Waterman, IL · standard
ZIP Code 60556
DeKalb County, Illinois - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,007
- 15/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $100,186
- Median income Above-median income area
- $234,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Waterman pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 19%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 46%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 15
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 60556 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 60556 (Waterman, IL) rose +5.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 148.2 in 2023 to 156.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 60556 covers 135.6 square miles in Waterman, DeKalb County, Illinois (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,007 residents on file, a density of 15 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 60556 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $100,186 (25% above the average Illinois ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,261. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.8% and unemployment is 3.1%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $234,800 (22% above the average Illinois ZIP), while 81.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $885.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30, and the average commute is 37 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in DeKalb County, so 60556 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 60556
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waterman, IL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 60556.
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
5 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
5 establishments
- Construction
Construction
4 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
4 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
4 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 60556, Waterman, IL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
2,007
Population
135.6
Area (sq mi)
15
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 60556?
30.0
Median Age
47.6%
Male
52.4%
Female
2.7%
Foreign-Born
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?
$100,186
Median Household Income
+25% vs state ZIP avg
$38,261
Per Capita Income
4.8%
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
36.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 60556 ranks among Illinois ZIPs
Waterman, IL household income vs. every Illinois ZIP code
Median household income among 1,334 reporting Illinois ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$100,186 Top 19% higher than 81% of 1,334 Illinois ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Illinois 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
742housing units
742
Total Housing Units
719
Occupied Units
23
Vacant Units
2.97
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$234,800
Median Home Value
+22% vs state ZIP avg
$885
Median Rent
1957
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
+5.6%
YoY Change (2024)
156
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+56%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 60556 have increased 5.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +56% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.1% | 111 |
| 2021 | +8.8% | 121 |
| 2022 | +9.3% | 132 |
| 2023 | +12.2% | 148 |
| 2024 | +5.6% | 156 |
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 40 business establishments in ZIP 60556, employing approximately 375 people with a combined annual payroll of $24,423,000.
40
Businesses
375
Employees
$24.4M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 12.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 5 | 12.5% |
| Construction | 4 | 10.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 10.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 10.0% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 7.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 7.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 7.5% |
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 60556 vs 60550 →
ZIP 60556 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 60115
Dekalb (60115)
46,272 residents
- 60548 12,218
Sandwich (60548)
12,218 residents
- 60552 4,448
Somonauk (60552)
4,448 residents
- 60520 2,886
Hinckley (60520)
2,886 residents
- 60556 2,007
Waterman (60556)
2,007 residents
- 60531 1,902
Leland (60531)
1,902 residents
- 60550 1,440
Shabbona (60550)
1,440 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 60556 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 60556 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 60552
Somonauk (60552)
$113,411 median income
- 60556
Waterman (60556)
$100,186 median income
- 60520
Hinckley (60520)
$98,958 median income
- 60548
Sandwich (60548)
$82,957 median income
- 60550
Shabbona (60550)
$81,574 median income
- 60531
Leland (60531)
$79,808 median income
- 60115
Dekalb (60115)
$47,043 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 60556 ranks #2 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 60556, both outside IL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (2,007 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in DeKalb County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 60556 in?
ZIP code 60556 (Waterman) is located in DeKalb County, Illinois. DeKalb County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dekalb-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 60556?
ZIP code 60556 in Waterman, IL has a population of 2,007 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 60556?
The median household income in ZIP 60556 is $100,186, which is 31% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 60556?
The median home value in ZIP 60556 is $234,800, which is 16% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 60556?
The largest racial group in ZIP 60556 is White at 85.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 60556?
ZIP code 60556 has 40 business establishments employing approximately 375 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 60556?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 60556 are: Transportation and warehousing (5), Other services (except public administration) (5), Construction (4). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 60556?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 60556 increased by 5.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 56%. 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 60556?
In ZIP code 60556, 60.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.6% 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 60556?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 60556 is 36.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 60556?
In ZIP code 60556, approximately 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 60556?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 60556 is 4.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 60556's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 60556 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Waterman, IL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.