Grocery Stores in Cook County, IL — Market Data (2023)
1,345 grocery stores 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 2.644 establishments per 10,000 residents, 40.7% above the national average of 1.8795 per 10,000 residents for grocery stores. Markets with lower density have fewer competitors per capita; markets with higher density have more.
Market data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,345 |
| Density (per 10,000 residents) | 2.644 |
| Employment | 45,175 |
| Annual payroll | $1,558,168,000 |
| Average business size (employees/establishment) | 33.6 |
| County population (2023) | 5,087,072 |
Less saturated nearby markets
These counties have a lower grocery stores density than Cook County — fewer competitors per capita for the same industry.
- Alameda County, CA: 2.509 per 10,000 residents (407 establishments)
- Miami-Dade County, FL: 2.293 per 10,000 residents (616 establishments)
- Cuyahoga County, OH: 2.263 per 10,000 residents (279 establishments)
- King County, WA: 2.197 per 10,000 residents (499 establishments)
See the full Grocery Stores by county ranking for all 45 counties with available data.
Other industries in Cook County, IL
Establishment counts and density for other tracked business types in Cook County, IL, 2023 CBP.
- Limited-Service Restaurants: 4,656 (9.153/10k)
- Full-Service Restaurants: 4,330 (8.512/10k)
- Doctors Offices: 2,992 (5.882/10k)
- Home Remodelers: 2,888 (5.677/10k)
- Dentists: 2,725 (5.357/10k)
- Child Day Care Centers: 1,633 (3.21/10k)
- Hair Salons: 1,535 (3.017/10k)
- Auto Repair Shops: 1,457 (2.864/10k)
- Coffee Shops: 1,245 (2.447/10k)
- Landscaping Companies: 1,241 (2.44/10k)
- Bars: 901 (1.771/10k)
- Gyms and Fitness Centers: 632 (1.242/10k)
- Chiropractors: 555 (1.091/10k)
- Nail Salons: 522 (1.026/10k)
- Auto Body Shops: 511 (1.005/10k)
- Family Clothing Stores: 502 (0.987/10k)
- Tax Preparation Services: 479 (0.942/10k)
- Pet Grooming and Boarding: 342 (0.672/10k)
- Veterinary Clinics: 332 (0.653/10k)
- Dry Cleaners: 330 (0.649/10k)
- Optometrists: 319 (0.627/10k)
- Sports and Recreation Instruction: 288 (0.566/10k)
- Car Washes: 267 (0.525/10k)
- Self-Storage Facilities: 239 (0.47/10k)
- Funeral Homes: 224 (0.44/10k)
- Bakeries: 215 (0.423/10k)
- Florists: 167 (0.328/10k)
- Barbershops: 161 (0.316/10k)
- Weight Loss Centers: 31 (0.061/10k)
Frequently asked questions
How many grocery stores are there in Cook County, IL?
1,345 grocery stores operate in Cook County, IL, according to 2023 U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns data.
Is the grocery stores market in Cook County, IL saturated compared to the national average?
Cook County, IL has 2.644 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, which is 40.7% above the national average of 1.8795 per 10,000 residents. That means more competitors per capita than the typical U.S. county.
What is the average size of a grocery store business in Cook County, IL?
The average grocery store business in Cook County, IL has about 33.6 employees (45,175 total employment ÷ 1,345 establishments).
Are there less saturated nearby markets for grocery stores?
Yes — Alameda County, CA has a lower density (2.509 per 10,000 residents) than Cook County, IL, along with 3 other nearby counties listed below.