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Wataga, IL
Village in Knox County, Illinois.
Population
710
Land area
0.8sq mi
People per sq mi
856
ZIP codes
0
Wataga and its ZIP codes
Wataga at a glance
- Wataga is about 3.7 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $62,917 a year, 25% less than the Illinois figure of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $97,600 (63% below Illinois) and median rent is $636 a month.
Local data for Wataga, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Wataga, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$62,917
Poverty rate
9.3%
Median home value
$97,600
Median rent
$636/mo
Homeownership
74.3%
Bachelor's or higher
13.3%
Median age
32.7
Average commute
22.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (137), Irish Americans (102), Swedish Americans (53).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Knox County. PPP loans are for Wataga.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
Aug 2026, -1.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,451
17,188 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$51,995
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$351M
FY 2026, $7,027 per person
How people get to work
Wataga, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone88.8%
- Carpooled8.6%
- Public transit0.5%
- Walked0.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home0.8%
Average one-way commute: 22.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Wataga, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
476
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
29
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 14°F
39.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Wataga, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.9%
U.S. 33.3% +2.6 pts
Diabetes
11.2%
U.S. 12.1% -0.9 pts
Smoking
13.2%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
7.1%
U.S. 11.1% -4.0 pts
Cities near Wataga
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| HendersonVillage | 4 mi | 0.3 |
| OneidaCity | 4.3 mi | 0.8 |
| East GalesburgVillage | 5.8 mi | 1.4 |
| GalesburgCity | 7.7 mi | 17.8 |
| RioVillage | 8.5 mi | 0.3 |
| KnoxvilleCity | 8.6 mi | 2.3 |
| AltonaVillage | 8.7 mi | 0.9 |
| Oak RunCensus-designated place | 8.7 mi | 4.3 |
| VictoriaVillage | 9.9 mi | 0.5 |
| WoodhullVillage | 11 mi | 0.9 |
| NekomaCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.1 |
| North HendersonVillage | 11 mi | 0.2 |
| GilsonCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| AlphaVillage | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| Bishop HillVillage | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| AlexisVillage | 15 mi | 0.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Wataga, IL in?
- Wataga is in Knox County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Wataga, IL?
- About 710 people live in Wataga, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Wataga?
- Nearby places include Henderson (4 mi), Oneida (4.3 mi), East Galesburg (5.8 mi), Galesburg (7.7 mi), Rio (8.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023