Bars in Cook County, IL — Market Data (2023)
901 bars operate in Cook County, IL, based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) data — the same establishment counts the federal government uses for economic statistics.
Market density
That works out to 1.771 establishments per 10,000 residents, 48.8% above the national average of 1.19 per 10,000 residents for bars. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 901 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 1.771 |
| Employment | 10,732 |
| Annual payroll | $335,882,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 11.9 |
| County population (2023) | 5,087,072 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower bars density than Cook County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Bexar County, TX: 1.518 per 10,000 residents (317 establishments)
- King County, WA: 1.506 per 10,000 residents (342 establishments)
- Queens County, NY: 1.359 per 10,000 residents (306 establishments)
- Fulton County, GA: 1.344 per 10,000 residents (145 establishments)
See the full Bars by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Frequently asked questions
How many bars are there in Cook County, IL?
901 bars operate in Cook County, IL, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the bars market in Cook County, IL saturated compared to the national average?
Cook County, IL has 1.771 bars per 10,000 residents, which is 48.8% above the national average of 1.19 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a bar business in Cook County, IL?
The average bar business in Cook County, IL has about 11.9 employees (10,732 total employment ÷ 901 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for bars?
Yes — Bexar County, TX has a lower density (1.518 per 10,000 residents) than Cook County, IL, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.