Market rankings · Illinois

Pet businesses in Illinois

Every metro area, small-town market and county in Illinois, ranked by the Groundwork market score for pet businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 4,983; 786 chain locations (16%)
Official establishments: 2,547; +7.6% since 2019
Household spending a year: $4.7B; On pets
Listings per 10k households: 9.9; 5% below the U.S.
Spending per listing: $935K; 6% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #21 of 51; Market score 55 · Upper middle

A site report maps the pet businesses on map listings around any address in Illinois by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

There are 4,983 pet businesses on map listings in Illinois as of September 2026. Of those, 786 are chain locations, or 16%, against 17% across the U.S. That comes to 9.9 for every 10,000 households, 5% below the U.S. rate of 10.4.

At $925 per household (2% above the U.S. average), households in Illinois spend about $4.7B a year on pets. Spread across 4,983 pet businesses, that is $935K per business, 6% above the U.S. figure of $878K.

In 2023, official counts showed 2,547 businesses with payroll in Illinois classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores, up 7.6% from 2019. That is one for every 1,977 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 11.4% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 137 SBA-backed loans worth $101.5M have gone to businesses classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Illinois.

Among the 50 states and DC, Illinois ranks #21 for pet businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 55 (upper middle). Of the 12 scored metro areas in or partly in Illinois, the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area scores highest (68). Of the 21 scored small-town markets in or partly in Illinois, the Rochelle area scores highest (64).

Every market in Illinois for pet businesses

Download the ranking (CSV)

Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Illinois, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Illinois, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	68	3,281	9.0	$1.1M	0.0%	#60 of 387
St. Louis, MO-IL	56	1,123	9.7	$928K	−0.2%	#148 of 387
2Kankakee, IL	45	43	10.5	$793K	−1.7%	#235 of 387
3Rockford, IL	45	140	10.3	$774K	−0.3%	#236 of 387
4Decatur, IL	44	39	9.0	$846K	−4.3%	#240 of 387
5Bloomington, IL	42	79	11.3	$789K	+0.1%	#258 of 387
6Peoria, IL	39	167	10.9	$773K	−1.3%	#281 of 387
7Champaign-Urbana, IL	39	106	10.8	$747K	+1.5%	#282 of 387
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	34	48	12.5	$616K	+1.7%	#313 of 387
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	33	190	11.8	$708K	−0.9%	#318 of 387
8Springfield, IL	27	114	12.7	$675K	−1.2%	#351 of 387
Paducah, KY-IL	21	64	15.3	$531K	−1.2%	#370 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Illinois, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Rochelle, IL	64	20	9.6	$891K	−0.7%	#102 of 527
2Sterling, IL	62	24	10.4	$740K	−2.6%	#129 of 527
3Dixon, IL	61	15	11.2	$719K	−3.4%	#136 of 527
4Canton, IL	57	13	9.4	$781K	−2.0%	#171 of 527
5Effingham, IL	53	20	11.0	$764K	−0.9%	#234 of 527
6Danville, IL	53	31	10.3	$697K	−3.7%	#236 of 527
7Quincy, IL-MO	51	36	11.6	$661K	−2.0%	#271 of 527
8Lincoln, IL	50	12	10.7	$732K	−2.5%	#277 of 527
9Taylorville, IL	46	15	11.0	$678K	−1.5%	#322 of 527
10Jacksonville, IL	45	21	13.9	$556K	−3.1%	#337 of 527
11Ottawa, IL	42	80	12.9	$630K	−1.6%	#360 of 527
12Galesburg, IL	40	19	9.1	$776K	−4.1%	#382 of 527
13Macomb, IL	40	14	11.8	$592K	−4.5%	#385 of 527
14Pontiac, IL	38	21	14.4	$572K	−2.1%	#398 of 527
15Marion-Herrin, IL	34	44	15.2	$515K	+0.2%	#437 of 527
16Centralia, IL	31	19	12.2	$591K	−3.4%	#451 of 527
17Charleston-Mattoon, IL	31	32	15.4	$468K	−1.0%	#453 of 527
Burlington, IA-IL	29	25	12.6	$590K	−2.5%	#465 of 527
18Carbondale, IL	26	27	11.8	$579K	−1.5%	#483 of 527
19Freeport, IL	26	26	13.4	$554K	−3.0%	#484 of 527
20Mount Vernon, IL	25	21	14.2	$524K	−2.3%	#490 of 527

Counties

Counties in Illinois, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Cook County, IL	72	1,508	7.2	$1.3M	−1.3%	#214 of 2,200
2Boone County, IL	72	17	8.7	$1M	+0.4%	#221 of 2,200
3Will County, IL	66	272	11.1	$957K	+2.2%	#426 of 2,200
4St. Clair County, IL	65	74	7.3	$1.2M	−2.5%	#457 of 2,200
5Kendall County, IL	65	59	13.0	$819K	+9.9%	#480 of 2,200
6Kane County, IL	64	213	11.5	$901K	+1.8%	#504 of 2,200
7DuPage County, IL	63	392	11.2	$989K	+0.3%	#537 of 2,200
8Piatt County, IL	63	8	11.6	$803K	+0.6%	#555 of 2,200
9Ogle County, IL	60	20	9.6	$891K	−0.7%	#653 of 2,200
10Jersey County, IL	59	8	10.0	$863K	−1.5%	#690 of 2,200
11Lake County, IL	58	330	12.8	$864K	+0.8%	#721 of 2,200
12Peoria County, IL	56	73	9.4	$863K	−1.6%	#807 of 2,200
13Champaign County, IL	56	86	10.1	$795K	+1.8%	#821 of 2,200
14Whiteside County, IL	55	24	10.4	$740K	−2.6%	#870 of 2,200
15Lee County, IL	55	15	11.2	$719K	−3.4%	#873 of 2,200
16Madison County, IL	54	117	10.6	$808K	−1.0%	#902 of 2,200
17Kankakee County, IL	54	43	10.5	$793K	−1.7%	#906 of 2,200
18Macoupin County, IL	54	21	11.9	$690K	−2.6%	#918 of 2,200
19Franklin County, IL	53	13	8.1	$865K	−2.1%	#939 of 2,200
20McLean County, IL	53	79	11.3	$789K	+0.1%	#946 of 2,200
21Fulton County, IL	53	13	9.4	$781K	−2.0%	#948 of 2,200
22Randolph County, IL	52	14	11.7	$656K	−0.6%	#1,008 of 2,200
23Macon County, IL	50	39	9.0	$846K	−4.3%	#1,083 of 2,200
24Rock Island County, IL	50	63	10.2	$765K	−1.7%	#1,089 of 2,200
25Winnebago County, IL	50	123	10.6	$737K	−0.4%	#1,093 of 2,200

Show all 102 counties

Counties in Illinois, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26Adams County, IL	49	31	11.1	$693K	−2.1%	#1,148 of 2,200
27Bureau County, IL	49	18	12.8	$612K	−2.1%	#1,164 of 2,200
28Iroquois County, IL	48	10	8.7	$880K	−3.0%	#1,182 of 2,200
29Vermilion County, IL	48	31	10.3	$697K	−3.7%	#1,195 of 2,200
30Monroe County, IL	47	21	15.2	$676K	−0.3%	#1,237 of 2,200
31McHenry County, IL	47	189	16.1	$649K	+2.5%	#1,240 of 2,200
32DeKalb County, IL	47	51	12.9	$644K	+1.5%	#1,242 of 2,200
33Woodford County, IL	46	20	13.6	$705K	−0.8%	#1,277 of 2,200
34Effingham County, IL	43	17	12.2	$704K	−0.5%	#1,384 of 2,200
35Tazewell County, IL	43	68	12.6	$681K	−0.9%	#1,387 of 2,200
36Christian County, IL	43	15	11.0	$678K	−1.5%	#1,388 of 2,200
37Clinton County, IL	43	21	14.4	$625K	+0.6%	#1,396 of 2,200
38Bond County, IL	43	8	13.0	$599K	+0.6%	#1,400 of 2,200
39Grundy County, IL	43	34	16.5	$575K	+2.9%	#1,406 of 2,200
40Carroll County, IL	42	6	9.1	$806K	−1.7%	#1,422 of 2,200
41Lawrence County, IL	41	5	9.1	$817K	−9.7%	#1,460 of 2,200
42Logan County, IL	41	12	10.7	$732K	−2.5%	#1,464 of 2,200
43Sangamon County, IL	41	110	13.0	$660K	−1.0%	#1,471 of 2,200
44Crawford County, IL	41	12	16.0	$502K	+0.1%	#1,499 of 2,200
45Morgan County, IL	40	19	14.5	$532K	−2.9%	#1,537 of 2,200
46Hancock County, IL	39	8	10.5	$720K	−4.4%	#1,554 of 2,200
47McDonough County, IL	39	14	11.8	$592K	−4.5%	#1,566 of 2,200
48Jo Daviess County, IL	39	18	17.3	$483K	−2.2%	#1,579 of 2,200
49Knox County, IL	38	19	9.1	$776K	−4.1%	#1,588 of 2,200
50Washington County, IL	37	8	13.8	$594K	−1.2%	#1,635 of 2,200
51Livingston County, IL	36	21	14.4	$572K	−2.1%	#1,676 of 2,200
52Mercer County, IL	36	11	16.8	$501K	−2.6%	#1,697 of 2,200
53LaSalle County, IL	32	61	13.4	$611K	−1.5%	#1,812 of 2,200
54Williamson County, IL	32	44	15.2	$515K	+0.2%	#1,821 of 2,200
55De Witt County, IL	32	11	16.7	$471K	−2.1%	#1,826 of 2,200
56Coles County, IL	32	32	15.4	$468K	−1.0%	#1,828 of 2,200
57Cass County, IL	31	6	11.7	$650K	−4.0%	#1,838 of 2,200
58Wayne County, IL	31	9	13.1	$536K	−1.6%	#1,845 of 2,200
59Clark County, IL	30	8	12.2	$642K	−2.2%	#1,859 of 2,200
60Marion County, IL	30	19	12.2	$591K	−3.4%	#1,861 of 2,200
61Shelby County, IL	30	12	13.5	$573K	−1.6%	#1,864 of 2,200
62Massac County, IL	27	6	11.0	$656K	−4.5%	#1,951 of 2,200
63Greene County, IL	27	6	13.5	$578K	−5.1%	#1,954 of 2,200
64Mason County, IL	26	7	12.1	$609K	−4.9%	#1,974 of 2,200
65Edgar County, IL	26	9	11.9	$608K	−2.9%	#1,975 of 2,200
66Jackson County, IL	25	27	11.8	$579K	−1.5%	#1,999 of 2,200
67Stephenson County, IL	25	26	13.4	$554K	−3.0%	#2,005 of 2,200
68Union County, IL	25	12	17.5	$417K	−3.7%	#2,016 of 2,200
69Warren County, IL	23	9	13.3	$588K	−3.6%	#2,049 of 2,200
70Montgomery County, IL	23	18	15.9	$475K	−0.6%	#2,055 of 2,200
71Fayette County, IL	23	13	16.6	$445K	−3.2%	#2,058 of 2,200
72Henry County, IL	22	35	17.3	$481K	−2.2%	#2,072 of 2,200
73Douglas County, IL	22	17	21.9	$373K	+0.5%	#2,081 of 2,200
74Jefferson County, IL	21	21	14.2	$524K	−2.3%	#2,089 of 2,200
75Johnson County, IL	21	7	17.1	$434K	+0.4%	#2,095 of 2,200
76Moultrie County, IL	21	13	22.3	$357K	−0.8%	#2,104 of 2,200
77Pike County, IL	19	15	25.1	$287K	−2.8%	#2,134 of 2,200
78Perry County, IL	18	12	15.2	$489K	−3.5%	#2,137 of 2,200
79Saline County, IL	17	14	14.0	$512K	−4.1%	#2,142 of 2,200
80Richland County, IL	13	10	15.5	$468K	−3.7%	#2,179 of 2,200
81Clay County, IL	12	9	16.9	$429K	−3.6%	#2,182 of 2,200
82Ford County, IL	10	12	20.6	$364K	−2.2%	#2,191 of 2,200
83White County, IL	6	11	19.4	$358K	−4.0%	#2,197 of 2,200
Menard County, IL	Not scored	4	7.7	$1.1M	−3.3%
Marshall County, IL	Not scored	3	5.9	$1.3M	−2.0%
Wabash County, IL	Not scored	2	4.2	$1.7M	−3.6%
Cumberland County, IL	Not scored	3	7.2	$1.1M	−2.1%
Jasper County, IL	Not scored	8	21.3	$383K	−2.4%
Hamilton County, IL	Not scored	3	8.9	$873K	−1.7%
Schuyler County, IL	Not scored	8	29.3	$253K	−3.0%
Brown County, IL	Not scored	2	9.8	$753K	+2.7%
Henderson County, IL	Not scored	3	11.1	$652K	−5.6%
Edwards County, IL	Not scored	6	22.5	$317K	−5.0%
Putnam County, IL	Not scored	1	4.1	$2.1M	−0.1%
Stark County, IL	Not scored	3	13.1	$600K	−1.2%
Pulaski County, IL	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−6.9%
Scott County, IL	Not scored	2	9.8	$783K	−4.0%
Alexander County, IL	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−11.6%
Gallatin County, IL	Not scored	1	4.8	$1.5M	−6.4%
Calhoun County, IL	Not scored	1	8.1	$1.1M	−2.2%
Pope County, IL	Not scored	1	7.2	$1M	−2.2%
Hardin County, IL	Not scored	0	0.0	n/a	−1.8%

Markets with fewer than 5 pet businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many pet businesses are in Illinois?

As of September 2026, map listings count 4,983 pet businesses in Illinois. 786 of them (16%) are chain locations. The listings count vets, groomers, boarding and pet stores. Official counts show 2,547 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in 2023, up 7.6% from 2019. Official counts also show 6,862 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Illinois spend on pets?

About $4.7B a year, or $925 per household. That is 2% above the U.S. average (an index of 102, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 4,983 pet businesses on map listings, it comes to $935K per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 5,036,449 households in Illinois and national spending patterns by income.

How does Illinois compare with the U.S. for pet businesses?

Illinois has 9.9 pet businesses per 10,000 households, 5% below the U.S. rate of 10.4. Spending per business is $935K, 6% above the U.S. figure of $878K. At the U.S. ratio of pet businesses to household spending, Illinois would have about 5,305, against 4,983 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,977 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. The official count rose 7.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +11.4% for the U.S.

Which market in Illinois has the highest market score for pet businesses?

Among 12 scored metro areas in or partly in Illinois, the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area scores highest, at 68 (upper middle). Among 21 scored small-town markets in or partly in Illinois, the Rochelle area scores highest, at 64 (upper middle). Among 83 scored counties in Illinois, Cook County scores highest, at 72 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

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. Illinois scores 55 for pet businesses (upper middle), #21 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Illinois. It maps the pet businesses 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.

Veterinarians1,504 listings
Pet grooming and boarding1,873 listings
Pet stores930 listings

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