County profile · Illinois
Whiteside County, IL market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Whiteside County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 54,121
- −2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 23,120
- Median household income
- $67,500
- +24.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $127,100
- Jobs located here
- 20,819
- Highest market score
- 74
- Primary care and pediatrics, #166 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Whiteside County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Whiteside 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 54,121 people live in Whiteside County, in 23,120 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Whiteside County declined 2.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Whiteside County is $67,500 a year, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Whiteside County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (59).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Whiteside County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (74), physical therapy clinics (70) and spas and skin care studios (67). Whiteside County ranks #166 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
Whiteside County is part of the Sterling area. For its number of households, Whiteside County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (56% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Whiteside County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Whiteside 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 | 74 | #166 of 1,656 | 8 | 3.5 | $3.8M | 214 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | 70 | #216 of 1,422 | 7 | 3.0 | $4.3M | 181 | 5 |
| Spas and skin care | 67 | #289 of 1,769 | 9 | 3.9 | $2.4M | 269 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 66 | #540 of 2,261 | 12 | 5.2 | $11.1M | 141 | 3 |
| Tire shops | 65 | #389 of 1,530 | 6 | 2.6 | $4M | 159 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 63 | #453 of 1,886 | 16 | 6.9 | $1.9M | 193 | 14 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #698 of 2,385 | 73 | 31.6 | $291K | 137 | 9 |
| Hair salons | 58 | #776 of 2,339 | 44 | 19.0 | $482K | 112 | 5 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 58 | #855 of 2,402 | 34 | 14.7 | $3.9M | 116 | 13 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 56 | #626 of 1,771 | 11 | 4.8 | $2.4M | 143 | 20 |
| Veterinarians | 55 | #607 of 1,485 | 7 | 3.0 | $2.5M | 93 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 55 | #812 of 2,088 | 26 | 11.2 | $672K | 101 | 4 |
| Pet businesses | 55 | #870 of 2,200 | 24 | 10.4 | $740K | 84 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 54 | #590 of 1,302 | 10 | 4.3 | $3M | 97 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 54 | #596 of 1,493 | 7 | 3.0 | $3.8M | 129 | 14 |
| Gyms | 54 | #760 of 1,792 | 14 | 6.1 | $1.2M | 96 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 54 | #1,008 of 2,394 | 138 | 59.7 | $220K | 145 | 39 |
| Electricians | 52 | #532 of 1,160 | 5 | 2.2 | $11.6M | 97 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 52 | #924 of 2,070 | 11 | 4.8 | $12.1M | 130 | 10 |
| Nail salons | 51 | #650 of 1,328 | 9 | 3.9 | $2.4M | 141 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 50 | #1,032 of 2,176 | 32 | 13.8 | Index only | 175 | 8 |
| Real estate | 50 | #1,067 of 2,229 | 39 | 16.9 | Index only | 181 | 12 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 50 | #1,139 of 2,222 | 29 | 12.5 | $2.9M | 93 | 33 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 49 | #1,170 of 2,210 | 45 | 19.5 | $935K | 106 | 6 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 48 | #1,135 of 2,087 | 34 | 14.7 | $1.2M | 97 | 6 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 47 | #1,027 of 1,889 | 18 | 7.8 | $4.6M | 111 | 11 |
| Pizza | 45 | #1,235 of 2,090 | 22 | 9.5 | $3.8M | 74 | 33 |
| Gas stations | 45 | #1,391 of 2,358 | 29 | 12.5 | $2.1M | 90 | 22 |
| Funeral homes | 42 | #921 of 1,472 | 9 | 3.9 | $419K | 62 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 40 | #1,647 of 2,378 | 56 | 24.2 | $428K | 96 | 27 |
| Barbershops | 39 | #940 of 1,356 | 11 | 4.8 | $1.9M | 102 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 39 | #1,667 of 2,405 | 112 | 48.4 | $738K | 111 | 45 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 38 | #938 of 1,327 | 9 | 3.9 | $2.7M | 86 | 7 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 37 | #1,521 of 2,063 | 26 | 11.2 | $3.2M | 86 | 11 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 37 | #1,741 of 2,405 | 244 | 105.5 | $339K | 91 | 89 |
| Home repair trades | 36 | #1,664 of 2,057 | 32 | 13.8 | $1.8M | 75 | 26 |
| Auto repair and car care | 35 | #1,828 of 2,401 | 93 | 40.2 | $257K | 96 | 44 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 33 | #1,074 of 1,334 | 10 | 4.3 | $1.7M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 29 | #1,004 of 1,177 | 8 | 3.5 | $7.3M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 29 | #1,224 of 1,451 | 11 | 4.8 | $2.2M | 86 | 12 |
| Child care and preschools | 27 | #1,393 of 1,611 | 16 | 6.9 | $494K | 49 | 11 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 27 | #1,549 of 1,707 | 19 | 8.2 | $3.1M | 64 | 19 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 26 | #1,262 of 1,461 | 11 | 4.8 | $1.6M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 20 | #1,431 of 1,490 | 25 | 10.8 | $1.2M | 51 | 13 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 18 | #455 of 479 | 8 | 3.5 | $3M | 22 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | 17 | #727 of 785 | 6 | 2.6 | $7M | 56 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 14 | #2,189 of 2,272 | 43 | 18.6 | $877K | 70 | 30 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | Index only | 195 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $8.8M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.3 | $5.9M | 131 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $8.7M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $26.4M | Too few | 6 |
| Dry cleaners | 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 Whiteside 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 | $23.9M | $1,036 | 108 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $62M | $2,681 | 103 |
| Food away from home | $82.7M | $3,576 | 88 |
| Groceries | $133.3M | $5,763 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $21.2M | $918 | 91 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.9M | $342 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $17.5M | $755 | 77 |
| Medical and dental services | $30.4M | $1,316 | 102 |
| Pets | $17.8M | $768 | 84 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $42.1M | $1,819 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $37.7M | $1,632 | 83 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $58M | $2,511 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $26.4M | $1,144 | 81 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $305M | $13,192 | 79 |
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 Whiteside County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 54,121−2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 23,120
- Median age
- 43.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 684 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 80
- Median household income
- $67,500+24.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $86,592
- Median home value
- $127,100
- Jobs located here
- 20,819
- Daytime population
- 50,543Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Whiteside 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 Whiteside 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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- Lee County, IL33,869 people
- Henry County, IL48,643 people
- Ogle County, IL51,495 people
- Bureau County, IL32,866 people
- Stephenson County, IL43,768 people
- Rock Island County, IL142,757 people
- Stark County, IL5,308 people
Questions
How fast is Whiteside County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Whiteside County at 54,121 people in 2025, down 2.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 23,120 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Whiteside County, IL spend?
Households in Whiteside County spend about $305M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $133.3M on groceries and $82.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Whiteside County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (59).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Whiteside County, IL?
Of the business types scored in Whiteside County, primary care and pediatric clinics (74), physical therapy clinics (70) and spas and skin care studios (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #166 of 1,656 scored counties.
How does Whiteside County, IL compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Whiteside County is $67,500, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $127,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (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. 47 of the 56 business types have a score in Whiteside 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 Whiteside 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 Whiteside 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 Whiteside 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.