PlainZIP

Waukegan, IL · standard

ZIP Code 60085

Lake County, Illinois — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

71,714
1,842/sq mi
$66,793
Median income
$177,400
Median home value
18.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Waukegan pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure and unusually populous area.

41th pct
household income, US ZIPs
37th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,842
people per sq mi
48%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 60085 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 60085 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 38.9 square miles in Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois. The area is home to 71,714 residents, producing a population density of 1,842 people per square mile, and falls within the Chicago time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 60085 against Illinois and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 60085 sits at $66,793 (17% below the Illinois average), while per-capita income is $29,337. The poverty rate stands at 16.5% and the unemployment rate at 6.1%. On housing, the median home value is $177,400 (8% below the state average) with median rent at $1,161 per month, and 48.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 60085 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 18.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.6, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Lake County, so you can benchmark 60085 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 60085

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 60085.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 60085, Waukegan, IL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

71,714

Population

38.9

Area (sq mi)

1,842

People / sq mi

Chicago

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 60085?

34.6

Median Age

51.3%

Male

48.7%

Female

34.3%

Foreign-Born

White 25.2%
African American 15.0%
Asian 5.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 26.5%
Hispanic or Latino 64.3%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$66,793

Median Household Income

-17% vs state

$29,337

Per Capita Income

16.5%

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Unemployment Rate

25.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 60085 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$66,793 41st percentile higher than 41% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 48.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 18.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

26,674

Total Housing Units

25,566

Occupied Units

1,108

Vacant Units

2.76

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 48.2%
Renter 51.8%

$177,400

Median Home Value

-8% vs state

$1,161

Median Rent

1967

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.7%

YoY Change (2024)

185

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+85%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 60085 have increased 7.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +85% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.4% 117
2021 +9.7% 128
2022 +18.0% 151
2023 +13.8% 172
2024 +7.7% 185

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 1,324 business establishments in ZIP 60085, employing approximately 20,283 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,152,984,000.

1,324

Businesses

20,283

Employees

$1.2B

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 203 15.3%
Accommodation and food services 154 11.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 145 10.9%
Health care and social assistance 145 10.9%
Other services (except public administration) 145 10.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 109 8.2%
Construction 101 7.6%
Transportation and warehousing 61 4.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 56 4.2%
Manufacturing 55 4.2%
Wholesale trade 52 3.9%
Finance and insurance 44 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 17 1.3%
Educational services 13 1.0%
Information 11 0.8%
Management of companies and enterprises 8 0.6%
Utilities 4 0.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 60085 vs 60064 →

ZIP 60085 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 60085 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 60085 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 60085 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
60064 North Chicago, IL 15,407 2.2 mi
60088 Great Lakes, IL 15,761 3.3 mi
60087 Waukegan, IL 26,978 3.5 mi
60044 Lake Bluff, IL 9,792 4.7 mi
60031 Gurnee, IL 37,947 4.0 mi
60099 Zion, IL 31,104 7.5 mi
60045 Lake Forest, IL 20,925 7.9 mi
60048 Libertyville, IL 29,095 5.8 mi
60083 Wadsworth, IL 9,838 7.0 mi
60096 Winthrop Harbor, IL 6,897 9.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lake County

60073 standard
Round Lake, IL
Pop: 60,002
60010 standard
Barrington, IL
Pop: 44,095
60047 standard
Lake Zurich, IL
Pop: 41,669
60089 standard
Buffalo Grove, IL
Pop: 41,533
60031 standard
Gurnee, IL
Pop: 37,947
60060 standard
Mundelein, IL
Pop: 37,189

Related Areas

Lake County Waukegan, IL Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 60085 in? ▼
ZIP code 60085 (Waukegan) is located in Lake County, Illinois. Lake County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lake-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 60085? ▼
ZIP code 60085 in Waukegan, IL has a population of 71,714 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 60085? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 60085 is $66,793, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 60085? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 60085 is $177,400, which is 36% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 60085? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 60085 is Two or More Ethnicities at 26.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 64.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 60085? ▼
ZIP code 60085 has 1,324 business establishments employing approximately 20,283 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 60085? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 60085 are: Retail trade (203), Accommodation and food services (154), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (145). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 60085? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 60085 increased by 7.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 85%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 60085? ▼
In ZIP code 60085, 48.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 60085? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 60085 is 25.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 60085? ▼
In ZIP code 60085, approximately 48.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 51.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 60085? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 60085 is 16.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Waukegan, IL

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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