© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Watertown.
About
Life in Watertown
Watertown is a community of 24,574 people in New York. The median household income is $51,753, median rent runs about $967 per month, and median home values are around $158,600. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.
Watertown at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.1%
Foreign-Born
4.9%
Broadband Internet
88.3%
of households
Population Growth
-4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.9% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Watertown: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Watertown, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (10.7%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.5%
of residents
65 and Older
16.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.6%
of households
Married Couples
30.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.98
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 40% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Watertown
In Watertown, rent runs 40% below the NY average, and home values are 63% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,710
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
40.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1945
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $205,937 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Watertown
Unemployment in Watertown is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Watertown Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.3 min avg
How Watertown residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Watertown, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Watertown International Airport (ART)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 98% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Watertown runs 98% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
652.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,069.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Watertown Police Department
Natural DisastersLake-Effect Snow most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
64.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Watertown, the most common type is lake-effect snow, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Lake-Effect Snow | $46,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Lake-Effect Snow | $98,500 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7,500 |
| 2022 | 20 | Lake-Effect Snow | $42,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $76,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | Lake-Effect Snow | $61,000 |
| 2019 | 31 | Winter Storm | $4.8M |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | $193,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Watertown, is typically good — 336 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
336
per year
Moderate Days
19
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 14°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Watertown has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 14°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/14°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.4"
Annual Snowfall
116.4"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
168
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 11°F | 3.58" |
| Feb | 31°F | 12°F | 2.88" |
| Mar | 40°F | 22°F | 2.75" |
| Apr | 54°F | 35°F | 3.53" |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 3.65" |
| Jun | 75°F | 57°F | 3.71" |
| Jul | 80°F | 62°F | 3.47" |
| Aug | 79°F | 61°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 72°F | 52°F | 3.85" |
| Oct | 59°F | 41°F | 5.01" |
| Nov | 46°F | 31°F | 4.24" |
| Dec | 35°F | 20°F | 3.85" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Watertown
Watertown has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Samaritan Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Watertown
Watertown's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Watertown
Public · 2-year · 1,499 students · in-state tuition $6,504 · 29% graduate · median earnings $44,092 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Stanwix National Monument, 57 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Watertown
Watertown has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Stanwix National Monument (57 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
57 mi awayHarriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
80 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Watertown
Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library
229 Washington Street, Watertown
Cities Near Watertown
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Watertown?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Watertown FAQ
Is Watertown, New York affordable?⌄
Watertown's median rent is $967/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,753/year. Median home value is $158,600.
Is Watertown, New York safe?⌄
Watertown's violent crime rate was 652 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4069 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Watertown, New York?⌄
Watertown has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Watertown, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Watertown is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $967/month and median household income is $51,753/year. The median home value is $158,600. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Watertown, New York?⌄
The average commute in Watertown is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from