County profile · Texas
Howard County, TX market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Howard County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 30,504
- −12.4% since 2020
- Households
- 12,191
- Median household income
- $69,649
- +28.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $155,600
- Jobs located here
- 11,735
- Highest market score
- 59
- Dentists and orthodontists, #595 of 1,886 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Howard County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Howard 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 30,504 people live in Howard County, in 12,191 households. Population estimates put the population change in Howard County from 2020 to 2025 at −12.4%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Howard County is $69,649 a year, 14% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 28.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Howard County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (70).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Howard County are for dentists and orthodontists (59), bakeries and dessert shops (58) and real estate agents and brokers (58). Howard County ranks #595 of 1,886 scored counties for dentists and orthodontists.
Howard County is part of the Big Spring area. For its number of households, Howard County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (3.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (70% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Howard County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Howard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #595 of 1,886 | 7 | 5.7 | $1.9M | 191 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 58 | #610 of 1,889 | 8 | 6.6 | $5.5M | 134 | 4 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 58 | #632 of 2,176 | 13 | 10.7 | Index only | 254 | 7 |
| Real estate | 55 | #803 of 2,229 | 14 | 11.5 | Index only | 296 | 16 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 54 | #717 of 1,707 | 8 | 6.6 | $4.3M | 90 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 50 | #1,007 of 2,070 | 7 | 5.7 | $10.3M | 110 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 50 | #1,020 of 2,057 | 14 | 11.5 | $2.4M | 100 | 17 |
| Child care and preschools | 49 | #846 of 1,611 | 6 | 4.9 | $879K | 88 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 48 | #1,187 of 2,200 | 14 | 11.5 | $758K | 86 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 46 | #814 of 1,461 | 5 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 45 | #1,397 of 2,394 | 59 | 48.4 | $223K | 146 | 21 |
| Auto repair shops | 45 | #1,426 of 2,378 | 23 | 18.9 | $459K | 103 | 8 |
| Chiropractors | 44 | #898 of 1,490 | 5 | 4.1 | $2.6M | 110 | 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 41 | #1,686 of 2,385 | 51 | 41.8 | $207K | 97 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | 40 | #974 of 1,485 | 5 | 4.1 | $2.1M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 40 | #1,654 of 2,339 | 28 | 23.0 | $377K | 88 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #1,446 of 2,063 | 16 | 13.1 | $2.8M | 75 | 4 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #1,490 of 2,272 | 20 | 16.4 | $1.4M | 115 | 13 |
| Pizza | 35 | #1,621 of 2,090 | 9 | 7.4 | $4.9M | 97 | 31 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 35 | #1,784 of 2,402 | 31 | 25.4 | $2.3M | 68 | 9 |
| Nail salons | 33 | #1,080 of 1,328 | 6 | 4.9 | $1.8M | 105 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 33 | #1,910 of 2,401 | 44 | 36.1 | $240K | 89 | 16 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 30 | #1,778 of 2,088 | 14 | 11.5 | $600K | 91 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 29 | #1,113 of 1,356 | 6 | 4.9 | $1.8M | 93 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 29 | #1,545 of 1,769 | 11 | 9.0 | $960K | 110 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 28 | #1,862 of 2,261 | 22 | 18.0 | $3.3M | 41 | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 26 | #1,189 of 1,334 | 5 | 4.1 | $1.7M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 24 | #1,607 of 1,792 | 9 | 7.4 | $934K | 72 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 23 | #1,892 of 2,087 | 31 | 25.4 | $720K | 57 | 9 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 22 | #2,268 of 2,405 | 84 | 68.9 | $528K | 80 | 26 |
| Tire shops | 21 | #1,376 of 1,530 | 6 | 4.9 | $1.8M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 21 | #2,269 of 2,405 | 148 | 121.4 | $300K | 81 | 61 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 19 | #2,096 of 2,210 | 40 | 32.8 | $558K | 63 | 13 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 16 | #2,121 of 2,222 | 26 | 21.3 | $1.7M | 56 | 31 |
| Gas stations | 13 | #2,311 of 2,358 | 44 | 36.1 | $771K | 32 | 21 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 12 | #1,263 of 1,302 | 7 | 5.7 | $1.9M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 11 | #1,459 of 1,472 | 6 | 4.9 | $250K | 37 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 7 | #1,439 of 1,451 | 9 | 7.4 | $1.2M | 47 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.5M | 114 | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $11.4M | 95 | 11 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $7.4M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $5.8M | 347 | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $3.5M | 26 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $4.4M | 246 | 9 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $11.4M | 134 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $11.2M | Too few | 4 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $17.5M | Too few | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $17.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $17.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $10.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.2M | Too few | 4 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | 7 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $13.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Howard 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 | $10.5M | $865 | 90 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $33.9M | $2,783 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $44.3M | $3,637 | 89 |
| Groceries | $71.9M | $5,894 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $10.6M | $866 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $5.3M | $433 | 75 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $8.4M | $689 | 70 |
| Medical and dental services | $13.2M | $1,079 | 84 |
| Pets | $10.6M | $870 | 96 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $22.3M | $1,832 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $28.9M | $2,370 | 121 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $34.1M | $2,794 | 93 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $17.5M | $1,434 | 101 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $179.7M | $14,743 | 88 |
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 Howard County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 30,504−12.4% since 2020
- Households
- 12,191
- Median age
- 37.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 70%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 901 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 36
- Median household income
- $69,649+28.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $90,688
- Median home value
- $155,600
- Jobs located here
- 11,735
- Daytime population
- 29,322Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Howard 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 Howard County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
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Questions
How fast is Howard County, TX growing?
Population estimates put Howard County at 30,504 people in 2025, down 12.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 12,191 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 28.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Howard County, TX spend?
Households in Howard County spend about $179.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $71.9M on groceries and $44.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Howard County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (70).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Howard County, TX?
Of the business types scored in Howard County, dentists and orthodontists (59), bakeries and dessert shops (58) and real estate agents and brokers (58) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #595 of 1,886 scored counties.
How does Howard County, TX compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Howard County is $69,649, 14% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 12.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $155,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (3.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (70% 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. 38 of the 56 business types have a score in Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard 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.