City · Minnesota
Watson, Minnesota
Watson, city, in Chippewa County, Minnesota. Watson had 174 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 182 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 200 (±61). GEOID 2768656.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
174
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 182 · ACS 2020-2024: 200 ±61
Median household income
$34,722
±$15,895 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062
Median home value
$68,400
±$9,328 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300
Median gross rent
$741
±$204 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280
Where is Watson and what county is it in?
Watson is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota. It covers 0.2 square miles of land, 1,040 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Watson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 174 people lived in Watson on July 1, 2025, down 3.9% since 2020, while Minnesota grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 182 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 200 (±61).
| Measure | Watson | Chippewa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 200 ±61 | 12,377 | no clear change |
| Households | 100 ±35 | 5,126 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.00 ±0.42 | 2.34 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 100 ±35 | 5,661 | no clear change |
Watson's population since 2000
From 209 in 2000 to 174 in 2025: down 16.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Watson 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 Watson?
The median resident of Watson is 44.8 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.5%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 17.0%.
| Measure | Watson | Chippewa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 ±13.9 | 41.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.0% ±6.4 pts | 24.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0% ±6.7 pts | 21.5% | – |
| Male | 50.0% ±8.4 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0% ±10.6 pts | 10.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.5% ±18.5 pts | 82.1% | −21.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±10.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 17.0% ±15.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±10.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±2.0 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.0% ±5.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±10.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 17.5% ±12.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.4% ±14.7 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3% ±3.4 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 18.0% ±10.5 pts | 13.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.0% ±10.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 74.7% ±14.2 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.3% ±7.0 pts | 19.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 0.0% ±14.2 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.4% ±6.4 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±10.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
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 Watson earn?
Half of Watson's 100 households earn less than $34,722 a year (±$15,895), against $71,458 in Chippewa County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $63,073 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $28,351 after inflation. 33.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Watson | Chippewa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $34,722 ±$15,895 | $71,458 | −$28,351 |
| Mean household income | $49,481 ±$14,405 | $86,160 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,045 ±$6,020 | $35,718 | −$8,971 |
| People below the poverty line | 33.0% ±17.6 pts | 14.5% | +27.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.0% ±25.5 pts | 21.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 35.0% ±20.7 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 77.0% ±18.3 pts | 93.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 72.0% ±18.7 pts | 87.7% | – |
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 Watson?
Owners occupy 70.0% of Watson's occupied homes and renters 30.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $68,400 by its owner (±$9,328). The median renter pays $741 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Watson | Chippewa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $68,400 ±$9,328 | $156,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $741 ±$204 | $869 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.3% ±26.7 pts | 38.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,013 ±$235 | $1,506 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.0% ±12.7 pts | 72.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.0% ±12.7 pts | 27.7% | – |
| Housing units | 100 ±35 | 5,661 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±26.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±45.1 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.0% ±12.0 pts | 78.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±20.0 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±20.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 43.0% ±16.4 pts | 30.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.0% ±18.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
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 Watson building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Watson in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.
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 Watson work and get to work?
77.8% of Watson's workers drive alone and 19.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.8 minutes.
| Measure | Watson | Chippewa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.2% ±12.9 pts | 63.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.8% ±8.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 77.8% ±14.3 pts | 77.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 2.5% ±5.3 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±23.9 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±23.9 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.8% ±12.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.8 min ±7.7 | 16.8 min | no clear change |
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 Watson?
No census tract lies mostly in Watson; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9505Chippewa County | 2,392 | $83,654 |
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 Watson) · Census block assignment files
How does Watson compare with other places in Minnesota?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Watson is the 16,904th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 674th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.
Watson is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 674th | 855 |
Watson's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)
Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Watson 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 Watson?
24 of the 57 figures for Watson 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 Watson 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' public schools in Watson.