County profile · North Carolina
Rowan County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Rowan County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 155,096
- +5.6% since 2020
- Households
- 58,899
- Median household income
- $65,725
- +31.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $238,400
- Jobs located here
- 54,409
- Highest market score
- 85
- Insurance agencies, #130 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Rowan County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Rowan 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 155,096 people live in Rowan County, in 58,899 households. Population estimates put the population change in Rowan County from 2020 to 2025 at +5.6%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Rowan County is $65,725 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Rowan County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 139, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Rowan County are for insurance agencies (85), car washes and detailers (78) and pest control companies (76). Rowan County ranks #130 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Rowan County is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area. For its number of households, Rowan County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (87% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (67% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Rowan County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Rowan 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 | 85 | #130 of 2,272 | 57 | 9.7 | $2.8M | 224 | 40 |
| Car washes and detailing | 78 | #75 of 1,451 | 16 | 2.7 | $3.6M | 143 | 7 |
| Pest control | 76 | #42 of 699 | 5 | 0.8 | $16.3M | 159 | 5 |
| Property management | 75 | #76 of 910 | 6 | 1.0 | Index only | 252 | 16 |
| Veterinarians | 75 | #185 of 1,485 | 17 | 2.9 | $2.8M | 105 | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 74 | #154 of 1,490 | 16 | 2.7 | $3.8M | 160 | 8 |
| House cleaning | 73 | #81 of 847 | 10 | 1.7 | $8.1M | 127 | 24 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 73 | #195 of 1,656 | 21 | 3.6 | $2.9M | 164 | 37 |
| Pizza | 73 | #222 of 2,090 | 33 | 5.6 | $6.2M | 122 | 84 |
| Spas and skin care | 71 | #196 of 1,769 | 35 | 5.9 | $1.4M | 160 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 71 | #388 of 2,070 | 31 | 5.3 | $11M | 118 | 19 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 70 | #263 of 1,889 | 34 | 5.8 | $6M | 146 | 24 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 70 | #298 of 2,063 | 37 | 6.3 | $5.5M | 150 | 24 |
| Physical therapy | 69 | #245 of 1,422 | 19 | 3.2 | $3.2M | 134 | 13 |
| Gas stations | 69 | #442 of 2,358 | 85 | 14.4 | $2.2M | 93 | 65 |
| Gyms | 68 | #263 of 1,792 | 20 | 3.4 | $1.9M | 143 | 15 |
| Funeral homes | 68 | #286 of 1,472 | 11 | 1.9 | $751K | 111 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 68 | #441 of 2,222 | 62 | 10.5 | $3.3M | 108 | 84 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 68 | #449 of 2,405 | 422 | 71.6 | $486K | 131 | 210 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 67 | #293 of 1,771 | 44 | 7.5 | $1.8M | 110 | 81 |
| Real estate | 67 | #298 of 2,229 | 75 | 12.7 | Index only | 259 | 80 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 66 | #323 of 2,176 | 65 | 11.0 | Index only | 237 | 50 |
| Pet stores | 65 | #235 of 974 | 10 | 1.7 | $4.8M | 107 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 65 | #267 of 1,328 | 21 | 3.6 | $2.3M | 140 | 8 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 65 | #312 of 1,327 | 14 | 2.4 | $4.1M | 134 | 18 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 65 | #352 of 1,493 | 29 | 4.9 | $2.8M | 96 | 52 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 65 | #406 of 2,088 | 43 | 7.3 | $867K | 131 | 22 |
| Pet businesses | 65 | #490 of 2,200 | 71 | 12.1 | $681K | 78 | 20 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 65 | #599 of 2,402 | 106 | 18.0 | $3.2M | 95 | 34 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 63 | #343 of 1,302 | 16 | 2.7 | $3.8M | 122 | 9 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 62 | #658 of 2,405 | 235 | 39.9 | $873K | 132 | 100 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 60 | #495 of 1,461 | 26 | 4.4 | $1.9M | 73 | 10 |
| Laundromats | 59 | #274 of 785 | 7 | 1.2 | $14.7M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 59 | #585 of 1,611 | 30 | 5.1 | $780K | 78 | 25 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 59 | #755 of 2,210 | 93 | 15.8 | $1.1M | 126 | 30 |
| Roofing and gutters | 58 | #413 of 1,177 | 21 | 3.6 | $7.5M | 89 | 10 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 58 | #839 of 2,394 | 278 | 47.2 | $220K | 144 | 108 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 57 | #195 of 479 | 6 | 1.0 | $9.6M | 70 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 57 | #880 of 2,261 | 63 | 10.7 | $5.4M | 68 | 15 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 56 | #834 of 2,087 | 76 | 12.9 | $1.4M | 107 | 26 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 55 | #528 of 1,334 | 22 | 3.7 | $1.7M | 84 | 7 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 54 | #791 of 1,886 | 48 | 8.1 | $1.3M | 130 | 41 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #1,010 of 2,385 | 208 | 35.3 | $236K | 111 | 36 |
| Hair salons | 53 | #1,030 of 2,339 | 121 | 20.5 | $406K | 94 | 21 |
| Barbershops | 50 | #702 of 1,356 | 30 | 5.1 | $1.6M | 87 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 47 | #962 of 1,707 | 42 | 7.1 | $3.8M | 79 | 61 |
| Electricians | 46 | #677 of 1,160 | 17 | 2.9 | $9.3M | 77 | 52 |
| Home repair trades | 45 | #1,287 of 2,057 | 80 | 13.6 | $2M | 81 | 123 |
| Auto repair shops | 39 | #1,716 of 2,378 | 180 | 30.6 | $321K | 72 | 72 |
| Auto repair and car care | 37 | #1,790 of 2,401 | 304 | 51.6 | $190K | 71 | 101 |
| Tire shops | 36 | #1,125 of 1,530 | 42 | 7.1 | $1.4M | 55 | 17 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.5 | Index only | 719 | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | $51.6M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | Index only | Too few | 5 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $61.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $37.3M | Too few | 15 |
Household spending in Rowan 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 | $57.8M | $981 | 102 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $187.8M | $3,189 | 123 |
| Food away from home | $205.2M | $3,484 | 86 |
| Groceries | $339.5M | $5,763 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $49.1M | $834 | 83 |
| Child care and other personal services | $23.4M | $397 | 68 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $37.3M | $633 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $61.2M | $1,039 | 81 |
| Pets | $48.4M | $821 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $103.2M | $1,752 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $160.6M | $2,727 | 139 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $157.8M | $2,678 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $81.3M | $1,380 | 98 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $841.6M | $14,289 | 86 |
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 Rowan County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 155,096+5.6% since 2020
- Households
- 58,899
- Median age
- 40.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 512 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 293
- Median household income
- $65,725+31.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $84,650
- Median home value
- $238,400
- Jobs located here
- 54,409
- Daytime population
- 138,541Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Rowan 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 Rowan 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
- Cabarrus County, NC236,133 people
- Iredell County, NC196,544 people
- Davie County, NC44,122 people
- Davidson County, NC172,954 people
- Stanly County, NC64,651 people
- Mecklenburg County, NC1,154,681 people
- Forsyth County, NC389,977 people
- Lincoln County, NC92,716 people
Questions
How fast is Rowan County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Rowan County at 155,096 people in 2025, up 5.6% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 58,899 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in Rowan County, NC spend?
Households in Rowan County spend about $841.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $339.5M on groceries and $205.2M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Rowan County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 139, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Rowan County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Rowan County, insurance agencies (85), car washes and detailers (78) and pest control companies (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #130 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Rowan County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Rowan County is $65,725, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 5.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $238,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (87% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (67% 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. 51 of the 56 business types have a score in Rowan 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 Rowan 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 North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Rowan 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 Rowan 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.