County profile · Illinois
Knox County, IL market data
How Knox County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 47,767
- −4.1% since 2020
- Households
- 20,972
- Median household income
- $57,030
- +29.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $111,900
- Jobs located here
- 15,910
- Highest market score
- 62
- Primary care and pediatrics, #454 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Knox County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Knox 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
Knox County has an estimated 47,767 people and 20,972 households. Population estimates show Knox County declined 4.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Knox County is $57,030, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.2%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Knox County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 100, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (53).
Of the business types scored in Knox County, primary care and pediatric clinics (62), dentists and orthodontists (60) and auto repair shops (59) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #454 of 1,656 scored counties.
Knox County is part of the Galesburg area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for optometrists and eye clinics (51% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (74% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Knox County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 62 | #454 of 1,656 | 10 | 4.8 | $2.6M | 145 | 12 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 60 | #552 of 1,886 | 14 | 6.7 | $1.8M | 187 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 59 | #754 of 2,378 | 33 | 15.7 | $606K | 136 | 16 |
| Convenience stores | 59 | #782 of 2,261 | 11 | 5.2 | $10.5M | 133 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | 58 | #491 of 1,422 | 6 | 2.9 | $4.3M | 179 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #868 of 2,401 | 58 | 27.7 | $345K | 128 | 25 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 55 | #770 of 2,176 | 17 | 8.1 | Index only | 282 | 7 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 53 | #567 of 1,334 | 6 | 2.9 | $2.3M | 114 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 53 | #689 of 1,530 | 5 | 2.4 | $4M | 160 | 4 |
| Funeral homes | 52 | #652 of 1,472 | 6 | 2.9 | $559K | 82 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 52 | #792 of 1,769 | 9 | 4.3 | $2M | 226 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 51 | #670 of 1,493 | 5 | 2.4 | $4.5M | 153 | 15 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 51 | #878 of 1,889 | 12 | 5.7 | $5.7M | 139 | 8 |
| Real estate | 50 | #1,056 of 2,229 | 24 | 11.4 | Index only | 251 | 15 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 49 | #1,088 of 2,087 | 24 | 11.4 | $1.5M | 117 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 49 | #1,159 of 2,210 | 33 | 15.7 | $1.1M | 123 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 47 | #718 of 1,327 | 6 | 2.9 | $3.3M | 108 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 46 | #989 of 1,771 | 10 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 134 | 25 |
| Gyms | 46 | #1,051 of 1,792 | 12 | 5.7 | $1.2M | 89 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 46 | #1,349 of 2,402 | 27 | 12.9 | $4.3M | 126 | 16 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 44 | #1,479 of 2,394 | 149 | 71.0 | $173K | 114 | 33 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 43 | #1,375 of 2,088 | 21 | 10.0 | $659K | 100 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 42 | #1,499 of 2,358 | 23 | 11.0 | $2.3M | 95 | 22 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 42 | #1,614 of 2,385 | 73 | 34.8 | $244K | 115 | 11 |
| Barbershops | 38 | #955 of 1,356 | 8 | 3.8 | $2.2M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 38 | #980 of 1,328 | 9 | 4.3 | $2M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 38 | #1,413 of 2,070 | 10 | 4.8 | $11.5M | 124 | 13 |
| Pet businesses | 38 | #1,588 of 2,200 | 19 | 9.1 | $776K | 88 | 11 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 36 | #1,337 of 1,707 | 14 | 6.7 | $3.5M | 74 | 9 |
| Home repair trades | 36 | #1,650 of 2,057 | 24 | 11.4 | $2M | 84 | 22 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 35 | #1,822 of 2,405 | 91 | 43.4 | $758K | 114 | 39 |
| Hair salons | 35 | #1,874 of 2,339 | 47 | 22.4 | $379K | 88 | 8 |
| Veterinarians | 33 | #1,135 of 1,485 | 8 | 3.8 | $1.8M | 68 | 5 |
| Pizza | 31 | #1,759 of 2,090 | 20 | 9.5 | $3.4M | 68 | 36 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 30 | #1,751 of 2,063 | 26 | 12.4 | $2.7M | 72 | 8 |
| Chiropractors | 29 | #1,289 of 1,490 | 13 | 6.2 | $2M | 83 | 10 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 29 | #2,056 of 2,405 | 199 | 94.9 | $346K | 93 | 86 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 27 | #1,927 of 2,222 | 33 | 15.7 | $2.1M | 68 | 36 |
| Car washes and detailing | 26 | #1,282 of 1,451 | 12 | 5.7 | $1.7M | 66 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | 24 | #1,076 of 1,177 | 7 | 3.3 | $7M | 83 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 21 | #1,194 of 1,302 | 13 | 6.2 | $2M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 14 | #2,195 of 2,272 | 42 | 20.0 | $756K | 60 | 22 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $1.6M | 160 | 11 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $3.7M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $11.9M | 76 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $16.3M | 136 | 7 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $7.5M | 73 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $4.9M | 193 | 6 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | Index only | 157 | 4 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $4.6M | 114 | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $11.2M | Too few | 5 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $35.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 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 Knox 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 | $20M | $954 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $52.3M | $2,491 | 96 |
| Food away from home | $68.9M | $3,287 | 81 |
| Groceries | $115M | $5,484 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $17.8M | $850 | 85 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.4M | $306 | 53 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $13.8M | $660 | 67 |
| Medical and dental services | $25.8M | $1,231 | 96 |
| Pets | $14.7M | $703 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $35.7M | $1,701 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $31.7M | $1,514 | 77 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $49M | $2,335 | 77 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $22.4M | $1,069 | 76 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $261.4M | $12,465 | 75 |
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 Knox County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 47,767−4.1% since 2020
- Households
- 20,972
- Median age
- 42.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 716 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 68
- Median household income
- $57,030+29.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $74,560
- Median home value
- $111,900
- Jobs located here
- 15,910
- Daytime population
- 44,318Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Knox 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 Knox 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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Questions
How fast is Knox County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Knox County at 47,767 people in 2025, down 4.1% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 20,972 households. Median household income rose 29.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Knox County, IL spend?
Households in Knox County spend about $261.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $115M on groceries and $68.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Knox County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 100, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (53).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Knox County, IL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Knox County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (62), dentists and orthodontists (60) and auto repair shops (59). Knox County ranks #454 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
How does Knox County, IL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Knox County is $57,030 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 4.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $111,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Knox County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for optometrists and eye clinics (51% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (74% 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. 42 of the 56 business types have a score in Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox 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.