Population 166 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Watson
Household size in Watson
| Period | Watson | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.20 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.10 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.35 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Watson is a place of small households, averaging 2.10 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 2.45, 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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.9 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.7, Watson 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.9% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% 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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 16.8% of households in Watson rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly half of owners (46.8%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.5% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Watson: 24.7% 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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +21 | +6 | +6 |
Watson is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Iowa as a whole looks much the same.
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 | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $523 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $800 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $532 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $707 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$184 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Watson costs $707 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 16.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably 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 Watson
Bachelor's degrees in Watson
| Period | Watson | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Watson: 11.6% 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.4% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.0% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Watson is above the national rate: 93.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Iowa 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 Watson
| Period | Watson | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Watson has been low: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below 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 | 2.10 | 50.7 | 8.1% | 16.8% | 24.7% | 1971 | $707 | 11.6% | 93.0% | 3.0% |
| Monona | 2.29 | 44.0 | 6.5% | 25.6% | 11.8% | 1947 | $1,043 | 13.3% | 93.8% | 1.5% |
| Volney | 2.45 | 48.4 | 0.2% | 7.6% | 9.7% | 1991 | $755 | 12.2% | 90.5% | 1.4% |
| Waukon Junction | 1.86 | 63.5 | 1.4% | 4.9% | 66.8% | 1990 | $752 | 16.0% | 98.2% | 7.4% |
| Marquette | 2.02 | 55.6 | 5.0% | 23.9% | 16.3% | 1986 | $800 | 19.7% | 95.5% | 1.9% |
| McGregor | 2.09 | 48.2 | 9.3% | 25.1% | 21.8% | 1966 | $666 | 15.8% | 90.9% | 1.5% |
| Farmersburg | 2.18 | 42.6 | 16.4% | 28.2% | 6.3% | 1941 | $694 | 8.6% | 92.1% | 1.3% |
| Froelich | 2.05 | 42.4 | 17.6% | 28.1% | 10.6% | 1943 | $610 | 8.8% | 89.8% | 1.0% |
| Waterville | 2.36 | 51.0 | 2.5% | 8.2% | 17.2% | 1988 | $744 | 13.2% | 91.4% | 1.7% |
| Harpers Ferry | 1.91 | 62.2 | 1.4% | 5.1% | 61.7% | 1990 | $751 | 15.7% | 97.5% | 6.8% |
| Prairie du Chien | 2.21 | 47.5 | 9.0% | 29.0% | 13.8% | 1970 | $838 | 18.8% | 92.7% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Shortsville, PA · Logansport, IA · Lorado, WV · Losh Run, PA · Lottsville, PA · Louden, KY · Louisville, MO · Mack Creek Village, VA · Sandy Valley, PA · Sheldons Grove, 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 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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