County profile · Missouri
Cole County, MO market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Cole County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 77,908
- +1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 31,086
- Median household income
- $74,876
- +24.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $229,600
- Jobs located here
- 56,757
- Highest market score
- 75
- Grocery stores, #294 of 2,070 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Cole County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Cole 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 77,908 people live in Cole County, in 31,086 households. Population estimates show Cole County grew 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Cole County is $74,876 a year, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Cole County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (70).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Cole County are for grocery stores (75), grocery and convenience stores (73) and optometrists and eye clinics (71). Cole County ranks #294 of 2,070 scored counties for grocery stores.
Cole County is part of the Jefferson City metro area. For its number of households, Cole County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for roofing and gutter companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for barbershops (40% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Cole County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Cole 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 75 | #294 of 2,070 | 14 | 4.5 | $13.4M | 144 | 9 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 73 | #351 of 2,402 | 46 | 14.8 | $4.1M | 121 | 15 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 71 | #182 of 1,302 | 10 | 3.2 | $4.4M | 139 | 5 |
| Barbershops | 70 | #228 of 1,356 | 10 | 3.2 | $3.1M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 67 | #527 of 2,261 | 26 | 8.4 | $7.2M | 92 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 66 | #372 of 1,889 | 23 | 7.4 | $5.2M | 127 | 13 |
| Spas and skin care | 65 | #376 of 1,769 | 27 | 8.7 | $1.1M | 130 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 64 | #354 of 1,327 | 11 | 3.5 | $3.1M | 100 | 6 |
| Physical therapy | 62 | #395 of 1,422 | 17 | 5.5 | $2.6M | 107 | 10 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 61 | #574 of 2,063 | 29 | 9.3 | $4.2M | 112 | 13 |
| Chiropractors | 59 | #489 of 1,490 | 17 | 5.5 | $2.6M | 107 | 10 |
| Gyms | 59 | #555 of 1,792 | 19 | 6.1 | $1.4M | 111 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 59 | #780 of 2,378 | 74 | 23.8 | $458K | 103 | 29 |
| Property management | 58 | #310 of 910 | 6 | 1.9 | Index only | 131 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 57 | #833 of 2,210 | 59 | 19.0 | $1M | 118 | 17 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 55 | #867 of 2,087 | 44 | 14.2 | $1.4M | 109 | 17 |
| Nail salons | 54 | #569 of 1,328 | 19 | 6.1 | $1.6M | 97 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 54 | #798 of 1,886 | 36 | 11.6 | $1.2M | 123 | 26 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 53 | #754 of 1,656 | 28 | 9.0 | $1.6M | 88 | 38 |
| Gas stations | 53 | #1,030 of 2,358 | 41 | 13.2 | $2.1M | 88 | 32 |
| Veterinarians | 52 | #699 of 1,485 | 13 | 4.2 | $2M | 74 | 8 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 52 | #946 of 2,088 | 39 | 12.5 | $706K | 107 | 21 |
| Tire shops | 51 | #755 of 1,530 | 15 | 4.8 | $2.3M | 90 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 51 | #1,135 of 2,405 | 295 | 94.9 | $409K | 110 | 148 |
| Hair salons | 50 | #1,199 of 2,339 | 79 | 25.4 | $390K | 91 | 15 |
| Pet businesses | 49 | #1,157 of 2,200 | 41 | 13.2 | $640K | 73 | 17 |
| Auto repair and car care | 49 | #1,273 of 2,401 | 134 | 43.1 | $253K | 94 | 50 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 48 | #1,271 of 2,405 | 168 | 54.0 | $719K | 108 | 65 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 48 | #1,284 of 2,385 | 136 | 43.7 | $226K | 106 | 28 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 47 | #1,264 of 2,222 | 44 | 14.2 | $2.7M | 90 | 68 |
| Funeral homes | 44 | #872 of 1,472 | 11 | 3.5 | $391K | 58 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 43 | #1,547 of 2,394 | 301 | 96.8 | $145K | 95 | 93 |
| Electricians | 41 | #792 of 1,160 | 9 | 2.9 | $9.4M | 78 | 27 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 41 | #935 of 1,461 | 15 | 4.8 | $1.7M | 69 | 9 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 40 | #944 of 1,334 | 18 | 5.8 | $1.5M | 76 | 10 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 40 | #1,584 of 2,176 | 71 | 22.8 | Index only | 113 | 27 |
| Pizza | 39 | #1,482 of 2,090 | 37 | 11.9 | $3.3M | 64 | 68 |
| Real estate | 37 | #1,795 of 2,229 | 96 | 30.9 | Index only | 105 | 48 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 31 | #765 of 887 | 17 | 5.5 | Index only | 66 | 5 |
| Car washes and detailing | 30 | #1,215 of 1,451 | 22 | 7.1 | $1.5M | 61 | 10 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 30 | #1,491 of 1,707 | 26 | 8.4 | $3.2M | 68 | 45 |
| Pest control | 28 | #621 of 699 | 8 | 2.6 | $4.8M | 47 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | 27 | #1,041 of 1,177 | 23 | 7.4 | $3.7M | 43 | 8 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 27 | #1,340 of 1,493 | 23 | 7.4 | $1.7M | 57 | 41 |
| Home repair trades | 27 | #1,906 of 2,057 | 58 | 18.7 | $1.5M | 60 | 80 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 26 | #298 of 325 | 7 | 2.3 | $6.2M | 25 | 4 |
| House cleaning | 26 | #784 of 847 | 13 | 4.2 | $2.9M | 46 | 17 |
| Child care and preschools | 25 | #1,420 of 1,611 | 30 | 9.7 | $419K | 42 | 26 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 23 | #1,701 of 1,771 | 44 | 14.2 | $869K | 52 | 62 |
| Insurance agencies | 18 | #2,125 of 2,272 | 87 | 28.0 | $598K | 48 | 44 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | $8.5M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.0 | $20.4M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.0 | $8.7M | 193 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $30.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $13.8M | Too few | 11 |
Household spending in Cole 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 | $33.9M | $1,091 | 114 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $85.8M | $2,760 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $120.7M | $3,884 | 95 |
| Groceries | $188M | $6,047 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $30.8M | $990 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $12.6M | $404 | 70 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $27.5M | $886 | 90 |
| Medical and dental services | $43.7M | $1,405 | 109 |
| Pets | $26.2M | $844 | 93 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $61.2M | $1,967 | 96 |
| Vehicle insurance | $52M | $1,673 | 85 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $84.3M | $2,711 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $38.2M | $1,230 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $435.7M | $14,016 | 84 |
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 Cole County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 77,908+1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 31,086
- Median age
- 40.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 392 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 197
- Median household income
- $74,876+24.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $95,025
- Median home value
- $229,600
- Jobs located here
- 56,757
- Daytime population
- 96,838Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Cole 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 Cole 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 Missouri 8
- Osage County, MO13,402 people
- Callaway County, MO44,741 people
- Moniteau County, MO15,262 people
- Miller County, MO25,269 people
- Boone County, MO188,043 people
- Maries County, MO8,450 people
- Morgan County, MO21,717 people
- Cooper County, MO16,824 people
Questions
How fast is Cole County, MO growing?
Population estimates put Cole County at 77,908 people in 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 31,086 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Cole County, MO spend?
Households in Cole County spend about $435.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $188M on groceries and $120.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Cole County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 114, 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 Cole County, MO?
Of the business types scored in Cole County, grocery stores (75), grocery and convenience stores (73) and optometrists and eye clinics (71) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For grocery stores, that ranks #294 of 2,070 scored counties.
How does Cole County, MO compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Cole County is $74,876, 7% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $229,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for roofing and gutter companies (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for barbershops (40% 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. 50 of the 56 business types have a score in Cole 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 Cole 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 Cole 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 Cole 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.