Sherrard, IL · standard
ZIP Code 61281
Mercer County, Illinois - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,597
- 26/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $102,639
- Median income Above-median income area
- $224,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 27.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Sherrard pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 17%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 49%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 26
- people per sq mi
- 92%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 61281 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 61281 (Sherrard, IL) rose +70.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 156.4 in 2023 to 266.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 61281 covers 99.9 square miles in Sherrard, Mercer County, Illinois (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,597 residents on file, a density of 26 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 61281 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $102,639 (28% above the average Illinois ZIP), while per-capita income is $49,103. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.6% and unemployment is 2.1%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $224,000 (17% above the average Illinois ZIP), while 92.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $763.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 27.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.6, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Mercer County, so 61281 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 61281
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sherrard, IL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 61281.
- Construction
Construction
6 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
5 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
3 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
3 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
3 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 61281, Sherrard, 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
2,597
Population
99.9
Area (sq mi)
26
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 61281?
47.6
Median Age
55.2%
Male
44.8%
Female
1.4%
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?
$102,639
Median Household Income
+28% vs state ZIP avg
$49,103
Per Capita Income
4.6%
Poverty Rate
2.1%
Unemployment Rate
26.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 61281 ranks among Illinois ZIPs
Sherrard, 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)
$102,639 Top 18% higher than 82% 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
1,063housing units
1,063
Total Housing Units
965
Occupied Units
98
Vacant Units
2.61
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$224,000
Median Home Value
+17% vs state ZIP avg
$763
Median Rent
1974
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
+70.4%
YoY Change (2024)
267
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+167%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 61281 have increased 70.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +167% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.5% | 147 |
| 2021 | +1.9% | 150 |
| 2022 | +16.7% | 175 |
| 2023 | -10.6% | 156 |
| 2024 | +70.4% | 267 |
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 30 business establishments in ZIP 61281, employing approximately 96 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,632,000.
30
Businesses
96
Employees
$3.6M
Annual Payroll
5
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 6 | 20.0% |
| Retail trade | 5 | 16.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 10.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 10.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 10.0% |
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 61281 vs 61276 →
ZIP 61281 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 61264
Milan (61264)
10,548 residents
- 61240
Coal Valley (61240)
5,870 residents
- 61273 3,316
Orion (61273)
3,316 residents
- 61281 2,597
Sherrard (61281)
2,597 residents
- 61486 1,552
Viola (61486)
1,552 residents
- 61465 1,213
New Windsor (61465)
1,213 residents
- 61413 1,075
Alpha (61413)
1,075 residents
- 61263 530
Matherville (61263)
530 residents
- 61276 138
Preemption (61276)
138 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 61281 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 61281 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 61240
Coal Valley (61240)
$113,220 median income
- 61281
Sherrard (61281)
$102,639 median income
- 61273
Orion (61273)
$99,032 median income
- 61276
Preemption (61276)
$87,750 median income
- 61263
Matherville (61263)
$86,500 median income
- 61486
Viola (61486)
$78,889 median income
- 61264
Milan (61264)
$78,068 median income
- 61413
Alpha (61413)
$73,125 median income
- 61465
New Windsor (61465)
$56,875 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 61281 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61276 | Preemption, IL | 138 | 3.7 mi |
| 61263 | Matherville, IL | 530 | 5.1 mi |
| 61465 | New Windsor, IL | 1,213 | 6.7 mi |
| 61486 | Viola, IL | 1,552 | 7.4 mi |
| 61468 | Ophiem, IL | 104 | 7.4 mi |
| 61264 | Milan, IL | 10,548 | 7.8 mi |
| 61273 | Orion, IL | 3,316 | 7.8 mi |
| 61240 | Coal Valley, IL | 5,870 | 10.0 mi |
| 61413 | Alpha, IL | 1,075 | 10.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 61281, 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 (2,597 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Mercer County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 61281 in?
ZIP code 61281 (Sherrard) is located in Mercer County, Illinois. Mercer County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/mercer-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 61281?
ZIP code 61281 in Sherrard, IL has a population of 2,597 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 61281?
The median household income in ZIP 61281 is $102,639, which is 35% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 61281?
The median home value in ZIP 61281 is $224,000, which is 19% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 61281?
The largest racial group in ZIP 61281 is White at 94.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 61281?
ZIP code 61281 has 30 business establishments employing approximately 96 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 61281?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 61281 are: Construction (6), Retail trade (5), Wholesale trade (3). There are 5 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 61281?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 61281 increased by 70.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 167%. 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 61281?
In ZIP code 61281, 62.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 27.1% 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 61281?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 61281 is 26.8 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 61281?
In ZIP code 61281, approximately 92.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 7.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 61281?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 61281 is 4.6% 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 61281's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 61281 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Sherrard, IL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.