County profile · Minnesota
Freeborn County, MN market data
How Freeborn County compares with other counties 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
- 74
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #228 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Freeborn County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Freeborn 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
Freeborn County has an estimated 30,440 people and 12,846 households. Population estimates show Freeborn County declined 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Freeborn County 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 Freeborn County 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 Freeborn County, medical and dental practices (74), pet businesses (65) and spas and skin care studios (61) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #228 of 2,394 scored counties.
Freeborn County is part of the Albert Lea area. 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 Freeborn County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Freeborn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 74 | #228 of 2,394 | 44 | 34.3 | $394K | 258 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 65 | #467 of 2,200 | 11 | 8.6 | $928K | 106 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 61 | #468 of 1,769 | 7 | 5.4 | $1.7M | 198 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 61 | #491 of 1,889 | 7 | 5.4 | $6.8M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 56 | #548 of 1,422 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.9M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 56 | #780 of 2,090 | 8 | 6.2 | $5.9M | 116 | 23 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #891 of 2,088 | 14 | 10.9 | $743K | 112 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 53 | #1,005 of 2,261 | 10 | 7.8 | $7.5M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 53 | #1,047 of 2,405 | 112 | 87.2 | $423K | 114 | 48 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 51 | #986 of 2,176 | 18 | 14.0 | Index only | 177 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 51 | #1,182 of 2,401 | 51 | 39.7 | $277K | 103 | 19 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 50 | #1,155 of 2,405 | 56 | 43.6 | $845K | 127 | 24 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 50 | #1,165 of 2,385 | 45 | 35.0 | $270K | 127 | 10 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #1,186 of 2,339 | 28 | 21.8 | $434K | 101 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 49 | #894 of 1,771 | 9 | 7.0 | $1.7M | 100 | 12 |
| Chiropractors | 48 | #786 of 1,490 | 6 | 4.7 | $2.9M | 121 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 48 | #919 of 1,707 | 6 | 4.7 | $5.6M | 117 | 12 |
| Auto repair shops | 46 | #1,374 of 2,378 | 30 | 23.4 | $470K | 106 | 17 |
| Gas stations | 45 | #1,385 of 2,358 | 15 | 11.7 | $2.4M | 101 | 18 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 45 | #1,394 of 2,402 | 29 | 22.6 | $2.6M | 77 | 8 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 44 | #794 of 1,327 | 5 | 3.9 | $2.8M | 92 | 4 |
| Real estate | 44 | #1,383 of 2,229 | 26 | 20.2 | Index only | 154 | 13 |
| Nail salons | 41 | #925 of 1,328 | 7 | 5.4 | $1.7M | 104 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 40 | #1,400 of 2,087 | 22 | 17.1 | $1.1M | 86 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 40 | #1,520 of 2,210 | 31 | 24.1 | $777K | 88 | 7 |
| Gyms | 39 | #1,259 of 1,792 | 10 | 7.8 | $1M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 38 | #1,575 of 2,222 | 21 | 16.3 | $2.3M | 74 | 23 |
| Grocery stores | 36 | #1,475 of 2,070 | 10 | 7.8 | $7.5M | 81 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 36 | #1,551 of 2,063 | 14 | 10.9 | $3.4M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 35 | #1,153 of 1,493 | 8 | 6.2 | $1.9M | 65 | 9 |
| Insurance agencies | 34 | #1,671 of 2,272 | 16 | 12.5 | $1.4M | 109 | 13 |
| Property management | 33 | #746 of 910 | 5 | 3.9 | Index only | 63 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 23 | #1,091 of 1,177 | 6 | 4.7 | $5.6M | 66 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | 21 | #1,989 of 2,057 | 22 | 17.1 | $1.5M | 62 | 28 |
| Laundromats | 16 | #738 of 785 | 5 | 3.9 | $4.8M | 39 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 14 | #1,137 of 1,160 | 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 Freeborn 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 | $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 Freeborn County
- 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 Freeborn 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 Freeborn 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
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- Steele County, MN37,439 people
- Waseca County, MN18,885 people
- Faribault County, MN13,914 people
- Dodge County, MN21,045 people
- Blue Earth County, MN69,871 people
- Rice County, MN67,917 people
- Olmsted County, MN164,498 people
Questions
How fast is Freeborn County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Freeborn County 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 Freeborn County, MN spend?
Households in Freeborn County 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 Freeborn County 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 Freeborn County, MN?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Freeborn County are for medical and dental practices (74), pet businesses (65) and spas and skin care studios (61). Freeborn County ranks #228 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does Freeborn County, MN compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Freeborn County 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, Freeborn County 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. 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 Freeborn 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 Freeborn 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 Freeborn 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 Freeborn 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.