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Neighborhood report

Watertown, SD

Founded 1879Codington CountyElev. 531 m
Population
22,859
Median home
$212,300
Disaster risk
Relatively Low
Public schools
9
Sex offenders
5

Overview

About Watertown

Watertown is a city in South Dakota with about 22,859 residents. Watertown was founded in 1879 and sits in Codington County. The median age is 39.4 and the median household income is $62,721. Homes carry a median value of $212,300, and about 63% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (89.9%). Around 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 14 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

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Who lives here

Demographics

Population
22,859
Median age
39.4
Median household income
$62,721
Per-capita income
$37,225
Poverty rate
10.7%
High-school grad or higher
91.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
21.2%
Unemployment
2%
Avg. commute
13.7 min
Work from home
5.4%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White89.9%
Hispanic or Latino3.4%
Black0.9%
Asian0.6%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts34.7%
Sales & office20.8%
Production, transportation & material moving20.6%
Service14.5%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance9.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$212,300
Median gross rent
$904/mo
Owner-occupied
62.7%
Median year built
1980
Households
10,237
Avg. household size
2.18

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Average

Watertown has 9 public schools — 5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 1 school
Reading63%
Math46%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

Watertown High School - 01HighGrades 9–12
Watertown Intermediate School - 13MiddleGrades 5–6
Watertown Middle School - 02MiddleGrades 7–8
Jefferson Elementary - 09Elementary
Lincoln Elementary - 05Elementary
McKinley Elementary - 06ElementaryGrades -1–4
Mellette Elementary - 07Elementary
Roosevelt Elementary - 08ElementaryGrades -1–4
Garfield Education Center - 14Grades -1–-1

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime25% below national
Watertown289
South Dakota377
United States386
↓ 4% lower than 2019
2019–2023
property crime14% below national
Watertown1,682
South Dakota1,752
United States1,952
↑ 2% higher than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Watertown Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Watertown.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively Low
Top hazards · Codington County
Ice stormRelatively High
Winter weatherRelatively High
Cold waveRelatively Moderate
Strong windRelatively Moderate
TornadoRelatively Moderate
DroughtRelatively Low

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Watertown is in Codington County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Watertown was founded in 1879 and sits in Codington County. Elevation ~531 m.

Map of Watertown
Watertown, SD
Where Watertown is
Sioux FallsRapidAberdeenBrookingsWatertownYankton
Historic places

31 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Codington County CourthouseEmminger, Corson, Round BarnMathiesen HouseMellette HouseWatertown Post OfficeOlive PlaceMount Hope Cemetery MausoleumCarnegie Free Public Library
Notable people from Watertown
Kristi NoemPatrick Spencer JohnsonDennis KoslowskiMonte CookLee RaymondJohn HamreTimmy WilliamsBruce CordellGeorge R. MatherJ. A. Jance
People searches in Watertown
Michael SmithJohn SmithJames SmithDavid SmithRobert SmithMichael JohnsonJohn JohnsonJames JohnsonMichael WilliamsWilliam SmithDavid JohnsonRobert JohnsonJohn WilliamsMichael BrownMichael JonesJames WilliamsDavid WilliamsJohn BrownRobert WilliamsJohn JonesWilliam JohnsonMary SmithJames BrownJames Jones
Nearby cities
Milbank (33 mi)Webster (35 mi)Volga (42 mi)Brookings (46 mi)Sisseton (52 mi)Groton (59 mi)

Registered sex offenders in Watertown, SD (5)

Public sex-offender registry records for Watertown, South Dakota.

Andrew Christopher King, 41
Watertown · Codington County · 57201
AKA Andy King
Jason Kenneth Moore, 49
Watertown · Codington County · 57201
Johnathon Wayne Martinez, 70
Watertown · Codington County · 57201
James Roy Thompson, 69
Watertown · Codington County · 57201
James Thompson, 69ABSCONDER
Watertown · 57201
AKA James R Thompson, James Thompson

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Watertown — frequently asked

What is the population of Watertown, South Dakota?
Watertown has a population of about 22,859, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Watertown?
The median home value in Watertown is $212,300, and the median gross rent is $904/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Watertown safe? What is the crime rate?
Watertown Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 289 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — lower than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Watertown face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Codington County as "Relatively Low" overall, with top hazards including ice storm, winter weather, cold wave.
How many schools are in Watertown?
Watertown has 9 public schools (5 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Watertown?
Public registry data lists 5 registered sex offenders in or near Watertown. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Watertown →