City · Wisconsin
Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown, city, mostly in Jefferson County (64.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Dodge County, Wisconsin. Watertown had 22,704 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 22,926 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 22,774 (±30). GEOID 5583975.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
22,704
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 22,926 · ACS 2020-2024: 22,774 ±30
Median household income
$70,107
±$5,618 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$222,100
±$9,182 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$1,052
±$48 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Watertown and what county is it in?
Watertown is a city mostly in Jefferson County (64.0% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Dodge County, Wisconsin. It covers 12.1 square miles of land, 1,900 residents per square mile in 2020.
Watertown is in the Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 14,674 | 64.0% |
| Dodge County | 8,252 | 36.0% |
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 22,704 people lived in Watertown on July 1, 2025, down 1.2% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. The 2020 Census counted 22,926 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 22,774 (±30).
| Measure | Watertown | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 22,774 ±30 | 86,003 | −859 |
| Households | 9,182 ±402 | 34,873 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.40 ±0.10 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,478 ±432 | 36,890 | no clear change |
Watertown's population since 2000
From 21,598 in 2000 to 22,704 in 2025: up 5.1%. 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 40.6 years old; 22.0% are under 18 and 19.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.5%. 3.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Watertown | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 ±1.5 | 41.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.0% ±2.0 pts | 19.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.6% ±2.2 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Male | 45.3% ±2.1 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.5% ±2.3 pts | 8.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.4% ±2.5 pts | 87.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±0.9 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.0% ±1.0 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.8% ±2.0 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.8% ±1.7 pts | 6.4% | – |
| With a disability | 13.9% ±1.6 pts | 12.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.7% ±1.5 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.0% ±1.8 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.2% ±2.6 pts | 28.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.6% ±1.1 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.0% ±2.4 pts | 90.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0% ±1.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
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 9,182 households earn less than $70,107 a year (±$5,618), against $83,750 in Jefferson County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $63,423 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Watertown | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $70,107 ±$5,618 | $83,750 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,304 ±$3,842 | $100,082 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,897 ±$1,853 | $41,881 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.9% ±2.2 pts | 8.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.4% ±5.6 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.4% ±2.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.9% ±1.8 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.8% ±2.1 pts | 90.6% | – |
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 62.0% of Watertown's occupied homes and renters 38.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,100 by its owner (±$9,182). The median renter pays $1,052 a month including utilities, and 30.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Watertown | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $222,100 ±$9,182 | $274,100 | +$33,681 |
| Median gross rent | $1,052 ±$48 | $1,035 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.9% ±6.2 pts | 30.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,511 ±$69 | $1,730 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.0% ±3.3 pts | 73.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.0% ±3.3 pts | 26.9% | – |
| Housing units | 9,478 ±432 | 36,890 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.1% ±3.2 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.4% ±3.0 pts | 71.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.6% ±1.4 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 30.7% ±3.4 pts | 24.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.5% ±1.9 pts | 4.6% | – |
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 153 new housing units in Watertown in 2025 (54 in single-family houses), 6.7 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
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?
78.8% of Watertown's workers drive alone and 6.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.
| Measure | Watertown | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.3% ±2.7 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% ±1.5 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.8% ±2.8 pts | 76.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.7% ±2.0 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 3.1% ±1.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.9% ±1.5 pts | 10.5% | +5.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.6 min ±1.7 | 24.8 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 Watertown?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Watertown, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $57,196 (Tract 1003.02) to $78,424 (Tract 1003.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9619Dodge County | 5,553 | $76,628 |
| Tract 1001Jefferson County | 5,039 | $73,135 |
| Tract 1002Jefferson County | 3,678 | $65,610 |
| Tract 1003.01Jefferson County | 3,841 | $78,424 |
| Tract 9620Dodge County | 2,297 | $60,722 |
| Tract 1003.02Jefferson County | 2,343 | $57,196 |
| Tract 9617Dodge County | 2,968 | $74,255 |
| Tract 1017.01Jefferson County | 1,441 | $95,000 |
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 Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Watertown is the 1,745th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 37th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Watertown ranks 701st of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 37th | 608 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 728th | 884 |
| Residents per square mile | 67th | 914 |
| Median household income | 701st | 914 |
| Per capita income | 817th | 911 |
| Median home value | 657th | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 360th | 825 |
| Poverty rate | 229th | 706 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 748th | 914 |
| Median age | 657th | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 795th | 914 |
| Work from home | 708th | 827 |
| Travel time to work | 389th | 914 |
Watertown's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, 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?
10 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.