The Town FilesWatterson Park, Kentucky
City in Jefferson County · population 1,004 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,200
- Household income
- $39,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 45.0
Watterson Park is a city of 1,004 people in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $213,200, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Kentucky towns, better transit than 98% of Kentucky towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Kentucky towns.
How Watterson Park ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watterson Park is worth $213,200, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $39,844, which is more affordable than 2% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $868 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watterson Park | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,200 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $868 | $837 |
| Median household income | $39,844 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Watterson Park
| People | Watterson Park | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.6% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Watterson Park
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.4 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watterson Park since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 28, 1996 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 238 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 154 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 3, 1996.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 482,313 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,280 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Watterson Park itself the ACS puts it at 15.2%.
Towns near Watterson Park
- West Buechel, KY0.8 mi · 1,370 people · home $185,600
- Wellington, KY1.6 mi · 564 people · home $345,400
- Strathmoor Village, KY1.8 mi · 684 people · home $384,900
- Lynnview, KY1.9 mi · 945 people · home $161,600
- Seneca Gardens, KY2.3 mi · 674 people · home $556,100
- Audubon Park, KY2.5 mi · 1,433 people · home $362,700
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY2.8 mi · 386,884 people · home $233,900
- Parkway Village, KY3.2 mi · 623 people · home $253,600
Watterson Park questions
Is Watterson Park, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watterson Park scores better for retirees than 13% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 45%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Watterson Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Watterson Park is valued at $213,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,844, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $868 a month.
What is the weather like in Watterson Park?
July highs average 87.9°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13.4 inches of snow.
Does Watterson Park get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watterson Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 28, 1996. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)