Local business data · Chicago

Where Chicago's local businesses are most crowded

We counted 16 kinds of storefront and office businesses per 1,000 households in 313 residential ZIP codes across the Chicago metro (3,615,837 households). Here's where competition is densest, how the metro compares with Illinois and the U.S., and the big ZIPs where fewer than 3 of a business type are recorded.

Key findings

Oak Brook (60523) ranks among the 10 most crowded ZIPs in the metro for 10 of 16 business types, including dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians.
Chicago has 1.4 times the U.S. rate of general auto repair shops per household: 0.77 per 1,000 households, against 0.57 nationally.
Chicago has about 17% fewer veterinary practices per household than the U.S. as a whole (0.15 per 1,000 households, against 0.18).
Downers Grove (60515) has 12 pet care businesses for 11,939 households, about 6 times the metro rate.
Chicago (60619), with 28,016 households, has fewer than 3 general auto repair shops recorded. Counts under 3 aren't published, so it could be one or two.

The metro at a glance

Businesses per 1,000 households across the metro, next to Illinois and the U.S.

Business type	Recorded	Metro	IL	U.S.
Dentists	4,805	1.33	1.11	1.00
Chiropractors	1,062	0.29	0.29	0.25
Veterinarians	541	0.15	0.14	0.18
Gyms & fitness centers	1,136	0.31	0.27	0.26
Beauty salons	2,838	0.78	0.63	0.61
Nail salons	690	0.19	0.15	0.23
Full-service restaurants	7,291	2.02	1.90	1.93
Fast-food & counter-service restaurants	8,126	2.25	2.08	2.04
General auto repair shops	2,792	0.77	0.69	0.57
Dry cleaners & laundry services	373	0.10	0.08	0.07
Child care centers	2,504	0.69	0.56	0.56
Pet care (grooming, boarding, training)	570	0.16	0.14	0.13
Law offices	5,772	1.60	1.34	1.22
Insurance agencies	3,854	1.07	1.06	0.97
CPA offices	1,652	0.46	0.39	0.37
Investment advisers	635	0.18	0.13	0.14

Dentists

4,805 recorded across the metro, 1.33 per 1,000 households (1.3 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60301	Oak Park	2,087	20	9.58
60026	Glenview	5,519	34	6.16
60521	Hinsdale	6,000	35	5.83
60463	Palos Heights	5,226	30	5.74
60305	River Forest	4,275	21	4.91
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	19	4.52
60068	Park Ridge	15,165	68	4.48
60195	Schaumburg	2,335	10	4.28
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	26	3.95
60564	Naperville	15,804	62	3.92

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60649) – 24,326 households, Chicago (60644) – 18,748 households, Chicago (60653) – 16,833 households, Chicago (60624) – 13,435 households, Chicago (60636) – 11,444 households, Chicago (60621) – 11,382 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Chiropractors

1,062 recorded across the metro, 0.29 per 1,000 households (1.2 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60301	Oak Park	2,087	5	2.40
60187	Wheaton	9,987	17	1.70
60048	Libertyville	10,448	16	1.53
60005	Arlington Heights	12,598	19	1.51
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	6	1.43
60134	Geneva	10,876	15	1.38
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	9	1.37
60174	Saint Charles	12,524	15	1.20
60423	Frankfort	10,997	13	1.18
60463	Palos Heights	5,226	6	1.15

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60617) – 30,248 households, Chicago (60620) – 25,896 households, Chicago (60649) – 24,326 households, Chicago (60626) – 24,103 households, Chicago (60609) – 23,174 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Veterinarians

541 recorded across the metro, 0.15 per 1,000 households (below the U.S. rate of 0.18). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
47978	Rensselaer	3,992	5	1.25
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	4	0.95
60174	Saint Charles	12,524	10	0.80
60048	Libertyville	10,448	8	0.77
46341	Hebron	3,932	3	0.76
60177	South Elgin	8,533	6	0.70
60044	Lake Bluff	4,284	3	0.70
60175	Saint Charles	8,862	6	0.68
60450	Morris	8,913	6	0.67
60442	Manhattan	4,521	3	0.66

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60617) – 30,248 households, Chicago (60608) – 30,070 households, Chicago (60619) – 28,016 households, Chicago (60634) – 27,575 households, Chicago (60623) – 27,450 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Gyms & fitness centers

1,136 recorded across the metro, 0.31 per 1,000 households (1.2 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60606	Chicago	2,637	7	2.65
60301	Oak Park	2,087	4	1.92
60069	Lincolnshire	3,551	6	1.69
60045	Lake Forest	7,497	12	1.60
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	10	1.52
60521	Hinsdale	6,000	8	1.33
60607	Chicago	15,037	20	1.33
60195	Schaumburg	2,335	3	1.28
60514	Clarendon Hills	3,926	5	1.27
60048	Libertyville	10,448	13	1.24

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60617) – 30,248 households, Chicago (60619) – 28,016 households, Chicago (60623) – 27,450 households, Chicago (60620) – 25,896 households, Waukegan (60085) – 25,514 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Independent personal trainers without employees aren't counted.

Beauty salons

2,838 recorded across the metro, 0.78 per 1,000 households (1.3 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60195	Schaumburg	2,335	10	4.28
60712	Lincolnwood	4,593	16	3.48
60301	Oak Park	2,087	7	3.35
60521	Hinsdale	6,000	20	3.33
60187	Wheaton	9,987	27	2.70
60525	La Grange	12,288	33	2.69
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	11	2.62
60134	Geneva	10,876	25	2.30
60048	Libertyville	10,448	24	2.30
60714	Niles	11,328	26	2.30

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60617) – 30,248 households, Chicago (60619) – 28,016 households, Chicago (60620) – 25,896 households, Chicago (60649) – 24,326 households, Chicago (60609) – 23,174 households, Chicago (60628) – 23,170 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Booth renters and self-employed stylists aren't counted, so the real number of stylists is much higher than the number of salons.

Nail salons

690 recorded across the metro, 0.19 per 1,000 households (below the U.S. rate of 0.23). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60022	Glencoe	2,937	3	1.02
60093	Winnetka	7,215	7	0.97
60654	Chicago	15,955	15	0.94
60035	Highland Park	11,765	11	0.93
60521	Hinsdale	6,000	5	0.83
60546	Riverside	6,479	5	0.77
60048	Libertyville	10,448	8	0.77
60415	Chicago Ridge	5,309	4	0.75
60068	Park Ridge	15,165	11	0.73
60026	Glenview	5,519	4	0.72

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60623) – 27,450 households, Crown Point (46307) – 25,363 households, Cicero (60804) – 25,031 households, Chicago (60649) – 24,326 households, Chicago (60637) – 22,628 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Self-employed nail technicians aren't counted.

Full-service restaurants

7,291 recorded across the metro, 2.02 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	66	10.0
60606	Chicago	2,637	23	8.72
60301	Oak Park	2,087	18	8.62
60607	Chicago	15,037	116	7.71
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	27	6.42
60654	Chicago	15,955	102	6.39
60195	Schaumburg	2,335	13	5.57
60661	Chicago	7,475	41	5.48
60622	Chicago	25,594	134	5.24
60611	Chicago	23,564	115	4.88

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60644) – 18,748 households, Chicago (60624) – 13,435 households, Chicago (60621) – 11,382 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Fast-food & counter-service restaurants

8,126 recorded across the metro, 2.25 per 1,000 households (1.1 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60606	Chicago	2,637	71	26.9
60301	Oak Park	2,087	17	8.15
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	50	7.60
60445	Midlothian	6,017	39	6.48
60455	Bridgeview	6,241	39	6.25
60661	Chicago	7,475	43	5.75
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	24	5.71
60515	Downers Grove	11,939	63	5.28
60601	Chicago	9,629	50	5.19
60706	Harwood Heights	9,292	47	5.06

General auto repair shops

2,792 recorded across the metro, 0.77 per 1,000 households (1.4 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60455	Bridgeview	6,241	27	4.33
60171	River Grove	4,106	13	3.17
60131	Franklin Park	5,838	17	2.91
60101	Addison	13,740	40	2.91
60436	Joliet	6,565	19	2.89
60501	Summit Argo	3,813	11	2.88
60191	Wood Dale	5,328	14	2.63
60534	Lyons	4,118	10	2.43
60172	Roselle	9,126	22	2.41
60176	Schiller Park	4,240	10	2.36

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60619) – 28,016 households, Chicago (60610) – 27,145 households, Chicago (60620) – 25,896 households, Chicago (60611) – 23,564 households, Chicago (60615) – 22,430 households, Chicago (60605) – 18,822 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Specialty shops (body, transmission, oil change) and car washes are counted separately and aren't included; solo mechanics without employees aren't counted.

Dry cleaners & laundry services

373 recorded across the metro, 0.10 per 1,000 households (1.5 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60093	Winnetka	7,215	8	1.11
60022	Glencoe	2,937	3	1.02
60521	Hinsdale	6,000	6	1.00
60091	Wilmette	10,223	8	0.78
60053	Morton Grove	9,111	7	0.77
60305	River Forest	4,275	3	0.70
60035	Highland Park	11,765	8	0.68
60108	Bloomingdale	9,184	6	0.65
60302	Oak Park	14,653	9	0.61
60478	Country Club Hills	5,418	3	0.55

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60647) – 38,440 households, Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60623) – 27,450 households, Chicago (60632) – 27,058 households, Chicago (60639) – 26,703 households, Waukegan (60085) – 25,514 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Coin-operated laundromats are a separate category and aren't included.

Child care centers

2,504 recorded across the metro, 0.69 per 1,000 households (1.2 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60022	Glencoe	2,937	8	2.72
46409	Gary	2,659	6	2.26
60087	Waukegan	9,695	18	1.86
60636	Chicago	11,444	21	1.84
60099	Zion	11,279	20	1.77
60153	Maywood	7,333	13	1.77
60804	Cicero	25,031	44	1.76
60195	Schaumburg	2,335	4	1.71
60041	Ingleside	3,533	6	1.70
60069	Lincolnshire	3,551	6	1.69

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Orland Park (60462) – 16,446 households, Wheaton (60189) – 12,054 households, Chicago (60655) – 10,817 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Home-based child care run without employees isn't counted.

Pet care (grooming, boarding, training)

570 recorded across the metro, 0.16 per 1,000 households (1.2 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60042	Island Lake	3,107	4	1.29
60044	Lake Bluff	4,284	5	1.17
60515	Downers Grove	11,939	12	1.01
60152	Marengo	4,487	4	0.89
60642	Chicago	11,379	10	0.88
60048	Libertyville	10,448	9	0.86
60083	Wadsworth	3,562	3	0.84
60177	South Elgin	8,533	7	0.82
60491	Homer Glen	7,533	6	0.80
60084	Wauconda	6,535	5	0.77

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60617) – 30,248 households, Chicago (60619) – 28,016 households, Chicago (60623) – 27,450 households, Chicago (60610) – 27,145 households, Chicago (60632) – 27,058 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Veterinarians are a separate category; mobile and solo groomers without employees aren't counted.

Law offices

5,772 recorded across the metro, 1.60 per 1,000 households (1.3 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60606	Chicago	2,637	387	146.8
60601	Chicago	9,629	369	38.3
60654	Chicago	15,955	261	16.4
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	59	14.0
60301	Oak Park	2,087	25	12.0
60187	Wheaton	9,987	94	9.41
60661	Chicago	7,475	70	9.36
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	53	8.06
60432	Joliet	6,447	47	7.29
60463	Palos Heights	5,226	36	6.89

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60619) – 28,016 households, Chicago (60620) – 25,896 households, Chicago (60649) – 24,326 households, Chicago (60626) – 24,103 households, Chicago (60628) – 23,170 households, Chicago (60651) – 20,880 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Insurance agencies

3,854 recorded across the metro, 1.07 per 1,000 households (1.1 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60606	Chicago	2,637	121	45.9
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	45	10.7
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	48	7.30
60515	Downers Grove	11,939	54	4.52
60062	Northbrook	16,290	71	4.36
60601	Chicago	9,629	40	4.15
60463	Palos Heights	5,226	21	4.02
60008	Rolling Meadows	8,710	34	3.90
60661	Chicago	7,475	28	3.75
60018	Des Plaines	9,812	35	3.57

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60620) – 25,896 households, Chicago (60651) – 20,880 households, Chicago (60644) – 18,748 households, Chicago (60653) – 16,833 households, Chicago (60612) – 14,934 households, Chicago (60624) – 13,435 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

CPA offices

1,652 recorded across the metro, 0.46 per 1,000 households (1.2 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60606	Chicago	2,637	50	19.0
60062	Northbrook	16,290	84	5.16
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	20	4.76
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	31	4.71
60069	Lincolnshire	3,551	12	3.38
60015	Deerfield	10,242	34	3.32
60018	Des Plaines	9,812	24	2.45
60181	Villa Park	11,460	28	2.44
60712	Lincolnwood	4,593	11	2.39
60448	Mokena	8,905	19	2.13

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60617) – 30,248 households, Chicago (60623) – 27,450 households, Chicago (60632) – 27,058 households, Chicago (60639) – 26,703 households, Chicago (60620) – 25,896 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Tax-prep-only offices are a separate category and aren't included.

Investment advisers

635 recorded across the metro, 0.18 per 1,000 households (1.3 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
60606	Chicago	2,637	60	22.8
60523	Oak Brook	4,203	16	3.81
60093	Winnetka	7,215	17	2.36
60173	Schaumburg	6,576	12	1.82
60601	Chicago	9,629	16	1.66
60045	Lake Forest	7,497	12	1.60
60563	Naperville	16,200	23	1.42
60515	Downers Grove	11,939	14	1.17
60187	Wheaton	9,987	11	1.10
60062	Northbrook	16,290	16	0.98

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Chicago (60640) – 37,727 households, Chicago (60629) – 34,229 households, Chicago (60625) – 31,681 households, Chicago (60617) – 30,248 households, Chicago (60608) – 30,070 households, Chicago (60619) – 28,016 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

How to read the numbers

Counts cover business locations with paid employees, in 2023. Self-employed owners aren't included, so every count is a minimum.
Counts under 3 aren't published for a ZIP and business type, so "fewer than 3 recorded" can mean one, two, or none.
"Most crowded" ranks ZIPs with at least 2,000 households by businesses per 1,000 households. Downtowns and shopping districts rank high because they serve workers and visitors as well as residents.
The metro is the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area. A ZIP counts toward it when most of its land is in one of the metro's counties.
Free to quote or chart with credit to Good Mail Co and a link to this page.

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