RANK #166 / 1001 NAT · #11 / 28 IL · POP 53,219
1YR FORECAST: +3.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Morris, the county seat of Grundy County, Illinois, offers a glimpse into the region's past with its historic downtown, featuring small shops and independent restaurants. Located about 45 to 60 minutes southwest of Chicago, Grundy County provides a blend of rural and urban characteristics. The county is situated along the Illinois River and the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal, offering natural scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking and boating in its state parks and nature preserves. Commuting to Chicago is possible by car, taking around 1 hour and 19 minutes, or by train and taxi.
Life in Grundy County is characterized by a strong sense of community, attracting families and young professionals. The public schools in Grundy County are highly rated, with institutions like Minooka Community High School and Coal City Middle School receiving positive recognition. The local economy is experiencing growth, with job increases in sectors such as general merchandise, retail, truck transportation, health, personal care, oil and gas extraction, and construction. The county is also seeing investment in energy and infrastructure, contributing to its economic development.
Grundy County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.6% YoY, population +0.6%, wages +2.5%). 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
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.8x — 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 Grundy County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
CPV Three Rivers Energy Center
Competitive Power Ventures (CPV)
|
$1,300M | Operating |
|
Tract Morris Data Center
Tract
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
Cielo Minooka Data Center
Cielo Digital Infrastructure
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Blue Sky Solar Project
Blue Sky Solar
|
$300M | Proposed |
|
Buffalo Solar Farm
RWE
|
$116M | Under Construction |
|
Rebuild Illinois Capital Program (18 major projects)
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
|
$103M | Underway/Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Grundy County ranks #166 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 83/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +2.7% and a median household income of $92,235 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Grundy County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $271,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $1,177/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Grundy County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.7% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +3.6% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.75% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Grundy County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.