Chicago
RANK #37 / 1001 NAT · #2 / 28 IL · POP 5,182,090
1YR FORECAST: +2.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Cook County, Illinois, is defined by its vast Forest Preserve District, encompassing nearly 70,000 acres of natural areas for hiking, biking, fishing, and nature watching. This extensive green space offers a contrast to the urban core of Chicago, which serves as the county seat and is situated within Cook County. The county, established in 1831, is located in northeastern Illinois and is a central part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Commute options are varied, with public transportation like Metra trains, CTA buses and trains, and Pace suburban buses connecting residents throughout the six-county region.
Life in Cook County offers a diverse experience, from urban living to suburban communities like Evanston and Oak Park, known for their public schools. The economy is diverse, with ongoing investments in infrastructure and community development. The county government focuses on supporting small businesses and fostering economic growth, including initiatives for workforce training. Residents benefit from various programs aimed at economic security and quality of life.
Cook County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +5.8% YoY, population -0.1%, wages +4.1%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 7.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Cook County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Three Rivers Energy Center (Natural Gas Plant, Grundy County serving Chicago area)
Competitive Power Ventures
|
$1,300M | Operating |
|
Stream Data Centers - Chicago III Campus
Stream Data Centers
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Clinton and Dresden Nuclear Plant Upgrades & Relicensing (Illinois)
Constellation
|
$370M | Operating |
|
Double Black Diamond Solar Farm (Cook County portion)
Swift Current Energy (with Constellation and Cook County as customers)
|
$120M | Operating |
|
Cook County Highway Construction Program (2025)
Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Cook County ranks #37 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 96/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.1% and a median household income of $83,498 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Cook County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $324,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,435/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in Cook County are hiring — job growth of +1.1% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved +5.8% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
Not particularly — 0.84% of Cook County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.
Home values climbed +5.8% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Cook County is now valued at $324,500. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.