PlainZIP

Wataga, IL · standard

ZIP Code 61488

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

1,120
17/sq mi
$68,333
Median income
$112,900
Median home value
17.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Wataga pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

44th pct
household income, US ZIPs
14th pct
home value, US ZIPs
17
people per sq mi
81%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 61488 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 61488 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 67.1 square miles in Wataga, Knox County, Illinois. The area is home to 1,120 residents, producing a population density of 17 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 61488 against Illinois and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 61488 sits at $68,333 (15% below the Illinois average), while per-capita income is $38,653. The poverty rate stands at 7.0% and the unemployment rate at 1.2%. On housing, the median home value is $112,900 (41% below the state average) with median rent at $636 per month, and 80.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 61488 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 17.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.5, and the average commute is —. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Knox County, so you can benchmark 61488 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 61488

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 61488.

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 61488, Wataga, 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

1,120

Population

67.1

Area (sq mi)

17

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 61488?

40.5

Median Age

51.8%

Male

48.2%

Female

0.1%

Foreign-Born

White 93.3%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.3%
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?

$68,333

Median Household Income

-15% vs state

$38,653

Per Capita Income

7.0%

Poverty Rate

1.2%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 61488 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$68,333 44th percentile higher than 44% 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 48.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 17.2%

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

What does housing look like?

516

Total Housing Units

486

Occupied Units

30

Vacant Units

2.23

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 80.7%
Renter 19.3%

$112,900

Median Home Value

-41% vs state

$636

Median Rent

1968

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

+8.6%

YoY Change (2023)

170

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+70%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 61488 have increased 8.6% over the past year (2023). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +70% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 -21.4% 117
2020 +26.4% 148
2021 +11.1% 164
2022 -4.6% 157
2023 +8.6% 170

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 2023. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 14 business establishments in ZIP 61488, employing approximately 172 people with a combined annual payroll of $10,213,000.

14

Businesses

172

Employees

$10.2M

Annual Payroll

3

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Wholesale trade 3 21.4%
Transportation and warehousing 3 21.4%
Other services (except public administration) 3 21.4%

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 61488 vs 61439 →

ZIP 61488 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 61488 ranks #3 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 61488 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 61488 ranks #5 of 7 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
61439 Henderson, IL 269 2.0 mi
61430 East Galesburg, IL 828 6.4 mi
61467 Oneida, IL 1,048 5.0 mi
61472 Rio, IL 648 5.9 mi
61401 Galesburg, IL 34,788 7.0 mi
61448 Knoxville, IL 3,823 7.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Knox County

61401 standard
Galesburg, IL
Pop: 34,788
61410 standard
Abingdon, IL
Pop: 3,912
61448 standard
Knoxville, IL
Pop: 3,823
61572 standard
Yates City, IL
Pop: 1,068
61467 standard
Oneida, IL
Pop: 1,048
61428 standard
Dahinda, IL
Pop: 986

Related Areas

Knox County Wataga, IL Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 61488 in? ▼
ZIP code 61488 (Wataga) is located in Knox County, Illinois. Knox County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/knox-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 61488? ▼
ZIP code 61488 in Wataga, IL has a population of 1,120 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 61488? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 61488 is $68,333, which is 10% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 61488? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 61488 is $112,900, which is 59% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 61488? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 61488 is White at 93.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 61488? ▼
ZIP code 61488 has 14 business establishments employing approximately 172 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 61488? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 61488 are: Wholesale trade (3), Transportation and warehousing (3), Other services (except public administration) (3). There are 3 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 61488? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 61488 increased by 8.6% in 2023. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 70%. 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 61488? ▼
In ZIP code 61488, 48.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 61488? ▼
In ZIP code 61488, approximately 80.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 19.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 61488? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 61488 is 7.0% 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 Wataga, 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.