Population 436 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Watkins
Household size in Watkins
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.78 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.72 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Watkins average 2.72 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Iowa as a whole, where it has 2.43 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.56, 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
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.3 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.8 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Watkins is young: half of its residents are under 35.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults and children.
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
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Watkins than nationally: 9.9%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa.
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
Renters in Watkins
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Watkins is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 44.9% 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
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Watkins: 7.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Iowa as a whole looks much the same.
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
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +6 | +6 |
Watkins is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, 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 Watkins
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $526 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $694 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $667 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $818 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$292 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Watkins costs $818 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 43.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Watkins
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.8% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Watkins: 17.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well 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
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.9% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.7% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Watkins: 96.7% 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 Watkins
| Period | Watkins | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.5% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Watkins has been low: just 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Watkins 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 | 2.72 | 35.7 | 9.9% | 15.8% | 7.3% | 1967 | $818 | 17.0% | 96.7% | 1.5% |
| Norway | 2.51 | 39.1 | 7.1% | 13.0% | 5.1% | 1972 | $1,060 | 29.4% | 95.1% | 2.3% |
| Blairstown | 2.63 | 40.0 | 8.4% | 16.8% | 5.6% | 1965 | $811 | 20.7% | 97.0% | 1.7% |
| Newhall | 2.56 | 38.0 | 8.1% | 13.3% | 8.4% | 1968 | $711 | 22.5% | 97.3% | 2.2% |
| Walford | 2.50 | 39.1 | 8.0% | 12.4% | 4.7% | 1980 | $1,265 | 37.5% | 95.9% | 2.5% |
| Amana | 2.52 | 44.0 | 6.9% | 17.8% | 6.8% | 1964 | $749 | 31.9% | 95.9% | 2.0% |
| Atkins | 2.85 | 40.8 | 3.9% | 7.6% | 2.2% | 1997 | $625 | 30.8% | 97.8% | 2.1% |
| Van Horne | 2.61 | 38.9 | 9.6% | 12.5% | 8.0% | 1961 | $741 | 24.5% | 96.3% | 6.9% |
| Marengo | 2.33 | 41.9 | 14.0% | 27.8% | 7.2% | 1962 | $770 | 14.0% | 92.3% | 2.0% |
| Middle Amana | 2.51 | 44.0 | 6.9% | 19.8% | 6.4% | 1965 | $729 | 32.5% | 95.4% | 2.2% |
| Luzerne | 2.45 | 49.0 | 1.4% | 26.6% | 1.3% | 1957 | $789 | 39.9% | 98.2% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Houstonville, NC · Joseph, MS · Woodhaven, LA · Jamestown, NM · Jackson, NE · Irwin, ID · Ingleside, NY · Wyola, AR · Humm Wye, IL · Hume, IL
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. 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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