The Town FilesWatertown, Minnesota
City in Carver County · population 4,659 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $337,200
- Household income
- $99,671
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 33.3
Watertown is a city of 4,659 people in Carver County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $337,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 84% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 81% of Minnesota towns.
How Watertown ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Watertown is worth $337,200, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $99,671, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $927 a month. 82.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watertown | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $337,200 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $927 | $991 |
| Median household income | $99,671 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Watertown
| People | Watertown | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Watertown
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 286 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 5, 2019.
Severe weather in Carver County since 1996
Carver County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Carver County
Carver County had 40,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,445 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Watertown itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Watertown
5 public schools with 1,465 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WATERTOWN-MAYER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 513 | 16.0 |
| WATERTOWN MAYER HIGH | 9-12 | 499 | 17.8 |
| WATERTOWN-MAYER MIDDLE | 5-8 | 425 | 15.7 |
| Watertown-Mayer Cmty Learning Cntr | PK-PK | 28 | 4.7 |
| WM - Connections | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Watertown
- Franklin, MN4.7 mi · 2,885 people · home $637,800
- Delano, MN6.0 mi · 6,484 people · home $375,200
- Minnetrista, MN6.6 mi · 8,262 people · home $658,300
- Independence, MN7.3 mi · 3,755 people · home $663,400
- Montrose, MN8.2 mi · 3,775 people · home $275,700
- Waconia, MN8.6 mi · 13,033 people · home $431,000
- Mound, MN9.3 mi · 9,398 people · home $370,800
- Rockford, MN10.2 mi · 4,500 people · home $329,200
Watertown questions
Is Watertown, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watertown scores better for retirees than 10% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 35%. 11.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.3).
How much does a house cost in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watertown is valued at $337,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,671, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $927 a month.
What is the weather like in Watertown?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 47.4 inches of snow.
Does Watertown get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)