What’s in a 1, 3, and 5 Mile Radius Demographic Report — and How to Use It for Site Planning

When you’re choosing where to open a new business, expand a service area, or invest in real estate — data can reveal what instincts can’t. A busy intersection or growing suburb might look promising, but the real question is: who lives, works, and spends money there?

That’s where a 1, 3, and 5 Mile Radius Demographic Report from Main Street Reports comes in.

These reports turn raw census and ACS data into meaningful local insights — helping you visualize the people and economic conditions that define a community. Let’s unpack what’s inside, using our Northbrook, Illinois sample report as an example, and explore how to use this data for smarter site planning.

Each report provides a side-by-side snapshot of the 1-mile, 3-mile, and 5-mile areas surrounding any address in the U.S.

The data is organized into easy-to-digest categories — from population and income to housing, education, and commuting patterns — giving you a full picture of who your potential customers are and how they live.

Here’s a look at what’s included (with real data from our Northbrook example):

• Population (Male/Female): Within a 1-mile radius, Northbrook’s area around Milwaukee Ave has roughly 12,277 people, evenly split between men and women.

• Median Age: Ages shift as you move outward — the median age is 35.5 for males and 41.4 for females within 1 mile, rising to 41.8 / 43.7 at the 3-mile radius.

Why it matters: Age trends can signal market potential. A younger, denser population may indicate higher demand for dining, fitness, and rental housing — while older, established communities may point toward healthcare, home improvement, and financial services.

• Median Household Income:

  • 1 Mile: $82,821

  • 3 Miles: $127,436

  • 5 Miles: $121,953

This jump in median income as the radius widens suggests a wealthier surrounding market — ideal for service providers who draw customers from nearby suburbs.

Why it matters: Understanding where disposable income increases helps businesses align pricing and marketing strategies with neighborhood buying power.

A landscaper or remodeling contractor, for example, might find that expanding services to the 3–5 mile range brings in higher-value clients.

Among adults 25 and older:

• Within 1 mile: 27% college graduates, 11% with graduate or professional degrees

• Within 3 miles: 37% college graduates, 24% graduate degrees

Why it matters: Higher education levels often correlate with professional employment and higher disposable income — both key for targeting luxury, tech-enabled, or service-based offerings.

• Median Home Value: Ranges from about $300,000–$400,000 within 1 mile to over $500,000–$750,000 within 3 miles.

• Owner vs. Renter: Closer to the site, the housing mix is nearly half and half — 52.5% owner-occupied, 47.5% renter-occupied — while the 5-mile radius shows a more established homeowner market (74.7% owner-occupied).

Why it matters: This tells you whether you’re targeting a transient rental base or a stable homeowner population. For businesses like HVAC repair, roofing, or landscaping, owner-occupied areas typically mean repeat, long-term customers.

The Northbrook example reveals how diversity changes by distance:

• Within 1 mile: 49% White, 25% Other Race, 14% Asian, 37% Hispanic/Latino

• Within 5 miles: 66% White, 17% Asian, 14% Hispanic/Latino

Why it matters: Cultural mix can shape local demand for specific services, dining options, and communication styles. Businesses that tailor messaging to reflect community diversity can gain stronger local traction.

• In the 1-mile area, 88% drive to work, while 7% work from home.

• Within 5 miles, 17% work from home — nearly 2.5x higher.

Why it matters: As remote work expands, local businesses serving residential neighborhoods (like fitness studios, coffee shops, and salons) benefit from weekday foot traffic that used to disappear during office hours.

So what do you do with all this? Let’s say you’re a contractor or landscaping business considering a new service hub.

Your 1-mile radius might reveal an affordable, mixed-rental area with younger residents — perfect for staffing and initial operations.
The 3-mile radius, with higher incomes and homeownership, marks your ideal service zone — where customers have both the need and the budget for ongoing projects.
The 5-mile radius rounds out your long-term expansion potential, identifying neighboring communities worth marketing to later.

Or imagine you’re a realtor or property investor:
Income growth, housing age, and commute times can point to up-and-coming neighborhoods before they’re on everyone’s radar.

Each Main Street Reports radius report is more than a spreadsheet — it’s a local market x-ray.

By visualizing 1-, 3-, and 5-mile differences, you can:

• Identify your true customer base

• Understand income and education shifts

• Target areas with ideal age and ownership profiles

• Avoid oversaturated or mismatched markets

Whether you’re planning your first location or scaling to your fifth, our reports bring clarity to complex local dynamics.

Main Street Reports delivers instant demographic reports for any U.S. address — with side-by-side 1-, 3-, and 5-mile comparisons, clear charts, and verified Census data.

You can use them to evaluate new business sites, refine marketing zones, or present professional insights to investors and clients.

A 1, 3, and 5 Mile Radius Demographic Report doesn’t just tell you who’s nearby — it tells you where your best opportunities are hiding.

And for local businesses ready to grow with confidence, that insight is priceless.