Watkins, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Watkins, Minnesota had a total population of 765, the 409th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $64,896, which is 27% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 8.5% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
Watkins Quick Facts
How Watkins 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 | 797 | 765 | -4.0% |
| Median household income | $50,875 | $64,896 | +27.6% |
| Median home value | $136,800 | $149,100 | +9.0% |
How Watkins 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: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Watkins Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Meeker County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Litchfield | 6,576 | $54,875 | 15.1% | $187,600 |
| Dassel | 1,358 | $59,946 | 13.3% | $236,800 |
| Grove City | 814 | $53,839 | 6.5% | $142,100 |
| Cosmos | 536 | $56,635 | 15.3% | $105,500 |
| Darwin | 358 | $70,000 | 10.4% | $175,000 |
| Kingston | 206 | $100,357 | 2.4% | $221,900 |
| Cedar Mills | 40 | $57,500 | 12.5% | $108,300 |
Cities Similar to Watkins
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fertile | 803 | $67,125 | $129,500 | 20.2% | 8.7% |
| Battle Lake | 786 | $59,375 | $257,600 | 28.0% | 6.5% |
| Kimball | 709 | $66,146 | $232,200 | 18.6% | 11.3% |
| Deerwood | 710 | $62,981 | $225,000 | 27.0% | 10.8% |
| Mabel | 730 | $59,392 | $131,400 | 19.4% | 8.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 765, Watkins'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
Watkins is a small community located in Minnesota, within Meeker County. The total population is 765. It ranks as the 409th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Watkins is 42.8 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Watkins is $64,896. This is 27% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.4%. This is 22% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $149,100. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Watkins is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Watkins has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.7%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.
Education
8.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Watkins, Minnesota 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 Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. 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 Watkins, Minnesota?
Watkins, Minnesota has a population of 765 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Watkins, MN?
The median household income in Watkins is $64,896, which is 20% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Watkins, MN?
The poverty rate in Watkins is 11.4%. This means approximately 81 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Watkins, Minnesota?
Watkins's population is 94.1% White, 0.7% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Watkins, MN?
The median home value in Watkins is $149,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Watkins, Minnesota?
8.5% of adults (25+) in Watkins hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.