United States › Illinois › Watson CITY
Watson Illinois · 658 residents (2025 est.) · 1.09 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Watson is a city of 620 people in Illinois. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Owners hold 84% of the housing stock. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $100,000. 1% of residents were born outside the United States. Renters pay $742 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 729 in 2000
658 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
568 / sq mi
−34%since 2009
from 865 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 28.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
583 682 781 879 978 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Watson Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $74,167
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,028 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,000 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.245 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 8.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Public administration 1.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Education & health services 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$100,000
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$742
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $420 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 88.2% in 2000
16.0% rent
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.61 people
−14%since 2009
from 3.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 43.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.1%(715)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 97.3%(603)
from 1 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 0.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 75.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 80.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 74.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 7.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 16.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 75.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 88.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 97.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 35.7%(5)
Share of the 14 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Watson, Illinois? Watson, Illinois has about 620 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Watson, Illinois? The typical household in Watson, Illinois earns about $74,167 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Watson, Illinois expensive? In Watson, Illinois, the median home is worth about $100,000, and the typical rent is about $742 a month.
How educated are people in Watson, Illinois? About 14.1% of adults age 25 and over in Watson, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Watson, Illinois? About 14.8% of people in Watson, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Has Watson, Illinois grown since 1990? Yes, Watson, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 24 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.
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