Waterman is a village in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,433 at the 2020 census. The village is known for the DeKalb Ag seed corn processing plant, now owned by the German company, Bayer. The "Waterman and Western" train line that operated in Lion's Club Park was a 1/3 scale train line with a 1/2 mile train line circling the park and was a hobby of a local resident before it was destroyed by a fire in 2021.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code60556

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Waterman

Housing in Waterman

$300K▲ 6.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Waterman home is worth about $300,000, up 6.9% in a year, close to the Illinois typical home.

Only 1 sale in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Waterman

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Waterman's police department reported only 2024, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Waterman 0

Illinois 2.9

U.S. 3.6

Property crime per 1,000

Waterman 0

Illinois 17.7

U.S. 17.7

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Waterman

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Waterman for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are DeKalb (12%), Shabbona (6%) and Aurora (5%). Half commute less than 24 miles.

DeKalb

12%

Shabbona

Aurora

Chicago

4%Work in townlive and work in Waterman 24 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 358Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Waterman →

Health in Waterman

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 70% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Illinois

5better than IL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 27 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 11 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs 3▲ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.9%Fewer adults facing food insecurityIL 15.9% · better 7.6%Fewer uninsured adultsIL 9.9% · better

Care nearby

Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee HospitalDekalb · 9.4 mi · ER

2550 N Annie Glidden RdDekalb · 13.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Waterman · CMS · HRSAHealth in Waterman →

Natural hazards in Waterman

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 15% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Waterman flood?no paid flood claims on record 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Waterman

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Waterman →

Climate in Waterman

Full climate →

Waterman has cold winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 30 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

33° / 17°Winter

59° / 38°Spring

82° / 61°Summer

62° / 41°Fall