Town · Connecticut
Watertown, Connecticut
Watertown, town, in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Watertown had 22,526 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 22,105 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 22,253 (±28). GEOID 0914080490.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
22,526
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 22,105 · ACS 2020-2024: 22,253 ±28
Median household income
$101,691
±$6,987 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$333,500
±$15,654 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,275
±$227 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Watertown and what county is it in?
Watertown is a town in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 29.0 square miles of land, 762 residents per square mile in 2020.
2 places lie inside Watertown: Oakville (CDP, 9,504 in 2020) and Watertown (CDP, 3,938 in 2020).
Watertown is in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Watertown, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 22,526 people lived in Watertown on July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, in line with Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 22,105 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 22,253 (±28).
| Measure | Watertown | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 22,253±28 | 454,969 | – |
| Households | 8,772±475 | 180,116 | – |
| Average household size | 2.51±0.13 | 2.49 | – |
| Housing units | 9,417±474 | 192,551 | – |
Watertown's population since 2000
From 21,661 in 2000 to 22,526 in 2025: up 4.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Watertown as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Watertown?
The median resident of Watertown is 46.3 years old; 17.7% are under 18 and 23.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 10.2%. 10.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Watertown | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3±2.9 | 41.8 | – |
| Under 18 years | 17.7%±2.4 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.3%±2.7 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Male | 48.1%±2.4 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.2%±3.9 pts | 19.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.3%±4.4 pts | 59.8% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±1.0 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.6%±1.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0%±1.4 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.4%±2.5 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.6%±3.5 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.4%±1.6 pts | 5.0% | – |
| With a disability | 15.3%±3.2 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.2%±0.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.3%±1.4 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.6%±4.2 pts | 33.8% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.5%±2.6 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.9%±1.9 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4%±1.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Watertown earn?
Half of Watertown's 8,772 households earn less than $101,691 a year (±$6,987), against $86,191 in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. 4.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Watertown | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $101,691±$6,987 | $86,191 | – |
| Mean household income | $121,601±$8,138 | $114,324 | – |
| Per capita income | $48,479±$2,956 | $46,363 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 4.3%±1.9 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.6%±5.3 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.0%±2.8 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.2%±1.3 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.5%±3.1 pts | 90.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Watertown?
Owners occupy 83.9% of Watertown's occupied homes and renters 16.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $333,500 by its owner (±$15,654). The median renter pays $1,275 a month including utilities, and 52.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Watertown | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $333,500±$15,654 | $317,700 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,275±$227 | $1,330 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.9%±12.7 pts | 44.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,234±$104 | $2,229 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.9%±4.0 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.1%±4.0 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 9,417±474 | 192,551 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.1%±8.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.9%±3.5 pts | 59.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7%±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.8%±1.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.0%±3.1 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.7%±2.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Watertown building?
Builders took permits for 6 new housing units in Watertown in 2025 (1 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 1 of 12 months), 0.3 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Watertown work and get to work?
79.2% of Watertown's workers drive alone and 10.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.0%.
| Measure | Watertown | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.6%±3.6 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0%±1.7 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 79.2%±4.5 pts | 74.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.9%±2.8 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.3%±1.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.1%±2.3 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.9 min±1.6 | 28.3 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Watertown?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Watertown (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $90,648 (Tract 3603) to $122,566 (Tract 3602).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3602Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 7,790 | $122,566 |
| Tract 3604Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,816 | $103,394 |
| Tract 3601Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,090 | $99,583 |
| Tract 3603Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 3,557 | $90,648 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Watertown) · Census block assignment files
How does Watertown compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Watertown is the 513th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 27th-most populous of 142 in Connecticut.
Watertown ranks 182nd of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 27th | 142 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 97th | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 161st | 303 |
| Median household income | 182nd | 294 |
| Per capita income | 218th | 303 |
| Median home value | 192nd | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 190th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 156th | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 209th | 297 |
| Median age | 115th | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 110th | 300 |
| Work from home | 237th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 225th | 302 |
Watertown's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Watertown with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Watertown?
12 of the 57 figures for Watertown on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Watertown are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.