The Town FilesWatertown, Michigan
Charter township in Clinton County · population 5,563 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,700
- Household income
- $114,870
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.5
Watertown is a charter township of 5,563 people in Clinton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $288,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 96% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 95% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Watertown ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watertown is worth $288,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $114,870, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,484 a month. 96.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watertown | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,484 | $955 |
| Median household income | $114,870 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Watertown
| People | Watertown | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Watertown
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 2.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 18,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,866 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Watertown itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Watertown
- DeWitt, MI3.9 mi · 4,776 people · home $309,900
- Waverly, MI5.5 mi · 23,812 people · home $234,600
- DeWitt, MI5.8 mi · 15,073 people · home $276,000
- Delta, MI6.1 mi · 33,119 people · home $252,700
- Lansing, MI6.4 mi · 8,143 people · home $146,200
- Grand Ledge, MI6.4 mi · 7,784 people · home $194,000
- Eagle, MI6.6 mi · 2,776 people · home $257,400
- Olive, MI7.7 mi · 2,535 people · home $296,100
Watertown questions
Is Watertown, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watertown scores better for retirees than 76% of Michigan towns and quieter than 66%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watertown is valued at $288,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,870, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,484 a month.
What is the weather like in Watertown?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50.2 inches of snow.
Does Watertown get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)