Population 2,680 · 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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.60 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Watkins sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Minnesota overall, where it has 2.52 people.
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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.4 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Watkins is 42.4 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 38.3 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.2% of households in Watkins, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Watkins is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (40.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.
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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Watkins: 17.0% of homes are empty, 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
| Period | Watkins | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Watkins was built around 1981, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980).
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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $580 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $627 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $741 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $840 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$260 | +$522 | +$606 |
Rent in Watkins runs $840 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 18.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Watkins: 12.6% 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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.5% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.9% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.2% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Watkins is above the national rate: 94.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same.
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 | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Watkins than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. The picture is much the same across Minnesota. 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 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 | 2.64 | 42.4 | 6.2% | 14.5% | 17.0% | 1981 | $840 | 12.6% | 94.2% | 4.0% |
| Eden Valley | 2.76 | 39.2 | 9.5% | 13.7% | 8.2% | 1973 | $898 | 14.4% | 89.8% | 1.7% |
| Kimball | 2.72 | 40.2 | 7.0% | 12.8% | 9.5% | 1978 | $1,009 | 20.5% | 93.2% | 5.8% |
| Kingston | 3.26 | 33.2 | 6.5% | 9.1% | 21.5% | 1969 | $864 | 17.0% | 91.0% | 6.9% |
| Cold Spring | 2.46 | 43.5 | 7.4% | 21.3% | 7.4% | 1986 | $1,269 | 31.2% | 94.7% | 4.4% |
| Richmond | 2.54 | 43.4 | 6.6% | 11.5% | 18.1% | 1981 | $944 | 20.0% | 93.0% | 3.9% |
| South Haven | 2.57 | 44.2 | 8.1% | 5.9% | 27.1% | 1978 | $1,254 | 25.9% | 94.0% | 3.1% |
| Roscoe | 2.57 | 45.2 | 6.7% | 12.4% | 23.9% | 1978 | $950 | 18.3% | 93.6% | 2.0% |
| Luxemburg | 2.96 | 38.9 | 3.7% | 1.5% | 12.2% | 1997 | $1,141 | 40.4% | 95.6% | 2.7% |
| Rockville | 2.73 | 41.1 | 6.4% | 8.2% | 12.4% | 1983 | $849 | 31.1% | 94.3% | 1.4% |
| Jacobs Prairie | 2.35 | 51.7 | 9.8% | 19.8% | 10.7% | 1992 | $1,342 | 31.6% | 94.0% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Blue Mountain, MS · Butler, TN · Rio Medina, TX · Hopwood, PA · Lee, FL · Logan, IA · Manitou Beach, MI · Northville, NY · Pantego, TX · Random Lake, WI
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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