Population 3,403 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Watkins Glen
Household size in Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.27 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Watkins Glen is a place of small households, averaging 2.16 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.26, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.8 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.4, Watkins Glen is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Watkins Glen: 6.4% 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 Watkins Glen
Renters in Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.3% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.5% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.4% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Watkins Glen is about as common as it is nationally: 36.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in New York overall (45.7%). Among homeowners, 48.2% have no mortgage at all, 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 Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.7% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.4% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 22.4% of the housing in Watkins Glen, 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 Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Watkins Glen is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1955, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $632 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $616 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $753 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,017 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$385 | +$698 | +$606 |
The median renter in Watkins Glen pays $1,017 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 28.5% of the typical renter's income, just 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 Watkins Glen
Bachelor's degrees in Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.5% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Watkins Glen (26.5%) 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 Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.0% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.7% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Watkins Glen is close to the national rate: 90.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in New York overall (87.3%).
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 Watkins Glen
| Period | Watkins Glen | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Watkins Glen than nationally: unemployment was 7.3%, against 5.4%. 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).
Watkins Glen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watkins Glen | 2.16 | 48.4 | 6.4% | 36.4% | 22.4% | 1955 | $1,017 | 26.5% | 90.3% | 7.3% |
| Wedgewood | 2.38 | 42.5 | 6.4% | 35.2% | 19.8% | 1959 | $1,102 | 17.1% | 88.9% | 4.9% |
| Montour Falls | 2.54 | 44.3 | 10.2% | 26.6% | 12.4% | 1960 | $1,040 | 24.8% | 86.6% | 10.8% |
| Townsend | 2.52 | 41.9 | 6.1% | 12.1% | 23.4% | 1969 | $1,162 | 15.6% | 90.2% | 2.1% |
| Reading Center | 2.26 | 42.1 | 1.0% | 13.2% | 23.8% | 1972 | $1,506 | 34.6% | 86.8% | 1.7% |
| Moreland | 2.57 | 43.6 | 5.4% | 11.0% | 21.2% | 1966 | $1,102 | 14.0% | 87.2% | 7.5% |
| Burdett | 2.38 | 50.4 | 8.0% | 9.7% | 26.2% | 1974 | $1,469 | 40.3% | 95.6% | 4.3% |
| Odessa | 2.29 | 44.9 | 10.2% | 27.3% | 16.0% | 1958 | $949 | 23.5% | 89.8% | 6.5% |
| Tyrone | 2.93 | 37.9 | 19.1% | 15.9% | 28.6% | 1974 | $1,022 | 19.9% | 90.3% | 5.9% |
| Rock Stream | 2.27 | 43.7 | 5.7% | 8.4% | 32.7% | 1972 | $1,061 | 33.8% | 88.3% | 8.2% |
| Smith Valley | 2.19 | 58.2 | 7.9% | 3.5% | 3.0% | 1976 | $1,083 | 30.3% | 92.1% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Carlisle, IN · Chatfield, MN · Climax, NC · Columbus, MT · Curtice, OH · Davis, IL · Dyer, TN · East Rockingham, NC · Elim, PA · Elm Springs, AR
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 Watkins Glen. 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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