County profile · Nebraska
Dawson County, NE market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Dawson County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 24,452
- +1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 9,145
- Median household income
- $69,880
- +30.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $166,200
- Jobs located here
- 12,382
- Highest market score
- 68
- Gyms, studios and classes, #295 of 2,088 scored counties
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
An estimated 24,452 people live in Dawson County, in 9,145 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Dawson County grew 1.5%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Dawson County is $69,880 a year, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 30.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Dawson County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (63).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Dawson County are for gyms and studios (68), spas and skin care studios (64) and car washes and detailers (63). Dawson County ranks #295 of 2,088 scored counties for gyms and studios.
Dawson County is part of the Lexington area. For its number of households, Dawson County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (52% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Dawson County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Dawson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gyms, studios and classes | 68 | #295 of 2,088 | 6 | 6.6 | $1.2M | 187 | 4 |
| Spas and skin care | 64 | #389 of 1,769 | 6 | 6.6 | $1.5M | 166 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 63 | #403 of 1,451 | 5 | 5.5 | $2.4M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 63 | #603 of 2,394 | 37 | 40.5 | $335K | 219 | 27 |
| Auto repair shops | 58 | #801 of 2,378 | 22 | 24.1 | $536K | 121 | 15 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 55 | #679 of 1,707 | 5 | 5.5 | $4.8M | 101 | 7 |
| Real estate | 55 | #832 of 2,229 | 19 | 20.8 | Index only | 151 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 54 | #703 of 1,771 | 5 | 5.5 | $2.2M | 129 | 13 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #995 of 2,385 | 34 | 37.2 | $256K | 121 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 47 | #1,160 of 2,087 | 14 | 15.3 | $1.2M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 47 | #1,245 of 2,210 | 19 | 20.8 | $905K | 103 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 46 | #1,097 of 1,886 | 11 | 12.0 | $1.1M | 114 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #1,277 of 2,176 | 18 | 19.7 | Index only | 127 | 5 |
| Auto repair and car care | 46 | #1,388 of 2,401 | 47 | 51.4 | $251K | 93 | 22 |
| Hair salons | 45 | #1,430 of 2,339 | 21 | 23.0 | $415K | 96 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 44 | #1,339 of 2,261 | 12 | 13.1 | $4.5M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 44 | #1,354 of 2,200 | 9 | 9.8 | $813K | 93 | 11 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 44 | #1,455 of 2,402 | 26 | 28.4 | $2.1M | 61 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 43 | #1,372 of 2,057 | 12 | 13.1 | $2M | 82 | 15 |
| Chiropractors | 40 | #1,009 of 1,490 | 6 | 6.6 | $2.1M | 86 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #1,359 of 2,070 | 8 | 8.7 | $6.8M | 73 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 40 | #1,638 of 2,405 | 52 | 56.9 | $652K | 98 | 20 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 39 | #1,039 of 1,493 | 5 | 5.5 | $2.2M | 74 | 9 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 37 | #966 of 1,302 | 5 | 5.5 | $2.5M | 79 | 3 |
| Pizza | 36 | #1,610 of 2,090 | 13 | 14.2 | $2.6M | 51 | 18 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 36 | #1,656 of 2,222 | 18 | 19.7 | $1.9M | 62 | 18 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 34 | #1,625 of 2,063 | 14 | 15.3 | $2.4M | 65 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 34 | #1,883 of 2,405 | 113 | 123.6 | $300K | 81 | 44 |
| Gas stations | 33 | #1,869 of 2,358 | 25 | 27.3 | $1.2M | 51 | 23 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 32 | #1,574 of 1,889 | 14 | 15.3 | $2.4M | 58 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 31 | #1,239 of 1,530 | 11 | 12.0 | $1.1M | 43 | 6 |
| Insurance agencies | 28 | #1,867 of 2,272 | 17 | 18.6 | $1.1M | 86 | 16 |
| Electricians | 24 | #1,063 of 1,160 | 5 | 5.5 | $4.8M | 40 | 8 |
| Veterinarians | 23 | #1,332 of 1,485 | 5 | 5.5 | $1.5M | 54 | 11 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $2.2M | 116 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $842K | 84 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 96 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $429K | 63 | 4 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $2.5M | 190 | 4 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.3 | $2.9M | 174 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $8.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $8.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $3.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $6.2M | Too few | 6 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.2 | $12M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $7.4M | Too few | 4 |
| 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 | 4 |
| 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 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
| Property management | 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 |
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 | $11.8M | $1,290 | 135 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $30.1M | $3,293 | 127 |
| Food away from home | $33.9M | $3,707 | 91 |
| Groceries | $54.1M | $5,911 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $8.7M | $953 | 95 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.4M | $368 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $7.4M | $811 | 83 |
| Medical and dental services | $12.4M | $1,354 | 105 |
| Pets | $7.3M | $801 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $17.2M | $1,881 | 92 |
| Vehicle insurance | $18.3M | $2,000 | 102 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $24M | $2,624 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $10.8M | $1,185 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $124.6M | $13,622 | 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 Dawson County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 24,452+1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 9,145
- Median age
- 37.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.3
- Land area
- 1,014 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 24
- Median household income
- $69,880+30.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $92,897
- Median home value
- $166,200
- Jobs located here
- 12,382
- Daytime population
- 24,113Residents 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
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- Custer County, NE10,518 people
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Questions
How fast is Dawson County, NE growing?
Population estimates put Dawson County at 24,452 people in 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 9,145 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 30.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Dawson County, NE spend?
Households in Dawson County spend about $124.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $54.1M on groceries and $33.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Dawson County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Dawson County, NE?
Of the business types scored in Dawson County, gyms and studios (68), spas and skin care studios (64) and car washes and detailers (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gyms and studios, that ranks #295 of 2,088 scored counties.
How does Dawson County, NE compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Dawson County is $69,880, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $166,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (3.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (52% 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. 34 of the 56 business types have a score in Dawson 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 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.
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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.