Best Life Index › States › South Dakota › Cities › Watertown

South Dakota city profile

Is Watertown a Good Value in South Dakota?

What it costs to live in Watertown, and how it compares with other South Dakota cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

68

2nd best value in South Dakota

How much you get for what you pay, versus other South Dakota cities.

Overall livability

58

2nd overall in South Dakota

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Watertown is home to about 22,577 people. A typical home runs $174,900 and a household earns around $56,500, a price-to-income ratio of 3.1. Among South Dakota's cities, it ranks 2nd for value and 2nd overall.

Watertown at a glance

Median home price

$174,900

3rd in SD of 7

Median rent

$822/mo

Median household income

$56,500

Home price to income

3.1x

Unemployment

1.5%

2nd in SD of 7

School rating

4/10

5th in SD of 7

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in SD of 7

Walk score

1/100

See your real take-home pay in South Dakota

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after South Dakota taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ See all top South Dakota cities ranked  ยท  South Dakota state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within South Dakota only. Updated 2026.