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Watertown city, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, Watertown city, Wisconsin has a total population of 22,873, the 36th largest city in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $68,333, which is 10% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.0%.

Watertown city Quick Facts

Population 22,873
Median Household Income $68,333
Median Home Value $211,500
Poverty Rate 10.0%
Unemployment Rate 5.5%
Median Age 40.4 years
Homeownership Rate 59.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 19.0%
High School Graduation Rate 91.7%
Diversity Index 26/100
Population 22,873 36th of 807
Median Income $68,333 average
Poverty Rate 10.0% 20% lower national
Median Home Value $211,500 above average

How Watertown city Compares

Economy & Housing

Employment

5.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3% | National: 5.2%
66.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 59.8%
Renter 40.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

26out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 36 | National average: 60

Education

Watertown city Rankings in Wisconsin

#36 Population of 807
#396 Median Income of 807
#441 Education of 807
#281 Home Value of 807

Explore Wisconsin Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Jefferson County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Fort Atkinson city 12,490 $75,350 7.1% $198,600
Jefferson city 7,722 $77,095 10.3% $222,100
Lake Mills city 6,391 $87,039 4.9% $282,400
Waterloo city 3,542 $78,103 16.1% $219,100
Johnson Creek village 3,367 $94,552 3.4% $289,000
Palmyra village 2,042 $80,709 11.3% $194,200
Cambridge village 1,507 $93,424 6.4% $280,000
Sullivan village 711 $82,500 23.0% $244,500

Cities Similar to Watertown city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
South Milwaukee city20,547$70,146$216,40027.7%12.5%
Middleton city22,235$85,526$457,40062.1%7.7%
De Pere city25,368$80,550$253,90036.5%6.5%
Superior city26,550$63,415$168,50028.7%13.0%
Stevens Point city25,497$56,218$189,70039.4%16.2%

Population Overview

Watertown city is a small city located in Wisconsin, within Jefferson County. The total population is 22,873. It ranks as the 36th most populous out of 807 cities and towns in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Watertown city is 40.4 years. This is about average than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Watertown city is $68,333. This is 10% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 67% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $211,500. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $247,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 59.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Watertown city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.5%. The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Watertown city, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 807 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Watertown city, Wisconsin?

Watertown city, Wisconsin has a population of 22,873 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Watertown city, WI?

The median household income in Watertown city is $68,333, which is 13% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Watertown city, WI?

The poverty rate in Watertown city is 10.0%. This means approximately 2,194 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Watertown city, Wisconsin?

Watertown city's population is 85.1% White, 0.2% Black, 11.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.1% Asian.

What is the median home value in Watertown city, WI?

The median home value in Watertown city is $211,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x.

How educated is Watertown city, Wisconsin?

19.0% of adults (25+) in Watertown city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.