Population 87 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Watauga
Household size in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.88 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.46 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Watauga run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. South Dakota as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.88, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.0 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Watauga are younger than 39.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.5% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Watauga: 5.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Watauga
Renters in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.3% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.5% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.2% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Watauga is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About three-quarters of owners (76.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.5% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.9% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.9% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.2% of the housing in Watauga, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1945 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +9 | +6 |
Watauga is a place of older homes: half were built before 1955, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $478 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $600 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $520 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $450 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$28 | +$369 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Watauga costs $450 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 23.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Watauga
Bachelor's degrees in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.6% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.0% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.7 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a quarter of adults 25 and older in Watauga (27.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.8% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.4% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.9% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.7 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Watauga: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Watauga
| Period | Watauga | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −11.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The survey found almost no one in Watauga out of work and looking, against 5.4% of the labor force nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Watauga compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga | 2.42 | 39.5 | 5.0% | 20.2% | 23.2% | 1955 | $450 | 27.0% | 96.5% | 0.0% |
| Morristown | 2.42 | 39.5 | 5.0% | 20.2% | 23.2% | 1955 | $450 | 27.0% | 96.5% | 0.0% |
| McIntosh | 2.61 | 37.6 | 9.4% | 23.2% | 21.7% | 1960 | $446 | 24.3% | 94.2% | 5.8% |
| Keldron | 2.42 | 39.5 | 5.0% | 20.2% | 23.2% | 1955 | $450 | 27.0% | 96.5% | 0.0% |
| Mc Intosh | 3.00 | 38.7 | 13.7% | 29.4% | 20.3% | 1972 | $597 | 22.3% | 89.0% | 4.8% |
| Morristown | 2.62 | 42.2 | 7.4% | 18.1% | 21.0% | 1969 | $716 | 21.9% | 92.5% | 2.4% |
| Thunder Hawk | 2.37 | 45.2 | 6.1% | 20.0% | 27.6% | 1961 | $554 | 28.9% | 96.8% | 0.6% |
| Mahto | 3.23 | 31.4 | 23.5% | 36.9% | 17.1% | 1977 | $434 | 15.5% | 86.8% | 24.3% |
| Walker | 3.27 | 31.0 | 24.4% | 38.1% | 16.8% | 1978 | $433 | 14.9% | 86.3% | 25.5% |
| Lemmon | 2.58 | 45.1 | 8.8% | 18.1% | 22.9% | 1969 | $657 | 23.7% | 93.3% | 2.2% |
| Bullhead | 3.45 | 29.3 | 28.4% | 44.3% | 15.4% | 1983 | $431 | 12.4% | 84.2% | 30.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Simpsonville, NY · Shell Beach, CA · Shelton, SC · Shibleys Point, MO · Shin Pond, ME · Shively, CA · Shokokon, IL · Sidney, OR · Siloam, KY · Silver City, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Watauga. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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