Small-town market profile · Illinois
Carbondale, IL area market data
How the Carbondale area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 52,501
- −1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 22,955
- Median household income
- $48,763
- Median home value
- $137,300
- Jobs located here
- 23,658
- Highest market score
- 62
- Gas stations, #140 of 536 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Carbondale area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Carbondale area. 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
The Carbondale area has an estimated 52,501 people and 22,955 households. Population estimates show the Carbondale area declined 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Carbondale area is $48,763, 40% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Carbondale area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 94, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and lowest on child care and other personal services (53).
Of the business types scored in the Carbondale area, gas stations (62), child care centers and preschools (60) and gyms (60) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #140 of 536 scored small-town markets.
The Carbondale area is made up of one county, Jackson County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for veterinarians (58% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Carbondale area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Carbondale area with other small-town markets 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 small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 62 | #140 of 536 | 15 | 6.5 | $3.6M | 150 | 21 |
| Child care and preschools | 60 | #141 of 454 | 6 | 2.6 | $1.2M | 117 | 4 |
| Gyms | 60 | #147 of 506 | 12 | 5.2 | $1.2M | 96 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 57 | #183 of 538 | 36 | 15.7 | $523K | 122 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 56 | #222 of 538 | 30 | 13.1 | $4.1M | 121 | 13 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 53 | #181 of 400 | 9 | 3.9 | $3M | 97 | 4 |
| Auto repair shops | 53 | #249 of 538 | 45 | 19.6 | $458K | 103 | 19 |
| Nail salons | 51 | #199 of 387 | 9 | 3.9 | $2.1M | 125 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 51 | #205 of 426 | 11 | 4.8 | $2.5M | 104 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | 51 | #272 of 529 | 14 | 6.1 | $8.8M | 111 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 50 | #187 of 387 | 8 | 3.5 | $2.6M | 83 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 50 | #246 of 504 | 16 | 7.0 | $1.2M | 134 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 50 | #271 of 538 | 79 | 34.4 | $261K | 97 | 31 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #279 of 538 | 70 | 30.5 | $269K | 127 | 13 |
| Grocery stores | 47 | #288 of 506 | 10 | 4.4 | $12.3M | 132 | 11 |
| Barbershops | 46 | #218 of 377 | 8 | 3.5 | $2.4M | 125 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | 45 | #184 of 295 | 7 | 3.0 | $7.4M | 62 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 45 | #271 of 458 | 14 | 6.1 | $2M | 110 | 32 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 44 | #234 of 378 | 7 | 3.0 | $2.1M | 106 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 42 | #282 of 431 | 11 | 4.8 | $1.9M | 75 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 41 | #235 of 365 | 8 | 3.5 | $358K | 53 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 39 | #281 of 400 | 11 | 4.8 | $2.5M | 104 | 11 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 39 | #369 of 526 | 22 | 9.6 | $1.2M | 127 | 19 |
| Home repair trades | 39 | #389 of 526 | 25 | 10.9 | $2.1M | 85 | 27 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 38 | #86 of 112 | 8 | 3.5 | $1.9M | 46 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 37 | #355 of 481 | 14 | 6.1 | $1.7M | 102 | 27 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #455 of 533 | 40 | 17.4 | Index only | 128 | 8 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 34 | #315 of 399 | 10 | 4.4 | $2.4M | 82 | 19 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 34 | #443 of 535 | 27 | 11.8 | $555K | 84 | 9 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 33 | #318 of 387 | 9 | 3.9 | $1.7M | 68 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | 32 | #361 of 441 | 11 | 4.8 | $1.9M | 74 | 5 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 32 | #407 of 476 | 15 | 6.5 | $3.5M | 73 | 17 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 31 | #437 of 507 | 19 | 8.3 | $3.8M | 93 | 14 |
| Property management | 30 | #155 of 180 | 10 | 4.4 | Index only | 50 | 5 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 30 | #442 of 536 | 38 | 16.6 | $1M | 80 | 19 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 30 | #453 of 538 | 197 | 85.8 | $139K | 91 | 72 |
| Real estate | 30 | #502 of 536 | 53 | 23.1 | Index only | 122 | 18 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 29 | #447 of 536 | 54 | 23.5 | $713K | 81 | 19 |
| Pet businesses | 26 | #483 of 527 | 27 | 11.8 | $579K | 66 | 14 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 25 | #474 of 537 | 36 | 15.7 | $2M | 66 | 46 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 22 | #510 of 529 | 30 | 13.1 | $2.4M | 66 | 14 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 22 | #514 of 538 | 135 | 58.8 | $541K | 81 | 49 |
| Pizza | 21 | #505 of 520 | 28 | 12.2 | $2.6M | 51 | 46 |
| Veterinarians | 20 | #378 of 398 | 12 | 5.2 | $1.3M | 48 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 19 | #498 of 537 | 43 | 18.7 | $756K | 60 | 23 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 18 | #524 of 538 | 281 | 122.4 | $260K | 70 | 111 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | Index only | 35 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $8M | 125 | 5 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $12.8M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $5.2M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $17.3M | 204 | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $10.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $38.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $24M | Too few | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Carbondale area
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 | $20.6M | $897 | 94 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $53.6M | $2,335 | 90 |
| Food away from home | $73M | $3,181 | 78 |
| Groceries | $122.6M | $5,343 | 85 |
| Personal care products and services | $18.8M | $821 | 82 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.1M | $307 | 53 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $15M | $652 | 66 |
| Medical and dental services | $27.4M | $1,194 | 93 |
| Pets | $15.6M | $682 | 75 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $38.5M | $1,677 | 82 |
| Vehicle insurance | $32.5M | $1,415 | 72 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $51.9M | $2,260 | 75 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $24M | $1,044 | 74 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $279.5M | $12,178 | 73 |
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 the Carbondale area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 52,501−1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 22,955
- Median age
- 37.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 50%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.6
- Land area
- 584 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 91
- Median household income
- $48,763
- Average household income
- $70,409
- Median home value
- $137,300
- Jobs located here
- 23,658
- Daytime population
- 57,693Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Carbondale area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. 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 the Carbondale area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Carbondale area 1
- Jackson County, IL53,064 people
Other markets based in Illinois 12
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area9,371,595 people
- Peoria, IL metro area365,202 people
- Rockford, IL metro area336,522 people
- Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area238,842 people
- Springfield, IL metro area207,042 people
- Bloomington, IL metro area171,556 people
- Kankakee, IL metro area106,635 people
- Decatur, IL metro area101,849 people
- Ottawa, IL area147,181 people
- Quincy, IL-MO area74,678 people
- Danville, IL area72,386 people
- Marion-Herrin, IL area66,876 people
Questions
How fast is the Carbondale, IL area growing?
Population estimates put the Carbondale area at 52,501 people in 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 22,955 households.
How much do households in the Carbondale, IL area spend?
Households in the Carbondale area spend about $279.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $122.6M on groceries and $73M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Carbondale area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 94, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and the least on child care and other personal services (53).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Carbondale, IL area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Carbondale area are for gas stations (62), child care centers and preschools (60) and gyms (60). The Carbondale area ranks #140 of 536 scored small-town markets for gas stations.
How does the Carbondale, IL area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Carbondale area is $48,763 a year, 40% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $137,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Carbondale area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for veterinarians (58% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (43% 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. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. 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. 46 of the 56 business types have a score in the Carbondale area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Carbondale area. 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 the Carbondale area?
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 the Carbondale area. 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.