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City · 24,375 residents · Jefferson County, New York

Watertown , New York

In Watertown, a typical home is worth $158,600 and typical rent is $967 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, typical household income is 22% lower, typical rent is 20% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $158,600

    16% below the county

    63% below New York

    • Watertown
    • Jefferson
    • New York

  • Typical rent

    $967a month

    20% below the county

    40% below New York

    • Watertown
    • Jefferson
    • New York

  • Typical household income

    $51,753a year

    22% below the county

    40% below New York

    • Watertown
    • Jefferson
    • New York

  • Households that own their home

    41%

    14 points below the county

    13 points below New York

    • Watertown
    • Jefferson
    • New York

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$205,937
4.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,546 a month
7.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Watertown is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Watertown apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Ogdensburg, the typical home value is $85,400: 46% less than in Watertown ($158,600).

  2. 41% of households in Watertown own their home, against 55% in Jefferson County.

  3. Nearby, in Ogdensburg, the typical rent is $778: 20% less than in Watertown ($967).

  4. The typical household income in Watertown is $51,753, 22% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($66,301).

  5. The typical rent in Watertown is $967 a month, 20% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($1,213).

  6. The typical home in Watertown is worth $158,600, 16% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($188,200).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Watertown

What homes there are in Watertown, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Watertown; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 44%, less than in Jefferson County (57%).

Year built

In Watertown, half of the homes were built before 1945; in Jefferson County, before 1972.

In Watertown, 25% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 47% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59% in Jefferson County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Watertown are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Jefferson County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Watertown cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,453): about 86%.

With a mortgage

$1,352 a month

Jefferson County: $1,555 a month

Without a mortgage

$602 a month

Jefferson County: $591 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Jefferson County: 57%

In Watertown, 67% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,352 a month, against $1,555 in Jefferson County. Without one it drops to $602.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Watertown rose 19%; in Jefferson County, it rose 26%.

The typical rent in Watertown rose 20% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Jefferson County (23%).

Here income gained ground: typical income rose 29%, against +19% for home values and +20% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWatertownJefferson CountyNew YorkUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.4%3.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.9%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.9%5.3%3.4%
People per household 1.982.322.492.53
Drive alone 79%78%49%69%
Carpool 7%8%6%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate22%3%
Walk or bike 6%4%6%3%
Work from home 5%8%15%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Watertown are smaller: 1.98 people on average; in Jefferson County, 2.32.

In Watertown, 79% of workers drive alone to work; in Jefferson County, 78%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Watertown?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Watertown, worth $158,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Watertown, which is $51,753 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $60,737 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Watertown. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,551 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,417

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$155,727
Total interest
$224,055
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,678 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,208 a month

  • Tight

    $1,208 to $1,553 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,553 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Watertown ($51,753 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,417
Principal & interest$1,055
Property tax$226
Home insurance$66
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$70

You need at least $5,551 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Watertown and Jefferson County

Watertown is in Jefferson County, New York. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Watertown's own numbers

Typical home value
$158,600
Typical monthly rent
$967
Typical yearly household income
$51,753
Households that own their home
41%
Effective property tax rate
1.71%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,453
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+34%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Watertown

A typical home in Watertown is worth $158,600: 16% below the county and 63% below New York. With the typical household income in Watertown ($51,753 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Watertown 3.1 years
  • Jefferson 2.8 years
  • New York 4.9 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 42% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County New York U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.0% +6.0% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +34% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +42% +86% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Watertown next to Jefferson County, New York and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Watertown $158,600
  • Jefferson $188,200
  • New York $423,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Watertown $967
  • Jefferson $1,213
  • New York $1,621
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Watertown $51,753
  • Jefferson $66,301
  • New York $85,974
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Watertown next to Jefferson County and New York
Measure Watertown Jefferson County New York U.S.
Typical home value $158,600 $188,200 $423,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $967 $1,213 $1,621 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $51,753 $66,301 $85,974 $80,734
Households that own their home 41% 55% 54% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,710 $2,899 $6,582 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.71% 1.54% 1.55% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 45% 48% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Watertown

For a typical $158,600 home in Watertown, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Watertown's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,417a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,551
    Cash to close
    $10,309
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $70

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,388a month

    Down payment
    $7,930
    Cash to close
    $12,688
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $75

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,152a month

    Down payment
    $31,720
    Cash to close
    $36,478
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,298a month

    Down payment
    $23,790
    Cash to close
    $28,548
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Watertown and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Watertown

1.71%of the home’s value each year

$2,710 a year for the typical owner in Watertown.

  • Watertown 1.71%
  • Jefferson 1.54%
  • New York 1.55%

What New York publishes Basic STAR school tax relief (New York State Department of Taxation and Finance)

Exemptions and deadlines in New York

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0%
3
Of those, with NFIP insurance
—
County New York U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0% 2% 3.5%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Watertown

Typical rent in Watertown is $967 a month: 20% below the county. In Watertown, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,453 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.94 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,012 $19.46 $40,480
1 bedroom $1,111 $21.37 $44,440
2 bedrooms $1,453 $27.94 $58,120
3 bedrooms $1,995 $38.37 $79,800
4 bedrooms $2,376 $45.69 $95,040

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Watertown

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Watertown is in ZIP code 13601.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,360: $93 less than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,453).

  • 13601 $1,360$1,870

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Watertown when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Watertown

HUD lists 19 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Watertown. These are the largest.

  • Northside 113 W Main St, Watertown 13601 299 homes, 289 low-income · Run by Watertown Housing Authority · Average payment: $446 a month · Average wait: 14 months (315) 782-1251
  • Hkbbe Apts 105 Washington St, Watertown 13601 254 low-income homes · Studio: 12 · 1 bd: 245 · 2 bd: 5
  • Eastbrook 1708 Ohio St, Watertown 13601 200 low-income homes · Run by Watertown Housing Authority · Average payment: $518 a month · Average wait: 17 months (315) 782-1251
  • HKBBE Apartments 206 State St, Watertown 13601 262 homes, 174 low-income · For older adults (315) 782-8497
  • Huntington Heights 1620A Huntington St, Watertown 13601 151 homes, 150 low-income · For families (315) 782-6995

See all 29 buildings in Jefferson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Watertown

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Jefferson County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Watertown

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Watertown or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in New York: they work in Watertown the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New York

Housing counselors near Watertown

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Watertown, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Neighbors of Watertown, Inc.

    112 Franklin St, Watertown · 4 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (315) 782-8497

  • City of Fulton Community Development Agency

    125 W Broadway, Fulton · 52 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (315) 593-7166

  • Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union

    1816 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse · 65 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Swahili.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (315) 476-5290

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in New York

Help in Spanish near Watertown

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Watertown

HUD’s record names them for Watertown or Jefferson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

One other authority has an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jefferson County

These cities are also in Jefferson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in New York

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Watertown, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Watertown.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about Watertown

Short answers with the numbers for Watertown and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Watertown?

The typical home value in Watertown is $158,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $188,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Watertown?

Typical rent in Watertown is $967 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,453.

What is the FHA loan limit in Watertown?

Watertown uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Watertown?

The typical homeowner in Watertown pays $2,710 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.71% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 1.54%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Watertown?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Jefferson County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).