County profile · Indiana
Lake County, IN market data
How Lake County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 504,612
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 195,130
- Median household income
- $71,493
- +27.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $230,600
- Jobs located here
- 191,504
- Highest market score
- 76
- Pet grooming and boarding, #101 of 1,461 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Lake County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Lake 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
Lake County has an estimated 504,612 people and 195,130 households. Population estimates show Lake County grew 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Lake County is $71,493, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 27.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Lake County runs highest on medical and dental services (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (69).
Of the business types scored in Lake County, pet grooming and boarding businesses (76), pet businesses (76) and convenience stores (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet grooming and boarding businesses, that ranks #101 of 1,461 scored counties.
Lake County is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for oil change and quick-lube shops (57% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (46% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Lake County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet grooming and boarding | 76 | #101 of 1,461 | 42 | 2.2 | $3.8M | 151 | 13 |
| Pet businesses | 76 | #134 of 2,200 | 125 | 6.4 | $1.3M | 147 | 59 |
| Convenience stores | 76 | #273 of 2,261 | 102 | 5.2 | $11.4M | 144 | 23 |
| Chiropractors | 74 | #156 of 1,490 | 76 | 3.9 | $3.6M | 149 | 42 |
| Veterinarians | 74 | #194 of 1,485 | 43 | 2.2 | $3.7M | 138 | 32 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 68 | #492 of 2,402 | 287 | 14.7 | $4M | 119 | 109 |
| House cleaning | 64 | #163 of 847 | 23 | 1.2 | $10.2M | 160 | 67 |
| Dry cleaners | 63 | #127 of 507 | 15 | 0.8 | $25.2M | 161 | 16 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 63 | #168 of 777 | 26 | 1.3 | $6.5M | 160 | 53 |
| Pest control | 63 | #178 of 699 | 16 | 0.8 | $14.7M | 144 | 11 |
| Pet stores | 63 | #264 of 974 | 28 | 1.4 | $5.8M | 127 | 14 |
| Electricians | 63 | #287 of 1,160 | 42 | 2.2 | $12.3M | 103 | 69 |
| Nail salons | 63 | #333 of 1,328 | 99 | 5.1 | $1.9M | 114 | 18 |
| Tire shops | 62 | #475 of 1,530 | 81 | 4.2 | $2.5M | 99 | 23 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 60 | #373 of 1,334 | 72 | 3.7 | $2.3M | 116 | 46 |
| Gyms | 60 | #525 of 1,792 | 124 | 6.4 | $1.4M | 105 | 53 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 58 | #676 of 2,088 | 222 | 11.4 | $761K | 115 | 99 |
| Home repair trades | 56 | #751 of 2,057 | 227 | 11.6 | $2.3M | 94 | 230 |
| Grocery stores | 55 | #833 of 2,070 | 118 | 6.0 | $9.8M | 106 | 86 |
| Home inspectors | 54 | #168 of 415 | 11 | 0.6 | Index only | 93 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 54 | #712 of 1,771 | 134 | 6.9 | $1.8M | 105 | 223 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 54 | #716 of 1,707 | 121 | 6.2 | $4.3M | 90 | 129 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 54 | #845 of 2,063 | 166 | 8.5 | $4.5M | 121 | 115 |
| Laundromats | 53 | #341 of 785 | 29 | 1.5 | $13M | 104 | 14 |
| Roofing and gutters | 53 | #526 of 1,177 | 64 | 3.3 | $8.1M | 96 | 32 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 52 | #979 of 2,087 | 265 | 13.6 | $1.4M | 112 | 120 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 51 | #1,099 of 2,210 | 363 | 18.6 | $1M | 118 | 150 |
| Property management | 50 | #440 of 910 | 41 | 2.1 | Index only | 118 | 59 |
| Funeral homes | 50 | #698 of 1,472 | 54 | 2.8 | $522K | 77 | 32 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 50 | #702 of 1,493 | 95 | 4.9 | $2.5M | 85 | 145 |
| Gas stations | 50 | #1,156 of 2,358 | 226 | 11.6 | $2.2M | 94 | 210 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 50 | #1,178 of 2,405 | 1,095 | 56.1 | $678K | 102 | 320 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 49 | #863 of 1,656 | 142 | 7.3 | $1.9M | 107 | 386 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 48 | #698 of 1,327 | 69 | 3.5 | $2.9M | 94 | 58 |
| Barbershops | 48 | #764 of 1,356 | 155 | 7.9 | $1.2M | 65 | 8 |
| Spas and skin care | 48 | #961 of 1,769 | 201 | 10.3 | $940K | 107 | 42 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 47 | #750 of 1,302 | 102 | 5.2 | $2.7M | 85 | 41 |
| Car washes and detailing | 44 | #881 of 1,451 | 91 | 4.7 | $2.2M | 87 | 40 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 44 | #1,452 of 2,405 | 2,005 | 102.8 | $370K | 100 | 923 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 43 | #569 of 887 | 75 | 3.8 | Index only | 92 | 20 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 43 | #1,185 of 1,889 | 191 | 9.8 | $3.9M | 94 | 130 |
| Hair salons | 42 | #1,555 of 2,339 | 466 | 23.9 | $405K | 94 | 142 |
| Physical therapy | 41 | #956 of 1,422 | 142 | 7.3 | $1.9M | 79 | 93 |
| Pizza | 40 | #1,434 of 2,090 | 185 | 9.5 | $4M | 79 | 484 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 39 | #1,332 of 1,886 | 294 | 15.1 | $921K | 94 | 191 |
| Auto repair and car care | 39 | #1,702 of 2,401 | 805 | 41.3 | $249K | 93 | 385 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 39 | #1,717 of 2,394 | 1,758 | 90.1 | $154K | 101 | 766 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 39 | #1,780 of 2,385 | 938 | 48.1 | $201K | 95 | 212 |
| Child care and preschools | 38 | #1,148 of 1,611 | 116 | 5.9 | $677K | 68 | 126 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 37 | #1,606 of 2,222 | 306 | 15.7 | $2.4M | 80 | 484 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 37 | #1,750 of 2,176 | 489 | 25.1 | Index only | 101 | 139 |
| Auto repair shops | 37 | #1,776 of 2,378 | 510 | 26.1 | $392K | 88 | 281 |
| Real estate | 36 | #1,841 of 2,229 | 616 | 31.6 | Index only | 101 | 244 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 35 | #366 of 479 | 21 | 1.1 | $9.5M | 69 | 23 |
| Insurance agencies | 28 | #1,873 of 2,272 | 318 | 16.3 | $963K | 77 | 186 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.2 | $67.7M | 276 | 13 |
Household spending in Lake 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 | $200.1M | $1,026 | 107 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $507.4M | $2,600 | 100 |
| Food away from home | $742.2M | $3,804 | 93 |
| Groceries | $1.2B | $5,943 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $188.9M | $968 | 96 |
| Child care and other personal services | $78.5M | $402 | 69 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $168.9M | $866 | 88 |
| Medical and dental services | $270.8M | $1,388 | 108 |
| Pets | $161.2M | $826 | 91 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $378M | $1,937 | 94 |
| Vehicle insurance | $306.4M | $1,570 | 80 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $517.4M | $2,652 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $235.4M | $1,206 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.7B | $13,783 | 83 |
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 Lake County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 504,612+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 195,130
- Median age
- 40.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 499 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,003
- Median household income
- $71,493+27.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $93,636
- Median home value
- $230,600
- Jobs located here
- 191,504
- Daytime population
- 472,818Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Lake 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 Lake 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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Questions
How fast is Lake County, IN growing?
Population estimates put Lake County at 504,612 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 195,130 households. Median household income rose 27.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Lake County, IN spend?
Households in Lake County spend about $2.7B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.2B on groceries and $742.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Lake County spend the most on medical and dental services (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (69).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Lake County, IN?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Lake County are for pet grooming and boarding businesses (76), pet businesses (76) and convenience stores (76). Lake County ranks #101 of 1,461 scored counties for pet grooming and boarding businesses.
How does Lake County, IN compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Lake County is $71,493 a year, 11% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $230,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Lake County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for oil change and quick-lube shops (57% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (46% 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 Lake 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 Lake 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.
All markets in Indiana · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Lake 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 Lake 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.