United States › Wisconsin › Watertown CITY
Watertown Wisconsin · 22,704 residents (2025 est.) · 12.1 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Watertown is a city of 22,774 people in Wisconsin. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. The foreign-born share is 3%. The typical home is worth $222,100, having more than doubled since 2000. There are 1,888 people per square mile. Median rent is $1,052 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 21,598 in 2000
22,704 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,888 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 1,904 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 20K 22K 23K 24K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Watertown Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $70,107
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,562 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,977 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.379 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Public administration 1.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Education & health services 0.1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$222,100
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $109,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,052
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $563 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 63.5% in 2000
38.0% rent
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.50 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 44.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
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.
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 93.2%(20,122)
Hispanic / Latino 4.9%(1,067)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 85.4%(19,453)
Hispanic / Latino 9.5%(2,153)
from 16 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
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 81.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 83.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 72.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 81.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 9.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 77.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 87.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 93.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 35.9%(3,041)
Women 15+
Never married 32.3%(3,341)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 59.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 14.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 22.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 72.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 39.1% 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) 29.4%(458)
Gulf War (1990s) 8.5%(132)
Share of the 1,560 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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Drill deeper
Places similar to Watertown Head to head
Compare Watertown to nearby cities WATERTOWN VS
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WATERTOWN VS
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WATERTOWN VS
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WATERTOWN VS
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Income $66,673 −5%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Watertown, Wisconsin? Watertown, Wisconsin has about 22,774 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Watertown, Wisconsin? The typical household in Watertown, Wisconsin earns about $70,107 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Watertown, Wisconsin expensive? In Watertown, Wisconsin, the median home is worth about $222,100, and the typical rent is about $1,052 a month.
How educated are people in Watertown, Wisconsin? About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Watertown, Wisconsin hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Watertown, Wisconsin? About 9.9% of people in Watertown, Wisconsin live below the federal poverty line.
Has Watertown, Wisconsin grown since 1990? Yes, Watertown, Wisconsin has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,632 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.
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