United States › South Dakota › Watertown CITY · 2020 ACS
Watertown South Dakota · 22,655 residents · 18.4 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Watertown is a city of 22,655 people in South Dakota. Getting to work takes 13 minutes on average. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. 3% of locals were born outside the United States. The typical home is worth $175,600, having more than doubled since 2000. Renters pay $760 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 19K 20K 22K 24K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Watertown Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $52,145
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,348 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,994 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 9.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.6%
Transportation & warehousing 3.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Education & health services 1.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$175,600
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$760
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $401 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 66.2% in 2000
38.3% rent
from 2.19 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.1 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.8%(19,384)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(259)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 90.4%(20,488)
Hispanic / Latino 2.8%(627)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 84.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 9.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 72.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 10.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 37.9%(3,732)
Women 15+
Never married 25.9%(2,364)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
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) 25.6%(486)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.5%(389)
Share of the 1,897 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
Compare Watertown to nearby cities WATERTOWN VS
Brookings
Income $63,493 +22%
Home value $265,500 +51%
Population 25,355 +7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERTOWN VS
Huron
Income $61,452 +18%
Home value $159,000 −9%
Population 14,607 −38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERTOWN VS
Marshall
Income $68,566 +31%
Home value $210,300 +20%
Population 14,171 −40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERTOWN VS
Aberdeen
Income $64,405 +24%
Home value $217,300 +24%
Population 27,961 +18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Watertown, South Dakota? Watertown, South Dakota has about 22,655 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Watertown, South Dakota? The typical household in Watertown, South Dakota earns about $52,145 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Watertown, South Dakota expensive? In Watertown, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $175,600, and the typical rent is about $760 a month.
How educated are people in Watertown, South Dakota? About 20.8% of adults age 25 and over in Watertown, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Watertown, South Dakota? About 15.4% of people in Watertown, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.
Has Watertown, South Dakota grown since 1990? Yes, Watertown, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,063 residents, a change of about 29 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 