What are the schools like in Watson, IL?

School district data for Watson is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Watson?

The median household income in Watson, IL is $67,734 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Watson, IL?

Watson has an average high temperature of 37.4°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 14.6 inches.

Watson, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Watson, IL affordable or expensive?

Watson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Watson is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $90,000 and the median rent is $539 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Watson, IL?

Watson has a violent crime rate of 88.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 785.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Watson, IL a Good Place to Live?

Watson is a small town of 631 in Illinois, with a median household income of $67,734 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Watson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Watson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Watson city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 87.8

Watson's overall cost of living index is 87.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Watson costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Watson, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$90,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$539	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,734	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Watson's violent crime rate is 88.2 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

88.2 /100k

Property Crime

785.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Watson, IL	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watson sees average highs of 37.4°F in January and 88.5°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation and 14.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Watson, IL
Average High — January	37.4°F
Average High — July	88.5°F
Annual Precipitation	45.0"
Annual Snowfall	14.6"

Demographics

Metric	Watson, IL	National Avg
Population	631	—
Median Age	40.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	20.4%	22.2%
65 and over	10.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mason, IL 6 mi Effingham, IL 7 mi Teutopolis, IL 9 mi Edgewood, IL 9 mi Altamont, IL 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Watson

Watson, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62473

Watson vs Other Cities

Watson, IL vs Mason, IL Watson, IL vs Effingham, IL Watson, IL vs Teutopolis, IL Watson, IL vs Edgewood, IL Watson, IL vs Altamont, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watson, IL affordable or expensive?

Watson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Watson roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $90,000 and median rent is $539/month.

What is the crime rate in Watson, IL?

Watson's violent crime rate is 88.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 785.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Watson?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Watson, IL a good place to live?

Watson, IL has a population of 631, a median household income of $67,734, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Watson?

Watson averages 37.4°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches with about 14.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Watson?

Watson, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62473.

What is the population of Watson?

The population of Watson, Illinois is 631 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Watson?

Key numbers for living in Watson: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $90,000, median household income $67,734, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Watson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.