What are the schools like in Watertown, SD?

Watertown is served primarily by Watertown School District 14-4. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Watertown?

The median household income in Watertown, SD is $61,320 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.5%.

What is the weather like in Watertown, SD?

Watertown has an average high temperature of 21.4°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 22.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Watertown, SD affordable or expensive?

Watertown's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Watertown is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $198,100 and the median rent is $866 per month.

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

Watertown has a violent crime rate of 303.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1024.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Watertown, SD a Good Place to Live?

Watertown is a small city of 22,718 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $61,320 and a 1.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 92.9

Watertown's overall cost of living index is 92.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Watertown costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Watertown, SD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$198,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$866	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,320	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Watertown's violent crime rate is 303.2 per 100,000 residents — 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

303.2 /100k

Property Crime

1024.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Watertown is served primarily by Watertown School District 14-4. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Watertown, SD	National Avg
School District	Watertown School District 14-4	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watertown sees average highs of 21.4°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 22.7 inches of annual precipitation and 41.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Watertown, SD
Average High — January	21.4°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	22.7"
Annual Snowfall	41.1"

Demographics

Metric	Watertown, SD	National Avg
Population	22,718	—
Median Age	38.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	22.6%	22.2%
65 and over	18.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Waverly, SD 11 mi Kranzburg, SD 12 mi Florence, SD 13 mi Castlewood, SD 14 mi Henry, SD 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Watertown

Watertown, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

57201

Watertown vs Other Cities

Watertown, SD vs Waverly, SD Watertown, SD vs Kranzburg, SD Watertown, SD vs Florence, SD Watertown, SD vs Castlewood, SD Watertown, SD vs Henry, SD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watertown, SD affordable or expensive?

Watertown's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Watertown roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $198,100 and median rent is $866/month.

What is the crime rate in Watertown, SD?

Watertown's violent crime rate is 303.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1024.9 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 School District 14-4. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 20.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Watertown, SD a good place to live?

Watertown, SD has a population of 22,718, a median household income of $61,320, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. 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 Watertown?

Watertown averages 21.4°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.7 inches with about 41.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Watertown?

Watertown, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57201.

What is the population of Watertown?

The population of Watertown, South Dakota is 22,718 with a median age of 38.9. 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 93 (100 = US average), median home $198,100, median household income $61,320, crime index 67 (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.