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Watseka, IL
City in Iroquois County, Illinois.
Population
4,780
Land area
2.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,623
ZIP codes
0
Watseka and its ZIP codes
Watseka at a glance
- Watseka is about 7.1 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- The median household income is $43,608, 48% below the Illinois median of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $103,700 (61% below Illinois) and median rent is $790 a month.
Local data for Watseka, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Watseka, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$43,608
Poverty rate
23.4%
Median home value
$103,700
Median rent
$790/mo
Homeownership
64.8%
Bachelor's or higher
12.2%
Median age
47.7
Average commute
18.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,722), Irish Americans (864), Italian Americans (409).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Iroquois County. PPP loans are for Watseka.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Aug 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,637
7,015 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$59,524
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$215M
FY 2026, $7,925 per person
How people get to work
Watseka, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.5%
- Carpooled10.2%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked1.8%
- Bicycle0.5%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home4.9%
Average one-way commute: 18.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Watseka, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: cold wave
Storm events since 1996
483
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
255
2.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 16°F
38.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Watseka, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
44.4%
U.S. 33.3% +11.1 pts
Diabetes
17.2%
U.S. 12.1% +5.1 pts
Smoking
21.9%
U.S. 12.8% +9.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.0%
U.S. 11.1% +0.9 pts
Cities near Watseka
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WoodlandVillage | 3.9 mi | 0.5 |
| Crescent CityVillage | 6.4 mi | 0.5 |
| IroquoisVillage | 8.6 mi | 0.6 |
| SheldonVillage | 8.7 mi | 0.8 |
| DonovanVillage | 9.6 mi | 0.3 |
| MartintonVillage | 9.7 mi | 0.3 |
| MilfordVillage | 10 mi | 0.7 |
| Raub, INCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.1 |
| BeavervilleVillage | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| DanforthVillage | 13 mi | 0.5 |
| PapineauVillage | 13 mi | 0.2 |
| AshkumVillage | 14 mi | 0.8 |
| GilmanCity | 14 mi | 2.4 |
| Kentland, INTown | 15 mi | 1.3 |
| OnargaVillage | 15 mi | 1.7 |
| CliftonVillage | 15 mi | 0.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Watseka, IL in?
- Watseka is in Iroquois County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Watseka, IL?
- About 4,780 people live in Watseka, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Watseka?
- Nearby places include Woodland (3.9 mi), Crescent City (6.4 mi), Iroquois (8.6 mi), Sheldon (8.7 mi), Donovan (9.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023