Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Cook County, IL

Welcome to Cook County.

← Back to search

Cook County is the most populous in the state of Illinois, representing 41% of the state's population, but the largest in geographic area of coverage.

Total GDP for the county increased 22%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $485.5 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Cook County voted for Democratic candidates every single time.

Cook County comprises Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Chicago.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, Will County, Lake County, Porter County, and Berrien County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
68.63%28.65%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
70.25%29.15%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
76.21%22.82%+++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
74%24.63%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
74.68%21%+++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
74.35%24.05%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

← Back to search

Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%22%
Government
Enterprises
9%15%
Private Industries91%23%
Agriculture<1%340%
Mining<1%-23%
Utilities<1%62%
Construction3%7%
Manufacturing7%22%
– Durable3%14%
– Nondurable4%30%
Trade11%29%
– Wholesale6%23%
– Retail5%36%
Transportation5%28%
Information5%44%
Finance & Insurance11%9%
Real Estate15%25%
Professional &
Business Services
18%26%
Educational Services2%14%
Healthcare &
Social Services
7%21%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%14%
Accommodation &
Food Services
3%21%
Other Services22%14%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

← Back to search

Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers48298
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
61298
📺 Electronics & Appliance30498
🛒 Grocery Stores206799
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores63198
⚕️ Health & Personal Care145499
⛽ Gasoline Stations105499
👕 Clothing Stores143299
👠 Shoe Stores35397
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry37198
🏸 Sporting Goods20798
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers11196
🏬 Department Stores62399
💐 Florists17398
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops22697
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 14797
🍺 Bars & Taverns89199
🍽️ Full-service restaurants426099
🍔 Limited-service restaurants471299
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers247899
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation50098
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

← Back to search

Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%123%$342,900 N/A
Top 20%51%$188,000 $186,000
Next highest 20%23%$84,200 $107,200
Middle 20%15%$54,200 $67,500
Second lowest 20%9%$32,100 $43,500
Bottom 20%3%$11,800 $22,000
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries73%$64,800
Self-Employment10%$45,100
Investment Income118%$16,200
Social Security32%$21,400
Supplemental Security6%$12,600
Public Assistance2%Below $10,000
Retirement25%$38,600
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%4%5%6%
$25K
– $49K
1%6%5%5%
$50K
– $99K
1%10%9%6%
$100K
– $199K
<1%11%10%5%
$200K
& more
<1%5%6%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

← Back to search

Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$36,000 $28,900
African-AmericanBelow $10,000Below $10,000
Hispanic$20,500 $20,800
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$37,000
Highschool & GED$35,100 $25,900
Some College to
Associate’s
$38,100 $32,600
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$71,600 $40,400
Graduate Degree$79,600 $56,800
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$58,700 $44,700
STEM2$55,000 $35,600
Gray-Collar3$24,800 $32,300
Pink-Collar4$12,100 $21,400
Sales5$26,500 $17,200
Blue-Collar6$33,600 $26,500
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

← Back to search

Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves++++$
Drought+
Earthquake++$
Hail+++
Heat Waves++++$
Hurricane+
Ice Storm+++
Landslide+
Lightning++++$
Riverine Flooding++++$
Strong Wind++++$
Tornado+++$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather++++
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

← Back to search