Market rankings · Illinois
Fast food and sandwich shops in Illinois
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Illinois, ranked by the Groundwork market score for fast food and sandwich shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 6,826
- 5,461 chain locations (80%)
- Official establishments
- 10,622
- All limited-service restaurants · +2.0% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $21.2B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 13.6
- 2% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $3.1M
- 2% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #36 of 51
- Market score 41 · Lower middle
A site report maps the fast food and sandwich shops on map listings around any address in Illinois 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 6,826 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings in Illinois as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 80% of them, against 79% across the U.S. That comes to 13.6 for every 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 13.3.
Household spending on food away from home in Illinois comes to about $21.2B a year: $4,215 per household, 4% above the U.S. average. That works out to $3.1M per shop, 2% above the U.S. figure of $3.1M. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only fast food and sandwich shops.
In 2023, official counts showed 10,622 businesses with payroll in Illinois classed as limited-service restaurants, up 2.0% from 2019. That is one for every 474 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.1% over the same years. That count covers all limited-service restaurants (pizza places included), not only fast food and sandwich shops. Since fiscal 2022, 338 SBA-backed loans worth $165.5M have gone to businesses classed as limited-service restaurants in Illinois.
Among the 50 states and DC, Illinois ranks #36 for fast food and sandwich shops, with a Groundwork market score of 41 (lower middle). Of the 12 scored metro areas in or partly in Illinois, the Peoria metro area scores highest (60). Of the 21 scored small-town markets in or partly in Illinois, the Rochelle area scores highest (73).
Every market in Illinois for fast food and sandwich shops
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Illinois, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Peoria, IL | 60 | 180 | 11.7 | $3.3M | −1.3% | #133 of 387 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 55 | 1,533 | 13.2 | $3.1M | −0.2% | #163 of 387 |
| 2Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 53 | 4,994 | 13.7 | $3.2M | 0.0% | #177 of 387 |
| 3Bloomington, IL | 46 | 106 | 15.1 | $2.7M | +0.1% | #222 of 387 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 45 | 221 | 13.7 | $2.8M | −0.9% | #227 of 387 |
| 4Kankakee, IL | 43 | 57 | 13.9 | $2.8M | −1.7% | #240 of 387 |
| 5Decatur, IL | 38 | 60 | 13.8 | $2.6M | −4.3% | #271 of 387 |
| 6Champaign-Urbana, IL | 36 | 143 | 14.6 | $2.6M | +1.5% | #280 of 387 |
| 7Springfield, IL | 35 | 136 | 15.1 | $2.6M | −1.2% | #285 of 387 |
| 8Rockford, IL | 33 | 206 | 15.2 | $2.4M | −0.3% | #294 of 387 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 31 | 55 | 14.4 | $2.5M | +1.7% | #307 of 387 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 14 | 65 | 15.6 | $2.2M | −1.2% | #376 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rochelle, IL | 73 | 24 | 11.5 | $3.4M | −0.7% | #68 of 537 |
| 2Canton, IL | 70 | 11 | 8.0 | $4.3M | −2.0% | #84 of 537 |
| 3Taylorville, IL | 68 | 13 | 9.6 | $3.6M | −1.5% | #102 of 537 |
| 4Quincy, IL-MO | 64 | 35 | 11.3 | $3.2M | −2.0% | #143 of 537 |
| 5Lincoln, IL | 64 | 13 | 11.5 | $3.1M | −2.5% | #144 of 537 |
| 6Dixon, IL | 63 | 17 | 12.7 | $2.9M | −3.4% | #152 of 537 |
| 7Sterling, IL | 60 | 29 | 12.5 | $2.9M | −2.6% | #177 of 537 |
| 8Ottawa, IL | 58 | 82 | 13.3 | $2.8M | −1.6% | #201 of 537 |
| 9Pontiac, IL | 56 | 23 | 15.7 | $2.4M | −2.1% | #224 of 537 |
| 10Centralia, IL | 55 | 16 | 10.3 | $3.3M | −3.4% | #227 of 537 |
| 11Freeport, IL | 54 | 27 | 13.9 | $2.5M | −3.0% | #242 of 537 |
| Burlington, IA-IL | 49 | 24 | 12.1 | $2.9M | −2.5% | #282 of 537 |
| 12Marion-Herrin, IL | 40 | 47 | 16.2 | $2.2M | +0.2% | #368 of 537 |
| 13Danville, IL | 38 | 45 | 15.0 | $2.2M | −3.7% | #382 of 537 |
| 14Effingham, IL | 38 | 32 | 17.7 | $2.2M | −0.9% | #383 of 537 |
| 15Jacksonville, IL | 36 | 23 | 15.2 | $2.4M | −3.1% | #402 of 537 |
| 16Mount Vernon, IL | 31 | 24 | 16.2 | $2.1M | −2.3% | #440 of 537 |
| 17Galesburg, IL | 31 | 33 | 15.7 | $2.1M | −4.1% | #441 of 537 |
| 18Macomb, IL | 30 | 18 | 15.2 | $2.1M | −4.5% | #448 of 537 |
| 19Carbondale, IL | 25 | 36 | 15.7 | $2M | −1.5% | #474 of 537 |
| 20Charleston-Mattoon, IL | 16 | 42 | 20.2 | $1.6M | −1.0% | #514 of 537 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Piatt County, IL | 80 | 7 | 10.1 | $4.2M | +0.6% | #130 of 2,222 |
| 2Woodford County, IL | 79 | 13 | 8.9 | $4.9M | −0.8% | #142 of 2,222 |
| 3Moultrie County, IL | 73 | 5 | 8.6 | $4.3M | −0.8% | #277 of 2,222 |
| 4Bond County, IL | 71 | 5 | 8.1 | $4.5M | +0.6% | #326 of 2,222 |
| 5Kendall County, IL | 71 | 56 | 12.3 | $3.9M | +9.9% | #331 of 2,222 |
| 6McHenry County, IL | 70 | 133 | 11.3 | $4.2M | +2.5% | #355 of 2,222 |
| 7Bureau County, IL | 68 | 12 | 8.6 | $4.3M | −2.1% | #423 of 2,222 |
| 8Monroe County, IL | 68 | 17 | 12.3 | $3.8M | −0.3% | #431 of 2,222 |
| 9Clinton County, IL | 68 | 20 | 13.7 | $3M | +0.6% | #452 of 2,222 |
| 10Macoupin County, IL | 67 | 16 | 9.1 | $4.2M | −2.6% | #465 of 2,222 |
| 11Boone County, IL | 67 | 22 | 11.3 | $3.7M | +0.4% | #470 of 2,222 |
| 12Jo Daviess County, IL | 67 | 11 | 10.6 | $3.6M | −2.2% | #471 of 2,222 |
| 13Ogle County, IL | 64 | 24 | 11.5 | $3.4M | −0.7% | #578 of 2,222 |
| 14Fulton County, IL | 63 | 11 | 8.0 | $4.3M | −2.0% | #598 of 2,222 |
| 15Henry County, IL | 63 | 20 | 9.9 | $3.9M | −2.2% | #602 of 2,222 |
| 16Carroll County, IL | 63 | 6 | 9.1 | $3.8M | −1.7% | #608 of 2,222 |
| 17Mason County, IL | 62 | 5 | 8.6 | $4M | −4.9% | #642 of 2,222 |
| 18Hancock County, IL | 62 | 7 | 9.2 | $3.8M | −4.4% | #643 of 2,222 |
| 19Shelby County, IL | 62 | 9 | 10.1 | $3.6M | −1.6% | #646 of 2,222 |
| 20Kane County, IL | 62 | 268 | 14.5 | $3.2M | +1.8% | #656 of 2,222 |
| 21Lake County, IL | 61 | 347 | 13.4 | $3.7M | +0.8% | #686 of 2,222 |
| 22Christian County, IL | 60 | 13 | 9.6 | $3.6M | −1.5% | #734 of 2,222 |
| 23Will County, IL | 60 | 333 | 13.6 | $3.5M | +2.2% | #737 of 2,222 |
| 24Washington County, IL | 60 | 7 | 12.1 | $3.1M | −1.2% | #746 of 2,222 |
| 25Iroquois County, IL | 58 | 12 | 10.5 | $3.4M | −3.0% | #815 of 2,222 |
Show all 102 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Ford County, IL | 58 | 6 | 10.3 | $3.4M | −2.2% | #816 of 2,222 |
| 27Pike County, IL | 56 | 5 | 8.4 | $4M | −2.8% | #884 of 2,222 |
| 28Logan County, IL | 55 | 13 | 11.5 | $3.1M | −2.5% | #944 of 2,222 |
| 29Lawrence County, IL | 54 | 6 | 11.0 | $3.2M | −9.7% | #979 of 2,222 |
| 30De Witt County, IL | 54 | 8 | 12.1 | $3M | −2.1% | #983 of 2,222 |
| 31Adams County, IL | 54 | 33 | 11.8 | $3M | −2.1% | #985 of 2,222 |
| 32Clay County, IL | 53 | 5 | 9.4 | $3.6M | −3.6% | #1,011 of 2,222 |
| 33Tazewell County, IL | 53 | 69 | 12.8 | $3.1M | −0.9% | #1,016 of 2,222 |
| 34Lee County, IL | 53 | 17 | 12.7 | $2.9M | −3.4% | #1,024 of 2,222 |
| 35DuPage County, IL | 52 | 537 | 15.3 | $3.2M | +0.3% | #1,059 of 2,222 |
| 36Crawford County, IL | 51 | 7 | 9.3 | $4M | +0.1% | #1,090 of 2,222 |
| 37Cook County, IL | 50 | 2,803 | 13.3 | $3.2M | −1.3% | #1,129 of 2,222 |
| 38Whiteside County, IL | 50 | 29 | 12.5 | $2.9M | −2.6% | #1,139 of 2,222 |
| 39Marion County, IL | 49 | 16 | 10.3 | $3.3M | −3.4% | #1,166 of 2,222 |
| 40Peoria County, IL | 49 | 94 | 12.1 | $3.1M | −1.6% | #1,170 of 2,222 |
| 41McLean County, IL | 48 | 106 | 15.1 | $2.7M | +0.1% | #1,225 of 2,222 |
| 42Grundy County, IL | 48 | 35 | 17.0 | $2.6M | +2.9% | #1,230 of 2,222 |
| 43Jersey County, IL | 46 | 12 | 15.1 | $2.6M | −1.5% | #1,308 of 2,222 |
| 44Livingston County, IL | 46 | 23 | 15.7 | $2.4M | −2.1% | #1,317 of 2,222 |
| 45Douglas County, IL | 45 | 11 | 14.2 | $2.7M | +0.5% | #1,337 of 2,222 |
| 46White County, IL | 45 | 7 | 12.3 | $2.6M | −4.0% | #1,341 of 2,222 |
| 47DeKalb County, IL | 45 | 58 | 14.7 | $2.6M | +1.5% | #1,343 of 2,222 |
| 48Stephenson County, IL | 45 | 27 | 13.9 | $2.5M | −3.0% | #1,350 of 2,222 |
| 49Edgar County, IL | 44 | 8 | 10.6 | $3.2M | −2.9% | #1,364 of 2,222 |
| 50Kankakee County, IL | 44 | 57 | 13.9 | $2.8M | −1.7% | #1,370 of 2,222 |
| 51Warren County, IL | 44 | 10 | 14.7 | $2.5M | −3.6% | #1,380 of 2,222 |
| 52Madison County, IL | 43 | 156 | 14.2 | $2.8M | −1.0% | #1,395 of 2,222 |
| 53St. Clair County, IL | 42 | 142 | 14.1 | $2.8M | −2.5% | #1,429 of 2,222 |
| 54Union County, IL | 40 | 7 | 10.2 | $3.3M | −3.7% | #1,482 of 2,222 |
| 55Rock Island County, IL | 40 | 81 | 13.1 | $2.8M | −1.7% | #1,486 of 2,222 |
| 56Perry County, IL | 40 | 10 | 12.7 | $2.7M | −3.5% | #1,487 of 2,222 |
| 57Greene County, IL | 40 | 6 | 13.5 | $2.7M | −5.1% | #1,491 of 2,222 |
| 58LaSalle County, IL | 40 | 70 | 15.4 | $2.5M | −1.5% | #1,497 of 2,222 |
| 59Macon County, IL | 39 | 60 | 13.8 | $2.6M | −4.3% | #1,525 of 2,222 |
| 60Champaign County, IL | 38 | 130 | 15.2 | $2.4M | +1.8% | #1,565 of 2,222 |
| 61Cass County, IL | 38 | 9 | 17.6 | $2M | −4.0% | #1,586 of 2,222 |
| 62Sangamon County, IL | 37 | 132 | 15.6 | $2.5M | −1.0% | #1,599 of 2,222 |
| 63Montgomery County, IL | 35 | 23 | 20.3 | $1.7M | −0.6% | #1,691 of 2,222 |
| 64Winnebago County, IL | 34 | 184 | 15.9 | $2.3M | −0.4% | #1,702 of 2,222 |
| 65Williamson County, IL | 34 | 47 | 16.2 | $2.2M | +0.2% | #1,707 of 2,222 |
| 66Franklin County, IL | 33 | 18 | 11.2 | $2.9M | −2.1% | #1,731 of 2,222 |
| 67Randolph County, IL | 33 | 17 | 14.2 | $2.5M | −0.6% | #1,737 of 2,222 |
| 68Vermilion County, IL | 33 | 45 | 15.0 | $2.2M | −3.7% | #1,743 of 2,222 |
| 69Massac County, IL | 31 | 7 | 12.8 | $2.6M | −4.5% | #1,799 of 2,222 |
| 70Fayette County, IL | 30 | 13 | 16.6 | $2.1M | −3.2% | #1,847 of 2,222 |
| 71Richland County, IL | 29 | 8 | 12.4 | $2.7M | −3.7% | #1,861 of 2,222 |
| 72Jefferson County, IL | 28 | 24 | 16.2 | $2.1M | −2.3% | #1,895 of 2,222 |
| 73Effingham County, IL | 28 | 28 | 20.1 | $2M | −0.5% | #1,897 of 2,222 |
| 74Knox County, IL | 27 | 33 | 15.7 | $2.1M | −4.1% | #1,927 of 2,222 |
| 75McDonough County, IL | 26 | 18 | 15.2 | $2.1M | −4.5% | #1,948 of 2,222 |
| 76Morgan County, IL | 24 | 23 | 17.6 | $2M | −2.9% | #1,984 of 2,222 |
| 77Jackson County, IL | 23 | 36 | 15.7 | $2M | −1.5% | #1,998 of 2,222 |
| 78Clark County, IL | 22 | 13 | 19.8 | $1.8M | −2.2% | #2,018 of 2,222 |
| 79Saline County, IL | 16 | 17 | 17.0 | $2M | −4.1% | #2,117 of 2,222 |
| 80Coles County, IL | 15 | 42 | 20.2 | $1.6M | −1.0% | #2,136 of 2,222 |
| Wayne County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 5.8 | $5.6M | −1.6% | |
| Mercer County, IL | Not scored | 2 | 3.0 | $12.7M | −2.6% | |
| Johnson County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 9.8 | $3.5M | +0.4% | |
| Menard County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 7.7 | $5.1M | −3.3% | |
| Marshall County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $4.6M | −2.0% | |
| Wabash County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 8.4 | $4.1M | −3.6% | |
| Cumberland County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 9.6 | $3.8M | −2.1% | |
| Jasper County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 8.0 | $4.7M | −2.4% | |
| Hamilton County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 8.9 | $4M | −1.7% | |
| Schuyler County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 11.0 | $3.1M | −3.0% | |
| Brown County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 14.7 | $2.3M | +2.7% | |
| Henderson County, IL | Not scored | 2 | 7.4 | $4.6M | −5.6% | |
| Edwards County, IL | Not scored | 2 | 7.5 | $4.4M | −5.0% | |
| Putnam County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.1% | |
| Stark County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.2% | |
| Pulaski County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 5.2 | $5.6M | −6.9% | |
| Scott County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.0% | |
| Alexander County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 5.3 | $6.1M | −11.6% | |
| Gallatin County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −6.4% | |
| Calhoun County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 8.1 | $5.3M | −2.2% | |
| Pope County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 7.2 | $4.8M | −2.2% | |
| Hardin County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.8% |
Markets with fewer than 5 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many fast food and sandwich shops are in Illinois?
As of September 2026, map listings count 6,826 fast food and sandwich shops in Illinois. 5,461 of them (80%) are chain locations. The listings count fast food, sandwich shops, delis and bagel shops. Official counts show 10,622 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in 2023, up 2.0% from 2019. The official count takes in all limited-service restaurants, not only fast food and sandwich shops: pizza places are counted too. Official counts list 1,923 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Illinois spend on food away from home?
About $21.2B a year, or $4,215 per household. That is 4% above the U.S. average (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 6,826 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, it comes to $3.1M per shop. That spending covers all food away from home, which fast food and sandwich shops share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 5,036,449 households in Illinois and national spending patterns by income.
How does Illinois compare with the U.S. for fast food and sandwich shops?
Illinois has 13.6 fast food and sandwich shops per 10,000 households, 2% above the U.S. rate of 13.3. Spending per shop is $3.1M, 2% above the U.S. figure of $3.1M. At the U.S. ratio of fast food and sandwich shops to household spending, Illinois would have about 6,959, against 6,826 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 474 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. The official count rose 2.0% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.1% for the U.S.
Which market in Illinois has the highest market score for fast food and sandwich shops?
Among 12 scored metro areas in or partly in Illinois, the Peoria metro area scores highest, at 60 (upper middle). Among 21 scored small-town markets in or partly in Illinois, the Rochelle area scores highest, at 73 (upper middle). Among 80 scored counties in Illinois, Piatt County scores highest, at 80 (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. Illinois scores 41 for fast food and sandwich shops (lower middle), #36 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 Illinois. It maps the fast food and sandwich shops 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.
Fast food and sandwich shops in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for fast food and sandwich shops across the U.S. · All business types in Illinois
Related business types in Illinois
- Restaurants and cafes56,407 listings
- Sit-down restaurants31,234 listings
- Pizza4,499 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes5,172 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops4,962 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Illinois?
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.