Population 201 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Watson
Household size in Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.62 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.07 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.28 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.66 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Watson are large by national standards, averaging 3.28 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.62, 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.7 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.6 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Watson is 38.6 years old, a few years younger than 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 2.5% of households in Watson, 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 Watson
Renters in Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.0% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.7% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Watson is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 10.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 78.4% have no mortgage at all, 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.9% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.4% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 40.2% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.0% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Watson: 36.0% 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Watson are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. The picture is much the same across Alabama.
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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $377 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $664 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $684 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,264 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$887 | +$375 | +$606 |
The median renter in Watson pays $1,264 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Alabama as a whole ($1,091). Rent takes 51.0% of the typical renter's income, 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 Watson
Bachelor's degrees in Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.0 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Watson: 13.5% 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.3% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 70.6% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 75.4% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.1% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +28.8 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Watson never finished high school, well above the national share: only 84.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.3% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −14.3 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Watson is close to the national rate of 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).
Watson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watson | 3.28 | 38.6 | 2.5% | 10.4% | 36.0% | 1987 | $1,264 | 13.5% | 84.1% | 5.1% |
| Taff | 3.60 | 31.8 | 1.4% | 6.1% | 38.5% | 1988 | $1,263 | 11.6% | 86.6% | 5.4% |
| Gaylesville | 2.57 | 50.9 | 4.2% | 13.7% | 27.8% | 1987 | $1,235 | 15.0% | 79.2% | 6.9% |
| Congo | 3.24 | 33.7 | 3.9% | 11.6% | 37.5% | 1989 | $1,131 | 14.6% | 85.8% | 5.9% |
| Fullerton | 2.56 | 55.1 | 7.0% | 15.3% | 36.2% | 1981 | $1,206 | 19.8% | 78.5% | 3.0% |
| Cornwall Furnace | 2.65 | 45.6 | 10.8% | 24.2% | 36.1% | 1984 | $824 | 18.7% | 83.7% | 4.2% |
| Cedar Bluff | 2.75 | 43.8 | 8.2% | 19.0% | 36.3% | 1990 | $898 | 14.9% | 89.4% | 3.6% |
| Lawrence | 2.47 | 58.8 | 8.5% | 17.0% | 33.0% | 1996 | $1,000 | 9.9% | 90.8% | 0.8% |
| Jamestown | 2.45 | 51.1 | 2.4% | 13.2% | 22.6% | 1990 | $1,264 | 12.4% | 79.8% | 9.1% |
| Farill | 1.93 | 51.5 | 8.7% | 16.1% | 49.1% | 1982 | $703 | 9.0% | 87.9% | 12.0% |
| Loveless | 2.20 | 44.2 | 13.0% | 18.3% | 22.7% | 1984 | $733 | 9.8% | 66.2% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Saragosa, TX · Limestreet, NY · Lincoln Estates, IL · Linden, ID · Lindon, CO · Lindrith, NM · Lindsay, MT · Lingo, MO · Linnton, OR · Linton, 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 Watson. 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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