United States › New York › Watertown CITY
Watertown New York · 23,517 residents (2025 est.) · 9.03 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Watertown is a city of 24,375 people in New York. 41% of homes are owner-occupied. That trails the New York median by roughly 40%. The typical home is worth $158,600, having more than doubled since 2000. Getting to work takes 16 minutes on average. About 27% of adults have finished a four-year degree.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 26,705 in 2000
23,517 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,699 / sq mi
−11%since 2009
from 3,026 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
24K 25K 27K 28K 30K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Watertown Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $51,753
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,429 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,354 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 19.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 3.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.9%
Public administration 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.4%
Education & health services 0.3%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$158,600
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$967
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $457 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 43.0% in 2000
59.1% rent
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
1.98 people
−20%since 2009
from 2.46 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.8 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 87.8%(23,438)
Hispanic / Latino 3.6%(960)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 78.3%(19,076)
Hispanic / Latino 7.1%(1,723)
from 28 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data from 17.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 82.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 70.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 88.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 79.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 92.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 44.7%(4,398)
Women 15+
Never married 33.3%(3,305)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 16.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 39.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 55.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 52.5% 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) 48.5%(1,036)
Gulf War (1990s) 27.8%(595)
Share of the 2,137 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
Drill deeper
Places similar to Watertown Head to head
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Watertown, New York? Watertown, New York has about 24,375 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Watertown, New York? The typical household in Watertown, New York earns about $51,753 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Watertown, New York expensive? In Watertown, New York, the median home is worth about $158,600, and the typical rent is about $967 a month.
How educated are people in Watertown, New York? About 26.6% of adults age 25 and over in Watertown, New York hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Watertown, New York? About 20.1% of people in Watertown, New York live below the federal poverty line.
Has Watertown, New York grown since 1990? Yes, Watertown, New York has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,054 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.
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