City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Watterson Park, KY

Watterson Park's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

736
Residents
$38,984
Median income
$187,500
Median home
$984
Median rent (state)
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State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Watterson Park.

Place dossier plate

Sheet KY-WATTERSON-PARK-KY · Watterson Park, KY 736 pop · income 7th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 736
  • INC-LOW $38,984
  • COL-BELOW 90.2
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 7th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Jefferson
  • HOME-LOW $187,500
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Jefferson, IN (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Watterson Park

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Watterson Park on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Watterson Park on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 736.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $38,984. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Watterson Park - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Watterson Park places in the 7th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

7th
percentile, household income
39th
percentile, home value
10th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Watterson Park, KY

Kentucky's Watterson Park is a small town, with 736 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Watterson Park households earn a median of $38,984 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.1%. Typical homes in Watterson Park are valued around $187,500, and the median resident age is 41.9 years. Educational attainment runs 18.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kentucky at 90.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $984 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Kentucky, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 44.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Watterson Park's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from population change to work and mobility to comparison shortlist to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Watterson Park, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, FBI reported-crime rates, local building permits, within-city Census tract profiles; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

Is Watterson Park growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +28 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +2.8% change. No comparable local building-permit series is available here, so population change should not be read as a housing-supply measure. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

See the national growth ranking →

Question 2

What does the journey to work look like in Watterson Park?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 82.8%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Compare commute patterns →

3. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Watterson Park?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Kentucky, the closest population matches are Houston Acres (736 residents, $104,583 income); Milton (734 residents, $57,188 income); Loretto (730 residents, $59,028 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Grand View Estates, CO (736 residents); Downey, ID (736 residents); Gilbertville, IA (736 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

4. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Watterson Park?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.

The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 4.8 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 9.1%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

736 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$38,984 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 9.1% (Above-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Affordable · BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

City profile score · Watterson Park, KY

39/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living A
90.2 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Poverty rate D
9.1%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Bachelor's+ share F
18.8%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income F
$38,984

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Watterson Park profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Poverty rate, Bachelor's+ share, Household income. Cost of livingPoverty rateBachelor's+ shareHousehold income 39 F
Watterson Park profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 85/100 (A) · 90.2 index
  • Poverty rate: 43/100 (D) · 9.1%
  • Bachelor's+ share: 31/100 (F) · 18.8%
  • Household income: 5/100 (F) · $38,984

How does Watterson Park compare to other US cities?

Watterson Park measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 39% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Watterson Park against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Watterson Park near the bottom of Kentucky's cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Watterson Park ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Watterson Park only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#383 of 485
21st percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 520
0th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#162 of 484
66th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#298 of 519
42nd percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#244 of 520
53rd percentile in Kentucky
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

7thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

7th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Watterson Park's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$187,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 61% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Watterson Park $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Watterson Park's home-value-to-income ratio: 4.8×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#12,573 of 15,516
More affordable than 19% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#9,561 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 4.8×, Watterson Park sits in the moderate band: national rank #12,573 of 15,516 and #9,561 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$38,984 Watterson Park, KY median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Watterson Park, KY Watterson Park, KY's median household income ($38,984) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Watterson Park, KY-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Watterson Park, KY median $38,984/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Watterson Park, KY median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Watterson Park, KY.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
736
Median Income
$38,984
Median Home Value
$187,500
Median Age
41.9
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Labor force participation
51.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
990 residents1,000 residents1,010 residents1,020 residents1,030 residents1,040 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,003 residents 1,031 residents ▲ +2.8%
Watterson Park's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 1,003 residents
2021 1,000 residents
2022 1,003 residents
2023 1,012 residents
2024 1,027 residents
2025 1,031 residents

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.8%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
1.8%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
10.4%

Based on 279 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Kentucky statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $225

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Kentucky at $225 (electricity about $115 , water and sewer about $40 ).

These are Kentucky statewide averages, not a meter reading for Watterson Park. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Kentucky's BEA cost-of-living index is 90.2 (Well Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Watterson Park is $984/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Kentucky statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 44.2 / 100 (Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Kentucky statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Watterson Park sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Watterson Park compares to similar-size Kentucky cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Watterson Park (this city) 736 $38,984
Houston Acres 736 $104,583
Milton 734 $57,188
Loretto 730 $59,028
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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