Watertown

People flock to the Skate Park at Watertown Parks & Recreation.
Aerial view of Watertown
The Watertown Masonic Temple was built in 1915.
Enjoy a sunny day at Bramble Park Zoo.

Watertown, SD Area Guide

Families feel at home in this lakefront town

Small Town Lakes Suburban Affordable Community Good Schools

The small-town feel in Watertown is palpable to both its residents and visitors. The excellent public school district, the affordable housing, and the safe, family-friendly environment is something Watertown’s residents are proud of. Known for its lakeside recreation at Lake Kampeska and Pelican Lake, locals enjoy boating, tubing, fishing, and swimming in the warmer summer months.

From community events Downtown to the shopping and dining options, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in Watertown. Watertown Mall offers a variety of retailers, and residents appreciate local businesses such as Dempsey’s Brewery Restaurant & Pub for a good meal and an even better time. Families flock to local gems like the Bramble Park Zoo, and there are plenty of highways that are accessible from this city, including Interstate 29 and Highways 212 and 81. Watertown is not too big and it’s not too small.

Explore the City

The Watertown Masonic Temple was built in 1915.

Enjoy a sunny day at Bramble Park Zoo.

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Watertown, SD is $955 for a studio, $1,054 for one bedroom, $1,357 for two bedrooms, and $1,659 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Watertown has increased by 1.6% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,054/month
702 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Watertown, SD

Getting Around

Not Walkable

Walkability

10 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

Lincoln Elementary - 05

Public

Grades K-5

338 Students

Jefferson Elementary - 09

Public

Grades K-5

361 Students

McKinley Elementary - 06

Public

Grades PK-5

234 Students

Watertown Intermediate School

Public

Grades K-5

548 Students

Mellette Elementary - 07

Public

Grades K-5

212 Students

Watertown Jr. High - 02

Public

Grades 6-8

600 Students

Watertown High School - 01

Public

Grades 9-12

1,220 Students

Lake Area Multi-District

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Bramble Park Zoo
  • Sandy Shore Recreation Area
  • Pelican Lake Recreation Area

Top Apartments in Watertown

Houses for Rent in Watertown

Search Nearby Rentals

Nearby Neighborhood Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.