County profile · Minnesota
Carlton County, MN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Carlton County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 36,711
- +1.4% since 2020
- Households
- 14,090
- Median household income
- $80,573
- +27.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $245,100
- Jobs located here
- 12,806
- Highest market score
- 82
- Clothing and shoe stores, #116 of 2,087 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Carlton County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Carlton 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
An estimated 36,711 people live in Carlton County, in 14,090 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Carlton County grew 1.4%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Carlton County is $80,573 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 27.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Carlton County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (70).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Carlton County are for clothing and shoe stores (82); fast food and sandwich shops (80); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (80). Carlton County ranks #116 of 2,087 scored counties for clothing and shoe stores.
Carlton County is part of the Duluth metro area. For its number of households, Carlton County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (63% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Carlton County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Carlton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing and shoe stores | 82 | #116 of 2,087 | 6 | 4.3 | $4.6M | 364 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 80 | #129 of 2,222 | 13 | 9.2 | $4.2M | 139 | 9 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 80 | #130 of 2,210 | 13 | 9.2 | $2.1M | 243 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 78 | #176 of 2,405 | 104 | 73.8 | $531K | 143 | 34 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 75 | #210 of 2,394 | 61 | 43.3 | $328K | 215 | 21 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 74 | #267 of 2,405 | 52 | 36.9 | $1.1M | 160 | 19 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 72 | #224 of 1,886 | 13 | 9.2 | $1.5M | 156 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 72 | #227 of 2,385 | 33 | 23.4 | $426K | 200 | 9 |
| Tire shops | 71 | #255 of 1,530 | 6 | 4.3 | $2.9M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 67 | #427 of 2,090 | 13 | 9.2 | $4.2M | 84 | 9 |
| Physical therapy | 66 | #294 of 1,422 | 5 | 3.5 | $4M | 166 | 6 |
| Hair salons | 66 | #415 of 2,339 | 24 | 17.0 | $586K | 136 | 7 |
| Real estate | 64 | #407 of 2,229 | 20 | 14.2 | Index only | 229 | 11 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 63 | #348 of 1,302 | 6 | 4.3 | $3.3M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 63 | #450 of 2,057 | 14 | 9.9 | $2.7M | 113 | 19 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 62 | #412 of 1,771 | 7 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 148 | 17 |
| Auto repair and car care | 62 | #656 of 2,401 | 52 | 36.9 | $334K | 124 | 26 |
| Chiropractors | 61 | #443 of 1,490 | 8 | 5.7 | $2.5M | 104 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 61 | #517 of 2,176 | 19 | 13.5 | Index only | 192 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 61 | #570 of 2,063 | 13 | 9.2 | $4.2M | 115 | 6 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 60 | #599 of 2,088 | 18 | 12.8 | $693K | 105 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 60 | #760 of 2,358 | 20 | 14.2 | $2.2M | 92 | 16 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 59 | #408 of 1,334 | 6 | 4.3 | $2.1M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 58 | #749 of 2,070 | 9 | 6.4 | $9.5M | 103 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 57 | #614 of 1,707 | 9 | 6.4 | $4.3M | 90 | 9 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 56 | #958 of 2,402 | 39 | 27.7 | $2.2M | 65 | 6 |
| Gyms | 55 | #733 of 1,792 | 11 | 7.8 | $1.1M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #942 of 2,200 | 15 | 10.6 | $801K | 91 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 53 | #1,050 of 2,378 | 35 | 24.8 | $496K | 111 | 25 |
| Funeral homes | 50 | #704 of 1,472 | 5 | 3.5 | $427K | 63 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 49 | #779 of 1,485 | 6 | 4.3 | $2M | 74 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 46 | #753 of 1,327 | 6 | 4.3 | $2.9M | 94 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 43 | #1,374 of 2,272 | 24 | 17.0 | $1.1M | 88 | 11 |
| Convenience stores | 38 | #1,570 of 2,261 | 26 | 18.5 | $3.3M | 42 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 37 | #1,035 of 1,461 | 7 | 5.0 | $1.7M | 67 | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | 28 | #1,384 of 1,611 | 18 | 12.8 | $316K | 32 | 9 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $4.3M | 148 | 8 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $3.5M | 402 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $5.8M | 91 | 9 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $12.8M | 151 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $27.6M | Too few | 6 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $19.2M | Too few | 7 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $13.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $14.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $17.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $17.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $12M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $20M | Too few | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $20M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $12.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
Household spending in Carlton 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 | $17.4M | $1,231 | 129 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $44M | $3,125 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $55.2M | $3,921 | 96 |
| Groceries | $85.8M | $6,090 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.1M | $999 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.7M | $404 | 70 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $12.5M | $886 | 90 |
| Medical and dental services | $20M | $1,420 | 110 |
| Pets | $12M | $853 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $27.8M | $1,972 | 96 |
| Vehicle insurance | $26.6M | $1,891 | 97 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $38.4M | $2,723 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $17.4M | $1,234 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $198.6M | $14,094 | 85 |
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 Carlton County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 36,711+1.4% since 2020
- Households
- 14,090
- Median age
- 41.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 80%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 861 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 42
- Median household income
- $80,573+27.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $99,202
- Median home value
- $245,100
- Jobs located here
- 12,806
- Daytime population
- 32,171Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Carlton 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 Carlton 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 Minnesota 8
- St. Louis County, MN200,123 people
- Pine County, MN29,640 people
- Aitkin County, MN16,056 people
- Lake County, MN10,879 people
- Kanabec County, MN16,390 people
- Itasca County, MN45,275 people
- Crow Wing County, MN67,686 people
- Mille Lacs County, MN27,125 people
Questions
How fast is Carlton County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Carlton County at 36,711 people in 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 14,090 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 27.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Carlton County, MN spend?
Households in Carlton County spend about $198.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $85.8M on groceries and $55.2M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Carlton County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (70).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Carlton County, MN?
Of the business types scored in Carlton County, clothing and shoe stores (82); fast food and sandwich shops (80); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For clothing and shoe stores, that ranks #116 of 2,087 scored counties.
How does Carlton County, MN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Carlton County is $80,573, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $245,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (63% 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. 36 of the 56 business types have a score in Carlton 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 Carlton 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Carlton 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 Carlton 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.