This section is generated from cached city metrics and clearly labeled state-level benchmarks. It is meant to make the Waterman page less generic and more useful for comparing housing, income, utilities, taxes, insurance, demographics, and nearby alternatives.
Affordability Summary
Population is 1,419, so Waterman should be compared with similar-size places before using broader Illinois averages. Median household income is $97,386, so the best affordability read for Waterman is income versus housing, taxes, utilities, and insurance together.
Median home value is $212,900, so ownership costs in Waterman should be checked with mortgage, property tax, insurance, and maintenance assumptions. Two-bedroom rent is $897/mo, so renters can compare Waterman against ownership costs and nearby rental markets.
Housing and Income Context
For Waterman, income is solid, so housing and taxes usually decide the budget picture. Home values sit in a moderate range where taxes and utilities still change the monthly math.
Use the home value, rent, and income fields together before deciding whether Waterman looks more favorable for renting, buying, or comparing with Lee, IL.
Utility Cost Context
The residential electricity benchmark is $0.189/kWh, so Waterman households should treat usage, home size, heating, and cooling as the practical bill drivers. The electricity value shown for Waterman is a Illinois state-level EIA benchmark, so it should not be read as a local provider tariff.
For Waterman, utility planning is stronger when the electric benchmark is paired with home age, square footage, insulation, HVAC equipment, and household occupancy.
Property Tax Context
Median property tax paid is $4,601, so Waterman buyers should still verify parcel-specific tax records before budgeting. Parcel boundaries, exemptions, school districts, and reassessment rules can move the actual bill for a Waterman address.
Compare the property tax field with home value rather than reading it by itself; a lower tax bill can still pair with a different assessment base or exemption profile.
Insurance and Risk Context
Insurance costs in Waterman depend on address-level factors such as roof condition, structure age, coverage limits, claims history, deductible choice, and carrier underwriting.
Home value, tax burden, and insurance exposure should be reviewed together for Waterman, especially when comparing with Lee, IL.
Population and Demographics
Median age is 35.6, so Waterman may have different school, commute, healthcare, and housing demand patterns than a statewide average. Bachelor+ share is 25.8%, so Waterman education context can be useful when reading labor-market and school sections.
Unemployment is 5.1%, so Waterman wage and job-market context should be compared with commute options and regional employment centers.
