County profile · Illinois
Stephenson County, IL market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Stephenson County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 43,220
- −3.0% since 2020
- Households
- 19,358
- Median household income
- $64,043
- +31.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $134,900
- Jobs located here
- 17,326
- Highest market score
- 70
- Primary care and pediatrics, #251 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Stephenson County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Stephenson 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 43,220 people live in Stephenson County, in 19,358 households. Population estimates put the population change in Stephenson County from 2020 to 2025 at −3.0%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Stephenson County is $64,043 a year, 21% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Stephenson 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 (57).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Stephenson County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (70), optometrists and eye clinics (56) and coffee shops and cafes (56). Stephenson County ranks #251 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
Stephenson County is part of the Freeport area. For its number of households, Stephenson County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for HVAC and plumbing companies (71% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (58% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Stephenson County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Stephenson 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 | 70 | #251 of 1,656 | 5 | 2.6 | $5M | 280 | 14 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 56 | #507 of 1,302 | 6 | 3.1 | $4.2M | 133 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 56 | #751 of 2,063 | 9 | 4.6 | $7.5M | 202 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 56 | #834 of 2,385 | 61 | 31.5 | $285K | 134 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 54 | #992 of 2,394 | 89 | 46.0 | $280K | 184 | 43 |
| Barbershops | 52 | #635 of 1,356 | 6 | 3.1 | $2.9M | 154 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 52 | #795 of 1,769 | 11 | 5.7 | $1.6M | 181 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 52 | #1,060 of 2,339 | 35 | 18.1 | $497K | 115 | 7 |
| Physical therapy | 51 | #682 of 1,422 | 7 | 3.6 | $3.6M | 148 | 9 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 51 | #890 of 1,886 | 19 | 9.8 | $1.3M | 133 | 12 |
| Grocery stores | 51 | #959 of 2,070 | 9 | 4.6 | $12.2M | 132 | 8 |
| Convenience stores | 51 | #1,072 of 2,261 | 12 | 6.2 | $9.2M | 116 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 51 | #1,139 of 2,405 | 167 | 86.3 | $403K | 109 | 57 |
| Pizza | 50 | #1,015 of 2,090 | 15 | 7.7 | $4.5M | 88 | 24 |
| Funeral homes | 49 | #727 of 1,472 | 7 | 3.6 | $498K | 73 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 48 | #1,195 of 2,210 | 32 | 16.5 | $1.1M | 122 | 7 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 48 | #1,258 of 2,405 | 81 | 41.8 | $832K | 125 | 31 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 45 | #1,311 of 2,176 | 25 | 12.9 | Index only | 185 | 11 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 45 | #1,350 of 2,222 | 27 | 13.9 | $2.5M | 82 | 24 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 44 | #1,252 of 2,087 | 26 | 13.4 | $1.3M | 104 | 7 |
| Real estate | 43 | #1,441 of 2,229 | 33 | 17.0 | Index only | 176 | 18 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 42 | #1,509 of 2,402 | 35 | 18.1 | $3.1M | 93 | 14 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 38 | #1,555 of 2,088 | 26 | 13.4 | $545K | 82 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 37 | #1,389 of 1,889 | 15 | 7.7 | $4.5M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 34 | #1,820 of 2,358 | 28 | 14.5 | $1.7M | 72 | 20 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 32 | #1,091 of 1,334 | 8 | 4.1 | $1.8M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 30 | #1,272 of 1,490 | 14 | 7.2 | $1.8M | 74 | 8 |
| Gyms | 29 | #1,513 of 1,792 | 16 | 8.3 | $885K | 68 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 26 | #1,263 of 1,461 | 9 | 4.6 | $1.6M | 63 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 25 | #2,005 of 2,200 | 26 | 13.4 | $554K | 63 | 12 |
| Car washes and detailing | 22 | #1,344 of 1,451 | 12 | 6.2 | $1.5M | 61 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | 22 | #1,344 of 1,485 | 9 | 4.6 | $1.6M | 59 | 7 |
| Child care and preschools | 22 | #1,448 of 1,611 | 9 | 4.6 | $709K | 71 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 22 | #2,238 of 2,401 | 90 | 46.5 | $206K | 77 | 36 |
| Roofing and gutters | 21 | #1,111 of 1,177 | 10 | 5.2 | $4.8M | 57 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 21 | #1,238 of 1,327 | 9 | 4.6 | $2.1M | 67 | 8 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 19 | #1,447 of 1,493 | 12 | 6.2 | $1.8M | 62 | 23 |
| Home repair trades | 19 | #2,014 of 2,057 | 34 | 17.6 | $1.4M | 58 | 32 |
| House cleaning | 18 | #831 of 847 | 9 | 4.6 | $2.4M | 38 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 18 | #2,287 of 2,378 | 59 | 30.5 | $314K | 71 | 30 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 16 | #1,680 of 1,707 | 21 | 10.8 | $2.3M | 48 | 18 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 16 | #1,759 of 1,771 | 21 | 10.8 | $1M | 62 | 32 |
| Insurance agencies | 7 | #2,265 of 2,272 | 43 | 22.2 | $680K | 54 | 29 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | Index only | 161 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $15.9M | 133 | 10 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $5.8M | 347 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $9.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $7.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | Index only | Too few | 5 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $9.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $7.1M | Too few | 6 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $34.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $34.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $24.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Stephenson 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 | $18.5M | $957 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $47.9M | $2,474 | 95 |
| Food away from home | $67.4M | $3,481 | 86 |
| Groceries | $110.1M | $5,686 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $17.4M | $898 | 89 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.4M | $329 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $14.2M | $731 | 74 |
| Medical and dental services | $24.9M | $1,287 | 100 |
| Pets | $14.4M | $744 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $34.5M | $1,780 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $29.2M | $1,510 | 77 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $47.8M | $2,470 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $21.8M | $1,124 | 79 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $251.8M | $13,008 | 78 |
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 Stephenson County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 43,220−3.0% since 2020
- Households
- 19,358
- Median age
- 45.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 564 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 78
- Median household income
- $64,043+31.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $79,920
- Median home value
- $134,900
- Jobs located here
- 17,326
- Daytime population
- 40,359Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Stephenson 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 Stephenson 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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- Lee County, IL33,869 people
- Whiteside County, IL54,947 people
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- DeKalb County, IL100,703 people
Questions
How fast is Stephenson County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Stephenson County at 43,220 people in 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 19,358 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in Stephenson County, IL spend?
Households in Stephenson County spend about $251.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $110.1M on groceries and $67.4M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Stephenson 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 (57).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Stephenson County, IL?
Of the business types scored in Stephenson County, primary care and pediatric clinics (70), optometrists and eye clinics (56) and coffee shops and cafes (56) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #251 of 1,656 scored counties.
How does Stephenson County, IL compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Stephenson County is $64,043, 21% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $134,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for HVAC and plumbing companies (71% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (58% 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. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in Stephenson 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 Stephenson 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 Stephenson 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 Stephenson 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.