PlainZIP

Peoria, IL · standard

ZIP Code 61603

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

17,600
1,615/sq mi
$41,618
Median income
$77,500
Median home value
14.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Peoria pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

7th pct
household income, US ZIPs
4th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,615
people per sq mi
53%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 61603 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 61603 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, home to 17,600 residents across 10.9 square miles, a density of 1,615 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.

ZIP 61603 reports a modest median household income of $41,618 (48% below the Illinois average), while per-capita income is $23,175. Poverty here runs at 30.2%, with unemployment measured at 13.5%. Housing costs here run $77,500 for a typical home value (60% below the state average), with rent averaging $995 a month; 52.9% of homes are owner-occupied.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 14.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.1, and the average commute is 18 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Peoria County, letting you compare 61603 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 61603

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Peoria, IL

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 61603.

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 61603, Peoria, 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

17,600

Population

10.9

Area (sq mi)

1,615

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 61603?

34.1

Median Age

50.0%

Male

50.0%

Female

8.9%

Foreign-Born

White 34.4%
African American 38.7%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 17.0%
Hispanic or Latino 13.6%

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?

$41,618

Median Household Income

-48% vs state

$23,175

Per Capita Income

30.2%

Poverty Rate

13.5%

Unemployment Rate

17.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 61603 ranks nationally

Peoria, IL household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$41,618 7th percentile higher than 7% 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 54.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.7%

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

What does housing look like?

8,088

Total Housing Units

6,674

Occupied Units

1,414

Vacant Units

2.26

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 52.9%
Renter 47.1%

$77,500

Median Home Value

-60% vs state

$995

Median Rent

1944

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

+7.3%

YoY Change (2024)

150

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+50%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 61603 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +50% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -1.1% 100
2021 +6.0% 106
2022 +9.3% 115
2023 +21.4% 140
2024 +7.3% 150

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 272 business establishments in ZIP 61603, employing approximately 4,426 people with a combined annual payroll of $207,657,000.

272

Businesses

4,426

Employees

$207.7M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 40 14.7%
Health care and social assistance 40 14.7%
Other services (except public administration) 39 14.3%
Accommodation and food services 26 9.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 21 7.7%
Construction 19 7.0%
Wholesale trade 18 6.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 15 5.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 13 4.8%
Manufacturing 11 4.0%
Finance and insurance 10 3.7%
Transportation and warehousing 7 2.6%
Educational services 6 2.2%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 1.1%

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 61603 vs 61616 →

ZIP 61603 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 61603 ranks #4 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 61603 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 61603 ranks #6 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
61616 Peoria Heights, IL 6,116 2.3 mi
61611 East Peoria, IL 25,268 2.2 mi
61606 Peoria, IL 8,051 2.0 mi
61625 Peoria, IL 385 2.2 mi
61602 Peoria, IL 1,055 3.1 mi
61614 Peoria, IL 27,628 3.5 mi
61604 Peoria, IL 31,647 4.0 mi
61610 Creve Coeur, IL 5,476 5.0 mi
61605 Peoria, IL 16,303 3.9 mi
61552 Mossville, IL 239 7.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Peoria County

61604 standard
Peoria, IL
Pop: 31,647
61614 standard
Peoria, IL
Pop: 27,628
61615 standard
Peoria, IL
Pop: 22,432
61605 standard
Peoria, IL
Pop: 16,303
61523 standard
Chillicothe, IL
Pop: 11,204
61607 standard
Peoria, IL
Pop: 10,941

Related Areas

Peoria County Peoria, IL Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 61603 in? ▼
ZIP code 61603 (Peoria) is located in Peoria County, Illinois. Peoria County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/peoria-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 61603? ▼
ZIP code 61603 in Peoria, IL has a population of 17,600 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 61603? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 61603 is $41,618, which is 45% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 61603? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 61603 is $77,500, which is 72% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 61603? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 61603 is African American at 38.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 61603? ▼
ZIP code 61603 has 272 business establishments employing approximately 4,426 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 61603? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 61603 are: Retail trade (40), Health care and social assistance (40), Other services (except public administration) (39). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 61603? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 61603 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 50%. 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 61603? ▼
In ZIP code 61603, 54.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.7% 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 61603? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 61603 is 17.5 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 61603? ▼
In ZIP code 61603, approximately 52.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 61603? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 61603 is 30.2% 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.