The Town FilesWatab, Minnesota
Township in Benton County · population 3,402 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $318,200
- Household income
- $99,018
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.2
Watab is a township of 3,402 people in Benton County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $318,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks quieter than 82% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 82% of Minnesota towns.
How Watab ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watab is worth $318,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $99,018, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $959 a month. 95.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watab | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $318,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $959 | $991 |
| Median household income | $99,018 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 95.3% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.1% | — |
Who lives in Watab
| People | Watab | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Watab
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows -0.2°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watab since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 3, 1980 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 106 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 20, 2007.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 17,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,955 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Watab itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Watab
- Sartell, MN5.4 mi · 19,351 people · home $297,300
- Sauk Rapids, MN6.7 mi · 13,862 people · home $256,100
- Brockway, MN6.8 mi · 2,895 people · home $363,000
- St. Joseph, MN10.7 mi · 7,029 people · home $237,700
- St. Cloud, MN11.4 mi · 68,881 people · home $225,000
- Waite Park, MN12.2 mi · 8,341 people · home $219,400
- Haven, MN12.9 mi · 2,610 people · home $346,800
- Foley, MN12.9 mi · 2,711 people · home $203,800
Watab questions
Is Watab, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watab scores better for retirees than 3% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 82%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Watab?
The median owner-occupied home in Watab is valued at $318,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,018, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $959 a month.
What is the weather like in Watab?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows -0.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.5 inches of snow.
Does Watab get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watab since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 3, 1980. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)