How Many Google Reviews Do Chicago Businesses Have?
The typical business in Chicago, IL has 296 Google reviews and a 4.49-star average rating, based on 370 local Google Business Profiles across 17 categories. Compared with the same kinds of businesses across the US, Chicago businesses have 85% more reviews, ranking #1 of 3 Illinois cities in our study.
Source: Feedback Guru analysis of public Google Business Profile data, collected December 2024 to January 2025. Methodology in the Google review statistics study.
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Median reviews
296
Average rating
4.49
Rated 4.5+
69%
Reviews vs. US
+85%
same categories
How Many Reviews It Takes to Stand Out in Chicago
The median is the middle business in each category. Getting into the top 25% or top 10% of Chicago businesses like yours is what makes a profile stand out in local results. For example, retail stores in Chicago need 363 reviews to reach the top 25% and 616 for the top 10%.
| Category | Businesses | Median reviews | Top 25% | Top 10% | Avg. rating | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Stores | 27 | 168 | 363+ | 616+ | 4.7 | +26% |
| Auto Repair Shops | 25 | 261 | 420+ | 600+ | 4.7 | +85% |
| Restaurants | 24 | 3,261 | 4,787+ | 6,502+ | 4.5 | +285% |
| Dentists | 20 | 632 | 971+ | 1,207+ | 4.9 | +103% |
| Gas Stations | 20 | 95 | 151+ | 231+ | 3.6 | ≈ same |
| Gyms | 20 | 120 | 247+ | 469+ | 4.6 | +54% |
| Laundromats and Dry Cleaners | 20 | 190 | 296+ | 590+ | 4.7 | +75% |
| Pharmacies | 20 | 24 | 62+ | 110+ | 3.3 | −6% |
| Accountants | 19 | 30 | 73+ | — | 4.8 | +150% |
| Cafes | 19 | 554 | 845+ | — | 4.4 | +66% |
| Lawyers | 19 | 217 | 676+ | — | 4.9 | +144% |
| Beauty Salons | 18 | 331 | 569+ | — | 4.8 | +190% |
| Hotels and Lodging | 18 | 1,246 | 2,139+ | — | 4.1 | +55% |
| Grocery Stores | 17 | 1,699 | 2,544+ | — | 4.4 | +104% |
| Bars | 16 | 846 | 1,129+ | — | 4.5 | +28% |
| Spas | 14 | 300 | 463+ | — | 4.7 | +212% |
| Pet Stores | 13 | 586 | 762+ | — | 4.5 | +103% |
Categories with at least 10 reviewed businesses in Chicago; top 10% shown when a category has 20 or more. "vs. US median" compares the Chicago median with the median for the same category across all 48,320 businesses in the study.
How Chicago Compares
Measured category by category against the US, Chicago ranks #5 of 71 cities in our study and #1 of 3 in Illinois. Competition for attention on Google is above average here: matching the typical local business takes more reviews than it would elsewhere.
Ahead of the US
- Restaurants3.9× as many
- Spas3.1× as many
- Beauty Salons2.9× as many
How Reviews Are Spread Across Chicago Businesses
0.8% of Chicago businesses have fewer than 10 Google reviews, and 23.5% have 1,000 or more. The most reviewed categories are restaurants (3,261), grocery stores (1,699) and hotels and lodging (1,246); the least reviewed are pharmacies (24), accountants (30) and gas stations (95) (median reviews).
Share of reviewed businesses by review count. Blue: Chicago. Gray: all businesses in the study.
Using These Numbers
- Find your category above and note the top 25% number. That's a realistic goal for standing out in Chicago.
- Ask every customer, the same way. A link in your follow-up email or text and a QR code at the counter or on receipts. See how to get more Google reviews.
- Keep it steady and reply. Recent reviews and owner replies both matter, so a few new reviews every week beats a one-time push.
Google Reviews in Chicago: FAQ
The typical (median) business in Chicago, IL has 296 Google reviews and the average rating is 4.49 stars. 69.2% of Chicago businesses are rated 4.5 stars or higher. Based on 370 Google Business Profiles collected December 2024 to January 2025.
Retail Stores are the most common category in our Chicago data (27 businesses). The median has 168 reviews; 363 reviews puts one in the top 25% locally, and 616 in the top 10%.
Compared with the same kinds of businesses across the US, Chicago businesses have 85% more Google reviews. That ranks Chicago #5 of the 71 cities in our study and #1 of 3 in Illinois.
By median review count: Restaurants (3,261), Grocery Stores (1,699), Hotels and Lodging (1,246). The fewest: Pharmacies (24), Accountants (30), Gas Stations (95).
Ask every customer, the same way, every time: a link in your follow-up email or text, a QR code at the counter or on receipts. Make it a few taps, reply to the reviews you get, and keep it steady, because recent reviews count. Feedback Guru gives you a free review link and QR code for this.
Google Review Benchmarks for Other Illinois Cities
- Champaign median 97 reviews
- Bloomington median 56 reviews
See Where Your Chicago Business Stands
Look up your business to compare its Google reviews with these benchmarks, then get a free review link and QR code for your customers.
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