County profile · Illinois
Ford County, IL market data
How Ford County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 13,216
- −2.2% since 2020
- Households
- 5,828
- Median household income
- $62,439
- +19.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $122,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,845
- Highest market score
- 58
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #816 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Ford County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Ford 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
Ford County has an estimated 13,216 people and 5,828 households. Population estimates show Ford County declined 2.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Ford County is $62,439, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 19.9%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Ford County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 111, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (59).
Of the business types scored in Ford County, fast food and sandwich shops (58); salons, barbers and spas (52); and hair salons (47) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #816 of 2,222 scored counties.
Ford County is part of the Champaign-Urbana metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pizza places (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (55% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Ford County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Ford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 58 | #816 of 2,222 | 6 | 10.3 | $3.4M | 111 | 7 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 52 | #1,031 of 2,385 | 15 | 25.7 | $347K | 163 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #1,307 of 2,339 | 9 | 15.4 | $579K | 134 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 43 | #1,191 of 1,886 | 7 | 12.0 | $1.1M | 109 | 4 |
| Real estate | 43 | #1,443 of 2,229 | 10 | 17.2 | Index only | 174 | 5 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 41 | #1,556 of 2,402 | 14 | 24.0 | $2.4M | 70 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #1,418 of 2,063 | 5 | 8.6 | $4.1M | 110 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 39 | #1,648 of 2,405 | 57 | 97.8 | $357K | 96 | 22 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 38 | #1,745 of 2,394 | 34 | 58.3 | $221K | 145 | 25 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 35 | #1,699 of 2,210 | 14 | 24.0 | $743K | 84 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 35 | #1,779 of 2,358 | 8 | 13.7 | $2M | 84 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #1,837 of 2,176 | 9 | 15.4 | Index only | 154 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 33 | #1,526 of 1,889 | 5 | 8.6 | $4.1M | 98 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 33 | #1,627 of 2,087 | 11 | 18.9 | $946K | 74 | 3 |
| Pizza | 32 | #1,750 of 2,090 | 13 | 22.3 | $1.6M | 31 | 7 |
| Convenience stores | 30 | #1,795 of 2,261 | 7 | 12.0 | $4.7M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 24 | #2,215 of 2,405 | 33 | 56.6 | $616K | 93 | 14 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 23 | #1,933 of 2,088 | 9 | 15.4 | $472K | 71 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 21 | #1,359 of 1,451 | 6 | 10.3 | $1M | 41 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 20 | #2,067 of 2,272 | 8 | 13.7 | $1.2M | 97 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 20 | #2,254 of 2,378 | 21 | 36.0 | $295K | 66 | 10 |
| Auto repair and car care | 20 | #2,274 of 2,401 | 37 | 63.5 | $167K | 62 | 12 |
| Home repair trades | 17 | #2,027 of 2,057 | 12 | 20.6 | $1.2M | 49 | 10 |
| Funeral homes | 16 | #1,440 of 1,472 | 6 | 10.3 | $142K | 21 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 15 | #1,298 of 1,327 | 6 | 10.3 | $1M | 33 | 6 |
| Gyms | 15 | #1,712 of 1,792 | 8 | 13.7 | $531K | 41 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 13 | #1,697 of 1,707 | 9 | 15.4 | $1.6M | 33 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 10 | #2,191 of 2,200 | 12 | 20.6 | $364K | 41 | 7 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 7 | #1,455 of 1,461 | 6 | 10.3 | $729K | 29 | 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.9 | $8.2M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 6.9 | $1.1M | 40 | 4 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $1.7M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $662K | 66 | 5 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $2.5M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $4.7M | 39 | 4 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $2.5M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $2.5M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $2.5M | 140 | 21 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.1 | $2.1M | 82 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.4 | $2.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.5M | Too few | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.5M | Too few | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $4.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $5.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $6.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | 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 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 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 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Ford 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 | $6.2M | $1,062 | 111 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $16.1M | $2,756 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $20.3M | $3,490 | 86 |
| Groceries | $33M | $5,662 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.2M | $894 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2M | $341 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.2M | $729 | 74 |
| Medical and dental services | $7.5M | $1,287 | 100 |
| Pets | $4.4M | $750 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $10.4M | $1,785 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $9.7M | $1,667 | 85 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $14.2M | $2,433 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6.5M | $1,115 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $75.4M | $12,931 | 78 |
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 Ford County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 13,216−2.2% since 2020
- Households
- 5,828
- Median age
- 41.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 486 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 28
- Median household income
- $62,439+19.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $79,163
- Median home value
- $122,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,845
- Daytime population
- 12,564Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Ford 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 Ford County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Livingston County, IL35,565 people
- McLean County, IL171,556 people
- Vermilion County, IL72,386 people
- Piatt County, IL16,695 people
- De Witt County, IL15,373 people
- Kankakee County, IL106,635 people
Questions
How fast is Ford County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Ford County at 13,216 people in 2025, down 2.2% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,828 households. Median household income rose 19.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Ford County, IL spend?
Households in Ford County spend about $75.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $33M on groceries and $20.3M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Ford County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 111, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (59).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Ford County, IL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Ford County are for fast food and sandwich shops (58); salons, barbers and spas (52); and hair salons (47). Ford County ranks #816 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does Ford County, IL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Ford County is $62,439 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $122,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Ford County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pizza places (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (55% 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. 29 of the 56 business types have a score in Ford 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 Ford 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 Ford 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 Ford 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.