County profile · Montana
Lake County, MT market data
How Lake County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 33,392
- +6.9% since 2020
- Households
- 12,576
- Median household income
- $63,360
- +29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $421,800
- Jobs located here
- 9,693
- Highest market score
- 83
- Hair salons, #51 of 2,339 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Lake County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Lake 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
Lake County has an estimated 33,392 people and 12,576 households. Population estimates put the population change in Lake County from 2020 to 2025 at +6.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Lake County is $63,360, 22% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Lake County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (79).
Of the business types scored in Lake County, hair salons (83); insurance agencies (83); and salons, barbers and spas (81) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For hair salons, that ranks #51 of 2,339 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for coffee shops and cafes (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for hair salons (49% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Lake County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair salons | 83 | #51 of 2,339 | 15 | 11.9 | $759K | 176 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 83 | #161 of 2,272 | 10 | 8.0 | $2.8M | 226 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 81 | #61 of 2,385 | 31 | 24.7 | $367K | 173 | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 75 | #84 of 1,334 | 5 | 4.0 | $2.3M | 113 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 75 | #271 of 2,358 | 18 | 14.3 | $2.2M | 94 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 73 | #208 of 1,886 | 10 | 8.0 | $1.5M | 150 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 72 | #282 of 2,378 | 20 | 15.9 | $777K | 175 | 20 |
| Spas and skin care | 70 | #223 of 1,769 | 8 | 6.4 | $1.4M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 68 | #421 of 2,401 | 43 | 34.2 | $362K | 135 | 28 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 68 | #428 of 2,222 | 11 | 8.7 | $4M | 131 | 23 |
| Tire shops | 66 | #369 of 1,530 | 5 | 4.0 | $3.1M | 124 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 64 | #472 of 2,088 | 19 | 15.1 | $601K | 91 | 4 |
| Pizza | 64 | #507 of 2,090 | 8 | 6.4 | $5.5M | 109 | 23 |
| Convenience stores | 61 | #727 of 2,261 | 11 | 8.7 | $6.5M | 82 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 60 | #679 of 2,087 | 12 | 9.5 | $1.7M | 134 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 59 | #801 of 2,394 | 74 | 58.8 | $199K | 131 | 25 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 57 | #829 of 2,210 | 19 | 15.1 | $1.1M | 122 | 5 |
| Gyms | 56 | #705 of 1,792 | 11 | 8.7 | $1M | 80 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 52 | #796 of 1,656 | 12 | 9.5 | $1.2M | 69 | 12 |
| Physical therapy | 48 | #763 of 1,422 | 6 | 4.8 | $2.5M | 102 | 8 |
| Property management | 47 | #506 of 910 | 6 | 4.8 | Index only | 62 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 47 | #1,245 of 2,176 | 40 | 31.8 | Index only | 95 | 13 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 47 | #1,332 of 2,402 | 29 | 23.1 | $2.4M | 72 | 10 |
| Real estate | 46 | #1,315 of 2,229 | 47 | 37.4 | Index only | 102 | 26 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 45 | #1,118 of 1,889 | 11 | 8.7 | $4M | 97 | 10 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 44 | #1,084 of 1,771 | 9 | 7.2 | $1.7M | 99 | 33 |
| Child care and preschools | 41 | #1,086 of 1,611 | 14 | 11.1 | $506K | 51 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 41 | #1,493 of 2,200 | 21 | 16.7 | $516K | 59 | 11 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #1,355 of 2,070 | 10 | 8.0 | $7.1M | 76 | 9 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 40 | #1,648 of 2,405 | 73 | 58.0 | $605K | 91 | 28 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 39 | #1,042 of 1,493 | 7 | 5.6 | $2.1M | 73 | 19 |
| Veterinarians | 38 | #1,026 of 1,485 | 7 | 5.6 | $1.5M | 57 | 8 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 37 | #1,758 of 2,405 | 150 | 119.3 | $294K | 79 | 61 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 31 | #1,731 of 2,063 | 30 | 23.9 | $1.5M | 40 | 10 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 28 | #291 of 325 | 5 | 4.0 | $2.9M | 12 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $3.7M | 154 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $8M | 329 | 38 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.8M | 170 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.7M | 106 | 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.7M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.8M | 201 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $5.2M | 206 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $728K | 107 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $4.9M | 157 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.8M | 94 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.8M | Too few | 7 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $10.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $7.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $16M | Too few | 4 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $32M | Too few | 21 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $32M | Too few | 13 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $15.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | 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 | 11 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Lake 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 | $15.5M | $1,236 | 129 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $40.2M | $3,194 | 123 |
| Food away from home | $44.1M | $3,509 | 86 |
| Groceries | $71M | $5,644 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.4M | $906 | 90 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.1M | $563 | 97 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $11.4M | $907 | 92 |
| Medical and dental services | $14.7M | $1,172 | 91 |
| Pets | $10.8M | $862 | 95 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $20.5M | $1,629 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $28.4M | $2,259 | 115 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $32M | $2,544 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $14.9M | $1,188 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $207.5M | $16,502 | 99 |
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 Lake County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 33,392+6.9% since 2020
- Households
- 12,576
- Median age
- 44.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.3
- Land area
- 1,491 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 22
- Median household income
- $63,360+29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $90,243
- Median home value
- $421,800
- Jobs located here
- 9,693
- Daytime population
- 30,848Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Lake 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 Lake 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
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- Mineral County, MT4,959 people
- Sanders County, MT13,285 people
- Missoula County, MT120,672 people
- Ravalli County, MT46,727 people
- Granite County, MT3,462 people
- Lincoln County, MT21,175 people
- Glacier County, MT13,637 people
Questions
How fast is Lake County, MT growing?
Population estimates put Lake County at 33,392 people in 2025, up 6.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 12,576 households. Median household income rose 29.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Lake County, MT spend?
Households in Lake County spend about $207.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $71M on groceries and $44.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Lake County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (79).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Lake County, MT?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Lake County are for hair salons (83); insurance agencies (83); and salons, barbers and spas (81). Lake County ranks #51 of 2,339 scored counties for hair salons.
How does Lake County, MT compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Lake County is $63,360 a year, 22% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 6.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $421,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Lake County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for coffee shops and cafes (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for hair salons (49% 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. 35 of the 56 business types have a score in Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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.