Watertown 73 Excellent
Watertown Livability #251 ranked city in Minnesota#5,405 ranked city in the USARanks better than 81% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Watertown

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Crime Crime

    This area boasts a crime rate that is far below the national average, making it a very safe place to live. These crime statistics encompass both property and violent offenses.

  • Employment Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

  • Ratings Ratings

    According to recent surveys and polls, locals had excellent ratings for walkability to nearby amenities, safety, access to public transit and the overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities will be difficult to reach within a short walk, often requiring residents to use a vehicle or public transportation for access.

  • Commute Commute

    Low commute scores could be due to limited access to public transit in this area, as well as longer-than-average work commute times for residents.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Subpar air quality and the limited availability of certain health-related facilities such as hospitals, police stations, doctors and pharmacies may have contributed to the low score in this category.

What's it like Living in Watertown?

Watertown, Minnesota is a small-sized city with a population of 4,646 inhabitants. The majority of Watertown residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. If finding a family friendly city is important to you, look no further. With more than 77% of the population considered married and 47% with kids under the age of 18, Watertown could be considered a very suitable city for families. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Watertown offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 33 minutes.

Are you trying to decide if living in Watertown is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before moving to any new city in Minnesota, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Watertown, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like commute, health & safety, employment, housing and more.

The livability score in Watertown is 69/100 and the city is ranked in the 73rd percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Watertown scores well for crime (A-), cost of living (B+) and education (B) Unfortunately for Watertown, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Watertown has an unemployment rate of 1.1% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Watertown apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Watertown is real estate affordability. The median home price for Watertown homes is $414,942, which is 22.4% higher than the Minnesota average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Watertown, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.9, which is 21.6% lower than the Minnesota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Watertown

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Compare Watertown, MN Livability

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      Watertown transportation information

      Statistic Watertown Minnesota National
      Average one way commute33min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work72.1%78.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.8%8.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.2%3.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.1%2.8%2.8%
      Working from home16.8%5.3%4.6%
      Source: The Watertown, MN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.