Starting a Dental Practice in Chicago, IL: Demographics, Competition and Where to Look
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Starting a dental practice in Chicago, IL: demographics, competition and where to look
If you're deciding where to open a dental practice in Chicago, the suburbs dentists research most are already crowded. Rolling Meadows, Glenview, Winnetka, Palatine, Barrington, Westmont, Hinsdale and Libertyville draw high research activity from dentists on Dentagraphics and have about 1,600 to 1,800 residents per general practice within 5 miles, fewer than the metro's typical 2,793. Cedar Lake and Valparaiso in Indiana and Romeoville and Crete in Will County draw the same high attention and still have about 4,500 to 5,700 residents per general practice, with median household incomes above $83,000. The low-attention areas with the most room, led by Chicago ZIPs 60649, 60637 and 60619, have more than 10,000 residents per general practice but median household incomes under $48,000.
This page puts the verified numbers for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area and each of its 14 counties in one place, then walks through how to narrow from a county to a specific site. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area, as Dentagraphics defines it, covers Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois; Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter counties in Indiana; and Kenosha County in Wisconsin.
What you won't get from an instant report. An automated report can describe one address. It can't tell you where other dentists are already looking, whether the offices nearby actually exist, or whether a busy market is still open. Dentagraphics can: 118,330 practices verified by hand, 12 years of research from more than 10,000 paid customers, and custom reports with handwritten analysis by a demographer.
The Chicago metro at a glance
| Measure | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area | US comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 9,442,785 | |
| Population growth | -1.8% | |
| General dental practices | 3,300 | |
| Residents per general practice | 2,861 | US average 3,853 |
| Specialty dental practices | 793 | |
| Residents per specialty practice | 11,908 | US average 6,482 |
| Median age | 37.8 | US median 38.5 |
| Median household income | $81,815 | US median $81,604 |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | US rate 11.6% |
| Medicaid enrollees | 1,017,424 | |
| Speaks English at home | 70.8% | US average 78.1% |
| Speaks Spanish at home | 17.0% | US average 13.2% |
| Owner occupied homes | 2,289,489 | |
| Renter occupied homes | 1,257,596 | |
| High school graduate or higher | 90% | US rate 90% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40% | US rate 36% |
Source: Dentagraphics, verified practice counts; Census ACS. See the full Chicago area dental demographics page.
Across the whole metro there are 2,861 residents per general dental practice, below the US average of 3,853, so the area has more general practices per resident than the country as a whole. Specialty practices are thinner: 11,908 residents per specialty practice, against a US average of 6,482. A metro average hides a lot, so the county numbers below matter more.
Chicago area dental competition, county by county
| County | Residents | Population growth | General practices | Residents per general practice | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook, IL | 5,166,377 | -2.1% | 1,800 | 2,870 | $77,744 |
| DuPage, IL | 936,061 | 0.3% | 463 | 2,022 | $104,279 |
| Lake, IL | 718,157 | 0.5% | 250 | 2,873 | $101,882 |
| Will, IL | 710,636 | 2.0% | 200 | 3,553 | $100,958 |
| Kane, IL | 522,476 | 1.1% | 176 | 2,969 | $92,295 |
| Lake, IN | 505,281 | 1.3% | 149 | 3,391 | $68,576 |
| McHenry, IL | 317,484 | 2.3% | 109 | 2,913 | $100,078 |
| Porter, IN | 176,815 | 2.1% | 40 | 4,420 | $83,264 |
| Kenosha, WI | 169,390 | 0.1% | 36 | 4,705 | $77,991 |
| Kendall, IL | 144,291 | 9.4% | 36 | 4,008 | $105,188 |
| DeKalb, IL | 101,612 | 1.2% | 21 | 4,839 | $70,676 |
| Grundy, IL | 54,142 | 3.1% | 12 | 4,512 | $91,639 |
| Jasper, IN | 33,591 | 2.0% | 7 | 4,799 | $79,272 |
| Newton, IN | 14,206 | 2.7% | 1 | 14,206 | $65,460 |
Source: Dentagraphics county pages, verified practice counts; Census ACS. US average: 3,853 residents per general practice. County figures, including residents and growth, come from each county's own page and may cover a different period than the metro figures (they do not add up exactly to the metro total), so compare counties with each other rather than with the metro.
What the numbers show
Residents per general practice is the simplest saturation measure: the lower the number, the more offices are competing for each resident.
- More practices per resident than the US average: DuPage, IL (2,022), Cook, IL (2,870), Lake, IL (2,873), McHenry, IL (2,913), Kane, IL (2,969), Lake, IN (3,391), Will, IL (3,553). By this measure these counties are the more saturated part of the metro.
- Fewer practices per resident than the US average: Newton, IN (14,206), DeKalb, IL (4,839), Jasper, IN (4,799), Kenosha, WI (4,705), Grundy, IL (4,512), Porter, IN (4,420), Kendall, IL (4,008). By this measure these counties are less saturated.
- Small counts move fast: Grundy, IL (12), Jasper, IN (7), Newton, IN (1) have fewer than 20 general practices, so a single new office changes the ratio noticeably. Check the current list before relying on it.
- Growth: Kendall County (IL) shows the highest growth figure in the metro (9.4%). Growth can make a thin market today a reasonable one later, or fill a quiet one with new offices.
A county is still a big place. Two addresses in the same county can look completely different once you draw a drive-time area around each one, which is the next step.
Where dentists are looking, and where there's still room
County averages hide the real story. To get closer, we looked at the Chicago area town by town, and ZIP code by ZIP code inside the largest cities. For each area we drew a 5-mile circle around it and counted the residents and the general practices our research team has verified inside it. Then we compared that with how much research dentists have done on that area on Dentagraphics over the past 12 months.
Across the metro, the typical 5-mile area has 2,793 residents per general practice. Higher means more residents for each office.
Popular and already crowded
These areas draw high research activity from dentists, and they already have more offices per resident than the metro typically does.
| Area | County | Residents per general practice (5 mi) | Median household income | Dentist research activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling Meadows | Cook, IL | 1,616 | $88,605 | High |
| Glenview | Cook, IL | 1,654 | $121,887 | High |
| Winnetka | Cook, IL | 1,675 | $213,261 | High |
| Palatine | Cook, IL | 1,690 | $97,707 | High |
| Barrington | Lake, IL | 1,709 | $164,489 | High |
| Westmont | DuPage, IL | 1,732 | $91,462 | High |
| Hinsdale | DuPage, IL | 1,789 | $205,896 | High |
| Libertyville | Lake, IL | 1,806 | $166,844 | High |
All eight have median household incomes above the metro's $81,815. A new practice here has to win patients away from established ones.
Popular and still open
These areas draw the same high research activity but still have more residents per office than the metro typically does.
| Area | County | Residents per general practice (5 mi) | Median household income | Dentist research activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb | DeKalb, IL | 11,908 | $53,050 | High |
| Cedar Lake | Lake, IN | 5,690 | $86,388 | High |
| Romeoville | Will, IL | 5,287 | $92,392 | High |
| Valparaiso | Porter, IN | 4,583 | $83,126 | High |
| Crete | Will, IL | 4,516 | $90,389 | High |
| Plainfield | Will, IL | 3,864 | $121,763 | High |
| Oswego | Kendall, IL | 3,784 | $111,117 | High |
| Lowell | Lake, IN | 3,775 | $87,510 | High |
DeKalb has the most room, at 11,908 residents per general practice, but a median household income of $53,050, well below the metro's. The other seven, in Will and Kendall counties in Illinois and Lake and Porter counties in Indiana, pair room with incomes above $83,000. Expect these to fill in. When many dentists are researching the same open market, the window can close quickly.
Room to grow, little attention
These areas have more residents per office than the metro typically does, and comparatively few dentists are researching them.
| Area | County | Residents per general practice (5 mi) | Median household income | Dentist research activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ZIP 60649 | Cook, IL | 11,719 | $45,182 | Low |
| Chicago, ZIP 60637 | Cook, IL | 10,652 | $42,500 | Low |
| Chicago, ZIP 60619 | Cook, IL | 10,263 | $47,366 | Low |
| Zion | Lake, IL | 9,907 | $66,974 | Low |
| Chicago, ZIP 60617 | Cook, IL | 9,578 | $53,090 | Low |
| East Chicago | Lake, IN | 8,785 | $38,529 | Low |
| Hobart | Lake, IN | 8,601 | $68,737 | Low |
| Chicago, ZIP 60620 | Cook, IL | 8,356 | $53,738 | Low |
| Chicago, ZIP 60621 | Cook, IL | 8,023 | $33,604 | Low |
Seven of these nine areas have median household incomes under $54,000, well below the metro's $81,815. They are lower-income, underserved areas, and they tend to suit Medicaid or community-focused practice models better than fee-for-service. Zion ($66,974) and Hobart, Indiana ($68,737) are closer to the metro, though still below it.
A high number of residents per office is a reason to look closer, not proof of an opportunity. A few offices just outside the 5-mile line can change the picture, and income, age and your practice model decide whether a market fits.
What this shows
- Research and crowding overlap. The eight crowded suburbs dentists research most all have fewer residents per general practice than the metro's typical 2,793, as low as 1,616 in Rolling Meadows.
- Busy areas are still open in Will and Kendall counties and in Indiana. Cedar Lake, Romeoville, Valparaiso, Crete, Plainfield, Oswego and Lowell draw high research activity and still have more residents per office than the metro typically does, with incomes above $83,000.
- Most of the quiet room is lower-income. Seven of the nine low-attention areas with the most residents per office have incomes under $54,000, which points to Medicaid or community-focused models.
How we measured this: residents and household income come from Census ACS data by ZIP code. General practice counts come from Dentagraphics' verified practice database. Each 5-mile area combines the ZIP codes whose centers fall within 5 miles of the town or ZIP code. Research activity reflects how many different dentists researched addresses in each area on Dentagraphics in the past 12 months, with each dentist counted once, grouped into High, Medium and Low. We don't publish raw counts. These figures use a different method from the county table above, so compare areas with each other rather than with the county numbers.
How to narrow from a county to a site
- Define your practice model. General or specialty, fee-for-service, PPO or Medicaid, and the size of office you want. The same county can suit one model and not another.
- Compare counties. Use the tables above to shortlist counties where residents per practice, income and growth fit your model.
- Check drive-time areas around candidate sites. For each lease space or address, look at the population, income, age and nearby practices within a 5, 10 and 15 minute drive, not just a radius.
- Verify the competition by hand. Online maps include closed offices, duplicates and listings that are not clinical practices. Look at each nearby practice yourself, or use a list that a person has already checked.
- Weigh rent against visibility. A cheaper space off the main road can cost you in new patients. Visibility, signage, parking and access are worth paying for up to a point.
- Have a dental attorney review the lease. Term, renewal options, exclusivity, build-out allowance and personal guarantees are where startup costs hide.
Why not rely only on the landlord's or broker's demographics
Landlords and commercial real estate brokers often hand over a demographic summary with a listing. It is a fine starting point, but remember who prepared it: a landlord earns rent once you sign, and a broker is usually paid when the deal closes. Their numbers describe the property they want to lease or sell.
Government business counts have a similar limit. They are useful for a broad picture, but they count establishments by industry code, do not separate general from specialty practices, and do not give you the list of offices you would actually compete with.
Dentagraphics does not broker practices and holds no stake in any location. Our competition counts come from 118,330 US dental practices verified by hand by our research team. Whatever source you use, ask where its competitor count came from and whether a person checked it.
Who you'll need to open a practice in Chicago
A startup practice takes a small team. These are the roles to line up, and what to ask each one.
- A dental-focused commercial real estate broker, ideally one who represents you as the tenant. A tenant's broker negotiates the lease for you rather than for the landlord. Ask how many dental leases they have done, who pays their commission, and whether they also represent landlords in the area.
- A lender with dental practice financing. A lender that works with dental startups understands build-out, equipment and the months before collections catch up. Ask what they need from you to approve a startup loan, how long any interest-only period lasts, and whether the loan covers build-out, equipment and working capital.
- A dental CPA. An accountant who works mainly with dentists can build your startup budget and set up your books, payroll and taxes. Ask how many startups they have worked with and what overhead they expect in your first year.
- A dental office architect or designer, and a contractor. Dental offices need plumbing, electrical, vacuum and air lines that a general office does not. Ask for recent dental projects you can visit, and whether they will look at a space and estimate the build-out before you sign the lease.
- A dental attorney for the lease and your business entity. Ask them to review the lease term, renewal options, exclusivity, build-out allowance and personal guarantee, and to recommend the entity type that fits your state and plans.
- Independent market analysis before you choose a location. The broker and lender are paid when a deal happens. Dentagraphics holds no stake in any location, so a demographer can compare your candidate sites and tell you plainly whether the market fits your practice. Ask any source of market data where its competitor count came from and whether a person checked it.
How Dentagraphics helps you start a practice in Chicago
- Free plan: national, state and county overviews of demographics and competition, including every county on this page.
- Start/Buy membership ($149/month): unlimited address and area searches, so you can check the population, income and verified nearby practices around every site you are considering.
- Custom reports with handwritten analysis by a demographer: a Dentagraphics demographer studies your market and writes the analysis for your practice strategy, market and target patients. It is human analysis, not generated by software or AI. Choose a Single-Site Study ($695) to examine one address, or an Area Analysis ($745) to compare areas across the metro.
- Practice Mailers, if you would rather buy: find practices by specialty, owner experience and the market around them, then send handwritten letters to owners who might sell. We print, stamp and mail each one on your behalf.
For 12 years, more than 10,000 paid customers have used Dentagraphics to judge an address, a neighborhood or a region before committing to it.
Keep reading:
- Chicago area dental demographics
- Sample Single-Site Study and sample Area Analysis
- Dental practice site selection: how to choose a location
- How to buy a dental practice
- How Dr. Phil Chung chose the location for his pediatric dental practice
- Plans and pricing
Frequently asked questions
How many dentists are in Chicago? Dentagraphics counts practices rather than individual dentists. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area has 3,300 general dental practices and 793 specialty practices, from a list verified by hand. The largest county, Cook County, Illinois, has 1,800 general practices.
Is Chicago saturated with dentists? By the metro average, the area has more general practices per resident than the country as a whole: 2,861 residents per general practice, against a US average of 3,853. The counties vary widely, from 2,022 residents per general practice in DuPage County, Illinois to 14,206 in Newton County, Indiana. Saturation around a specific site depends on the offices within a short drive, so check the drive-time area around each address you are considering.
Which Chicago area county has the most residents per dental practice? Newton County, Indiana, with 14,206 residents per general practice and 1 general practice. DuPage County, Illinois has the fewest, at 2,022.
What is the median household income in the Chicago area? $81,815 for the metro, against a US median of $81,604. By county it ranges from $65,460 in Newton County, Indiana to $105,188 in Kendall County, Illinois.
Where are dentists looking to open in Chicago? On Dentagraphics, dentist research over the past 12 months is high in Rolling Meadows, Glenview, Winnetka, Palatine, Barrington, Westmont, Hinsdale and Libertyville. Those areas already have 1,616 to 1,806 residents per general practice within 5 miles, fewer than the metro's typical 2,793, so they are crowded. Cedar Lake, Romeoville, Valparaiso and Crete draw the same high attention and still have about 4,500 to 5,700 residents per general practice.
Where do I start if I want to open a dental practice in Chicago? Decide your practice model, compare the counties on this page by residents per practice, income and growth, then test specific sites by drive time and verify the nearby competition before you sign a lease. A custom report written by a demographer can do that comparison for you.