United States › Watertown MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS
Watertown Micro Watertown, SD · 1 counties · 28,325 residents · 688 sq mi
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The short version
Watertown is a metro area of 28,325 people. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 20% of adults. Getting to work takes 14 minutes on average. 2% of residents were born outside the United States. The typical home is worth $182,400, having more than doubled since 2000. Renters pay $756 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K 24K 26K 28K 29K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Watertown Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $57,885
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,257 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,761 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.6%
Public administration 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing 3.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Education & health services 1.3%
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$182,400
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $80,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$756
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $401 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 70.2% in 2000
33.4% rent
2.27 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.27 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.0 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 96.3%(24,948)
Hispanic / Latino 1.1%(274)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 91.2%(25,841)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(739)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 85.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 72.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 31.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 9.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 35.8%(4,285)
Women 15+
Never married 24.6%(2,827)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.5% 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) 23.6%(522)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.7%(480)
Share of the 2,209 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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In this metro
Largest cities What's inside
1 component county Drill deeper
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WATERTOWN VS
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WATERTOWN VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Watertown, SD? Watertown, SD has about 28,325 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Watertown, SD? The typical household in Watertown, SD earns about $57,885 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Watertown, SD expensive? In Watertown, SD, the median home is worth about $182,400, and the typical rent is about $756 a month.
How educated are people in Watertown, SD? About 20.0% of adults age 25 and over in Watertown, SD hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Watertown, SD? About 13.2% of people in Watertown, SD live below the federal poverty line.
Has Watertown, SD grown since 1990? Yes, Watertown, SD has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,627 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.
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