Cook County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Cook County, Illinois has a population of 5,182,090 across 945 square miles, down 1.8 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $546.44 bn in 2024, 134,513 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 6,389 7(a) approvals worth $3.13 bn.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Cook County
How many people live in Cook County
- Population5,182,090
- Households2,100,230
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$83,498
- Median age38.0
- Median gross rent$1,435 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$324,500
- Home value to household income3.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher42.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree18.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over3,641,534
- Population under 181,092,202
- Share under 1821.1 percent
- Population 65 and over827,156
- Share 65 and over16.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 643,262,732
- Civilian labor force2,792,888
- Unemployment rate7.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.3 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties1st of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents2nd
Cook County is the 1st largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 3.9 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.1 percent against 16.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cook County
Is Cook County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.83 percent
- Census 2020 base population5,278,969
- Births, 202451,412
- Deaths, 202441,953
- Natural change, 20249,459
- Net domestic migration, 2024-37,193
- Net international migration, 202467,763
- Total net migration, 202430,570
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-279,685
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2453rd
The county has lost 1.83 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Migration contributed more to 2024 change than births over deaths, so demand here follows people arriving rather than families forming.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cook County
Where people moving to Cook County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving80,027
- People arriving, from those returns114,625
- Adjusted gross income arriving$7.34 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$91,691
- Largest single originCook County Non-migrants (2,014,547 households)
- Largest single destination (2,014,547 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County Non-migrants | 2,014,547 | 3,811,801 | $231.43 bn |
| DuPage County | 8,676 | 13,309 | $742.4 m |
| Other flows - Different State | 5,885 | 8,412 | $379.7 m |
| Lake County | 4,896 | 7,413 | $579.5 m |
| Will County | 4,620 | 7,368 | $308.5 m |
| Kane County | 2,766 | 4,425 | $187.5 m |
| Other flows - South | 2,423 | 3,651 | $134.7 m |
| Lake County | 2,307 | 4,060 | $97.8 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Cook County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Cook County
What the Cook County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$546.44 bn
- County GDP, 2023$522.37 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years33.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among Illinois counties1st
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents4th
- GDP per resident$105,448
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 33.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Cook County
Who employs people in Cook County
- Covered employment, annual average2,565,567
- Establishments reporting137,804
- Average annual pay$86,931
- Average weekly wage$1,672
- Sector 62, employment384,200
- Sector 62, average annual pay$64,525
- Sector 54, employment239,300
- Sector 54, average annual pay$143,750
- Sector 72, employment231,612
- Sector 72, average annual pay$36,807
- Sector 44-45, employment214,653
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$42,744
- Sector 56, employment181,641
- Sector 31-33, employment176,781
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 384,200 | 15,350 | $64,525 |
| Sector 54 | 239,300 | 21,696 | $143,750 |
| Sector 72 | 231,612 | 11,830 | $36,807 |
| Sector 44-45 | 214,653 | 12,756 | $42,744 |
| Sector 56 | 181,641 | 6,548 | $62,372 |
| Sector 31-33 | 176,781 | 5,448 | $84,867 |
| Sector 52 | 158,844 | 7,199 | $195,997 |
| Sector 48-49 | 143,958 | 8,949 | $75,922 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 384,200 jobs, 15.0 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job exceeds median household income, which usually means single earner households and a wage base that can carry rent.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cook County
What businesses operate in Cook County
- Establishments, all industries134,513
- Employment at those establishments2,492,328
- Annual payroll$207.14 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cook County
What is being built in Cook County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20246,507
- Declared construction value permitted$1.86 bn
- Single family units authorised1,142
- Multifamily units authorised5,365
- Multifamily share of units82.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$286,529
- Units authorised per 1,000 households3.1
Multifamily is 82.4 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cook County
How much SBA lending happens in Cook County
- 7(a) approvals recorded6,389
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$3.13 bn
- Average 7(a) approval$490,619
- Median 7(a) approval$170,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,320,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)74,731
- Jobs per approval11.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active195
- Distinct industries receiving approvals518
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms956
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter5,115
- Franchise loans585
- Franchise share of approvals9.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (438)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (1,897)
- 504 approvals recorded2,192
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.71 bn
- Average 504 approval$782,212
- Median 504 approval$496,000
- Distinct CDCs active13
- 504 jobs per approval11.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.8
- Most active CDCSmall Business Growth Corporation (1,088)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals74.5 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$4.85 bn
The average approval of $490,619 sits well above the median of $170,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 15.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cook County
Do SBA loans in Cook County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1,198
- Paid in full1,068
- Charged off130
- Charge off rate on resolved loans10.9 percent
- Status: Paid in full1,068
- Status: Charged off130
- Status: Exempt from disclosure3,920
- Status: Cancelled874
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed397
| NAICS | Industry | Resolved loans | Charged off | Charge off rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 484121 | General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload | 96 | 25 | 26.0% |
| 722511 | Full-Service Restaurants | 73 | 12 | 16.4% |
| 722513 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 42 | 3 | 7.1% |
| 236118 | Residential Remodelers | 41 | 8 | 19.5% |
| 484110 | General Freight Trucking, Local | 32 | 6 | 18.8% |
| 621210 | Offices of Dentists | 21 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 19 | 1 | 5.3% |
| 624410 | Child Day Care Services | 19 | 1 | 5.3% |
Of the 1,198 loans that have reached a final outcome, 10.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong. Among industries with at least ten resolved loans, General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload carries the highest charge off rate at 26.0 percent.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cook County
Which parts of Cook County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending177
- CHICAGO, approvals2,723
- SCHAUMBURG, approvals221
- ELK GROVE VILLAGE, approvals154
- DES PLAINES, approvals149
- Arlington Heights, approvals146
- SKOKIE, approvals134
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| CHICAGO | 2,723 | $1,306,601,100 |
| SCHAUMBURG | 221 | $144,166,300 |
| ELK GROVE VILLAGE | 154 | $126,390,900 |
| DES PLAINES | 149 | $50,576,600 |
| Arlington Heights | 146 | $77,116,300 |
| SKOKIE | 134 | $92,776,200 |
| GLENVIEW | 128 | $58,225,900 |
| PALATINE | 116 | $59,809,700 |
CHICAGO accounts for 2,723 approvals against 221 in SCHAUMBURG. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cook County
How big is Cook County
- Land area945 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties6th of 102
- Width, east to west38 mi
- Height, north to south47.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land5,484
- Establishments per square mile142.34
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cook County
What hazards affect Cook County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book135
- Of those, participating in the NFIP135
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class26
The EPA places the county in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Cook County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Cook County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population5,182,090
- Households2,100,230
- Average household size2.47
- Median household income$83,498
- Median age38.0
Common questions
Cook County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cook County, Illinois?
5,182,090, in 2,100,230 households, ranking 1st of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cook County growing?
The population has fallen 1.83 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 51,412 births against 41,953 deaths, with net migration of 30,570. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cook County?
$83,498. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $324,500, which is 3.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,435 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Cook County?
134,513 establishments, employing 2,492,328 people with an annual payroll of $207.14 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Cook County?
Average annual pay is $86,931, or $1,672 a week, across 2,565,567 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cook County?
6,389 7(a) approvals totalling $3.13 bn since FY2020, across 195 lenders, with a median approval of $170,000, plus 2,192 504 approvals worth $1.71 bn. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Cook County get paid back?
Of the 1,198 loans that have reached a final outcome, 1,068 were paid in full and 130 charged off, a charge off rate of 10.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Cook County?
6,507 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.86 bn. Multifamily was 82.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cook County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Cook County come from?
The largest single origin is Cook County Non-migrants, with 2,014,547 households. Arriving households report an average income of $91,691 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cook County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Cook County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.