County profile · Illinois
McLean County, IL market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in McLean County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 171,419
- +0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 70,220
- Median household income
- $79,905
- +18.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $208,400
- Jobs located here
- 88,959
- Highest market score
- 81
- Optometrists and eye care, #44 of 1,302 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in McLean County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of McLean 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
An estimated 171,419 people live in McLean County, in 70,220 households. Population estimates show McLean County grew 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in McLean County is $79,905 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 18.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in McLean County spend the most on medical and dental services (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle insurance (78).
The highest Groundwork market scores in McLean County are for optometrists and eye clinics (81), convenience stores (78) and bakeries and dessert shops (70). McLean County ranks #44 of 1,302 scored counties for optometrists and eye clinics.
McLean County is part of the Bloomington metro area. For its number of households, McLean County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for HVAC and plumbing companies (35% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for bakeries and dessert shops (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in McLean County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares McLean 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optometrists and eye care | 81 | #44 of 1,302 | 20 | 2.8 | $5.2M | 165 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 78 | #218 of 2,261 | 40 | 5.7 | $10.8M | 137 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 70 | #256 of 1,889 | 39 | 5.6 | $7.3M | 176 | 34 |
| Laundromats | 69 | #159 of 785 | 6 | 0.9 | $24.1M | 193 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 69 | #278 of 1,656 | 38 | 5.4 | $2.7M | 152 | 70 |
| Veterinarians | 69 | #301 of 1,485 | 19 | 2.7 | $3.3M | 121 | 16 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 69 | #457 of 2,402 | 103 | 14.7 | $4.2M | 124 | 40 |
| Dry cleaners | 64 | #113 of 507 | 5 | 0.7 | $29M | 185 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 64 | #331 of 1,327 | 18 | 2.6 | $4M | 129 | 15 |
| Nail salons | 63 | #329 of 1,328 | 33 | 4.7 | $2.2M | 130 | 11 |
| Physical therapy | 63 | #364 of 1,422 | 33 | 4.7 | $3.1M | 130 | 26 |
| Chiropractors | 63 | #380 of 1,490 | 38 | 5.4 | $2.7M | 113 | 19 |
| Barbershops | 63 | #385 of 1,356 | 28 | 4.0 | $2.6M | 136 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 62 | #326 of 1,334 | 29 | 4.1 | $2.4M | 118 | 16 |
| Auto repair shops | 62 | #650 of 2,378 | 129 | 18.4 | $557K | 125 | 61 |
| Auto repair and car care | 62 | #655 of 2,401 | 213 | 30.3 | $337K | 126 | 94 |
| Child care and preschools | 61 | #513 of 1,611 | 31 | 4.4 | $1M | 104 | 32 |
| Electricians | 60 | #359 of 1,160 | 17 | 2.4 | $11.6M | 96 | 32 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 60 | #610 of 2,063 | 68 | 9.7 | $4.2M | 113 | 30 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 59 | #264 of 887 | 18 | 2.6 | Index only | 144 | 5 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #614 of 1,886 | 70 | 10.0 | $1.5M | 150 | 58 |
| Grocery stores | 59 | #702 of 2,070 | 36 | 5.1 | $12M | 129 | 35 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 59 | #781 of 2,405 | 360 | 51.3 | $791K | 119 | 115 |
| Gas stations | 59 | #784 of 2,358 | 56 | 8.0 | $3.2M | 134 | 65 |
| Roofing and gutters | 57 | #435 of 1,177 | 28 | 4.0 | $7M | 83 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 57 | #609 of 1,530 | 29 | 4.1 | $2.5M | 99 | 10 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 57 | #874 of 2,405 | 674 | 96.0 | $423K | 114 | 288 |
| Spas and skin care | 56 | #666 of 1,769 | 62 | 8.8 | $1.2M | 132 | 15 |
| Funeral homes | 55 | #576 of 1,472 | 12 | 1.7 | $681K | 100 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | 54 | #624 of 1,451 | 26 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 110 | 13 |
| Hair salons | 54 | #960 of 2,339 | 149 | 21.2 | $483K | 112 | 43 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #946 of 2,200 | 79 | 11.3 | $789K | 90 | 42 |
| Pest control | 52 | #324 of 699 | 9 | 1.3 | $9.9M | 97 | 6 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 52 | #1,060 of 2,210 | 144 | 20.5 | $1M | 114 | 46 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 51 | #708 of 1,461 | 28 | 4.0 | $2.2M | 87 | 18 |
| House cleaning | 50 | #417 of 847 | 13 | 1.9 | $6.9M | 108 | 35 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 50 | #1,172 of 2,385 | 279 | 39.7 | $258K | 121 | 70 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 49 | #1,097 of 2,087 | 113 | 16.1 | $1.3M | 101 | 46 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 48 | #416 of 777 | 15 | 2.1 | $4.6M | 113 | 27 |
| Home repair trades | 48 | #1,152 of 2,057 | 105 | 15.0 | $1.9M | 77 | 85 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #1,161 of 2,088 | 106 | 15.1 | $652K | 98 | 43 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 48 | #1,225 of 2,222 | 106 | 15.1 | $2.7M | 88 | 143 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 48 | #1,295 of 2,394 | 620 | 88.3 | $166K | 109 | 187 |
| Pizza | 47 | #1,149 of 2,090 | 72 | 10.3 | $4M | 78 | 143 |
| Home inspectors | 46 | #230 of 415 | 5 | 0.7 | Index only | 77 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 46 | #1,008 of 1,707 | 60 | 8.5 | $3.3M | 69 | 47 |
| Gyms | 46 | #1,053 of 1,792 | 62 | 8.8 | $1.1M | 86 | 27 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #1,289 of 2,176 | 170 | 24.2 | Index only | 109 | 32 |
| Property management | 41 | #608 of 910 | 24 | 3.4 | Index only | 76 | 20 |
| Real estate | 41 | #1,572 of 2,229 | 217 | 30.9 | Index only | 108 | 74 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 40 | #1,006 of 1,493 | 43 | 6.1 | $2.1M | 71 | 65 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 39 | #1,288 of 1,771 | 65 | 9.3 | $1.4M | 82 | 106 |
| Pet stores | 38 | #669 of 974 | 18 | 2.6 | $3.5M | 77 | 8 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 37 | #358 of 479 | 7 | 1.0 | $10.3M | 75 | 8 |
| Insurance agencies | 23 | #2,011 of 2,272 | 123 | 17.5 | $875K | 70 | 68 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.6 | $25.8M | 105 | 9 |
Household spending in McLean 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 | $71.8M | $1,023 | 107 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $179M | $2,549 | 98 |
| Food away from home | $284.9M | $4,057 | 100 |
| Groceries | $431.4M | $6,144 | 97 |
| Personal care products and services | $71.9M | $1,025 | 102 |
| Child care and other personal services | $32.3M | $460 | 79 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $69.1M | $984 | 100 |
| Medical and dental services | $103.1M | $1,468 | 114 |
| Pets | $62.3M | $888 | 98 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $144.8M | $2,063 | 100 |
| Vehicle insurance | $107.6M | $1,532 | 78 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $196.8M | $2,803 | 93 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $89.5M | $1,274 | 90 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1B | $14,423 | 87 |
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 McLean County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 171,419+0.1% since 2020
- Households
- 70,220
- Median age
- 37.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 65%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 1,183 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 145
- Median household income
- $79,905+18.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $105,003
- Median home value
- $208,400
- Jobs located here
- 88,959
- Daytime population
- 180,672Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in McLean 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 McLean County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Illinois 8
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- Woodford County, IL38,312 people
- Tazewell County, IL130,290 people
- Logan County, IL27,713 people
- Livingston County, IL35,565 people
- Ford County, IL13,406 people
- Piatt County, IL16,695 people
- Peoria County, IL179,645 people
Questions
How fast is McLean County, IL growing?
Population estimates put McLean County at 171,419 people in 2025, up 0.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 70,220 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 18.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in McLean County, IL spend?
Households in McLean County spend about $1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $431.4M on groceries and $284.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in McLean County runs highest on medical and dental services (an index of 114, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle insurance (78).
Which business types have the highest market scores in McLean County, IL?
Of the business types scored in McLean County, optometrists and eye clinics (81), convenience stores (78) and bakeries and dessert shops (70) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For optometrists and eye clinics, that ranks #44 of 1,302 scored counties.
How does McLean County, IL compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in McLean County is $79,905, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $208,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for HVAC and plumbing companies (35% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for bakeries and dessert shops (43% 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. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in McLean 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 McLean 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 McLean 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 McLean 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.