Coverage varies by state, trade and authority. These are source snapshots, not a census of unique businesses or a live license check. Ratios cannot establish market saturation or contractor quality.
Illinois vs Texas: contractor markets, side by side
Illinois has 15,797 roster records across the trades we cover; Texas has 9,656. Counts come from the IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and the Texas Open Data Portal (TDLR); market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| Illinois | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 15,797 | 9,656 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 12.4 | 3.3 |
| Residents | 12,757,583 | 29,242,689 |
| Households | 5,427,336 | 11,654,379 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $84,033 | $78,473 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 18,551 (2025) | 210,217 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Chicago | Houston |
Illinois has the higher snapshot ratio: 12.4 source records per 10k residents against 3.3 in Texas. Differences in source coverage affect this ratio; it does not measure contractors per square mile or competition for jobs.
The ZIP-weighted income indicator is higher in Illinois: $84,033 against $78,473 in Texas, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | Illinois | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 2,637 | 12,392 |
| Plumbers | 1,017 | — |
| General Contractors | 7,056 | — |
| Roofing Contractors | 4,607 | — |
| Masons | 992 | — |
Counts reflect the separate covered-trade snapshot. A “—” means no count is provided here; it says nothing about whether the trade exists or requires a license. These category counts are not reconciled with the headline roster totals.
Figures use separately generated snapshots: overall roster totals, trade counts and mapped-city counts can differ in scope and collection time and should not be added together or treated as a reconciled census. The displayed source refresh date does not date every aggregate. Population and households are sums of the covered ZIP estimates. The income indicator is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level household-income medians, not the state's household median. Census context can refer to a different period from the roster. Housing-unit authorizations refer to the displayed permit year; they are not completed projects. See the ACS estimate guidance and Building Permits Survey for the underlying statistical definitions.
Working one of these markets?
Illinois vs Texas: common questions
Does Illinois or Texas have more contractor records?
Illinois has 15,797 covered records; Texas has 9,656. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and the Texas Open Data Portal (TDLR).
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, Illinois or Texas?
Illinois has the higher snapshot ratio: 12.4 snapshot records per 10k residents against 3.3 in Texas.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, Illinois or Texas?
Illinois: $84,033 against $78,473 in Texas. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this Illinois vs Texas comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and Texas Open Data Portal (TDLR); population, household, income, and permit figures are U.S. Census aggregates. Counts are snapshot records, not a census of unique companies. Source scope and dates differ between states.