The Town FilesWatertown, New York
City in Jefferson County · population 24,685 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,600
- Household income
- $51,753
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 116 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 35.7
Watertown is a city of 24,685 people in Jefferson County, New York. The median home is worth $158,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 93% of New York towns, more walkable than 91% of New York towns, more vibrant than 86% of New York towns.
How Watertown 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 Watertown is worth $158,600, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $51,753, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. Median rent is $967 a month. 40.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watertown | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,600 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $967 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $51,753 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 40.9% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Watertown
| People | Watertown | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 91.1% |
Weather in Watertown
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 116.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F0, struck on August 5, 2003 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 40,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,545 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Watertown itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Watertown
9 public schools with 4,257 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WATERTOWN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,139 | 13.6 |
| HAROLD T WILEY SCHOOL | 5-6 | 621 | 14.8 |
| CASE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 591 | 12.8 |
| NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 440 | 14.2 |
| KNICKERBOCKER SCHOOL | K-4 | 360 | 13.8 |
| OHIO STREET SCHOOL | K-4 | 311 | 13.0 |
| SHERMAN SCHOOL | K-4 | 311 | 14.1 |
| JEFFERSON-LEWIS-HAMILTON-HERKIMER-ONEIDA BOCES | K-12 | 299 | 7.7 |
| STARBUCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 185 | 12.3 |
Towns near Watertown
- Watertown, NY2.8 mi · 5,913 people · home $217,400
- Calcium, NY5.6 mi · 3,573 people · home $203,400
- Pamelia, NY5.7 mi · 3,343 people · home $167,900
- Rutland, NY6.5 mi · 3,038 people · home $201,600
- Fort Drum, NY7.8 mi · 15,896 people · home —
- Le Ray, NY9.2 mi · 25,574 people · home $185,600
- Brownville, NY9.4 mi · 5,842 people · home $211,700
- Champion, NY10.1 mi · 4,562 people · home $198,900
Watertown questions
Is Watertown, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watertown scores better for retirees than 4% of New York towns and quieter than 10%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Watertown?
The median owner-occupied home in Watertown is valued at $158,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,753, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $967 a month.
What is the weather like in Watertown?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 116.4 inches of snow.
Does Watertown get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Watertown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on August 5, 2003. 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)