Market rankings · Colorado
Pet businesses in Colorado
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Colorado, ranked by the Groundwork market score for pet businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,145
- 573 chain locations (18%)
- Official establishments
- 1,913
- +12.9% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $2.6B
- On pets
- Listings per 10k households
- 13.2
- 27% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $838K
- 5% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #23 of 51
- Market score 54 · Upper middle
A site report maps the pet businesses on map listings around any address in Colorado by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
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
There are 3,145 pet businesses on map listings in Colorado as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 18% of them, against 17% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 13.2, 27% above the U.S. rate of 10.4.
Households in Colorado spend about $2.6B a year on pets, or $1,110 per household, 22% above the U.S. average. That works out to $838K per business, 5% below the U.S. figure of $878K.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Colorado was 1,913 in 2023, up 12.9% from 2019. That is one for every 1,241 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 11.4% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 167 SBA-backed loans worth $126.5M have gone to businesses classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Colorado.
Among the 50 states and DC, Colorado ranks #23 for pet businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 54 (upper middle). Of the 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Colorado, the Pueblo metro area scores highest (70). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in Colorado, the Alamosa area scores highest (76).
Every market in Colorado for pet businesses
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Colorado, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Pueblo, CO | 70 | 55 | 8.0 | $1.1M | +0.6% | #49 of 387 |
| 2Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 65 | 1,422 | 11.6 | $1M | +4.1% | #81 of 387 |
| 3Greeley, CO | 54 | 173 | 13.9 | $775K | +14.2% | #167 of 387 |
| 4Colorado Springs, CO | 44 | 431 | 14.3 | $743K | +3.1% | #244 of 387 |
| 5Boulder, CO | 43 | 196 | 14.3 | $834K | −0.7% | #250 of 387 |
| 6Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 38 | 281 | 18.2 | $596K | +4.8% | #288 of 387 |
| 7Grand Junction, CO | 35 | 103 | 15.6 | $592K | +4.4% | #306 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alamosa, CO | 76 | 8 | 7.0 | $1.1M | +2.1% | #23 of 527 |
| 2Rifle, CO | 60 | 43 | 13.2 | $820K | +1.2% | #145 of 527 |
| 3Breckenridge, CO | 56 | 25 | 16.1 | $750K | +1.1% | #195 of 527 |
| 4Montrose, CO | 53 | 26 | 14.4 | $619K | +4.1% | #239 of 527 |
| 5Fort Morgan, CO | 53 | 19 | 17.2 | $496K | +4.2% | #244 of 527 |
| 6Durango, CO | 52 | 39 | 16.0 | $645K | +2.2% | #251 of 527 |
| 7Steamboat Springs, CO | 48 | 29 | 17.4 | $629K | +0.9% | #304 of 527 |
| 8Cañon City, CO | 42 | 29 | 16.1 | $516K | +2.4% | #367 of 527 |
| 9Edwards, CO | 36 | 45 | 20.4 | $579K | −2.4% | #420 of 527 |
| 10Sterling, CO | 24 | 13 | 15.8 | $495K | −2.7% | #493 of 527 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Adams County, CO | 81 | 179 | 9.5 | $1.1M | +6.6% | #60 of 2,200 |
| 2Denver County, CO | 76 | 295 | 8.8 | $1.3M | +3.2% | #135 of 2,200 |
| 3Park County, CO | 72 | 9 | 10.0 | $1.1M | +5.1% | #218 of 2,200 |
| 4Pueblo County, CO | 72 | 55 | 8.0 | $1.1M | +0.6% | #220 of 2,200 |
| 5Douglas County, CO | 69 | 213 | 15.2 | $944K | +10.9% | #317 of 2,200 |
| 6Arapahoe County, CO | 68 | 284 | 11.0 | $1M | +2.8% | #345 of 2,200 |
| 7Broomfield County, CO | 67 | 44 | 13.9 | $940K | +6.3% | #386 of 2,200 |
| 8Alamosa County, CO | 66 | 5 | 7.5 | $1M | +1.9% | #423 of 2,200 |
| 9Grand County, CO | 64 | 8 | 10.7 | $974K | +4.8% | #497 of 2,200 |
| 10Weld County, CO | 62 | 173 | 13.9 | $775K | +14.2% | #586 of 2,200 |
| 11El Paso County, CO | 56 | 409 | 14.1 | $754K | +3.2% | #826 of 2,200 |
| 12Pitkin County, CO | 55 | 8 | 8.7 | $1.3M | −4.2% | #849 of 2,200 |
| 13Boulder County, CO | 51 | 196 | 14.3 | $834K | −0.7% | #1,035 of 2,200 |
| 14Jefferson County, CO | 51 | 364 | 15.1 | $803K | −0.5% | #1,038 of 2,200 |
| 15Garfield County, CO | 50 | 35 | 15.0 | $703K | +2.7% | #1,096 of 2,200 |
| 16Morgan County, CO | 50 | 19 | 17.2 | $496K | +4.2% | #1,124 of 2,200 |
| 17Chaffee County, CO | 48 | 17 | 17.2 | $591K | +6.9% | #1,213 of 2,200 |
| 18Montezuma County, CO | 48 | 17 | 15.1 | $568K | +3.0% | #1,216 of 2,200 |
| 19Summit County, CO | 47 | 22 | 17.5 | $706K | +0.9% | #1,234 of 2,200 |
| 20Routt County, CO | 47 | 20 | 17.7 | $676K | +2.0% | #1,236 of 2,200 |
| 21Larimer County, CO | 47 | 281 | 18.2 | $596K | +4.8% | #1,251 of 2,200 |
| 22Mesa County, CO | 46 | 103 | 15.6 | $592K | +4.4% | #1,292 of 2,200 |
| 23La Plata County, CO | 45 | 39 | 16.0 | $645K | +2.2% | #1,333 of 2,200 |
| 24Montrose County, CO | 45 | 26 | 14.4 | $619K | +4.1% | #1,334 of 2,200 |
| 25Elbert County, CO | 43 | 30 | 30.0 | $442K | +16.5% | #1,416 of 2,200 |
Show all 64 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Archuleta County, CO | 42 | 14 | 23.6 | $412K | +6.6% | #1,457 of 2,200 |
| 27Fremont County, CO | 37 | 29 | 16.1 | $516K | +2.4% | #1,649 of 2,200 |
| 28Teller County, CO | 36 | 22 | 18.5 | $540K | 0.0% | #1,686 of 2,200 |
| 29Moffat County, CO | 36 | 9 | 16.7 | $525K | −1.1% | #1,691 of 2,200 |
| 30Eagle County, CO | 33 | 45 | 20.4 | $579K | −2.4% | #1,781 of 2,200 |
| 31Las Animas County, CO | 33 | 10 | 15.4 | $493K | −0.7% | #1,793 of 2,200 |
| 32Gunnison County, CO | 32 | 24 | 28.3 | $358K | +2.9% | #1,833 of 2,200 |
| 33Rio Grande County, CO | 29 | 9 | 17.5 | $480K | −3.9% | #1,903 of 2,200 |
| 34Delta County, CO | 28 | 36 | 27.8 | $293K | +3.6% | #1,948 of 2,200 |
| 35Otero County, CO | 23 | 9 | 11.9 | $633K | −5.2% | #2,048 of 2,200 |
| 36Logan County, CO | 21 | 13 | 15.8 | $495K | −2.7% | #2,091 of 2,200 |
| 37Prowers County, CO | 19 | 8 | 16.9 | $458K | −1.1% | #2,123 of 2,200 |
| Yuma County, CO | Not scored | 9 | 22.1 | $379K | −0.8% | |
| Clear Creek County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 4.3 | $2.7M | −3.9% | |
| San Miguel County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 8.7 | $1.2M | −3.7% | |
| Conejos County, CO | Not scored | 3 | 9.5 | $803K | +1.0% | |
| Lake County, CO | Not scored | 3 | 9.9 | $1.1M | +1.9% | |
| Kit Carson County, CO | Not scored | 3 | 10.4 | $863K | +0.1% | |
| Huerfano County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 6.5 | $1.2M | +2.7% | |
| Saguache County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 2.9 | $2.6M | +5.3% | |
| Rio Blanco County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 14.3 | $583K | +2.5% | |
| Gilpin County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 6.4 | $1.7M | +4.4% | |
| Crowley County, CO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.5% | |
| Lincoln County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 20.3 | $401K | −0.4% | |
| Bent County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 5.3 | $1.3M | +4.5% | |
| Custer County, CO | Not scored | 6 | 22.5 | $409K | +18.3% | |
| Ouray County, CO | Not scored | 3 | 11.4 | $895K | +7.9% | |
| Washington County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 4.8 | $1.8M | −1.6% | |
| Phillips County, CO | Not scored | 6 | 30.7 | $306K | −2.4% | |
| Costilla County, CO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +5.1% | |
| Baca County, CO | Not scored | 4 | 24.1 | $293K | −3.8% | |
| Dolores County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 15.9 | $570K | +5.8% | |
| Sedgwick County, CO | Not scored | 2 | 19.6 | $388K | −6.0% | |
| Cheyenne County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 12.7 | $693K | −1.9% | |
| Kiowa County, CO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.8% | |
| Jackson County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 15.2 | $503K | −12.2% | |
| Hinsdale County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 19.6 | $477K | −4.6% | |
| Mineral County, CO | Not scored | 1 | 25.9 | $319K | +4.6% | |
| San Juan County, CO | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +14.5% |
Markets with fewer than 5 pet businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many pet businesses are in Colorado?
As of September 2026, map listings count 3,145 pet businesses in Colorado. 573 of them (18%) are chain locations. The listings count vets, groomers, boarding and pet stores. Official counts show 1,913 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in 2023, up 12.9% from 2019. Official counts also show 5,755 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Colorado spend on pets?
About $2.6B a year, or $1,110 per household. That is 22% above the U.S. average (an index of 122, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,145 pet businesses on map listings, it comes to $838K per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 2,374,218 households in Colorado and national spending patterns by income.
How does Colorado compare with the U.S. for pet businesses?
Colorado has 13.2 pet businesses per 10,000 households, 27% above the U.S. rate of 10.4. Spending per business is $838K, 5% below the U.S. figure of $878K. At the U.S. ratio of pet businesses to household spending, Colorado would have about 3,001, against 3,145 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,241 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. The official count rose 12.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +11.4% for the U.S.
Which market in Colorado has the highest market score for pet businesses?
Among 7 scored metro areas in or partly in Colorado, the Pueblo metro area scores highest, at 70 (upper middle). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in Colorado, the Alamosa area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 37 scored counties in Colorado, Adams County scores highest, at 81 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
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. Colorado scores 54 for pet businesses (upper middle), #23 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Colorado. It maps the pet businesses 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.
Pet businesses in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
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- Delaware
- District of Columbia
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- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
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- New Hampshire
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- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
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- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for pet businesses across the U.S. · All business types in Colorado
Related business types in Colorado
- Veterinarians1,100 listings
- Pet grooming and boarding1,005 listings
- Pet stores649 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Colorado?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
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.