This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1960–61 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
| Rank | Program | Network | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gunsmoke | CBS | 37.3 | |
| 2 | Wagon Train | 34.2 | ||
| 3 | Have Gun – Will Travel | CBS | 30.9 | |
| 4 | The Andy Griffith Show | 27.8 | ||
| 5 | The Real McCoys | 27.7 | ||
| 6 | Rawhide | CBS | 27.5 | |
| 7 | Candid Camera | 27.3 | ||
| 8 | The Untouchables | ABC | 27.0 | |
| The Price Is Right | NBC | |||
| 10 | The Jack Benny Show | CBS | 26.2 | |
| 11 | Dennis the Menace | 26.1 | ||
| 12 | The Danny Thomas Show | 25.9 | ||
| 13 | My Three Sons | ABC | 25.8 | |
| 77 Sunset Strip | ||||
| 15 | The Ed Sullivan Show | CBS | 25.0 | |
| 16 | Perry Mason | 24.9 | ||
| 17 | Bonanza | NBC | 24.8 | |
| 18 | The Flintstones | ABC | 24.3 | |
| 19 | The Red Skelton Show | CBS | 24.0 | |
| 20 | General Electric Theater | 23.4 | ||
| 21 | Checkmate | 23.2 | ||
| 22 | What's My Line? | 23.1 | ||
| 23 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | 23.0 | ||
| 24 | The Ford Show | NBC | 22.9 | |
| 25 | The Garry Moore Show | CBS | 22.7 | |
| 26 | The Lawman | ABC | 22.3 | |
| 27 | The Rifleman | 22.1 | ||
| 28 | Cheyenne | 22.0 | ||
| 29 | Peter Gunn | NBC | 21.9 | |
| 30 | Route 66 | CBS | 21.7 |