Watertown: Demographics & People
Census counts 22,774 people in Watertown, in 9,182 households. Population shrank 0.4% from 22,873 (2022) to 22,774 (2024). Median age 40.6 years. (0.9y younger than Jefferson County; 2.3y older than Wisconsin). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 85% White (non-Hispanic) and 10% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.21). 58% of households are family-led. County is losing 404 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs Wisconsin avg 2.4).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Wisconsin 43%).
- 71 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Wisconsin 66).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.4% from 22,873 (2022) to 22,774 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~22,676 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 22,546.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 89,396 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 22,873 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 22,774 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 22,774 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Population Estimate | 22,546 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.6y is 1.7 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.6 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 22,774 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 5,021 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 4,922.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 8,362.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 4,469 |
| Population under 18 | 5,021 |
| Median age | 40.6 years (vs Wisconsin 38.3y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 22,774 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.21 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 20,503 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 54 |
| Asian residents | 34 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,634 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 20.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 88.3% |
| Asian population | 0.2% (vs Wisconsin 3.1%) |
| Black population | 0.4% (vs Wisconsin 2.7%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 9.5% (vs Wisconsin 6.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 85.4% (vs Wisconsin 81.6%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.6% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 3% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 17,440 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,510 |
| Share born in this state | 76.6% |
| Share born in another state | 23.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 19.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.6% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 682 |
| From Europe | 101 |
| From Africa | 126 |
Households & Family Composition
9,182 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 5,486 families, 28% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 5,071 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 5,486 |
| Married couples with children | 1,552 |
| Single-parent households | 240 |
| Average household size | 2.46 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 546 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 180 |
| Family households | 5,356 households (vs Wisconsin 7,092) |
| Households that are families | 58.3% (vs Wisconsin 57.2%) |
| Total households | 9,182 households (vs Wisconsin 10,843) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 12.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 404 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 12.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 82,411 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 82,815 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -404 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 1,347 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.9% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 782 residents live in group quarters (3.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 782 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 55027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 55 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Dodge |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 7.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 10.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 55027 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Dodge County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 3,314 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 55027 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Dodge County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 57.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 54.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 60.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 87,839 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 9.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 10 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 7 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 22.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 22,774, stable, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 22,774 people (vs Wisconsin 25,785) |
| Town Summary · County | Dodge County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade