Watertown, WI

Census place 5583975 · pop 22,774

D58/ 100
😐 Meh
D−
in WI
📍 Wisconsin ranks #7 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.4% · top 4%
🚽 Obesity42.4% · bottom 9%
Taxes
1.67% property · US 0.99%5.72% sales · US 7.00%up to 7.65% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult obesity42.4%9

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

42.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Population growth (5yr)-3.6%12

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-3.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Bachelor's degree or higher18.2%17

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

18.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Property-tax burden1.67%19

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.67% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Physical inactivity30.3%24

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

30.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking15.2%32

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

15.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Broadband access89.8%36

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

89.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Median household income$70,10744

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$70,107 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Homeownership62.0%44

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

62.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Commute time25 min45

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

25 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Uninsured adults9.2%53

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poverty rate9.9%58

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

9.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health16.5%59

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

16.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Housing cost$222,10065

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$222,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Air quality (AQI)County-level38 AQI77

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

38 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level67/10078

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

67/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,149/mo91

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,149/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Income inequality0.3793

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.37 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.4%96

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Watertown: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Watertown, WI a good place to live?
By the numbers, Watertown scores 58/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is adult obesity. Wisconsin overall ranks #7 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Watertown, WI expensive to live in?
Watertown has a median home value of $222,100 and typical rent around $1,149/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Watertown, WI?
Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (42.4%) — 9/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Watertown, WI best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.