City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Wataga, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Wataga - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

782
Residents
$57,500
Median income
$95,700
Median home
$916
Median rent (state)

Wataga - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Wataga lands in the 31st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

31st
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Wataga, IL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 782 residents in Wataga, a small town within Illinois. The typical household in Wataga brings in $57,500 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.8%. Typical homes in Wataga are valued around $95,700, and the median resident age is 32.3 years. About 12.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Wataga (No Permits), per Census BPS data.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $916 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 57.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

782 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$57,500 /yr

Poverty 11.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Wataga compare to other US cities?

Where Wataga sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Wataga's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Illinois, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

31stIncome percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wataga's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$95,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Wataga $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Wataga, IL Wataga, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wataga, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Wataga, IL median $57,500/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Wataga, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Wataga, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
782
Median Income
$57,500
Median Home Value
$95,700
Median Age
32.3
Poverty Rate
11.8%
Labor force participation
65.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.2%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
700 residents710 residents720 residents730 residents740 residents750 residents 202020212022202320242025 741 residents 712 residents ▼ -3.9%
Wataga's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.1%
Carpool
11.6%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.8%

Based on 380 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Wataga sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$916/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
57.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Albany
783 people
Elkville
781 people
Evansville
781 people
Glasford
785 people
Ogden
785 people
Pleasant Plains
785 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wataga's 782 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Redfield, IA
782 people
Salem, KY
782 people
Whitley, KY
782 people
Fertile, MN
782 people
Wonderland Homes, SD
782 people
Grundy, VA
782 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wataga's $57,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pitkas Point, AK
$57,500 median income
Auburn, IA
$57,500 median income
Chester, IA
$57,500 median income
Rowan, IA
$57,500 median income
Burlingame, KS
$57,500 median income
Greenleaf, KS
$57,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wataga, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Wataga, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% 6.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.1% White 91.8% Black or African American 1.5% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 6.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Wataga compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Wataga (this city) 782 $57,500
Albany 783 $68,750
Elkville 781 $46,600
Evansville 781 $63,125
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wataga, IL?

What is the population of Wataga, IL? +

The population of Wataga, IL stands at 782 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Wataga, IL? +

The median household income in Wataga is $57,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wataga? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Wataga; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Wataga, IL? +

A typical home in Wataga is worth $95,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.