What is the cost of living in Watertown, NY?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Watertown has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to New York, Watertown has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than New York's index of 121.
The standard of living in Watertown ranks as #58 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in New York. By definition, that implies Watertown ranks as the #278 most expensive place in the Empire State.
For more reading on life in Watertown, check out:
Watertown Cost Of Living Vs. New York
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Watertown. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Watertown is 106.
The Groceries index in Watertown is 109.
The Health index in Watertown is 77.
The Housing index in Watertown is 112.
The Transportation index in Watertown is 112.
The Utilities index in Watertown is 107.
| Living Expense | Watertown | New York | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 121 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Groceries | 109 | 108 | 100 |
| Health | 77 | 143 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 112 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 111 | 100 |
Watertown Cost Of Living Compared To New York Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New York, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Watertown Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Watertown, NY Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New York, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Watertown is $195,771.
The Median Rent in Watertown is $967.
The Median Income in Watertown is $51,753.
The Home Value To Income in Watertown is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Watertown is 0.22x.
Watertown, NY Costs By Category
Detailed Watertown Services costs vs. New York
Detailed Watertown Groceries costs vs. New York
Detailed Watertown Health costs vs. New York
Detailed Watertown Transportation costs vs. New York
Watertown SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Watertown
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Watertown. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Morristown, TN has a cost of living index of 91, 0.9x Watertown.
Oswego, NY has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Watertown.
Fort Drum, NY has a cost of living index of 119, 1.2x Watertown.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morristown, TN | 31,527 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Oswego, NY | 17,033 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Fort Drum, NY | 16,065 | 119 | 1.2x |
