Crete: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in Crete is $97,147 (1.1× below Will County median $109,984; 1.2× higher than Illinois median $83,390), with homes at a median value of $228,500. The surrounding county supports 2,565,567 jobs (avg $86,931).
- $100,597 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (at Illinois median).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $97,147 — above the Illinois median ($77,902). Poverty rate 3.9% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 44% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.4× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 15.8% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 44.1% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 3.9% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 7.0% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $2,501,880 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $251,680,372 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $100,597 (at Illinois median) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $111,654 |
| Median Household Income | $97,147 (vs Illinois $77,902) |
| Poverty Rate | 3.9% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $97,147 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.7% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 11% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 38.20 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 10.7% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | long commute / bedroom community |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 2,565,567 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $223,027,058,108 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $86,931 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 6,011,660 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% (vs Illinois 3.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 15 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 249 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 16.60 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Horticulture Totals, Grain, Equine, Floriculture Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 134,846 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 2,441,203 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 192,887,445 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 1,273 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 418 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 631 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 923 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 37 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 484 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 481 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 147 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 4,260 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 4,712 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 891 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 1,149 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (3)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | WALT'S FOOD CENTER 9504 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 9 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | CRETE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $35,895,955,928 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,804.22 (at Illinois median) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 5,275,541 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 78.1% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 1.5% |
| Pct Walked | 10.7% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 48.9 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 38.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 10 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12