The Town FilesWatertown, Wisconsin
City in Jefferson County · population 22,926 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $222,100
- Household income
- $70,107
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 40.6
Watertown is a city of 22,926 people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $222,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 97% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 89% of Wisconsin towns.
How Watertown ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watertown is worth $222,100, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $70,107, which is more affordable than 48% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,052 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watertown | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $222,100 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,052 | $951 |
| Median household income | $70,107 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Watertown
| People | Watertown | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Watertown
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 10.5°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1980 about 4.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on May 14, 2001.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 33,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,167 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Watertown itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Watertown
10 public schools with 3,231 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown High | 9-12 | 1,087 | 16.5 |
| Riverside Middle | 6-8 | 649 | 13.2 |
| Webster Elementary | PK-5 | 373 | 12.9 |
| Douglas Elementary | PK-5 | 324 | 10.8 |
| Schurz Elementary | PK-5 | 236 | 9.8 |
| Watertown 4 Kids | PK-PK | 172 | 86.0 |
| Lincoln Elementary | K-5 | 146 | 12.2 |
| eCampus Academy Charter School (charter) | PK-12 | 142 | 20.3 |
| Endeavor Charter School (charter) | 9-12 | 52 | 17.3 |
| LEAP Elementary | PK-5 | 50 | 16.7 |
Towns near Watertown
- Ixonia, WI6.6 mi · 5,120 people · home $335,400
- Johnson Creek, WI7.9 mi · 3,318 people · home $314,200
- Lake Mills, WI11.8 mi · 6,211 people · home $317,100
- Oconomowoc, WI12.7 mi · 8,836 people · home $466,300
- Waterloo, WI13.2 mi · 3,492 people · home $230,600
- Oconomowoc, WI13.3 mi · 18,203 people · home $394,500
- Jefferson, WI13.4 mi · 7,793 people · home $225,600
- Ashippun, WI13.5 mi · 2,663 people · home $404,700
Watertown questions
Is Watertown, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watertown scores better for retirees than 11% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 5%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watertown is valued at $222,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,107, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,052 a month.
What is the weather like in Watertown?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 10.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.0 inches of snow.
Does Watertown get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1980. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)