County profile · Illinois
Lake County, IL market data
How Lake County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 719,339
- +0.8% since 2020
- Households
- 258,455
- Median household income
- $110,416
- +23.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $345,700
- Jobs located here
- 328,525
- Highest market score
- 86
- Convenience stores, #79 of 2,261 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Lake County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Lake 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
Lake County has an estimated 719,339 people and 258,455 households. Population estimates put the population change in Lake County from 2020 to 2025 at +0.8%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Lake County is $110,416, 37% above the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 23.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Lake County runs highest on memberships, classes and admissions (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle insurance (86).
Of the business types scored in Lake County, convenience stores (86), tire shops (82) and car washes and detailers (74) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For convenience stores, that ranks #79 of 2,261 scored counties.
Lake County is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for landscaping and lawn care companies (92% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for convenience stores (49% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Lake County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convenience stores | 86 | #79 of 2,261 | 106 | 4.1 | $16.9M | 214 | 19 |
| Tire shops | 82 | #77 of 1,530 | 73 | 2.8 | $4.2M | 168 | 19 |
| Car washes and detailing | 74 | #134 of 1,451 | 72 | 2.8 | $4.3M | 169 | 41 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 74 | #309 of 2,402 | 339 | 13.1 | $5.3M | 156 | 171 |
| Veterinarians | 67 | #334 of 1,485 | 95 | 3.7 | $3M | 110 | 75 |
| Pest control | 66 | #143 of 699 | 35 | 1.4 | $11.3M | 111 | 25 |
| Auto repair and car care | 65 | #524 of 2,401 | 862 | 33.4 | $356K | 133 | 427 |
| Laundromats | 64 | #212 of 785 | 36 | 1.4 | $18M | 144 | 23 |
| Funeral homes | 63 | #398 of 1,472 | 47 | 1.8 | $790K | 116 | 28 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 63 | #502 of 2,063 | 269 | 10.4 | $4.8M | 129 | 149 |
| Electricians | 62 | #313 of 1,160 | 72 | 2.8 | $12.3M | 102 | 181 |
| Pizza | 62 | #578 of 2,090 | 211 | 8.2 | $6.1M | 120 | 574 |
| Auto repair shops | 62 | #646 of 2,378 | 541 | 20.9 | $568K | 128 | 326 |
| Gas stations | 62 | #667 of 2,358 | 299 | 11.6 | $2.4M | 102 | 198 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 61 | #92 of 325 | 21 | 0.8 | $21.5M | 88 | 17 |
| Grocery stores | 61 | #644 of 2,070 | 151 | 5.8 | $11.8M | 127 | 152 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 61 | #686 of 2,222 | 347 | 13.4 | $3.7M | 121 | 574 |
| Property management | 59 | #294 of 910 | 50 | 1.9 | Index only | 157 | 127 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 59 | #451 of 1,327 | 89 | 3.4 | $3.5M | 112 | 83 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 58 | #177 of 479 | 24 | 0.9 | $12.8M | 93 | 20 |
| Barbershops | 58 | #483 of 1,356 | 127 | 4.9 | $2.5M | 133 | 24 |
| Pet businesses | 58 | #721 of 2,200 | 330 | 12.8 | $864K | 98 | 194 |
| Spas and skin care | 57 | #627 of 1,769 | 305 | 11.8 | $1M | 120 | 56 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 57 | #857 of 2,405 | 1,551 | 60.0 | $826K | 124 | 545 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 57 | #867 of 2,405 | 2,846 | 110.1 | $450K | 121 | 1,273 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 56 | #528 of 1,302 | 156 | 6.0 | $2.9M | 93 | 50 |
| Chiropractors | 56 | #569 of 1,490 | 177 | 6.8 | $2.6M | 107 | 109 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 55 | #516 of 1,334 | 160 | 6.2 | $2.3M | 112 | 130 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 53 | #649 of 1,461 | 125 | 4.8 | $2.3M | 90 | 85 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 53 | #821 of 1,889 | 295 | 11.4 | $4.3M | 105 | 178 |
| Gyms | 52 | #828 of 1,792 | 276 | 10.7 | $1.3M | 100 | 141 |
| Hair salons | 52 | #1,063 of 2,339 | 649 | 25.1 | $492K | 114 | 252 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 50 | #448 of 887 | 116 | 4.5 | Index only | 96 | 35 |
| Child care and preschools | 50 | #813 of 1,611 | 170 | 6.6 | $980K | 98 | 242 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 50 | #1,050 of 2,087 | 468 | 18.1 | $1.4M | 109 | 233 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 49 | #1,095 of 2,088 | 528 | 20.4 | $683K | 103 | 271 |
| Roofing and gutters | 48 | #640 of 1,177 | 127 | 4.9 | $7M | 82 | 73 |
| Nail salons | 48 | #755 of 1,328 | 187 | 7.2 | $1.7M | 102 | 94 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 48 | #903 of 1,656 | 261 | 10.1 | $1.7M | 97 | 544 |
| Home inspectors | 47 | #216 of 415 | 18 | 0.7 | Index only | 92 | 22 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 46 | #459 of 777 | 92 | 3.6 | $3.9M | 97 | 141 |
| Pet stores | 46 | #551 of 974 | 73 | 2.8 | $3.9M | 86 | 34 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 46 | #1,001 of 1,707 | 237 | 9.2 | $3.7M | 78 | 283 |
| Home repair trades | 46 | #1,237 of 2,057 | 436 | 16.9 | $2M | 83 | 537 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 46 | #1,402 of 2,385 | 1,295 | 50.1 | $247K | 116 | 434 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 45 | #1,313 of 2,210 | 693 | 26.8 | $936K | 106 | 315 |
| House cleaning | 44 | #529 of 847 | 67 | 2.6 | $5.9M | 93 | 221 |
| Physical therapy | 43 | #899 of 1,422 | 221 | 8.6 | $2M | 85 | 167 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 37 | #1,418 of 1,886 | 487 | 18.8 | $929K | 94 | 404 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #1,859 of 2,176 | 885 | 34.2 | Index only | 90 | 343 |
| Real estate | 35 | #1,874 of 2,229 | 1,069 | 41.4 | Index only | 94 | 616 |
| Dry cleaners | 34 | #403 of 507 | 54 | 2.1 | $12M | 77 | 59 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 32 | #1,514 of 1,771 | 340 | 13.2 | $1.2M | 70 | 952 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 32 | #2,031 of 2,394 | 4,011 | 155.2 | $113K | 74 | 1,291 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 31 | #1,254 of 1,493 | 238 | 9.2 | $1.7M | 57 | 706 |
| Insurance agencies | 23 | #2,010 of 2,272 | 486 | 18.8 | $897K | 71 | 311 |
Household spending in Lake 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 | $307.3M | $1,189 | 124 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $727.8M | $2,816 | 108 |
| Food away from home | $1.3B | $4,958 | 122 |
| Groceries | $1.8B | $6,919 | 109 |
| Personal care products and services | $319.4M | $1,236 | 123 |
| Child care and other personal services | $166.6M | $645 | 111 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $360.8M | $1,396 | 142 |
| Medical and dental services | $452.5M | $1,751 | 136 |
| Pets | $285.2M | $1,103 | 121 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $648.8M | $2,510 | 122 |
| Vehicle insurance | $436.1M | $1,687 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $883.8M | $3,420 | 113 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $396.7M | $1,535 | 109 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $4.4B | $16,846 | 101 |
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 Lake County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 719,339+0.8% since 2020
- Households
- 258,455
- Median age
- 40.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 444 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,610
- Median household income
- $110,416+23.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $155,726
- Median home value
- $345,700
- Jobs located here
- 328,525
- Daytime population
- 712,545Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Lake County at 719,339 people in 2025, up 0.8% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 258,455 households. Median household income rose 23.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Lake County, IL spend?
Households in Lake County spend about $4.4B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.8B on groceries and $1.3B on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Lake County spend the most on memberships, classes and admissions (an index of 142, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle insurance (86).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Lake County, IL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Lake County are for convenience stores (86), tire shops (82) and car washes and detailers (74). Lake County ranks #79 of 2,261 scored counties for convenience stores.
How does Lake County, IL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Lake County is $110,416 a year, 37% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $345,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Lake County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for landscaping and lawn care companies (92% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for convenience stores (49% 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. All 56 business types have a score in Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake 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.