County profile · Missouri
McDonald County, MO market data
How McDonald County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 23,992
- +3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 8,558
- Median household income
- $52,375
- +25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $154,700
- Jobs located here
- 7,407
- Highest market score
- 82
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #72 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in McDonald County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of McDonald 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
McDonald County has an estimated 23,992 people and 8,558 households. Population estimates put the population change in McDonald County from 2020 to 2025 at +3.1%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in McDonald County is $52,375, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 25.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in McDonald County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (49).
Of the business types scored in McDonald County, medical and dental practices (82); fast food and sandwich shops (73); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (70) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #72 of 2,394 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (72% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in McDonald County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares McDonald 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 | 82 | #72 of 2,394 | 20 | 23.4 | $516K | 338 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 73 | #274 of 2,222 | 6 | 7.0 | $4.6M | 150 | 8 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 70 | #361 of 2,210 | 5 | 5.8 | $2.9M | 326 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 69 | #406 of 2,401 | 38 | 44.4 | $255K | 95 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 64 | #586 of 2,378 | 24 | 28.0 | $403K | 91 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 62 | #448 of 2,176 | 5 | 5.8 | Index only | 385 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 61 | #524 of 2,229 | 7 | 8.2 | Index only | 346 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #602 of 2,385 | 22 | 25.7 | $323K | 152 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 60 | #786 of 2,272 | 10 | 11.7 | $1.5M | 123 | 5 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 53 | #1,072 of 2,405 | 77 | 90.0 | $356K | 96 | 21 |
| Hair salons | 49 | #1,237 of 2,339 | 16 | 18.7 | $445K | 103 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,208 of 2,090 | 10 | 11.7 | $2.7M | 54 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 46 | #1,378 of 2,405 | 44 | 51.4 | $622K | 94 | 11 |
| Home repair trades | 45 | #1,288 of 2,057 | 10 | 11.7 | $2M | 81 | 10 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 42 | #1,136 of 1,707 | 5 | 5.8 | $3.9M | 83 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 42 | #1,521 of 2,358 | 18 | 21.0 | $1.4M | 59 | 12 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 39 | #1,321 of 1,889 | 7 | 8.2 | $3.9M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 36 | #1,204 of 1,611 | 7 | 8.2 | $349K | 35 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 30 | #1,804 of 2,261 | 12 | 14.0 | $3.9M | 49 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 27 | #1,837 of 2,063 | 11 | 12.9 | $2.5M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 26 | #1,300 of 1,472 | 5 | 5.8 | $218K | 32 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 23 | #1,831 of 2,070 | 14 | 16.4 | $3.3M | 36 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 22 | #2,082 of 2,200 | 16 | 18.7 | $369K | 42 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 21 | #2,207 of 2,402 | 37 | 43.2 | $1.3M | 37 | 9 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $2.6M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $4.9M | 41 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $2.6M | 145 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $1.8M | 269 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $3M | 103 | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $3M | 179 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $2M | 77 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.5 | $3.2M | 129 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $2.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $3.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.3 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $9.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $10.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.2 | $19.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 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 McDonald 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 | $9.7M | $1,130 | 118 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $25.3M | $2,962 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $27.4M | $3,199 | 79 |
| Groceries | $46.3M | $5,414 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.1M | $831 | 83 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.4M | $285 | 49 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.4M | $625 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $10.3M | $1,205 | 94 |
| Pets | $5.9M | $689 | 76 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $14.3M | $1,675 | 82 |
| Vehicle insurance | $15.5M | $1,807 | 92 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $19.7M | $2,303 | 76 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $9M | $1,056 | 75 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $105M | $12,264 | 74 |
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 McDonald County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 23,992+3.1% since 2020
- Households
- 8,558
- Median age
- 39.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 67%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 539 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 44
- Median household income
- $52,375+25.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $69,959
- Median home value
- $154,700
- Jobs located here
- 7,407
- Daytime population
- 21,137Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in McDonald 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 McDonald 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
- Newton County, MO60,118 people
- Barry County, MO35,033 people
- Jasper County, MO124,357 people
- Lawrence County, MO38,593 people
- Stone County, MO32,048 people
- Barton County, MO11,690 people
- Dade County, MO7,641 people
- Taney County, MO56,529 people
Questions
How fast is McDonald County, MO growing?
Population estimates put McDonald County at 23,992 people in 2025, up 3.1% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 8,558 households. Median household income rose 25.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in McDonald County, MO spend?
Households in McDonald County spend about $105M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $46.3M on groceries and $27.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in McDonald County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 118, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (49).
Which business types have the highest market scores in McDonald County, MO?
The highest Groundwork market scores in McDonald County are for medical and dental practices (82); fast food and sandwich shops (73); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (70). McDonald County ranks #72 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does McDonald County, MO compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in McDonald County is $52,375 a year, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $154,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, McDonald County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (72% 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. 24 of the 56 business types have a score in McDonald 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 McDonald 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.
All markets in Missouri · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in McDonald 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 McDonald 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.