Market rankings · Illinois
Gyms in Illinois
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Illinois, ranked by the Groundwork market score for gyms, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 3,889
- 1,152 chain locations (30%)
- Official establishments
- 1,621
- All fitness and recreational sports centers · +2.9% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $5.3B
- On memberships, classes and admissions
- Listings per 10k households
- 7.7
- In line with the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $1.4M
- 5% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #24 of 51
- Market score 50 · Upper middle
A site report maps the gyms 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
Illinois has 3,889 gyms on map listings as of September 2026. 1,152 of them (30%) are chain locations, against 28% across the U.S. That comes to 7.7 for every 10,000 households, in line with the U.S. rate of 7.6.
Households in Illinois spend about $5.3B a year on memberships, classes and admissions, or $1,054 per household, 7% above the U.S. average. That is about $1.4M of household spending for each gym on map listings, 5% above the U.S. figure of $1.3M. The spending figure covers all memberships, classes and admissions, not only gyms.
Official counts show 1,621 businesses with payroll classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in Illinois in 2023, up 2.9% from 2019. That is one for every 3,107 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.8% over the same years. That count covers all fitness and recreational sports centers (yoga, Pilates and fitness studios included), not only gyms. Since fiscal 2022, 189 SBA-backed loans worth $96.6M have gone to businesses classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in Illinois.
Among the 50 states and DC, Illinois ranks #24 for gyms, with a Groundwork market score of 50 (upper middle). Of the 12 scored metro areas in or partly in Illinois, the Kankakee metro area scores highest (62). Of the 20 scored small-town markets in or partly in Illinois, the Rochelle area scores highest (65).
Every market in Illinois for gyms
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kankakee, IL | 62 | 21 | 5.1 | $1.7M | −1.7% | #82 of 387 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 59 | 25 | 6.5 | $1.2M | +1.7% | #112 of 387 |
| 2Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 56 | 2,862 | 7.9 | $1.5M | 0.0% | #129 of 387 |
| 3Decatur, IL | 52 | 24 | 5.5 | $1.4M | −4.3% | #167 of 387 |
| 4Champaign-Urbana, IL | 51 | 73 | 7.4 | $1.2M | +1.5% | #183 of 387 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 50 | 891 | 7.7 | $1.3M | −0.2% | #191 of 387 |
| 5Peoria, IL | 48 | 117 | 7.6 | $1.2M | −1.3% | #214 of 387 |
| 6Bloomington, IL | 38 | 62 | 8.8 | $1.1M | +0.1% | #299 of 387 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 34 | 152 | 9.4 | $925K | −0.9% | #325 of 387 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 34 | 33 | 7.9 | $823K | −1.2% | #328 of 387 |
| 7Springfield, IL | 33 | 84 | 9.3 | $987K | −1.2% | #332 of 387 |
| 8Rockford, IL | 32 | 103 | 7.6 | $1.1M | −0.3% | #339 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rochelle, IL | 65 | 15 | 7.2 | $1.3M | −0.7% | #93 of 506 |
| 2Ottawa, IL | 64 | 36 | 5.8 | $1.4M | −1.6% | #100 of 506 |
| 3Pontiac, IL | 62 | 9 | 6.2 | $1.4M | −2.1% | #122 of 506 |
| 4Carbondale, IL | 60 | 12 | 5.2 | $1.2M | −1.5% | #147 of 506 |
| 5Effingham, IL | 60 | 15 | 8.3 | $1.1M | −0.9% | #153 of 506 |
| 6Sterling, IL | 59 | 14 | 6.1 | $1.2M | −2.6% | #160 of 506 |
| 7Marion-Herrin, IL | 59 | 20 | 6.9 | $1.1M | +0.2% | #161 of 506 |
| 8Taylorville, IL | 54 | 8 | 5.9 | $1.3M | −1.5% | #216 of 506 |
| 9Dixon, IL | 54 | 9 | 6.7 | $1.2M | −3.4% | #218 of 506 |
| Burlington, IA-IL | 52 | 11 | 5.5 | $1.3M | −2.5% | #232 of 506 |
| 10Mount Vernon, IL | 50 | 8 | 5.4 | $1.3M | −2.3% | #249 of 506 |
| 11Galesburg, IL | 48 | 12 | 5.7 | $1.2M | −4.1% | #276 of 506 |
| 12Lincoln, IL | 46 | 8 | 7.1 | $1.1M | −2.5% | #295 of 506 |
| 13Jacksonville, IL | 41 | 14 | 9.3 | $845K | −3.1% | #351 of 506 |
| 14Centralia, IL | 39 | 9 | 5.8 | $1.2M | −3.4% | #366 of 506 |
| 15Quincy, IL-MO | 39 | 23 | 7.4 | $1M | −2.0% | #367 of 506 |
| 16Canton, IL | 38 | 11 | 8.0 | $890K | −2.0% | #384 of 506 |
| 17Charleston-Mattoon, IL | 36 | 15 | 7.2 | $941K | −1.0% | #402 of 506 |
| 18Danville, IL | 35 | 21 | 7.0 | $975K | −3.7% | #408 of 506 |
| 19Freeport, IL | 31 | 16 | 8.3 | $885K | −3.0% | #434 of 506 |
| Macomb, IL | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $2M | −4.5% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Boone County, IL | 71 | 10 | 5.1 | $1.9M | +0.4% | #198 of 1,792 |
| 2Piatt County, IL | 69 | 5 | 7.2 | $1.4M | +0.6% | #254 of 1,792 |
| 3Clinton County, IL | 66 | 10 | 6.9 | $1.4M | +0.6% | #321 of 1,792 |
| 4Kendall County, IL | 66 | 42 | 9.3 | $1.4M | +9.9% | #323 of 1,792 |
| 5Will County, IL | 65 | 202 | 8.3 | $1.5M | +2.2% | #356 of 1,792 |
| 6Kankakee County, IL | 63 | 21 | 5.1 | $1.7M | −1.7% | #415 of 1,792 |
| 7Kane County, IL | 62 | 170 | 9.2 | $1.3M | +1.8% | #456 of 1,792 |
| 8Cook County, IL | 61 | 1,458 | 6.9 | $1.6M | −1.3% | #482 of 1,792 |
| 9McHenry County, IL | 61 | 113 | 9.6 | $1.3M | +2.5% | #497 of 1,792 |
| 10Monroe County, IL | 59 | 10 | 7.2 | $1.7M | −0.3% | #547 of 1,792 |
| 11LaSalle County, IL | 59 | 28 | 6.2 | $1.4M | −1.5% | #562 of 1,792 |
| 12Champaign County, IL | 59 | 60 | 7.0 | $1.2M | +1.8% | #574 of 1,792 |
| 13Woodford County, IL | 57 | 13 | 8.9 | $1.2M | −0.8% | #654 of 1,792 |
| 14St. Clair County, IL | 56 | 76 | 7.5 | $1.2M | −2.5% | #692 of 1,792 |
| 15Ogle County, IL | 55 | 15 | 7.2 | $1.3M | −0.7% | #727 of 1,792 |
| 16Jackson County, IL | 54 | 12 | 5.2 | $1.2M | −1.5% | #759 of 1,792 |
| 17Whiteside County, IL | 54 | 14 | 6.1 | $1.2M | −2.6% | #760 of 1,792 |
| 18Williamson County, IL | 54 | 20 | 6.9 | $1.1M | +0.2% | #770 of 1,792 |
| 19Macon County, IL | 53 | 24 | 5.5 | $1.4M | −4.3% | #791 of 1,792 |
| 20Livingston County, IL | 53 | 9 | 6.2 | $1.4M | −2.1% | #794 of 1,792 |
| 21Jo Daviess County, IL | 53 | 7 | 6.7 | $1.3M | −2.2% | #798 of 1,792 |
| 22DeKalb County, IL | 53 | 31 | 7.8 | $1.1M | +1.5% | #811 of 1,792 |
| 23Lake County, IL | 52 | 276 | 10.7 | $1.3M | +0.8% | #828 of 1,792 |
| 24Tazewell County, IL | 52 | 40 | 7.4 | $1.2M | −0.9% | #836 of 1,792 |
| 25DuPage County, IL | 51 | 366 | 10.4 | $1.3M | +0.3% | #868 of 1,792 |
Show all 102 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Bureau County, IL | 50 | 8 | 5.7 | $1.4M | −2.1% | #902 of 1,792 |
| 27Peoria County, IL | 49 | 56 | 7.2 | $1.2M | −1.6% | #950 of 1,792 |
| 28Rock Island County, IL | 49 | 49 | 7.9 | $987K | −1.7% | #968 of 1,792 |
| 29Jefferson County, IL | 48 | 8 | 5.4 | $1.3M | −2.3% | #976 of 1,792 |
| 30Macoupin County, IL | 48 | 12 | 6.8 | $1.2M | −2.6% | #980 of 1,792 |
| 31Madison County, IL | 47 | 80 | 7.3 | $1.3M | −1.0% | #1,018 of 1,792 |
| 32Lee County, IL | 46 | 9 | 6.7 | $1.2M | −3.4% | #1,045 of 1,792 |
| 33Knox County, IL | 46 | 12 | 5.7 | $1.2M | −4.1% | #1,051 of 1,792 |
| 34McLean County, IL | 46 | 62 | 8.8 | $1.1M | +0.1% | #1,053 of 1,792 |
| 35Grundy County, IL | 46 | 22 | 10.7 | $1M | +2.9% | #1,061 of 1,792 |
| 36Effingham County, IL | 46 | 15 | 10.8 | $844K | −0.5% | #1,076 of 1,792 |
| 37Christian County, IL | 45 | 8 | 5.9 | $1.3M | −1.5% | #1,085 of 1,792 |
| 38Henry County, IL | 45 | 19 | 9.4 | $908K | −2.2% | #1,107 of 1,792 |
| 39Iroquois County, IL | 43 | 7 | 6.1 | $1.2M | −3.0% | #1,155 of 1,792 |
| 40Montgomery County, IL | 42 | 8 | 7.1 | $1M | −0.6% | #1,191 of 1,792 |
| 41Shelby County, IL | 41 | 6 | 6.7 | $1.1M | −1.6% | #1,215 of 1,792 |
| 42Sangamon County, IL | 40 | 80 | 9.4 | $980K | −1.0% | #1,240 of 1,792 |
| 43Logan County, IL | 38 | 8 | 7.1 | $1.1M | −2.5% | #1,292 of 1,792 |
| 44Fulton County, IL | 38 | 11 | 8.0 | $890K | −2.0% | #1,298 of 1,792 |
| 45Adams County, IL | 37 | 20 | 7.2 | $1.1M | −2.1% | #1,318 of 1,792 |
| 46Washington County, IL | 37 | 5 | 8.6 | $956K | −1.2% | #1,320 of 1,792 |
| 47Hancock County, IL | 36 | 5 | 6.6 | $1.1M | −4.4% | #1,342 of 1,792 |
| 48Crawford County, IL | 36 | 7 | 9.3 | $867K | +0.1% | #1,354 of 1,792 |
| 49Douglas County, IL | 36 | 8 | 10.3 | $821K | +0.5% | #1,358 of 1,792 |
| 50Marion County, IL | 35 | 9 | 5.8 | $1.2M | −3.4% | #1,371 of 1,792 |
| 51Winnebago County, IL | 35 | 93 | 8.0 | $986K | −0.4% | #1,377 of 1,792 |
| 52Morgan County, IL | 35 | 13 | 9.9 | $791K | −2.9% | #1,396 of 1,792 |
| 53Vermilion County, IL | 34 | 21 | 7.0 | $975K | −3.7% | #1,405 of 1,792 |
| 54Coles County, IL | 34 | 15 | 7.2 | $941K | −1.0% | #1,407 of 1,792 |
| 55Fayette County, IL | 33 | 5 | 6.4 | $1.1M | −3.2% | #1,419 of 1,792 |
| 56Edgar County, IL | 30 | 5 | 6.6 | $1.1M | −2.9% | #1,487 of 1,792 |
| 57Moultrie County, IL | 30 | 6 | 10.3 | $799K | −0.8% | #1,496 of 1,792 |
| 58Stephenson County, IL | 29 | 16 | 8.3 | $885K | −3.0% | #1,513 of 1,792 |
| 59Franklin County, IL | 27 | 11 | 6.8 | $964K | −2.1% | #1,557 of 1,792 |
| 60Randolph County, IL | 27 | 10 | 8.4 | $885K | −0.6% | #1,562 of 1,792 |
| 61Marshall County, IL | 25 | 5 | 9.8 | $798K | −2.0% | #1,593 of 1,792 |
| 62De Witt County, IL | 25 | 7 | 10.6 | $755K | −2.1% | #1,597 of 1,792 |
| 63Saline County, IL | 22 | 8 | 8.0 | $873K | −4.1% | #1,639 of 1,792 |
| 64Clark County, IL | 22 | 7 | 10.7 | $725K | −2.2% | #1,641 of 1,792 |
| 65Ford County, IL | 15 | 8 | 13.7 | $531K | −2.2% | #1,712 of 1,792 |
| 66Richland County, IL | 14 | 7 | 10.9 | $645K | −3.7% | #1,722 of 1,792 |
| 67Wayne County, IL | 12 | 9 | 13.1 | $498K | −1.6% | #1,738 of 1,792 |
| 68Wabash County, IL | 12 | 8 | 16.9 | $427K | −3.6% | #1,739 of 1,792 |
| McDonough County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $2M | −4.5% | |
| Jersey County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 3.8 | $2.5M | −1.5% | |
| Perry County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 5.1 | $1.4M | −3.5% | |
| Union County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $1.6M | −3.7% | |
| Bond County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 6.5 | $1.2M | +0.6% | |
| Warren County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 5.9 | $1.3M | −3.6% | |
| Carroll County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 4.6 | $1.5M | −1.7% | |
| Mercer County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 6.1 | $1.4M | −2.6% | |
| Lawrence County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 7.3 | $997K | −9.7% | |
| Pike County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 5.0 | $1.3M | −2.8% | |
| Massac County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 7.3 | $926K | −4.5% | |
| White County, IL | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $1.8M | −4.0% | |
| Johnson County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 2.4 | $3M | +0.4% | |
| Clay County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $940K | −3.6% | |
| Cass County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.0% | |
| Mason County, IL | Not scored | 2 | 3.5 | $2M | −4.9% | |
| Menard County, IL | Not scored | 4 | 7.7 | $1.1M | −3.3% | |
| Greene County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 2.2 | $3.4M | −5.1% | |
| Cumberland County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.1% | |
| Jasper County, IL | Not scored | 2 | 5.3 | $1.5M | −2.4% | |
| Hamilton County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 8.9 | $876K | −1.7% | |
| Schuyler County, IL | Not scored | 2 | 7.3 | $958K | −3.0% | |
| Brown County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | +2.7% | |
| Henderson County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.6% | |
| Edwards County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 3.8 | $1.8M | −5.0% | |
| Putnam County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −0.1% | |
| Stark County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 13.1 | $622K | −1.2% | |
| Pulaski County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −6.9% | |
| Scott County, IL | Not scored | 1 | 4.9 | $1.5M | −4.0% | |
| Alexander County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −11.6% | |
| Gallatin County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −6.4% | |
| Calhoun County, IL | Not scored | 3 | 24.2 | $428K | −2.2% | |
| Pope County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −2.2% | |
| Hardin County, IL | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.8% |
Markets with fewer than 5 gyms on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many gyms are in Illinois?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 3,889 gyms in Illinois. 1,152 of them (30%) are chain locations. The listings count gyms and fitness centers. Official counts show 1,621 businesses with payroll classed as fitness and recreational sports centers in 2023, up 2.9% from 2019. The official count takes in all fitness and recreational sports centers, not only gyms: yoga, Pilates and fitness studios are counted too.
How much do households in Illinois spend on memberships, classes and admissions?
About $5.3B a year, or $1,054 per household. That is 7% above the U.S. average (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 3,889 gyms on map listings, it comes to $1.4M per gym. That spending covers all memberships, classes and admissions, which gyms 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 gyms?
Illinois has 7.7 gyms per 10,000 households, in line with the U.S. rate of 7.6. Spending per gym is $1.4M, 5% above the U.S. figure of $1.3M. At the U.S. ratio of gyms to household spending, Illinois would have about 4,080, against 3,889 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 3,107 households, against one for every 3,109 across the U.S. The official count rose 2.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.8% for the U.S.
Which market in Illinois has the highest market score for gyms?
Among 12 scored metro areas in or partly in Illinois, the Kankakee metro area scores highest, at 62 (upper middle). Among 20 scored small-town markets in or partly in Illinois, the Rochelle area scores highest, at 65 (upper middle). Among 68 scored counties in Illinois, Boone County scores highest, at 71 (upper middle). 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 50 for gyms (upper middle), #24 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 gyms 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.
Gyms 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 gyms across the U.S. · All business types in Illinois
Related business types in Illinois
- Gyms, studios and classes7,375 listings
- Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios1,152 listings
- Martial arts and dance studios2,334 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.