City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Watseka, IL

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

4,630
Residents
$42,794
Median income
$104,400
Median home
$916
Median rent (state)

Watseka - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Watseka lands in the 10th percentile for household income and the 44th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

10th
percentile, household income
11th
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
44th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Watseka, IL

4,630 people live in Watseka, Illinois - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Watseka brings in $42,794 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.6%. Home values in Watseka run a median of $104,400, and the median resident age is 46.4 years. 11.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 49.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. Watseka reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1547.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Watseka's yearly average temperature at 50.8°F with 38.4 inches of precipitation per year and 17.1 inches of snowfall.

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. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 74.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

4,630 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$42,794 /yr

Poverty 16.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Watseka compare to other US cities?

Watseka measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 10% higher than other cities
Home value 11% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities
Safety 44% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Illinois and the picture shifts: Watseka ranks #315 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Watseka against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Watseka near the bottom of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Watseka ranks #935 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Watseka only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,217 of 1,311
7th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#935 of 1,336
0th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#787 of 1,315
40th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#196 of 1,335
85th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,023 of 1,336
23rd percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

10thIncome percentile
44thSafety percentile

10th percentile nationally for median household income · 44th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Watseka's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Watseka's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 49 Avg. percentile National median
Watseka's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Watseka's home value compares nationally

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

$104,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 89% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Watseka $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 - Watseka, IL Watseka, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Watseka, 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 Watseka, IL median $42,794/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%
Watseka, 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 Watseka, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.2%

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

Population
4,630
Median Income
$42,794
Median Home Value
$104,400
Median Age
46.4
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Labor force participation
49.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1547.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
179.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1368.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
50.8°F
Annual Precipitation
38.4"
Annual Snowfall
17.1"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,450 residents4,500 residents4,550 residents4,600 residents4,650 residents4,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,673 residents 4,510 residents ▼ -3.5%
Watseka'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 1
2020 0
2021 1
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.1%
Carpool
13.1%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
3.0%
Other
0.7%

Based on 1,888 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 Watseka 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
74.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Olympia Fields
4,636 people
Fairfield
4,658 people
Tuscola
4,675 people
Creve Coeur
4,572 people
Lakewood
4,699 people
Cortland
4,556 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Watseka's 4,630 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Alfred, NY
4,632 people
Lorane, PA
4,633 people
Ashville, OH
4,626 people
Boiling Springs, NC
4,625 people
Colchester, CT
4,624 people
Clarcona, FL
4,636 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Watseka's $42,794 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Crossett, AR
$42,792 median income
Pontiac, MI
$42,791 median income
Union, MS
$42,791 median income
Jeffersonville, GA
$42,788 median income
Cherry Creek, SD
$42,788 median income
Second Mesa, AZ
$42,778 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Watseka, 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 Watseka, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.4% 6.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.4% White 85.4% Black or African American 1.2% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.0% Two or more races 6.5% 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 Watseka 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
Watseka (this city) 4,630 $42,794
Olympia Fields 4,636 $107,656
Fairfield 4,658 $41,026
Tuscola 4,675 $77,034
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Watseka, IL?

What is the population of Watseka, IL? +

The population of Watseka, IL stands at 4,630 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Watseka, the typical household earns $42,794 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Watseka? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Watseka; 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.

Is Watseka, IL safe? +

Watseka has a total crime rate of 1547.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

Homes in Watseka carry a median value of $104,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Watseka? +

Watseka has an average annual temperature of 50.8°F, 38.4 inches of precipitation, and 17.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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

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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.