The Town FilesWatson, New York
Town in Lewis County · population 1,802 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,300
- Household income
- $68,864
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 150 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 43.7
Watson is a town of 1,802 people in Lewis County, New York. The median home is worth $161,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 92% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of New York towns, quieter than 71% of New York towns.
How Watson 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 Watson is worth $161,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $68,864, which is more affordable than 72% of New York towns. Median rent is $912 a month. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $912 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $68,864 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 36.7% | — |
Who lives in Watson
| People | Watson | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 91.1% |
Weather in Watson
July highs average 75.0°F and January lows 3.8°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 150.3 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Watson since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 8, 2014 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 8, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on May 19, 2019.
Severe weather in Lewis County since 1996
Lewis County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4839: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| August 29, 2024 | Flood | DR-4814: Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Lewis County
Lewis County had 6,956 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,649 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Watson itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Watson
- New Bremen, NY6.7 mi · 2,785 people · home $163,200
- Croghan, NY8.9 mi · 639 people · home $160,000
- Greig, NY9.7 mi · 1,179 people · home $172,700
- Webb, NY9.8 mi · 1,797 people · home $362,000
- Croghan, NY10.7 mi · 3,197 people · home $191,300
- Lowville, NY12.9 mi · 3,272 people · home $164,000
- Lowville, NY14.1 mi · 4,888 people · home $165,000
- Turin, NY15.0 mi · 768 people · home $180,600
Watson questions
Is Watson, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watson scores better for retirees than 29% of New York towns and quieter than 71%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Watson?
The median owner-occupied home in Watson is valued at $161,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,864, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $912 a month.
What is the weather like in Watson?
July highs average 75.0°F and January lows 3.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 150.3 inches of snow.
Does Watson get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Watson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 8, 2014. 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)