Watertown 72 Excellent
Watertown Livability #224 ranked city in Wisconsin#5,940 ranked city in the USARanks better than 79% 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.

  • 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.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Accessible health facilities like hospitals, doctors offices, clinics and nursing homes as well as good air quality are all factors that have led to a high score in this category.

CONS
  • 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.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Through surveys and polls, AreaVibes obtained feedback from local residents in the area, and the results did not indicate a favorable outlook on factors like local amenities and the safety of the area.

What's it like Living in Watertown?

Watertown, Wisconsin is a mid-sized city with a population of 24,039 people. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (93% White). Given that fact, Watertown could be considered less diverse than other cities. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Watertown, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 24 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Watertown could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Wisconsin if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, cost of living, commute, health & safety, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Watertown and in the areas around Watertown is a much easier task.

With a livability score of 70/100, Watertown is ranked #6,937 in the United States and #267 in Wisconsin. If we dig a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Watertown has higher than average scores for the following: crime (B), cost of living (A-) and housing (A+).

Low rates of violent crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, rape, robbery and assault, contribute significantly to a safer living environment. This reduction in crime minimizes the chances of personal harm, property theft, or violent incidents. Furthermore, low crime rates can have a positive impact on property values and the overall desirability of an area. There were 190 crimes per 100,000 residents, which signifies that Watertown boasts an impressively low violent crime rate that falls well below the national average.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Watertown excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Watertown is actually affordable. The median home price for Watertown homes is $280,388, which is 6.9% lower than the Wisconsin 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 3.6, which is 2.7% lower than the Wisconsin average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Watertown

See all the best places to live around Watertown

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Compare Watertown, WI Livability

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      Watertown transportation information

      Statistic Watertown Wisconsin National
      Average one way commute24min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work80.6%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.4%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.5%1.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk5.1%3.3%2.8%
      Working from home3.0%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Watertown, WI 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.