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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Watertown Micro

Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI · 1 counties · 86,505 residents (2025 est.) · 556.492 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#37Lowest poverty rateof 9258.1%
The short version

Watertown has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $83,750. Population has grown 16% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $274,100. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% 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

Total population
86,003
+16%since 2000
from 74,021 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
155 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 133 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.5
+13%since 2000
from 36.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:86,505 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
66K71K77K82K88K1990201020202024Watertown
202486K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$83,750
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,901 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,881
+97%since 2000
from $21,236 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.8%
+24.1 ptssince 2009
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.1%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.403
+4%since 2010
from 0.388 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$274,100
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $123,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,035
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $564 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 71.7% in 2000
26.9% rent
Vacancy rate
5.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−12.5 ptssince 2009
from 31.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+24%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Watertown on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.3%(69,765)
Black0.2%(184)
Hispanic / Latino4.1%(3,031)
Asian0.4%(323)
Other0%
Diversity Score11.6%(8,556)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87%(74,788)
Black0.9%(793)
Hispanic / Latino8.5%(7,309)
Asian0.6%(533)
Other3%(2,580)
Diversity Score29.4%(25,323)
Segregation Score19.1%(16,443)
Diversity Score
29
+155%since 2000
from 12 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
19
−18%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.5%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.9%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 84.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+66%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 71.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.8%
−27.0 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−42.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 10.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−87.2 ptssince 2013
from 92.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+12.7 ptssince 2017
from 77.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 5.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

WatertownCENTRAL22,704Fort AtkinsonCENTRAL12,388
What's inside

1 component county

Jefferson CountyCENTRAL86,505
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Watertown

Columbus
Pop 85,729
Keene
Pop 78,269
Key West
Pop 80,406
Fairbanks
Pop 93,972
Places similar to Watertown
Head to head

Compare Watertown side by side

WATERTOWN VS
Columbus
Income$79,901−5%
Home value$232,800−15%
Population85,729−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERTOWN VS
Keene
Income$83,329−1%
Home value$280,100+2%
Population78,269−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERTOWN VS
Key West
Income$87,738+5%
Home value$780,600+185%
Population80,406−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERTOWN VS
Fairbanks
Income$88,267+5%
Home value$298,200+9%
Population93,972+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI?

Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI has about 86,003 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI?

The typical household in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI earns about $83,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI expensive?

In Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI, the median home is worth about $274,100, and the typical rent is about $1,035 a month.

How educated are people in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI?

About 28.5% of adults age 25 and over in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI?

About 8.1% of people in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI grown since 1990?

Yes, Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI has grown since 1990. The population has added about 18,220 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →