What are the schools like in Watson, LA?

Watson is served primarily by Livingston Parish. The district operates 23 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 8 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Watson?

The median household income in Watson, LA is $130,764 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.5%.

What is the weather like in Watson, LA?

Watson has an average high temperature of 62.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 68.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Watson, LA affordable or expensive?

Watson's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Watson is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $229,700 and the median rent is N/A per month.

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

Watson has a violent crime rate of 394.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1806.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Watson, LA a Good Place to Live?

Watson is a small town of 1,445 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $130,764 and a 12.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Watson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, 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: 90.8

Watson's overall cost of living index is 90.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Watson costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Watson, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$229,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	93.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$130,764	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Watson's violent crime rate is 394.9 per 100,000 residents — 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

394.9 /100k

Property Crime

1806.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Watson is served primarily by Livingston Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Watson, LA	National Avg
School District	Livingston Parish	—
Elementary Schools	23	—
Middle Schools	10	—
High Schools	8	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watson sees average highs of 62.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July, with 68.1 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Watson, LA
Average High — January	62.3°F
Average High — July	91.9°F
Annual Precipitation	68.1"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Watson, LA	National Avg
Population	1,445	—
Median Age	42.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	36.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.7%	22.2%
65 and over	10.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Central, LA 5 mi Denham Springs, LA 7 mi Walker, LA 8 mi Monticello, LA 8 mi Brownfields, LA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Watson

Watson, LA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

70706 70786

Watson vs Other Cities

Watson, LA vs Central, LA Watson, LA vs Denham Springs, LA Watson, LA vs Walker, LA Watson, LA vs Monticello, LA Watson, LA vs Brownfields, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watson, LA affordable or expensive?

Watson's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Watson roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $229,700 and median rent is N/A/month.

What is the crime rate in Watson, LA?

Watson's violent crime rate is 394.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1806.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Watson?

Public schools in Watson are operated by Livingston Parish. The district has 23 elementary, 10 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Watson, LA a good place to live?

Watson, LA has a population of 1,445, a median household income of $130,764, and an unemployment rate of 12.5%. 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 62.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 68.1 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Watson?

Watson, LA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 70706, 70786.

What is the population of Watson?

The population of Watson, Louisiana is 1,445 with a median age of 42.2. 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 91 (100 = US average), median home $229,700, median household income $130,764, crime index 97 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.