Watson, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Watson, Illinois had a total population of 620, the 859th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $74,167, which is 11% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 1.4%.
Watson Quick Facts
How Watson Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 616 | 620 | +0.6% |
| Median household income | $68,625 | $74,167 | +8.1% |
| Median home value | $93,900 | $100,000 | +6.5% |
How Watson Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Watson Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Effingham County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham | 12,342 | $72,377 | 14.6% | $177,500 |
| Altamont | 2,282 | $75,510 | 15.1% | $129,800 |
| Teutopolis | 1,729 | $115,938 | 2.8% | $247,700 |
| Dieterich | 1,169 | $74,500 | 10.6% | $201,300 |
| Mason | 467 | $65,455 | 35.5% | $82,900 |
| Beecher City | 414 | $43,750 | 25.8% | $90,800 |
| Edgewood | 351 | $47,604 | 18.2% | $85,500 |
| Shumway | 260 | $82,159 | 20.7% | $102,500 |
| Montrose | 255 | $60,625 | 12.9% | $125,000 |
Cities Similar to Watson
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Hills | 634 | $74,083 | $220,600 | 16.5% | 10.8% |
| Hammond | 617 | $77,019 | $102,500 | 23.7% | 5.0% |
| Woodlawn | 632 | $72,500 | $132,700 | 12.3% | 10.2% |
| Makanda | 612 | $79,000 | $242,600 | 65.5% | 8.3% |
| Ohio | 609 | $68,594 | $99,000 | 14.8% | 18.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 620, Watson's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Watson is a small community located in Illinois, within Effingham County. The total population is 620. It ranks as the 859th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Watson is 41.4 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Watson is $74,167. This is 11% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.4%. This is 77% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $100,000. Housing costs are 62% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Watson is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Watson has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (97.3% vs 58.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.
Education
14.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Watson, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Watson, Illinois?
Watson, Illinois has a population of 620 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Watson, IL?
The median household income in Watson is $74,167, which is 8% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Watson, IL?
The poverty rate in Watson is 14.8%. This means approximately 92 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Watson, Illinois?
Watson's population is 97.3% White, 0.0% Black, 0.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Watson, IL?
The median home value in Watson is $100,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.3x.
How educated is Watson, Illinois?
14.1% of adults (25+) in Watson hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.