County profile · Minnesota
Watonwan County, MN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Watonwan County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 11,459
- +2.0% since 2020
- Households
- 4,227
- Median household income
- $71,699
- +32.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $162,400
- Jobs located here
- 4,626
- Highest market score
- 79
- Salons, barbers and spas, #77 of 2,385 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Watonwan County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Watonwan 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 11,459 people live in Watonwan County, in 4,227 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Watonwan County grew 2.0%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Watonwan County is $71,699 a year, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 32.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Watonwan County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (66).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Watonwan County are for salons, barbers and spas (79); hair salons (78); and medical and dental practices (68). Watonwan County ranks #77 of 2,385 scored counties for salons, barbers and spas.
For its number of households, Watonwan County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery and convenience stores (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (30% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Watonwan County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Watonwan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salons, barbers and spas | 79 | #77 of 2,385 | 7 | 16.6 | $583K | 274 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 78 | #97 of 2,339 | 5 | 11.8 | $816K | 190 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 68 | #425 of 2,394 | 25 | 59.1 | $234K | 153 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 65 | #569 of 2,405 | 36 | 85.2 | $445K | 120 | 15 |
| Real estate | 59 | #608 of 2,229 | 6 | 14.2 | Index only | 223 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 56 | #942 of 2,401 | 20 | 47.3 | $263K | 98 | 7 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 54 | #820 of 2,176 | 6 | 14.2 | Index only | 177 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 54 | #981 of 2,405 | 19 | 44.9 | $843K | 127 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 52 | #1,119 of 2,378 | 13 | 30.8 | $404K | 91 | 5 |
| Pizza | 48 | #1,134 of 2,090 | 9 | 21.3 | $1.8M | 35 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 37 | #1,113 of 1,490 | 5 | 11.8 | $1.2M | 49 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 37 | #1,732 of 2,402 | 16 | 37.9 | $1.6M | 46 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | 30 | #1,838 of 2,057 | 6 | 14.2 | $1.8M | 76 | 13 |
| Insurance agencies | 29 | #1,828 of 2,272 | 7 | 16.6 | $1.2M | 92 | 9 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 26 | #1,136 of 1,302 | 5 | 11.8 | $1.2M | 37 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | 26 | #1,765 of 2,070 | 9 | 21.3 | $2.8M | 30 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.5 | $2M | 231 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.5 | $1.3M | 43 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 9.5 | $1.3M | 76 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $5.3M | 129 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $539K | 54 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $8.4M | 106 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $1.9M | 198 | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $3.7M | 31 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $5.3M | 175 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $260K | 38 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $4.5M | 187 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $1.2M | 178 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $3.7M | 78 | 7 |
| Pet businesses | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 7.1 | $1.2M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.7 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.7 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.7 | $8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.7 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.7 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.7 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 4.7 | $1.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $5.3M | 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 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 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 |
| Pet stores | 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 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin 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 | Under 3 |
Household spending in Watonwan 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 | $5.3M | $1,242 | 130 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $13.4M | $3,161 | 122 |
| Food away from home | $16M | $3,788 | 93 |
| Groceries | $25.2M | $5,955 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.1M | $966 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.6M | $383 | 66 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.5M | $838 | 85 |
| Medical and dental services | $5.8M | $1,382 | 107 |
| Pets | $3.5M | $824 | 91 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $8.1M | $1,922 | 94 |
| Vehicle insurance | $8.1M | $1,918 | 98 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $11.1M | $2,619 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $5.1M | $1,202 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $57.9M | $13,696 | 82 |
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 Watonwan County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 11,459+2.0% since 2020
- Households
- 4,227
- Median age
- 40.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 78%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 435 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 26
- Median household income
- $71,699+32.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $93,447
- Median home value
- $162,400
- Jobs located here
- 4,626
- Daytime population
- 10,380Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Watonwan 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 Watonwan 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
- Brown County, MN25,800 people
- Martin County, MN19,780 people
- Cottonwood County, MN11,458 people
- Blue Earth County, MN69,871 people
- Nicollet County, MN34,411 people
- Jackson County, MN9,933 people
- Faribault County, MN13,914 people
- Redwood County, MN15,350 people
Questions
How fast is Watonwan County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Watonwan County at 11,459 people in 2025, up 2.0% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 4,227 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 32.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Watonwan County, MN spend?
Households in Watonwan County spend about $57.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $25.2M on groceries and $16M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Watonwan County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (66).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Watonwan County, MN?
Of the business types scored in Watonwan County, salons, barbers and spas (79); hair salons (78); and medical and dental practices (68) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For salons, barbers and spas, that ranks #77 of 2,385 scored counties.
How does Watonwan County, MN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Watonwan County is $71,699, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $162,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery and convenience stores (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (30% 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. 16 of the 56 business types have a score in Watonwan 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 Watonwan 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 Watonwan 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 Watonwan 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.