The Town FilesWatseka, Illinois
City in Iroquois County · population 4,679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,700
- Household income
- $43,608
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 47.7
Watseka is a city of 4,679 people in Iroquois County, Illinois. The median home is worth $103,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 87% of Illinois towns, hipper than 71% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 70% of Illinois towns.
How Watseka ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watseka is worth $103,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $43,608, which is more affordable than 42% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $790 a month. 64.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watseka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $790 | $960 |
| Median household income | $43,608 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Watseka
| People | Watseka | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 90.4% |
Weather in Watseka
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watseka since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 6, 1956 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Iroquois County since 1996
Iroquois County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 7, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1747: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iroquois County
Iroquois County had 7,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,100 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Watseka itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Watseka
4 public schools with 907 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Raymond School | 1-5 | 297 | 12.9 |
| Watseka Comm High School | 9-12 | 286 | 12.4 |
| Watseka Junior High School | 6-8 | 211 | 12.4 |
| Wanda Kendall Elem School | PK-K | 113 | 14.1 |
Towns near Watseka
- Hoopeston, IL22.0 mi · 4,915 people · home $78,100
- Kankakee, IL23.6 mi · 24,052 people · home $104,900
- Momence, IL27.1 mi · 3,117 people · home $154,800
- Bradley, IL27.5 mi · 15,419 people · home $173,400
- Bourbonnais, IL29.2 mi · 18,164 people · home $253,100
- Paxton, IL29.5 mi · 4,450 people · home $120,400
Watseka questions
Is Watseka, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watseka scores better for retirees than 58% of Illinois towns and quieter than 64%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.7).
How much does a house cost in Watseka?
The median owner-occupied home in Watseka is valued at $103,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,608, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $790 a month.
What is the weather like in Watseka?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.1 inches of snow.
Does Watseka get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watseka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 6, 1956. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)