Car Washes in Oakland County, MI — Market Data (2023)
96 car washes operate in Oakland County, MI, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 0.756 establishments per 10,000 residents, 27.8% above the national average of 0.5914 per 10,000 residents for car washes. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 96 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 0.756 |
| Employment | 1,289 |
| Annual payroll | $32,840,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 13.4 |
| County population (2023) | 1,270,426 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower car washes density than Oakland County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Orange County, CA: 0.733 per 10,000 residents (230 establishments)
- San Bernardino County, CA: 0.733 per 10,000 residents (161 establishments)
- Tarrant County, TX: 0.715 per 10,000 residents (156 establishments)
- Mecklenburg County, NC: 0.705 per 10,000 residents (82 establishments)
See the full Car Washes by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Other industries in Oakland County, MI
Establishment counts and density for other tracked business types in Oakland County, MI, 2023 CBP.
- Doctors Offices: 1,558 (12.264/10k)
- Limited-Service Restaurants: 1,202 (9.461/10k)
- Full-Service Restaurants: 1,112 (8.753/10k)
- Dentists: 777 (6.116/10k)
- Landscaping Companies: 647 (5.093/10k)
- Home Remodelers: 549 (4.321/10k)
- Hair Salons: 447 (3.519/10k)
- Child Day Care Centers: 277 (2.18/10k)
- Coffee Shops: 269 (2.117/10k)
- Auto Repair Shops: 258 (2.031/10k)
- Grocery Stores: 218 (1.716/10k)
- Gyms and Fitness Centers: 199 (1.566/10k)
- Chiropractors: 192 (1.511/10k)
- Family Clothing Stores: 161 (1.267/10k)
- Veterinary Clinics: 152 (1.196/10k)
- Auto Body Shops: 140 (1.102/10k)
- Dry Cleaners: 117 (0.921/10k)
- Tax Preparation Services: 116 (0.913/10k)
- Pet Grooming and Boarding: 114 (0.897/10k)
- Sports and Recreation Instruction: 108 (0.85/10k)
- Bars: 99 (0.779/10k)
- Optometrists: 72 (0.567/10k)
- Nail Salons: 61 (0.48/10k)
- Self-Storage Facilities: 53 (0.417/10k)
- Bakeries: 52 (0.409/10k)
- Funeral Homes: 50 (0.394/10k)
- Florists: 49 (0.386/10k)
- Barbershops: 34 (0.268/10k)
- Weight Loss Centers: 17 (0.134/10k)
Frequently asked questions
How many car washes are there in Oakland County, MI?
96 car washes operate in Oakland County, MI, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the car washes market in Oakland County, MI saturated compared to the national average?
Oakland County, MI has 0.756 car washes per 10,000 residents, which is 27.8% above the national average of 0.5914 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a car washe business in Oakland County, MI?
The average car washe business in Oakland County, MI has about 13.4 employees (1,289 total employment ÷ 96 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for car washes?
Yes — Orange County, CA has a lower density (0.733 per 10,000 residents) than Oakland County, MI, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.