4 | $470K | 106 | 17 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 50 | #283 of 538 | 29 | 22.6 | $2.6M | 77 | 8 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 49 | #242 of 481 | 9 | 7.0 | $1.7M | 100 | 12 |
| Gyms | 47 | #286 of 506 | 10 | 7.8 | $1M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 47 | #297 of 536 | 31 | 24.1 | $777K | 88 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 47 | #300 of 536 | 22 | 17.1 | $1.1M | 86 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 45 | #312 of 529 | 14 | 10.9 | $3.4M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 45 | #326 of 537 | 21 | 16.3 | $2.3M | 74 | 23 |
| Real estate | 43 | #348 of 536 | 26 | 20.2 | Index only | 154 | 13 |
| Nail salons | 41 | #260 of 387 | 7 | 5.4 | $1.7M | 104 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #353 of 506 | 10 | 7.8 | $7.5M | 81 | 7 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 38 | #282 of 399 | 8 | 6.2 | $1.9M | 65 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 38 | #365 of 537 | 16 | 12.5 | $1.4M | 109 | 13 |
| Property management | 37 | #142 of 180 | 5 | 3.9 | Index only | 63 | 3 |
| Laundromats | 29 | #130 of 150 | 5 | 3.9 | $4.8M | 39 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 29 | #255 of 288 | 6 | 4.7 | $5.6M | 66 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | 26 | #499 of 526 | 22 | 17.1 | $1.5M | 62 | 28 |
| Electricians | 22 | #282 of 295 | 10 | 7.8 | $3.3M | 28 | 12 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $1.2M | 117 | 6 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $4.3M | 440 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $2.6M | 129 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $2.6M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.1 | $2.6M | 94 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $4.7M | 187 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | Index only | 148 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $5.8M | 324 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.3 | $4.7M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $6.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $1.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $5.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $24.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $15.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $17.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | 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 |
| 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 the Albert Lea 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 | $14.1M | $1,098 | 115 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $36M | $2,804 | 108 |
| Food away from home | $47.3M | $3,684 | 91 |
| Groceries | $75.4M | $5,870 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $12.1M | $945 | 94 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.7M | $366 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.4M | $810 | 82 |
| Medical and dental services | $17.3M | $1,349 | 105 |
| Pets | $10.2M | $795 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $24.1M | $1,875 | 91 |
| Vehicle insurance | $21.9M | $1,706 | 87 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $33.3M | $2,593 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $15.1M | $1,178 | 83 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $173.7M | $13,521 | 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 the Albert Lea area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 30,440−1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 12,846
- Median age
- 45.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 80%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 707 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 43
- Median household income
- $71,023+32.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $93,926
- Median home value
- $171,100
- Jobs located here
- 11,051
- Daytime population
- 27,708Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea area 1
- Freeborn County, MN30,623 people
Other markets based in Minnesota 12
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area3,713,668 people
- Duluth, MN-WI metro area280,870 people
- Rochester, MN metro area228,522 people
- St. Cloud, MN metro area202,458 people
- Mankato, MN metro area104,282 people
- Brainerd, MN area98,678 people
- Faribault-Northfield, MN area67,917 people
- Fergus Falls, MN area60,475 people
- Winona, MN area49,779 people
- Red Wing, MN area47,943 people
- Bemidji, MN area46,512 people
- Grand Rapids, MN area45,275 people
Questions
How fast is the Albert Lea, MN area growing?
Population estimates put the Albert Lea area at 30,440 people in 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 12,846 households. Median household income rose 32.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Albert Lea, MN area spend?
Households in the Albert Lea area spend about $173.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $75.4M on groceries and $47.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Albert Lea area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 115, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Albert Lea, MN area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Albert Lea area are for medical and dental practices (81), pet businesses (70) and bakeries and dessert shops (67). The Albert Lea area ranks #21 of 538 scored small-town markets for medical and dental practices.
How does the Albert Lea, MN area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Albert Lea area is $71,023 a year, 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 $171,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Albert Lea area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for electricians (3.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (59% 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. 36 of the 56 business types have a score in the Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea 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 Minnesota · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea 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.