Watertown, South Dakota
Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Watertown, compared with South Dakota and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.
Watertown city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 4669300 · South Dakota directory
- Population · July 1, 2025
- 23,736 PEP Vintage 2025
- Change · 2024 to 2025
- +1.1% +255 residents
- Household income
- $69,600 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$6,806
- Home value
- $229,400 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$14,753
- Monthly gross rent
- $942 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$47
- Median age
- 39.5 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±1.1
Watertown is an incorporated city in Codington County, South Dakota, part of the Watertown, SD micropolitan area. With 23,736 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 5th in South Dakota and 1,679th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 255 (1.1%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 4.8%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $942 a month, 0.4% below the South Dakota median. Median household income is $69,600, 7.3% below the South Dakota median.
Detailed demographics → Housing and cost-of-living context →
What stands out in Watertown?
Compared with other South Dakota places, Watertown is most distinctive for fewer foreign-born residents, less remote and home-based work and fewer long commutes. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.
- Foreign-born residents: 1.3%, 2.6 percentage points below the South Dakota rate (4.0%); lower than 97% of 20 South Dakota places with reliable estimates. Only 0 of 20 South Dakota places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Workers who work from home: 4.8%, 4.9 percentage points below the South Dakota rate (9.7%); lower than 95% of 32 South Dakota places with reliable estimates. Only 1 of 32 South Dakota places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Commutes of 45 minutes or longer: 4.6%, 1.9 percentage points below the South Dakota rate (6.6%); lower than 87% of 45 South Dakota places with reliable estimates. Only 5 of 45 South Dakota places with reliable estimates are lower.
- Residents per square mile of land: 1,287; higher than 86% of 310 South Dakota places with reliable estimates.
- Median home value: $229,400, 10.9% below the South Dakota median ($257,400); higher than 85% of 230 South Dakota places with reliable estimates.
How Watertown compares with South Dakota and the U.S.
| Measure | Watertown | South Dakota | U.S. | Position in South Dakota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 | +4.8% | — | — | higher than 80% of 226 South Dakota places |
| Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 | 1,287 | — | — | higher than 86% of 310 South Dakota places |
| Median household income B19013 | $69,600 ±$6,806 | $75,081 | $80,734 | higher than 62% of 232 South Dakota places |
| Median home value B25077 | $229,400 ±$14,753 | $257,400 | $332,700 | higher than 85% of 230 South Dakota places |
| Median real estate taxes paid B25103 | $2,285 ±$141 | $2,724 | $3,119 | higher than 80% of 237 South Dakota places |
| Median gross rent B25064 | $942 ±$47 | $946 | $1,413 | higher than 77% of 167 South Dakota places |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 | 35.9% ±5.6 pp | 39.8% | 51.1% | lower than 77% of 55 South Dakota places |
| Homeownership rate B25003 | 65.3% ±3.4 pp | 68.6% | 65.2% | lower than 82% of 256 South Dakota places |
| Median age B01002 | 39.5 years ±1.1 | 38.0 years | 38.9 years | lower than 61% of 259 South Dakota places |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 | 21.6% ±3.1 pp | 31.9% | 35.7% | lower than 69% of 141 South Dakota places |
| Poverty rate B17001 | 9.0% ±1.5 pp | 11.9% | 12.5% | lower than 75% of 56 South Dakota places |
| People without health insurance B27010 | 7.0% ±1.4 pp | 9.0% | 8.4% | lower than 81% of 66 South Dakota places |
| Households with a broadband subscription B28002 | 87.3% ±3.0 pp | 89.6% | 91.0% | higher than 52% of 262 South Dakota places |
| Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 | 1.8% ±1.0 pp · low precision | 2.9% | 5.2% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Foreign-born residents B05002 | 1.3% ±0.6 pp | 4.0% | 14.1% | lower than 97% of 20 South Dakota places |
| Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP | 64.2 | — | — | higher than 78% of 110 South Dakota places |
| Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 | +2.3% | — | — | higher than 50% of 101 South Dakota places |
| Workers who work from home B08301 | 4.8% ±1.4 pp | 9.7% | 15.1% | lower than 95% of 32 South Dakota places |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 | 4.6% ±1.5 pp | 6.6% | 16.5% | lower than 87% of 45 South Dakota places |
| Households without a vehicle B08201 | 6.3% ±1.9 pp | 5.2% | 8.4% | lower than 87% of 20 South Dakota places |
Positions compare Watertown with South Dakota places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 1 measure is shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.
How many people live in Watertown?
The latest official estimate is 23,736 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 1,679th by population nationally and 5th in South Dakota among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 255 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.
| Reference date | Population | Change from previous estimate |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 22,676 | Separate from April 2020 base |
| July 1, 2021 | 22,798 | +122 |
| July 1, 2022 | 23,038 | +240 |
| July 1, 2023 | 23,209 | +171 |
| July 1, 2024 | 23,481 | +272 |
| July 1, 2025 | 23,736 | +255 |
From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +1,083 residents (4.8%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.
Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release
Where are the boundaries?
- Entity and stable identifier
- Watertown city, South Dakota · Incorporated city · 4669300
- Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
- Codington County
- Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
- Watertown, SD — Micropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
- Land area
- 18.4 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Water area
- 8.0 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Approximate population density
- 1,287 residents per square mile of land
- Internal point
- 44.909188°, -97.155685° · Census geographic reference point
Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .
Income and poverty
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income Households · USD/year | $69,600 ±$6,806 | $75,081 ±$888 | $80,734 ±$166 |
| Per-capita income Total population · USD/year | $39,939 ±$3,158 | $40,550 ±$520 | $44,673 ±$122 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty level | 2,045 ±341 | 9.0% ±1.5 pp |
Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 9.0% (±1.5 percentage points) under the official Census definition.
Home values, rent and tenure
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD | $229,400 ±$14,753 | $257,400 ±$3,051 | $332,700 ±$236 |
| Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month | $942 ±$47 | $946 ±$11 | $1,413 ±$2 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 6,783 ±395 | 65.3% ±3.4 pp |
| Renter occupied | 3,611 ±397 | 34.7% ±3.7 pp |
Owner-occupied units make up 65.3% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 3.3 times the median household income.
See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .
Monthly rent by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | Monthly gross rent | 90% margin of error | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | $493 | ±$309 | Low precision |
| 1 bedroom | $666 | ±$114 | Estimate with MOE |
| 2 bedrooms | $986 | ±$62 | Estimate with MOE |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,083 | ±$69 | Estimate with MOE |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,289 | ±$467 | Estimate with MOE |
| 5 or more bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .
Employment among residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force | 12,583 ±465 | 67.5% ±2.3 pp |
| Not in the labor force | 6,058 ±384 | 32.5% ±2.0 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian employed | 12,344 ±477 | 98.2% ±1.2 pp |
| Civilian unemployed | 226 ±129 · low precision | 1.8% ±1.0 pp · low precision |
These estimates describe residents of Watertown wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Watertown. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.
Which industries employ residents?
Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 22.1% (2,730 people; ±2.3 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining | 253 ±108 | 2.0% ±0.9 pp |
| Construction | 915 ±216 | 7.4% ±1.7 pp |
| Manufacturing | 2,440 ±384 | 19.8% ±3.0 pp |
| Wholesale trade | 428 ±181 | 3.5% ±1.5 pp |
| Retail trade | 1,636 ±312 | 13.3% ±2.5 pp |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 359 ±148 | 2.9% ±1.2 pp |
| Information | 166 ±114 · low precision | 1.3% ±0.9 pp · low precision |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 574 ±181 | 4.7% ±1.5 pp |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services | 448 ±162 | 3.6% ±1.3 pp |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 2,730 ±305 | 22.1% ±2.3 pp |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services | 912 ±249 | 7.4% ±2.0 pp |
| Other services, except public administration | 810 ±246 | 6.6% ±2.0 pp |
| Public administration | 673 ±225 | 5.5% ±1.8 pp |
Occupations among employed residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | 3,752 ±398 | 30.4% ±3.0 pp |
| Service occupations | 1,968 ±330 | 15.9% ±2.6 pp |
| Sales and office | 2,855 ±406 | 23.1% ±3.2 pp |
| Natural resources, construction and maintenance | 1,326 ±287 | 10.7% ±2.3 pp |
| Production, transportation and material moving | 2,443 ±460 | 19.8% ±3.6 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management occupations | 1,277 ±293 | 10.3% ±2.3 pp |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | 104 ±68 · low precision | 0.8% ±0.6 pp · low precision |
| Educational instruction and library occupations | 664 ±175 | 5.4% ±1.4 pp |
| Health practitioners and technical occupations | 732 ±187 | 5.9% ±1.5 pp |
| Sales and related occupations | 1,261 ±283 | 10.2% ±2.3 pp |
| Transportation occupations | 324 ±131 | 2.6% ±1.1 pp |
The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.
How residents get to work
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 10,314 ±578 | 83.8% ±3.4 pp |
| Carpooled | 1,126 ±328 | 9.1% ±2.6 pp |
| Public transportation | 75 ±58 · low precision | 0.6% ±0.5 pp · low precision |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 0 ±19 · low precision | 0.0% ±0.2 pp · low precision |
| Motorcycle | 14 ±24 · low precision | 0.1% ±0.2 pp · low precision |
| Bicycle | 39 ±57 · low precision | 0.3% ±0.5 pp · low precision |
| Walked | 132 ±85 · low precision | 1.1% ±0.7 pp · low precision |
| Other means | 28 ±36 · low precision | 0.2% ±0.3 pp · low precision |
| Worked from home | 586 ±177 | 4.8% ±1.4 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 8,673 ±738 | 74.0% ±5.4 pp |
| 15–29 minutes | 2,100 ±342 | 17.9% ±2.8 pp |
| 30–44 minutes | 412 ±180 | 3.5% ±1.5 pp |
| 45–59 minutes | 326 ±131 | 2.8% ±1.1 pp |
| 60 minutes or longer | 217 ±127 · low precision | 1.9% ±1.1 pp · low precision |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available | 658 ±194 | 6.3% ±1.9 pp |
Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.
Households and residents
Median age is 39.5 years (±1.1). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with South Dakota and the U.S.
How many jobs are located in Watertown?
Employers in Watertown reported 14,890 jobs in 2023, +2.3% compared with 2019 (14,557 jobs). That is 64.2 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.
| Industry | Jobs | Share of local jobs | South Dakota share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,379 | 22.7% | 10.4% |
| Retail trade | 2,469 | 16.6% | 12.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,796 | 12.1% | 16.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,610 | 10.8% | 9.1% |
| Educational services | 930 | 6.2% | 8.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 820 | 5.5% | 5.1% |
| Construction | 681 | 4.6% | 6.1% |
| Public administration | 612 | 4.1% | 5.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 566 | 3.8% | 5.1% |
| Other services, except public administration | 461 | 3.1% | 2.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 397 | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 353 | 2.4% | 4.3% |
| Administrative, support and waste management services | 247 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 183 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 144 | 1.0% | 1.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 104 | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Information | 88 | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 44 | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| Utilities | 6 | 0.0% | 0.5% |
| Group | Jobs | Share | South Dakota share |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,250 a month or less | 3,396 | 22.8% | 21.2% |
| $1,251 to $3,333 a month | 3,597 | 24.2% | 23.8% |
| More than $3,333 a month | 7,897 | 53.0% | 55.1% |
| Age 29 or younger | 4,112 | 27.6% | 24.7% |
| Age 30 to 54 | 7,162 | 48.1% | 50.5% |
| Age 55 or older | 3,616 | 24.3% | 24.8% |
Manufacturing is the largest sector for jobs located in Watertown (22.7% of local jobs, compared with 10.4% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.
Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.
Nearby station climate normals
WATERTOWN RGNL AP, SD (NOAA station USW00014946) is approximately 0.7 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.
| Month | Average daily high (°F) | Average daily low (°F) | Precipitation (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.4 | 3.1 | 0.58 |
| February | 25.9 | 6.7 | 0.65 |
| March | 38.6 | 19.6 | 1.00 |
| April | 54.0 | 31.5 | 2.06 |
| May | 66.9 | 44.5 | 2.87 |
| June | 76.8 | 55.4 | 3.85 |
| July | 82.0 | 60.0 | 3.05 |
| August | 79.5 | 57.5 | 2.89 |
| September | 71.6 | 48.6 | 2.45 |
| October | 56.2 | 35.2 | 1.95 |
| November | 39.8 | 21.3 | 0.68 |
| December | 26.3 | 9.3 | 0.68 |
Station location: 44.9047°, -97.1494°; elevation 532.8 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .
Check a specific address before moving
City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
- NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
- FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
- Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.
Sources and data notes
Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.
Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.