The Town FilesWatertown, Tennessee
City in Wilson County · population 1,553 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,000
- Household income
- $68,148
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 45.1
Watertown is a city of 1,553 people in Wilson County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $250,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Tennessee towns, quieter than 85% of Tennessee towns, better for families than 83% of Tennessee towns.
How Watertown ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watertown is worth $250,000, above the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $68,148, which is more affordable than 50% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $1,036 a month. 74.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watertown | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $1,036 | $863 |
| Median household income | $68,148 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 74.1% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Watertown
| People | Watertown | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 88.2% |
Weather in Watertown
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 54.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.8 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 3, 2020 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 65 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 2, 2012.
Severe weather in Wilson County since 1996
Wilson County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 14, 2022 | Tornado | DR-4637: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Wilson County
Wilson County had 65,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,691 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Watertown itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Watertown
3 public schools with 1,551 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown High School | 9-12 | 660 | 15.3 |
| Watertown Elementary | PK-8 | 565 | 14.9 |
| Watertown Middle School | 6-8 | 326 | 13.0 |
Towns near Watertown
- Alexandria, TN6.2 mi · 981 people · home $220,100
- Gordonsville, TN13.0 mi · 1,363 people · home $251,400
- Lebanon, TN13.3 mi · 38,431 people · home $378,400
- South Carthage, TN14.0 mi · 1,490 people · home $200,300
- Carthage, TN15.4 mi · 2,291 people · home $257,300
- Gladeville, TN16.3 mi · 1,189 people · home $464,400
- Woodbury, TN19.4 mi · 2,703 people · home $216,400
- Hartsville/Trousdale County, TN20.2 mi · 11,615 people · home $337,600
Watertown questions
Is Watertown, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watertown scores better for retirees than 60% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 85%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.1).
How much does a house cost in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watertown is valued at $250,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,148, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,036 a month.
What is the weather like in Watertown?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.8 inches of snow.
Does Watertown get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 3, 2020. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)