© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Watertown.
About
Life in Watertown
Watertown is a community of 22,859 people in South Dakota. The median household income is $69,600, median rent runs about $942 per month, and median home values are around $229,400. Unemployment is low at 2.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Watertown at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Foreign-Born
1.3%
Broadband Internet
87.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.3% foreign-born, most often from Ethiopia
Who lives in Watertown: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Watertown, the largest foreign-born group is from Ethiopia (29.8%), and 1.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
19.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.2%
of households
Married Couples
42.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
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 about average for SD
Rent, home values, and income in Watertown
In Watertown, home values are 11% below the SD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.8%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,285
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $311,434 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SD
Unemployment in Watertown
Unemployment in Codington County, which includes Watertown, is close to the SD average.
Unemployment rate
Watertown: Codington County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Codington County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Watertown Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute12.6 min avg
How Watertown residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Watertown, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 92% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Watertown Regional Airport (ATY)
Regional airport · few flights14k 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 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Watertown runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
734.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Watertown Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 32 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
61.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Codington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Codington County, which includes Watertown, the most common type is flood, with 32 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | Flood | $100,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | Flood | None reported |
| 2023 | 25 | Winter Weather | $150,000 |
| 2022 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 15 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 34 | Flood | $471,700 |
| 2018 | 14 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Codington County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Codington County, which includes Watertown, is typically good — 283 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
283
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Codington County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 6°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Watertown has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 6°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
56°/35°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
25°/6°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.7"
Annual Snowfall
41.1"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
174
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
96
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°F | 3°F | 0.58" |
| Feb | 26°F | 7°F | 0.65" |
| Mar | 39°F | 20°F | 1.00" |
| Apr | 54°F | 32°F | 2.06" |
| May | 67°F | 45°F | 2.87" |
| Jun | 77°F | 55°F | 3.85" |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 3.05" |
| Aug | 80°F | 58°F | 2.89" |
| Sep | 72°F | 49°F | 2.45" |
| Oct | 56°F | 35°F | 1.95" |
| Nov | 40°F | 21°F | 0.68" |
| Dec | 26°F | 9°F | 0.68" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Watertown
Watertown has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Inc.
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.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Watertown
Watertown's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.6% 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
21.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
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 · 1,812 students · in-state tuition $7,622 · 70% graduate · median earnings $48,729 (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: Pipestone National Monument, 74 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Watertown
Watertown has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pipestone National Monument (74 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pipestone National Monument
National Monument
74 mi awayPublic Libraries in Watertown
Hamlin-Codington Regional Library
3 8th Ave. Se, Watertown
Watertown Regional Library
160 6th St Ne, 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, South Dakota affordable?⌄
Watertown's median rent is $942/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $69,600/year. Median home value is $229,400.
Is Watertown, South Dakota safe?⌄
Watertown's violent crime rate was 182 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 734 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Watertown, South Dakota?⌄
Codington County, which includes Watertown, has an unemployment rate of 2.0%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Watertown, South Dakota?⌄
The cost of living in Watertown is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $942/month and median household income is $69,600/year. The median home value is $229,400. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Watertown, South Dakota?⌄
The average commute in Watertown is 13 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