Watson, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 51, 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 Missouri, within Atchison County. The total population is 51. It ranks as the 976th most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Watson is 57.8 years. This is 48% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 7.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 21.6%. This is 71% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Watson, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $26,900. Housing costs are 88% lower than the state median of $230,300. 88.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 68.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Watson has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.3% of all residents.

Education

12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Watson, Missouri 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 Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.