Watertown, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Watertown, Wisconsin had a total population of 22,774, the 36th largest city in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $70,107, which is 10% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 9.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Watertown Quick Facts
How Watertown 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 | 22,873 | 22,774 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $68,333 | $70,107 | +2.6% |
| Median home value | $211,500 | $222,100 | +5.0% |
How Watertown 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: 37 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Watertown Rankings in Wisconsin
Explore Wisconsin Rankings
Other Cities in Dodge County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam | 16,565 | $66,673 | 8.9% | $201,900 |
| Columbus | 5,488 | $75,427 | 6.9% | $230,600 |
| Mayville | 5,228 | $66,834 | 6.6% | $193,000 |
| Horicon | 3,814 | $53,465 | 14.1% | $172,500 |
| Lomira | 2,675 | $70,365 | 8.9% | $235,400 |
| Juneau | 2,625 | $77,708 | 13.2% | $186,700 |
| Fox Lake | 1,780 | $75,000 | 10.4% | $174,900 |
| Randolph | 1,642 | $58,571 | 6.9% | $176,800 |
| Theresa | 1,378 | $71,528 | 10.2% | $172,800 |
| Kekoskee | 1,067 | $96,944 | 5.7% | $305,100 |
Cities Similar to Watertown
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Milwaukee | 20,442 | $73,427 | $235,700 | 29.9% | 13.1% |
| Middleton | 22,301 | $89,524 | $484,200 | 61.7% | 7.6% |
| Howard | 21,087 | $85,477 | $315,700 | 35.8% | 5.1% |
| De Pere | 25,301 | $84,869 | $280,600 | 37.7% | 5.6% |
| Superior | 26,677 | $64,216 | $180,400 | 29.1% | 13.3% |
Population Overview
Watertown is a small city located in Wisconsin, within Dodge County. The total population is 22,774. It ranks as the 36th most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.
Age Demographics
The median age in Watertown is 40.6 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Watertown is $70,107. This is 10% lower than the state median of $77,485. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.9%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $222,100. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $266,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 62.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 67.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
Watertown has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.4%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.
Education
18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Watertown, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. 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 Watertown, Wisconsin?
Watertown, Wisconsin has a population of 22,774 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Watertown, WI?
The median household income in Watertown is $70,107, which is 13% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Watertown, WI?
The poverty rate in Watertown is 9.9%. This means approximately 2,183 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Watertown, Wisconsin?
Watertown's population is 85.4% White, 0.4% Black, 9.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Watertown, WI?
The median home value in Watertown is $222,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x.
How educated is Watertown, Wisconsin?
18.2% of adults (25+) in Watertown hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.