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SD area data

Watertown, SD

Watertown, SD.

Population: 26,781 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Watertown, SD is $326,761 — up 2.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $301,500 after a median 52.5 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,205/month. 12 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with icestorm, winterweather, coldwave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.0% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$326,761

Median home value

+2.6%

1-year change

52.5

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$326,761
1-year appreciation
+2.6%
3-year appreciation
+4.3%
5-year appreciation
+22.9%
10-year appreciation
+59.4%
All-time peak (2026-04)
$328,660
House Price Index (state)
496.2 (+2.9% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$301,500
Median list price
$355,000
Median price per sqft
$139
1-year sale-price change
+3.9%
Median days on market
52.5 days
Homes sold (recent period)
75
For-sale inventory
141
Sale-to-list ratio
98.3%
Active listings
141
1-year forecast
+1.0%
Days to pending
54 days
New listings (monthly)
44

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,205/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$767/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$959/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,218/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,584/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,828/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
90.0 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.4¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$9.90/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
12
Elementary schools
6
Middle schools
3
High schools
2
School districts serving the area
Watertown School District 14-4, Waverly School District 14-5
Schools include
McKinley Elementary - 06, Mellette Elementary - 07, Roosevelt Elementary - 08, Watertown High School - 01, Watertown Middle School - 02

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
iceStorm, winterWeather, coldWave, strongWind, tornado
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively High · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low · strongWind: Relatively Moderate
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 40% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
37.6%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
43.7°F
Average high
53.7°F
Average low
33.7°F
Annual precipitation
24.3 in
Annual snowfall
44.7 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
4b (extreme annual low -25 to -20°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
45
Days with Good air quality
215
Days with Moderate air quality
135
Days with Unhealthy air quality
1
Highest AQI recorded (year)
164

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
7.7 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
6,229
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
241

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
5
Nearest airport
Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) (3 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, INC
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+25 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,979
Housing built before 1970
34.3%
Housing built 2000 or later
27.7%
Median annual property tax
$2,368
Mean commute to work
13 min
Households with broadband internet
72.5%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
14,791
Average weekly wage
$957
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
80

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

WatertownState medianUS median
Median home value$326,761$306,725$289,727
Median sale price$301,500$287,750$325,000
Median days on market53 days58 days51 days
Typical rent$1,205/mo$1,302/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$2,368$1,656$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Watertown, SD?
$326,761.
What is the median sale price in Watertown, SD?
$301,500.
How long do homes take to sell in Watertown, SD?
Median days on market: 52.5 days.
What is typical rent in Watertown, SD?
Typical rent: $1,205/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Watertown, SD?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, winterWeather, coldWave, strongWind, tornado.
Is Watertown, SD in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in Watertown, SD?
Risk to homes is higher than 40% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Watertown, SD?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Watertown, SD?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Watertown, SD?
12 schools (6 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Watertown, SD walkable?
Walkability index: 7.7/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Watertown, SD?
Good. Median AQI: 45. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Watertown, SD?
Regional Price Parity: 90.0 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Watertown

Selling a home in Watertown, SD?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents