City · Tennessee
Watertown, Tennessee
Watertown, city, in Wilson County, Tennessee. Watertown had 1,691 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 9.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,553 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,463 (±395). GEOID 4778320.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,691
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,553 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,463 ±395
Median household income
$68,148
±$11,895 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$250,000
±$53,431 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$1,036
±$238 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
Where is Watertown and what county is it in?
Watertown is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee. It covers 1.4 square miles of land, 1,077 residents per square mile in 2020.
Watertown is in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 14 counties (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 1,691 people lived in Watertown on July 1, 2025, up 9.0% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020 Census counted 1,553 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,463 (±395).
| Measure | Watertown | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,463 ±395 | 158,805 | no clear change |
| Households | 602 ±149 | 59,139 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.43 ±0.35 | 2.66 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 642 ±157 | 63,031 | no clear change |
Watertown's population since 2000
From 1,358 in 2000 to 1,691 in 2025: up 24.5%. 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 45.1 years old; 20.7% are under 18 and 15.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of some other race at 3.8%.
| Measure | Watertown | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 ±9.1 | 39.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.7% ±7.3 pts | 23.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.7% ±6.9 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Male | 45.0% ±5.7 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.2% ±1.8 pts | 6.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.9% ±5.1 pts | 79.3% | +13.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.0 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 2.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±2.9 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±4.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.0% ±2.4 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.5% ±4.3 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 21.3% ±7.6 pts | 11.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.3% ±2.0 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.5% ±4.1 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.0% ±5.1 pts | 37.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.2% ±3.0 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.3% ±5.0 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 602 households earn less than $68,148 a year (±$11,895), against $95,839 in Wilson County and $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 it was $58,159 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Watertown | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,148 ±$11,895 | $95,839 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $80,361 ±$13,226 | $123,252 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,365 ±$4,300 | $46,888 | +$9,021 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.3% ±4.6 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.4% ±9.9 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.8% ±8.1 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 85.0% ±10.6 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.7% ±11.1 pts | 93.6% | – |
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 74.1% of Watertown's occupied homes and renters 25.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $250,000 by its owner (±$53,431). The median renter pays $1,036 a month including utilities, and 21.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Watertown | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $250,000 ±$53,431 | $428,000 | +$102,809 |
| Median gross rent | $1,036 ±$238 | $1,486 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 21.9% ±14.0 pts | 36.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,212 ±$106 | $1,971 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.1% ±8.8 pts | 77.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.9% ±8.8 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Housing units | 642 ±157 | 63,031 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.7% ±1.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±24.7 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.0% ±6.7 pts | 75.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% ±4.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.2% ±2.1 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.0% ±3.2 pts | 22.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.3% ±4.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.3% ±2.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
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?
Watertown last reported building permits to the Census Bureau for 2020.
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?
82.1% of Watertown's workers drive alone and 10.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.4 minutes.
| Measure | Watertown | Wilson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.6% ±9.0 pts | 66.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% ±5.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 82.1% ±7.1 pts | 74.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.3% ±6.1 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±6.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±6.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.7% ±5.0 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.4 min ±3.1 | 30.1 min | −6.8 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?
No census tract lies mostly in Watertown; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 310Wilson County | 6,016 | $88,051 |
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 Tennessee?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Watertown is the 8,310th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 193rd-most populous of 345 in Tennessee.
Watertown ranks 104th of 287 places in Tennessee with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 193rd | 345 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 45th | 230 |
| Residents per square mile | 56th | 289 |
| Median household income | 104th | 287 |
| Per capita income | 103rd | 289 |
| Median home value | 110th | 285 |
| Median gross rent | 91st | 265 |
| Poverty rate | 196th | 239 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 179th | 276 |
| Median age | 63rd | 289 |
| Owner-occupied share | 109th | 289 |
| Work from home | 98th | 167 |
| Travel time to work | 82nd | 288 |
Watertown's figures with every place in Tennessee (CSV)
Every place in Tennessee, 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?
22 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' public schools in Watertown.