PlainZIP

Watseka, IL · standard

ZIP Code 60970

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

7,190
21/sq mi
$46,688
Median income
$119,900
Median home value
15.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Watseka pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

11th pct
household income, US ZIPs
16th pct
home value, US ZIPs
21
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 60970 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 60970 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois, home to 7,190 residents across 336.0 square miles, a density of 21 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 60970 reports a modest median household income of $46,688 (42% below the Illinois average), while per-capita income is $32,516. 23.0% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 6.0%. The typical home here is valued at $119,900 (38% below the state average); renters pay a median of $790 monthly, and 71.3% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 15.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48, and the average commute is 19 minutes. We also surface 3 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Iroquois County, so you can benchmark 60970 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 60970

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Watseka, IL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 60970.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 60970, Watseka, 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

7,190

Population

336.0

Area (sq mi)

21

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 60970?

48.0

Median Age

48.0%

Male

52.0%

Female

2.6%

Foreign-Born

White 89.1%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%

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?

$46,688

Median Household Income

-42% vs state

$32,516

Per Capita Income

23.0%

Poverty Rate

6.0%

Unemployment Rate

19.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 60970 ranks nationally

Watseka, IL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$46,688 11th percentile higher than 11% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 53.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.3%

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

What does housing look like?

3,108

Total Housing Units

2,813

Occupied Units

295

Vacant Units

2.09

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 71.3%
Renter 28.7%

$119,900

Median Home Value

-38% vs state

$790

Median Rent

1966

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

+2.8%

YoY Change (2024)

156

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+56%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 60970 have increased 2.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +56% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.5% 119
2021 +9.0% 130
2022 +2.1% 132
2023 +14.8% 152
2024 +2.8% 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 202 business establishments in ZIP 60970, employing approximately 2,390 people with a combined annual payroll of $110,829,000.

202

Businesses

2,390

Employees

$110.8M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 37 18.3%
Retail trade 31 15.3%
Other services (except public administration) 22 10.9%
Construction 20 9.9%
Finance and insurance 20 9.9%
Accommodation and food services 18 8.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 17 8.4%
Manufacturing 9 4.5%
Wholesale trade 7 3.5%
Information 7 3.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 2.0%

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 60970 vs 60974 →

ZIP 60970 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 60970 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 60970 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 60970 ranks #4 of 4 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
60974 Woodland, IL 283 5.1 mi
60951 Martinton, IL 961 8.9 mi
60928 Crescent City, IL 709 6.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Iroquois County

60953 standard
Milford, IL
Pop: 2,469
60927 standard
Clifton, IL
Pop: 2,404
60938 standard
Gilman, IL
Pop: 2,131
60955 standard
Onarga, IL
Pop: 1,901
60924 standard
Cissna Park, IL
Pop: 1,635
60948 standard
Loda, IL
Pop: 1,533

Related Areas

Iroquois County Watseka, IL Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 60970 in? ▼
ZIP code 60970 (Watseka) is located in Iroquois County, Illinois. Iroquois County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/iroquois-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 60970? ▼
ZIP code 60970 in Watseka, IL has a population of 7,190 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 60970? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 60970 is $46,688, which is 39% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 60970? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 60970 is $119,900, which is 57% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 60970? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 60970 is White at 89.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 60970? ▼
ZIP code 60970 has 202 business establishments employing approximately 2,390 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 60970? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 60970 are: Health care and social assistance (37), Retail trade (31), Other services (except public administration) (22). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 60970? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 60970 increased by 2.8% 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 60970? ▼
In ZIP code 60970, 53.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.3% 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 60970? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 60970 is 19.2 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 60970? ▼
In ZIP code 60970, approximately 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 60970? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 60970 is 23.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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