County profile · North Carolina
Alexander County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Alexander County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 36,958
- +1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 14,126
- Median household income
- $65,354
- +34.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $211,800
- Jobs located here
- 10,726
- Highest market score
- 74
- Insurance agencies, #352 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Alexander County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Alexander 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 36,958 people live in Alexander County, in 14,126 households. Population estimates show Alexander County grew 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Alexander County is $65,354 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 34.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Alexander County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 157, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (58).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Alexander County are for insurance agencies (74); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (71); and restaurants and cafes (71). Alexander County ranks #352 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Alexander County is part of the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro area. For its number of households, Alexander County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (50% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (78% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Alexander County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Alexander 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 74 | #352 of 2,272 | 16 | 11.3 | $2.7M | 216 | 13 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 71 | #332 of 2,210 | 10 | 7.1 | $2.3M | 266 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 71 | #356 of 2,405 | 64 | 45.3 | $728K | 196 | 40 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 70 | #360 of 2,087 | 7 | 5.0 | $3.4M | 264 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 69 | #284 of 1,889 | 7 | 5.0 | $6.7M | 161 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 69 | #443 of 2,358 | 23 | 16.3 | $2.2M | 91 | 13 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 68 | #418 of 2,405 | 37 | 26.2 | $1.3M | 190 | 18 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 67 | #292 of 1,771 | 10 | 7.1 | $1.9M | 112 | 12 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 67 | #293 of 2,176 | 10 | 7.1 | Index only | 359 | 8 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 67 | #331 of 1,886 | 7 | 5.0 | $2M | 205 | 6 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 67 | #437 of 2,394 | 38 | 26.9 | $372K | 244 | 15 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 66 | #500 of 2,222 | 11 | 7.8 | $4.2M | 139 | 19 |
| Real estate | 65 | #363 of 2,229 | 12 | 8.5 | Index only | 376 | 16 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 64 | #641 of 2,402 | 25 | 17.7 | $3.2M | 94 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 63 | #429 of 1,656 | 6 | 4.2 | $2.4M | 132 | 6 |
| Spas and skin care | 62 | #436 of 1,769 | 5 | 3.5 | $2.3M | 258 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 62 | #505 of 2,088 | 6 | 4.2 | $1.3M | 201 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 60 | #485 of 1,707 | 6 | 4.2 | $6.1M | 128 | 11 |
| Convenience stores | 57 | #854 of 2,261 | 10 | 7.1 | $8M | 101 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 56 | #792 of 2,090 | 10 | 7.1 | $4.7M | 92 | 19 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 54 | #616 of 1,493 | 9 | 6.4 | $2.1M | 71 | 8 |
| Home repair trades | 48 | #1,135 of 2,057 | 17 | 12.0 | $2.1M | 88 | 20 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 48 | #1,259 of 2,385 | 41 | 29.0 | $275K | 129 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 47 | #1,109 of 2,070 | 9 | 6.4 | $8.8M | 95 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 46 | #797 of 1,356 | 5 | 3.5 | $2.3M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 45 | #912 of 1,530 | 9 | 6.4 | $1.7M | 68 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 45 | #1,414 of 2,401 | 57 | 40.4 | $268K | 100 | 29 |
| Pet businesses | 40 | #1,534 of 2,200 | 20 | 14.2 | $546K | 62 | 7 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 39 | #927 of 1,327 | 7 | 5.0 | $2.2M | 71 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 39 | #1,696 of 2,378 | 38 | 26.9 | $402K | 90 | 24 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 37 | #1,034 of 1,461 | 6 | 4.2 | $1.8M | 71 | 4 |
| Hair salons | 36 | #1,830 of 2,339 | 28 | 19.8 | $403K | 94 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 35 | #913 of 1,160 | 5 | 3.5 | $7.3M | 61 | 9 |
| Roofing and gutters | 33 | #942 of 1,177 | 6 | 4.2 | $6.1M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $3.5M | 148 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $11.6M | 314 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $3.5M | 113 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 100 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $5.1M | 202 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $1.6M | 158 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $758K | 112 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $2.7M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.1 | $3.8M | 225 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.4 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $18.7M | Too few | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $15.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.7 | $8M | Too few | 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 |
| Laundromats | 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 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 6 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Alexander 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 | $15.3M | $1,081 | 113 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $50.1M | $3,549 | 137 |
| Food away from home | $46.6M | $3,297 | 81 |
| Groceries | $79.5M | $5,629 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $11.3M | $799 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4.8M | $337 | 58 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $8M | $566 | 58 |
| Medical and dental services | $14.1M | $1,001 | 78 |
| Pets | $10.9M | $773 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $23.5M | $1,661 | 81 |
| Vehicle insurance | $43.4M | $3,072 | 157 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $36.5M | $2,584 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $18.7M | $1,327 | 94 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $195.5M | $13,841 | 83 |
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 Alexander County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 36,958+1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 14,126
- Median age
- 45.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.3
- Land area
- 260 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 140
- Median household income
- $65,354+34.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $83,653
- Median home value
- $211,800
- Jobs located here
- 10,726
- Daytime population
- 31,047Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Alexander 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 Alexander 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 North Carolina 8
- Catawba County, NC163,573 people
- Caldwell County, NC80,536 people
- Wilkes County, NC65,935 people
- Iredell County, NC196,544 people
- Burke County, NC87,795 people
- Lincoln County, NC92,716 people
- Yadkin County, NC37,574 people
- Watauga County, NC55,123 people
Questions
How fast is Alexander County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Alexander County at 36,958 people in 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 14,126 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 34.0%, before inflation.
How much do households in Alexander County, NC spend?
Households in Alexander County spend about $195.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $79.5M on groceries and $50.1M on gasoline and other fuels. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Alexander County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 157, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (58).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Alexander County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Alexander County, insurance agencies (74); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (71); and restaurants and cafes (71) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #352 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Alexander County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Alexander County is $65,354, 19% 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 $211,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (50% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (78% 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 Alexander 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 Alexander 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 Alexander 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 Alexander 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.