Groundwork

County profile · Illinois

Mason County, IL market data

How Mason County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.

Population, 2025
12,411
−4.9% since 2020
Households
5,781
Median household income
$62,845
+29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Median home value
$103,400
Jobs located here
2,660
Highest market score
62
Fast food and sandwich shops, #642 of 2,222 scored counties

A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Mason County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Mason County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Mason County has an estimated 12,411 people and 5,781 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Mason County declined 4.9%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Mason County is $62,845, 22% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.8%, before inflation.

Relative to the U.S., household spending in Mason County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (56).

Of the business types scored in Mason County, fast food and sandwich shops (62); medical and dental practices (60); and salons, barbers and spas (53) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #642 of 2,222 scored counties.

Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for auto repair and car care businesses (31% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (61% below the U.S. rate).

All 56 business types in Mason County

Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Mason 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.

Every business type in Mason County, IL, highest Groundwork market score first, with its rank among counties, listings, listings per 10,000 households, spending per listing and official establishments
Business typeScoreRank among countiesListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingSpending per listing vs. U.S. (100)Official establishments
Fast food and sandwich shops62#642 of 2,22258.6$4M1315
Doctors, dentists and clinics60#729 of 2,3941932.9$388K254Under 3
Salons, barbers and spas53#963 of 2,3851424.2$366K172Under 3
Hair salons50#1,153 of 2,339915.6$570K132Under 3
Clothing, shoes and laundry47#1,229 of 2,210712.1$1.5M165Under 3
Auto repair shops45#1,424 of 2,3781322.5$483K1097
Sit-down restaurants44#1,446 of 2,4052645.0$766K1159
Restaurants and cafes44#1,458 of 2,4055595.1$362K9816
Gas stations43#1,454 of 2,35858.6$3.3M13711
Clothing and shoe stores42#1,320 of 2,087610.4$1.7M134Under 3
Auto repair and car care41#1,614 of 2,4012746.7$233K878
Pizza36#1,611 of 2,090813.8$2.5M495
Lawn, cleaning and pest control35#1,418 of 1,77158.6$1.3M764
Convenience stores33#1,704 of 2,261610.4$5.4M69Under 3
Grocery and convenience stores31#1,919 of 2,4021322.5$2.5M74Under 3
Pet businesses26#1,974 of 2,200712.1$609K69Under 3
Grocery stores25#1,770 of 2,07058.6$6.5M70Under 3
Insurance agencies13#2,205 of 2,2721119.0$901K728
Car washes and detailingNot scoredNot scored46.9$1.6M62Under 3
Child care and preschoolsNot scoredNot scored46.9$472K474
ChiropractorsNot scoredNot scored46.9$1.8M77Under 3
Dentists and orthodontistsNot scoredNot scored46.9$1.8M187Under 3
Funeral homesNot scoredNot scored46.9$222K33Under 3
Home repair tradesNot scoredNot scored46.9$3.5M1445
Landscaping and lawn careNot scoredNot scored46.9$1.6M554
VeterinariansNot scoredNot scored46.9$1.1M39Under 3
Real estateNot scoredNot scored35.2Index only571Under 3
Spas and skin careNot scoredNot scored35.2$1.7M195Under 3
BarbershopsNot scoredNot scored23.5$2.6MToo fewUnder 3
Coffee shops and cafesNot scoredNot scored23.5$10MToo fewUnder 3
Collision repair and body shopsNot scoredNot scored23.5$3.1MToo few3
ElectriciansNot scoredNot scored23.5$7MToo few5
GymsNot scoredNot scored23.5$2MToo fewUnder 3
Gyms, studios and classesNot scoredNot scored23.5$2MToo fewUnder 3
HVAC and plumbingNot scoredNot scored23.5$7MToo fewUnder 3
Pet grooming and boardingNot scoredNot scored23.5$2.1MToo fewUnder 3
Primary care and pediatricsNot scoredNot scored23.5$3.7MToo fewUnder 3
Real estate agents and brokersNot scoredNot scored23.5Index onlyToo fewUnder 3
Bakeries and dessert shopsNot scoredNot scored11.7$19.9MToo fewUnder 3
House cleaningNot scoredNot scored11.7$6.4MToo fewUnder 3
LaundromatsNot scoredNot scored11.7$10.2MToo fewUnder 3
Oil change and quick lubeNot scoredNot scored11.7$6.3MToo fewUnder 3
Pet storesNot scoredNot scored11.7$4.3MToo fewUnder 3
Property managementNot scoredNot scored11.7Index onlyToo fewUnder 3
Tire shopsNot scoredNot scored11.7$6.3MToo fewUnder 3
Dry cleanersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Home inspectorsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Martial arts and dance studiosNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Mortgage brokers and lendersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Nail salonsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Optometrists and eye careNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Pest controlNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Physical therapyNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Roofing and guttersNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Urgent care and walk-in clinicsNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3
Yoga, Pilates and fitness studiosNot scoredNot scored00.0None listedNone listedUnder 3

Household spending in Mason 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).

Annual household spending in Mason County, IL by line, per household, and against the U.S.
Spending lineA year, all householdsPer householdIndex vs. U.S. (100)
Vehicle maintenance and repairs$6.3M$1,086113
Gasoline and other fuels$16.3M$2,820109
Food away from home$19.9M$3,44785
Groceries$32.6M$5,64289
Personal care products and services$5.1M$88788
Child care and other personal services$1.9M$32656
Memberships, classes and admissions$4.1M$70872
Medical and dental services$7.4M$1,27499
Pets$4.3M$73881
Clothing, shoes and related services$10.2M$1,76386
Vehicle insurance$9.9M$1,71488
Home repairs, maintenance and insurance$14M$2,41580
Lawn care, cleaning and other household services$6.4M$1,10978
Rent and homeowner costs$74.2M$12,84077

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 Mason County

Population, 2025 estimate
12,411−4.9% since 2020
Households
5,781
Median age
44.9
Homes lived in by their owners
82%
Vehicles per household
2.0
Land area
539 sq. mi.
People per square mile
24
Median household income
$62,845+29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
Average household income
$78,083
Median home value
$103,400
Jobs located here
2,660
Daytime population
11,149Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here

Looking at a specific site in Mason 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 Mason County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.

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Questions

How fast is Mason County, IL growing?

Population estimates put Mason County at 12,411 people in 2025, down 4.9% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,781 households. Median household income rose 29.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.

How much do households in Mason County, IL spend?

Households in Mason County spend about $74.2M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $32.6M on groceries and $19.9M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Mason County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (56).

Which business types have the highest market scores in Mason County, IL?

The highest Groundwork market scores in Mason County are for fast food and sandwich shops (62); medical and dental practices (60); and salons, barbers and spas (53). Mason County ranks #642 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.

How does Mason County, IL compare with the U.S.?

The median household income in Mason County is $62,845 a year, 22% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 4.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $103,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Mason County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for auto repair and car care businesses (31% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (61% 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. 18 of the 56 business types have a score in Mason 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 Mason 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 Mason 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 Mason 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.