Median Age
39 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
20%
Watertown, SD
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,048
Population
23,083
Renter Mix
38% Rent
Families feel at home in this lakefront town
Small Town
•
Lakes
•
Suburban
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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$60,160
Average: $75,560
Education
4,552
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
12,539
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Watertown has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
38%
Non-Renters
62%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
15%
Other Education
85%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Watertown, SD is $969 for a studio, $1,048 for one bedroom, $1,364 for two bedrooms, and $1,650 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Watertown has increased by 1.0% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,048/month
703 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Watertown, SD is for everyday living.
Not Walkable
Walkability
10
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
338 Students
Public
Grades K-5
361 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
234 Students
Public
Grades K-5
548 Students
Public
Grades K-5
212 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
600 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,220 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Bramble Park Zoo
- Sandy Shore Recreation Area
- Pelican Lake Recreation Area
Top Apartments in Watertown
Houses for Rent in Watertown
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 June 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.