The Town FilesWatertown, New York
Town in Jefferson County · population 5,913 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,400
- Household income
- $69,809
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 116 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 35.8
Watertown is a town of 5,913 people in Jefferson County, New York. The median home is worth $217,400, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 87% of New York towns, better for cycling than 71% of New York towns.
How Watertown ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watertown is worth $217,400, close to the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $69,809, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,611 a month. 54.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watertown | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,400 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,611 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $69,809 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.9% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Watertown
| People | Watertown | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.1% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Watertown
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 116.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 1, 1959 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 1959.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 20, 1992.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 40,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,545 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Watertown itself the ACS puts it at 11%.
Towns near Watertown
- Watertown, NY2.8 mi · 24,685 people · home $158,600
- Adams Center, NY5.6 mi · 1,492 people · home $178,100
- Brownville, NY5.9 mi · 930 people · home $192,300
- Rodman, NY6.2 mi · 1,197 people · home $199,200
- Rutland, NY6.7 mi · 3,038 people · home $201,600
- Black River, NY8.1 mi · 1,232 people · home $228,200
- Dexter, NY8.2 mi · 1,004 people · home $158,000
- Calcium, NY8.2 mi · 3,573 people · home $203,400
Watertown questions
Is Watertown, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watertown scores better for retirees than 48% of New York towns and quieter than 49%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watertown is valued at $217,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,809, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,611 a month.
What is the weather like in Watertown?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 116.4 inches of snow.
Does Watertown get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 1, 1959. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)