County profile · Montana
Dawson County, MT market data
How Dawson County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 8,692
- −2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 3,615
- Median household income
- $71,334
- Median home value
- $185,300
- Jobs located here
- 3,735
- Market scores
- Not scored
- Counties under 10,000 people aren’t given a market score, since a few businesses can swing their figures.
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Dawson County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Dawson 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
Dawson County has an estimated 8,692 people and 3,615 households. Population estimates show Dawson County declined 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Dawson County is $71,334, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Dawson County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (80).
Counties under 10,000 people aren’t given a market score, since a few businesses can swing their figures.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (4.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (28% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Dawson County
Counties under 10,000 people aren’t given a market score, since a few businesses can swing their figures. 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 | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafes | 39 | 107.9 | $334K | 90 | 16 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 22 | 60.9 | $196K | 128 | 4 |
| Auto repair and car care | 20 | 55.3 | $201K | 75 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 19 | 52.6 | $177K | 83 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 18 | 49.8 | $723K | 109 | 8 |
| Gas stations | 17 | 47.0 | $616K | 26 | 6 |
| Hair salons | 12 | 33.2 | $280K | 65 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 10 | 27.7 | $2.1M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 9 | 24.9 | $446K | 100 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 8 | 22.1 | $402K | 61 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 6 | 16.6 | $986K | 112 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 6 | 16.6 | $717K | 73 | 4 |
| Gyms | 6 | 16.6 | $536K | 41 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 6 | 16.6 | Index only | 233 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 6 | 16.6 | Index only | 185 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 5 | 13.8 | $2.6M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 4 | 11.1 | $1M | 40 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 4 | 11.1 | $495K | 49 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 4 | 11.1 | $5.2M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 4 | 11.1 | $1.9M | 148 | 11 |
| Spas and skin care | 4 | 11.1 | $840K | 96 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 4 | 11.1 | $1M | 40 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 3 | 8.3 | $1.4M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 3 | 8.3 | $2M | 155 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 3 | 8.3 | $4.3M | 142 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 3 | 8.3 | $7M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 3 | 8.3 | $1.1M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 3 | 8.3 | $4.3M | 85 | 6 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 2 | 5.5 | $2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 2 | 5.5 | $1.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 2 | 5.5 | $1.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 1 | 2.8 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 1 | 2.8 | $9.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Funeral homes | 1 | 2.8 | $548K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 1 | 2.8 | $9.3M | Too few | 8 |
| Laundromats | 1 | 2.8 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 1 | 2.8 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 1 | 2.8 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 1 | 2.8 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 1 | 2.8 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 1 | 2.8 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Dawson 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 | $4M | $1,110 | 116 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $10.5M | $2,895 | 112 |
| Food away from home | $13M | $3,599 | 88 |
| Groceries | $20.9M | $5,781 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $3.4M | $929 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2M | $548 | 94 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.2M | $889 | 90 |
| Medical and dental services | $4.3M | $1,190 | 92 |
| Pets | $3.2M | $877 | 96 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $5.9M | $1,637 | 80 |
| Vehicle insurance | $7.4M | $2,054 | 105 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $9.3M | $2,584 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $4.4M | $1,207 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $60.5M | $16,735 | 100 |
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 Dawson County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 8,692−2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 3,615
- Median age
- 43.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 2,372 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 4
- Median household income
- $71,334
- Average household income
- $87,555
- Median home value
- $185,300
- Jobs located here
- 3,735
- Daytime population
- 8,445Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Dawson 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 Dawson 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 Montana 8
- Wibaux County, MT1,193 people
- Prairie County, MT1,250 people
- Richland County, MT11,235 people
- McCone County, MT1,670 people
- Fallon County, MT2,760 people
- Custer County, MT11,961 people
- Roosevelt County, MT10,526 people
- Carter County, MT1,308 people
Questions
How fast is Dawson County, MT growing?
Population estimates put Dawson County at 8,692 people in 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 3,615 households.
How much do households in Dawson County, MT spend?
Households in Dawson County spend about $60.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $20.9M on groceries and $13M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Dawson County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (80).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Dawson County, MT?
The score leaves out counties under 10,000 people, where a handful of businesses would swing it.
How does Dawson County, MT compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Dawson County is $71,334 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $185,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Dawson County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (4.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (28% 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. Markets with fewer than 5 map listings of the type, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored, since a few businesses can swing their figures.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Dawson 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 Montana · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Dawson 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 Dawson 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.