What are the schools like in Watertown, NY?

Watertown is served primarily by WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1.

What is the median household income in Watertown?

The median household income in Watertown, NY is $49,722 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.

What is the weather like in Watertown, NY?

Watertown has an average high temperature of 28.9°F in January and 79.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 116.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Watertown, NY affordable or expensive?

Watertown's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Watertown is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $150,000 and the median rent is $924 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Watertown, NY?

Watertown has a violent crime rate of 599.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3928.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Watertown, NY a Good Place to Live?

Watertown is a small city of 24,859 in New York, with a median household income of $49,722 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Watertown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Watertown 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: 90.5

Watertown's overall cost of living index is 90.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Watertown costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Watertown, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$150,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$924	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	42.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,722	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Watertown's violent crime rate is 599.3 per 100,000 residents — 58% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

599.3 /100k

Property Crime

3928.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Watertown is served primarily by WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Watertown, NY	National Avg
School District	WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watertown sees average highs of 28.9°F in January and 79.8°F in July, with 44.4 inches of annual precipitation and 116.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Watertown, NY
Average High — January	28.9°F
Average High — July	79.8°F
Annual Precipitation	44.4"
Annual Snowfall	116.4"

Demographics

Metric	Watertown, NY	National Avg
Population	24,859	—
Median Age	35.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	80.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	14.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glen Park, NY 3 mi Brownville, NY 4 mi Pamelia Center, NY 4 mi Calcium, NY 6 mi Black River, NY 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Watertown

Watertown, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

13601

Watertown vs Other Cities

Watertown, NY vs Glen Park, NY Watertown, NY vs Brownville, NY Watertown, NY vs Pamelia Center, NY Watertown, NY vs Calcium, NY Watertown, NY vs Black River, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watertown, NY affordable or expensive?

Watertown's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Watertown roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $150,000 and median rent is $924/month.

What is the crime rate in Watertown, NY?

Watertown's violent crime rate is 599.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3928.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Watertown?

Public schools in Watertown are operated by WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Watertown, NY a good place to live?

Watertown, NY has a population of 24,859, a median household income of $49,722, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. 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 Watertown?

Watertown averages 28.9°F in January and 79.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.4 inches with about 116.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Watertown?

Watertown, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 13601.

What is the population of Watertown?

The population of Watertown, New York is 24,859 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Watertown?

Key numbers for living in Watertown: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $150,000, median household income $49,722, crime index 169 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Watertown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.