Population 24,008 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Watertown
Household size in Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Watertown are small: just 2.28 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.33, as it has nationally.
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 Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.2 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.2 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 38.9, the median age in Watertown is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.9% of households in Watertown, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Watertown
Renters in Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.5% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.1% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.6% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.1% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Watertown rent their homes (33.1%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 45.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northwest.
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 Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Watertown is close to the national rate: 9.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +9 | +6 |
The typical home in Watertown was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south has the oldest housing.
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 Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $552 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $740 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $840 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,058 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$506 | +$369 | +$606 |
The median renter in Watertown pays $1,058 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in South Dakota as a whole ($1,000). Rents are up $506 a month from 2006–10, a 92% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.0% of the typical renter's income, just over 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 Watertown
Bachelor's degrees in Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.6% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Watertown: 23.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
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 Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.7% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Watertown is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of South Dakota. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.5 points, mirroring the country.
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 Watertown
| Period | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Watertown has been strong: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Watertown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | 2.28 | 38.9 | 7.9% | 33.1% | 9.2% | 1978 | $1,058 | 23.2% | 94.1% | 2.2% |
| Rauville | 2.70 | 41.7 | 8.6% | 18.0% | 11.0% | 2000 | $1,188 | 29.2% | 96.1% | 2.4% |
| Foley | 2.33 | 40.0 | 7.7% | 27.6% | 8.0% | 1991 | $1,052 | 18.9% | 94.0% | 2.2% |
| Kampeska | 2.12 | 50.6 | 7.6% | 9.3% | 14.6% | 1977 | $1,072 | 14.8% | 97.1% | 0.6% |
| Waverly | 2.91 | 40.0 | 3.8% | 6.6% | 9.4% | 1973 | $807 | 16.9% | 95.8% | 0.2% |
| Kranzburg | 2.75 | 40.3 | 9.3% | 19.6% | 8.8% | 2000 | $1,219 | 30.4% | 96.1% | 2.7% |
| Grover | 2.21 | 48.0 | 5.7% | 11.5% | 21.1% | 1963 | $931 | 16.5% | 97.5% | 0.3% |
| Thomas | 2.56 | 34.6 | 3.8% | 18.8% | 27.1% | 1953 | $717 | 20.9% | 95.9% | 0.0% |
| Kones Corner | 2.72 | 35.4 | 4.9% | 15.4% | 15.9% | 1968 | $968 | 24.2% | 95.4% | 0.7% |
| Troy | 2.43 | 51.3 | 2.5% | 9.8% | 24.3% | 1976 | $785 | 20.6% | 93.2% | 0.9% |
| Castlewood | 2.83 | 35.3 | 4.8% | 13.7% | 6.6% | 1975 | $1,130 | 25.2% | 95.6% | 1.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Crystal, MN · Tysons Corner, VA · Tumwater, WA · Tullahoma, TN · Trotwood, OH · Tipp City, OH · Sunset, FL · East Renton Highlands, WA · East Moline, IL · Dover, NJ
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 Watertown. 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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