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Watertown, WI

A town of about 22,774 people in Jefferson County.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Watertown

Chicago and NW Passenger Station Watertown
Chicago and NW Passenger Station Watertown · Photo: Sa magnuson33, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fischers Building and Lower Watertown Dam
Fischers Building and Lower Watertown Dam · Photo: Iulus Ascanius at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Main Street Commercial Historic District Watertown Wisconsin
Main Street Commercial Historic District Watertown Wisconsin · Photo: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it unde, CC BY-SA 3.0
Octagon House
Watertown River Walk
Watertown River Walk · Photo: Downspec, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Where it is
Watertown
Watertown in Wisconsin
Wisconsin in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Watertown's center.

7
grocery stores
24
restaurants
2
coffee shops
37
parks
15
playgrounds
3
libraries
1
movie theater
1
live theater
3
bookstores
3
gyms
8
bars
2
pharmacies
2
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Watertown.

Bike lanes and bike paths
9.2 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
8.2 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 3,582 rented homes in Watertown, 97% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 41%
$1,000 to $1,499: 50%
$1,500 to $1,999: 6%
$2,000 to $2,499: 1%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Watertown rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Your first weeks in Wisconsin

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Wisconsin DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Wisconsin voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Public schools

8 public school districts in this county, with about 11,829 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Watertown Unified School District · Watertown
3,202 students · 14 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Fort Atkinson School District · Fort Atkinson
2,523 students · 11.9 students per teacher · 7 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Jefferson School District · Jefferson
1,731 students · 12.3 students per teacher · 5 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Lake Mills Area School District · Lake Mills
1,511 students · 14.3 students per teacher · 3 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Cambridge School District · Cambridge
915 students · 12.7 students per teacher · 4 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Wisconsin keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in Wisconsin →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

One college in the county around Watertown. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Maranatha Baptist University · Watertown
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 977 students · $20,280 a year

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Homeowners insurance
About $1,812 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in WI. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
2 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
11.6 per 100,000 people a year
10 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. WI average: 16.1 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$80,604
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
1.57% of home value a year
About $1,570 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 7.65%
WI's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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