Watertown city, New York Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Watertown city is a small city located in New York, within Jefferson County. The total population is 24,574. It ranks as the 68th most populous out of 1,287 cities and towns in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Watertown city is 35.6 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Watertown city is $49,692. This is 41% lower than the state median of $84,578. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.8%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 6.2%. The median home value is $149,800. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $403,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 41.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 54.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Watertown city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (80.2% vs 53.4%). The Black or African American population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.8%) is well below the state average of 19.6%. The Asian population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 8.8%.

Education

25.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Watertown city, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,287 Census-designated places in New York. For official data, visit data.census.gov.