Watertown, SD
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Watertown, South Dakota Summary

Life in Watertown research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Watertown over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Watertown:

  • The population in Watertown is 22,859.

  • The median home value in Watertown is $311,477.

  • The median income in Watertown is $62,721.

  • The cost of living in Watertown is 92 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Watertown is $904.

  • The unemployment rate in Watertown is 2.0%.

  • The poverty rate in Watertown is 10.7%.

  • The average high in Watertown is 53.9° and the average low is 32.9°.

Watertown SnackAbility

6
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
7
Affordability
7
Diversity
5
Safety
6
Amenities
8.5
Education
7
Commute
10

Watertown, SD Crime Report

Crime in Watertown summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Watertown. Key points include:

  • There were 311 total crimes in Watertown in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Watertown is 1,328.1 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Watertown is 303.2 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Watertown is 1,024.9 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Watertown is -37.33% below the national average.

311
Total Crimes
-37.33%
Below National Average

Crime In Watertown Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Watertown
/ 100k People
South Dakota
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 311 1,328.1 1,948.3 2,119.2
Violent Crime 71 303.2 362.3 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 4.7 5.0
Robbery 0 0.0 22.6 61.0
Aggravated Assault 56 239.1 283.6 256.0
Property Crime 240 1,024.9 1,586.0 1,760.0
Burglary 16 68.3 194.7 229.0
Larceny 208 888.2 1,195.5 1,272.0
Car Theft 16 68.3 195.9 259.0

Watertown, SD Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Watertown summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Watertown. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around South Dakota. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Watertown is 92 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Watertown is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Watertown is $311,477.

  • The median income in Watertown is $62,721.

92
Watertown's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Watertown Comparison Table

Living Expense Watertown South Dakota National Average
Overall 92 88 100
Services 89 95 100
Groceries 99 98 100
Health 104 100 100
Housing 92 78 100
Transportation 91 95 100
Utilities 84 89 100

Watertown, SD Weather

  • The average high in Watertown is 53.9° and the average low is 32.9°.

  • There are 48.0 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 22.5 inches of precipitation each year with 36.0 inches of snow.

StatWatertown
Average Annual High53.9
Average Annual Low32.9
Annual Precipitation Days48.0
Average Annual Precipitation22.5
Average Annual Snowfall36.0
53.9°
Average High
48.0
Days of Rain

Watertown, SD Photos

Redlin Art Center
Source: Public Domain
Watertownc Sd
Source: Public Domain
Kristi Noem Portrait
Source: Public Domain

Rankings for Watertown in South Dakota

Locations Around Watertown

Map Of Watertown, SD

Best Places Around Watertown

1

Brookings, SD
Population 23,710

2

Milbank, SD
Population 3,513

Watertown Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Watertown

The current population in Watertown is 22,859. The population has increased 7.2% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 22,859 0.6%
2022 22,718 0.6%
2021 22,577 1.5%
2020 22,249 0.4%
2019 22,166 0.2%
2018 22,124 0.2%
2017 22,083 0.3%
2016 22,026 0.5%
2015 21,919 0.6%
2014 21,795 0.6%
2013 21,670 0.7%
2012 21,524 0.4%
2011 21,434 0.5%
2010 21,318 -

Race / Ethnicity in Watertown

White
89.9% (20,556)
African American
0.9% (195)
American Indian
2.3% (528)
Asian
0.6% (145)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.5% (119)
Two Or More
2.4% (547)
Hispanic
3.4% (769)

Watertown is:

  • 89.9% White with 20,556 White residents.

  • 0.9% African American with 195 African American residents.

  • 2.3% American Indian with 528 American Indian residents.

  • 0.6% Asian with 145 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.5% Other with 119 Other residents.

  • 2.4% Two Or More with 547 Two Or More residents.

  • 3.4% Hispanic with 769 Hispanic residents.

Race Watertown SD USA
White 89.9% 80.3% 58.2%
African American 0.9% 2.2% 12.0%
American Indian 2.3% 7.4% 0.5%
Asian 0.6% 1.4% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.5% 0.3% 0.5%
Two Or More 2.4% 3.9% 3.9%
Hispanic 3.4% 4.6% 19.0%

Gender in Watertown

Female
49.0% (11,199)
Male
51.0% (11,660)
  • Watertown is 49.0% female with 11,199 female residents.

  • Watertown is 51.0% male with 11,660 male residents.

Gender Watertown SD USA
Female 49.0% 49.3% 50.5%
Male 51.0% 50.7% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Watertown for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Watertown completed < 9th grade.

  • 6.0% of adults in Watertown completed 9-12th grade.

  • 37.0% of adults in Watertown completed high school / ged.

  • 18.0% of adults in Watertown completed some college.

  • 15.0% of adults in Watertown completed associate's degree.

  • 15.0% of adults in Watertown completed bachelor's degree.

  • 5.0% of adults in Watertown completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Watertown completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Watertown completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (457)
9-12th Grade
6.0% (1,371)
High School / GED
37.0% (8,457)
Some College
18.0% (4,114)
Associate's Degree
15.0% (3,428)
Bachelor's Degree
15.0% (3,428)
Master's Degree
5.0% (1,142)
Professional Degree
1.0% (228)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (228)
Education Watertown SD USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 6.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 37.0% 29.0% 26.0%
Some College 18.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 15.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 15.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 5.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Watertown, South Dakota

  • 5.6% of households in Watertown earn Less than $10,000.

  • 3.7% of households in Watertown earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 7.6% of households in Watertown earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 6.6% of households in Watertown earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 16.7% of households in Watertown earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 17.6% of households in Watertown earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 16.3% of households in Watertown earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 16.2% of households in Watertown earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 6.5% of households in Watertown earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 3.2% of households in Watertown earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
5.6% (127,279)
$10,000 to $14,999
3.7% (84,629)
$15,000 to $24,999
7.6% (174,395)
$25,000 to $34,999
6.6% (150,056)
$35,000 to $49,999
16.7% (382,285)
$50,000 to $74,999
17.6% (403,275)
$75,000 to $99,999
16.3% (373,130)
$100,000 to $149,999
16.2% (369,557)
$150,000 to $199,999
6.5% (148,046)
$200,000 or more
3.2% (73,241)
Income Watertown SD USA
Less than $10,000 5.6% 4.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 3.7% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 7.6% 7.1% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 6.6% 7.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 16.7% 11.9% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 17.6% 17.8% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 16.3% 14.6% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 16.2% 18.2% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 6.5% 8.1% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 3.2% 7.4% 12.6%

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