The Town FilesWatertown, Wisconsin
Town in Jefferson County · population 1,933 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $348,900
- Household income
- $99,886
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 47.0
Watertown is a town of 1,933 people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $348,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 82% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 76% of Wisconsin towns, better for cycling than 73% 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 $348,900, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $99,886, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,167 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watertown | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $348,900 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,167 | $951 |
| Median household income | $99,886 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Watertown
| People | Watertown | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 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
23 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 1.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 22, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 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 3.5%.
Towns near Watertown
- Watertown, WI2.7 mi · 22,926 people · home $222,100
- Milford, WI4.3 mi · 1,106 people · home $388,000
- Johnson Creek, WI5.2 mi · 3,318 people · home $314,200
- Emmet, WI6.1 mi · 1,310 people · home $362,900
- Farmington, WI6.3 mi · 1,407 people · home $372,100
- Ixonia, WI6.8 mi · 5,120 people · home $335,400
- Shields, WI6.9 mi · 503 people · home $284,000
- Ixonia, WI7.3 mi · 2,367 people · home $345,300
Watertown questions
Is Watertown, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watertown scores better for retirees than 68% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 31%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watertown is valued at $348,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,886, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,167 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?
23 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)