© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Watertown.
About
Life in Watertown
Watertown is a community of 22,873 people in Wisconsin. The median household income is $70,107, median rent runs about $1,061 per month, and median home values are around $222,100. Unemployment is low at 2.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Watertown at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Foreign-Born
3.0%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
-1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Watertown: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Watertown, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (50.9%), and 5.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.9%
of households
Married Couples
43.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
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 WI
Rent, home values, and income in Watertown
In Watertown, home values are 17% below the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,706
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $328,038 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Watertown
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Watertown, is close to the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Watertown: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Watertown Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.6 min avg
How Watertown residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Watertown, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN)
Small hub1.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 45 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 93 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Watertown runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
168.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
559.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Watertown Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
75.8 / 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 winter weather, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Winter Weather | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Winter Weather | $93,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Hail | $512,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Winter Weather | $54,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Winter Weather | $23,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 29 | Winter Weather | $72,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Winter Weather | $1.0M |
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
Jefferson County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Watertown, is typically good.
Median AQI
40
Jefferson County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 14°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Watertown has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 14°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/14°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.3"
Annual Snowfall
37.0"
Hot Days/Year
7
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
149
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 11°F | 1.37" |
| Feb | 30°F | 13°F | 1.35" |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 1.90" |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 3.67" |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.19" |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 5.80" |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 4.50" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.11" |
| Sep | 73°F | 51°F | 3.47" |
| Oct | 60°F | 40°F | 3.00" |
| Nov | 45°F | 28°F | 2.14" |
| Dec | 32°F | 17°F | 1.75" |
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
5.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Watertown Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.6 mi away · Oconomowoc
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.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Watertown
Watertown's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 18.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
9
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Watertown
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 541 students · in-state tuition $22,600 · 55% graduate · median earnings $46,953 (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: Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 69 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Watertown
Watertown has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Ice Age National Scenic Trail (69 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Watertown
Watertown Public Library
100 S. Water St., 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, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Watertown's median rent is $1,052/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $70,107/year. Median home value is $222,100.
Is Watertown, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Watertown's violent crime rate was 169 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 559 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Watertown, Wisconsin?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Watertown, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Watertown, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Watertown is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,052/month and median household income is $70,107/year. The median home value is $222,100. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Watertown, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Watertown is 25 minutes, which is about 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