County profile · Illinois
McDonough County, IL market data
How McDonough County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 25,916
- −4.5% since 2020
- Households
- 11,856
- Median household income
- $52,795
- +18.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $107,500
- Jobs located here
- 9,784
- Highest market score
- 50
- Primary care and pediatrics, #830 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in McDonough County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of McDonough 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
McDonough County has an estimated 25,916 people and 11,856 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of McDonough County declined 4.5%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in McDonough County is $52,795, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 18.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in McDonough County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 95, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and lowest on child care and other personal services (54).
Of the business types scored in McDonough County, primary care and pediatric clinics (50), gas stations (50) and convenience stores (49) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #830 of 1,656 scored counties.
McDonough County is part of the Macomb area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for optometrists and eye clinics (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (56% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in McDonough County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares McDonough 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 | 50 | #830 of 1,656 | 7 | 5.9 | $2M | 115 | 12 |
| Gas stations | 50 | #1,146 of 2,358 | 10 | 8.4 | $2.8M | 118 | 11 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #1,146 of 2,261 | 7 | 5.9 | $9.2M | 117 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 44 | #1,153 of 1,886 | 11 | 9.3 | $1.3M | 133 | 9 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 44 | #1,251 of 2,087 | 15 | 12.7 | $1.3M | 106 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 44 | #1,342 of 2,210 | 21 | 17.7 | $961K | 109 | 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 44 | #1,469 of 2,394 | 77 | 64.9 | $186K | 122 | 21 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 43 | #1,406 of 2,176 | 16 | 13.5 | Index only | 168 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 42 | #1,399 of 2,057 | 12 | 10.1 | $2.3M | 94 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 40 | #1,251 of 1,771 | 8 | 6.7 | $1.6M | 94 | 10 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 40 | #1,281 of 1,889 | 8 | 6.7 | $4.8M | 116 | 6 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 40 | #1,474 of 2,088 | 11 | 9.3 | $714K | 108 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 40 | #1,607 of 2,405 | 48 | 40.5 | $803K | 121 | 20 |
| Pet businesses | 39 | #1,566 of 2,200 | 14 | 11.8 | $592K | 67 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 39 | #1,623 of 2,402 | 17 | 14.3 | $3.8M | 112 | 10 |
| Grocery stores | 35 | #1,495 of 2,070 | 6 | 5.1 | $10.7M | 116 | 7 |
| Spas and skin care | 33 | #1,454 of 1,769 | 9 | 7.6 | $1.1M | 126 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 33 | #1,963 of 2,229 | 25 | 21.1 | Index only | 136 | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 31 | #1,238 of 1,490 | 7 | 5.9 | $2M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #2,012 of 2,405 | 111 | 93.6 | $347K | 94 | 47 |
| Electricians | 29 | #1,004 of 1,160 | 5 | 4.2 | $5.5M | 46 | 3 |
| Veterinarians | 29 | #1,225 of 1,485 | 5 | 4.2 | $1.7M | 61 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 29 | #1,294 of 1,493 | 6 | 5.1 | $2.1M | 72 | 10 |
| Auto repair and car care | 28 | #2,076 of 2,401 | 44 | 37.1 | $246K | 92 | 21 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 26 | #1,948 of 2,222 | 18 | 15.2 | $2.1M | 70 | 21 |
| Barbershops | 25 | #1,170 of 1,356 | 6 | 5.1 | $1.7M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 24 | #1,904 of 2,063 | 14 | 11.8 | $2.8M | 74 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 24 | #2,245 of 2,385 | 54 | 45.5 | $184K | 87 | 10 |
| Property management | 23 | #860 of 910 | 6 | 5.1 | Index only | 44 | 3 |
| Nail salons | 22 | #1,220 of 1,328 | 7 | 5.9 | $1.4M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 22 | #1,975 of 2,090 | 15 | 12.7 | $2.6M | 51 | 21 |
| Auto repair shops | 22 | #2,206 of 2,378 | 27 | 22.8 | $402K | 90 | 20 |
| Hair salons | 21 | #2,202 of 2,339 | 32 | 27.0 | $311K | 72 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 19 | #2,087 of 2,272 | 17 | 14.3 | $1M | 80 | 12 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 15 | #1,248 of 1,302 | 10 | 8.4 | $1.4M | 46 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 15 | #1,290 of 1,334 | 6 | 5.1 | $1.3M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 13 | #1,410 of 1,451 | 8 | 6.7 | $1.4M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 5 | #969 of 974 | 5 | 4.2 | $1.7M | 37 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $2.7M | 88 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $423K | 62 | 4 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $2M | 151 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $6.9M | 144 | 5 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.4 | $3.6M | 149 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $1.2M | 123 | 4 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $6.7M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.5 | $9.2M | 108 | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.7 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $20.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $12.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $12.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $7.9M | 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 McDonough 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 | $10.8M | $915 | 95 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $28.2M | $2,379 | 92 |
| Food away from home | $38.5M | $3,251 | 80 |
| Groceries | $64.5M | $5,437 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $10M | $840 | 84 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.7M | $311 | 54 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $7.9M | $663 | 67 |
| Medical and dental services | $14.3M | $1,210 | 94 |
| Pets | $8.3M | $698 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $20.2M | $1,703 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $17.1M | $1,441 | 74 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $27.5M | $2,318 | 77 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $12.6M | $1,065 | 75 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $146.8M | $12,382 | 74 |
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 McDonough County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 25,916−4.5% since 2020
- Households
- 11,856
- Median age
- 38.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 63%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 589 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 46
- Median household income
- $52,795+18.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $71,521
- Median home value
- $107,500
- Jobs located here
- 9,784
- Daytime population
- 25,631Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in McDonough 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 McDonough 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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- Hancock County, IL17,281 people
- Henderson County, IL6,193 people
- Warren County, IL16,447 people
- Fulton County, IL33,020 people
- Brown County, IL6,322 people
- Knox County, IL49,046 people
- Cass County, IL12,784 people
Questions
How fast is McDonough County, IL growing?
Population estimates put McDonough County at 25,916 people in 2025, down 4.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 11,856 households. Median household income rose 18.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in McDonough County, IL spend?
Households in McDonough County spend about $146.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $64.5M on groceries and $38.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in McDonough County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 95, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and the least on child care and other personal services (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in McDonough County, IL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in McDonough County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (50), gas stations (50) and convenience stores (49). McDonough County ranks #830 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
How does McDonough County, IL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in McDonough County is $52,795 a year, 35% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 4.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $107,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, McDonough County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for optometrists and eye clinics (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (56% 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. 38 of the 56 business types have a score in McDonough 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 McDonough 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 McDonough 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 McDonough 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.