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CITY · 2020 ACS

Watson

Illinois · 668 residents · 1.09 sq mi
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The short version

Watson is home to 668 people in Illinois. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 88% of homes are owner-occupied. Median home value sits at $77,400. The foreign-born share is 1%. Renters pay $489 a month at the median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 15%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

668
−8%since 2000
from 729 in 2000
1990 – 2025
38.0
+34%since 2000
from 28.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1.09 sq mi
Population, 19902024
58368278187997819902000201020202024Watson
2024620
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56%(40)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(38)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.2%(55)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197.5%(50)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.5%(50)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.1%(81)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.4%(83)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5414.4%(96)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.1%(101)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 747.2%(48)
US avg: 10%
75 to 842.2%(15)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.6%(11)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$57,500
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,028 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$21,638
+66%since 2000
from $13,000 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
19.4%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
17.0%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade39.9%
US avg: 10%
Information9.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Wholesale trade0%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$77,400
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$489
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $420 in 2000
US average: $1,124
87.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 88.2% in 2000
12.5% rent
2.80 people
−8%since 2009
from 3.03 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.3
−3%since 2009
from 1.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(715)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(8)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(639)
Black0.3%(2)
Hispanic / Latino1%(7)
Asian0%(0)
Other0.5%(3)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Ancestry
German42.5%(338)
Irish16.5%(131)
American15.2%(121)
Italian12.6%(100)
English3.4%(27)
Scotch-Irish2.3%(18)
Dutch1.1%(9)
French0.8%(6)
Serbian0.5%(4)
British0.4%(3)
Norwegian0.3%(2)
Section 05

Education

8.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.5%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
1.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 0.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

18.3 min
+52%since 2000
from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
91.7%
+16.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
5.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

6.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
75.8%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 80.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
74.9%
US average: 73.3%
17.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

46.9%
−8.0 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
53.1%
+8.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.1% in 2009
0.5%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
4.2%
−11.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
88.7%
US average: 91.9%
97.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married46%(134)
Married41.6%(121)
Widowed1.4%(4)
Divorced11%(32)
Women 15+
Never married23.1%(58)
Married51.8%(130)
Widowed9.6%(24)
Divorced15.5%(39)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

4.2%
−11.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
60.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
10.5%
US average: 13.7%
12.4%
US average: 17.6%
27.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
68.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
36.2%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)27%(10)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era29.7%(11)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War21.6%(8)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 37 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Watson, Illinois?

Watson, Illinois has about 668 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Watson, Illinois?

The typical household in Watson, Illinois earns about $57,500 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 $77,400, and the typical rent is about $489 a month.

How educated are people in Watson, Illinois?

About 8.2% 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 17.0% of people in Watson, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Watson, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Watson, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 24 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →