How much does it cost to rent in Watertown, NY?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Watertown, NY is $1,578. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Watertown cheaper than other New York cities?

Watertown is among the more affordable cities in New York, ranking #92 out of 125 cities at $1,578/mo.

When was Watertown rent data last updated?

Watertown rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Watertown, NY?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Watertown, NY at $1,230 per month, which is 22% below the $1,578 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · NY

Watertown

Name: Average Rent Prices in Watertown, NY
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 24,375·92nd most expensive in New York·Watertown rents are up 28.7% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,578/mo

Year-over-Year

+28.7%

Month-over-Month

+4.0%

vs US Median

-$384

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Watertown · $1,578

More affordable than 71% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

37% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,578/mo, rent takes about 37% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$63,000/yr

Local median income

$51,753/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Watertown's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$830

1 BR

$940

2 BR

$1,230

3 BR

$1,660

4 BR+

$2,010

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,230/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,578 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$18,936/yr

At $1,578/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 28.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+28.7% YoY, +4.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Watertown, NY is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 26.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

24,375

Median income

$51,753

Median age

35.7

Renters

59.1%

Age distribution

21.5%

27.4%

23.5%

16%

Under 1821.5%

18–3427.4%

35–5423.5%

55–6411.6%

65+16%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

79.3%

White79.3%

Black5.6%

Hispanic7.1%

Asian2.1%

Other6%

Education (25+)

34.4%

30.3%

26.6%

No HS diploma8.7%

HS diploma34.4%

Some college30.3%

Bachelor's+26.6%

Housing tenure

40.9%

59.1%

Owner40.9%

Renter59.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How Watertown, NY has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,199 → $1,578

up 31.6%

Income

$46,051 → $51,753

up 12.4%

Population

25,172 → 24,375

down 3.2%

Renter share

58.7% → 59.1%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

24.4% → 26.6%

+2.2 pts

Median age

34.4 → 35.7

+1.3 yrs

Since 2022, the typical rent in Watertown, NY has climbed from $1,199 to $1,578, a 31.6% change over five years. Median household income rose from $46,051 to $51,753 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.4% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 3.2% since 2021, moving from about 25,172 residents to roughly 24,375. College-educated residents now make up 26.6% of adults here, versus 24.4% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Watertown, NY reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Watertown

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View Watertown rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Watertown on your salary?

At $1,578/mo, how Watertown rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $107,707/yr · Rent = 17.6% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $76,471/yr · Rent = 24.8% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $88,088/yr · Rent = 21.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $157,445/yr · Rent = 12% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $201,176/yr · Rent = 9.4% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $71,603/yr · Rent = 26.4% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $64,649/yr · Rent = 29.3% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $79,686/yr · Rent = 23.8% income

affordable

By apartment size

Watertown rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Watertown. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Watertown

About renting in Watertown, NY

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Watertown is $1,578/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $830/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,230/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $940/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,660/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($51,753/yr), Watertown ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 28.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Watertown an affordable city for renters?

Watertown is considered moderate for renters. At $1,578/mo, rent takes approximately 37% of the local median household income ($51,753/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Watertown slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Watertown?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,578/mo in Watertown. The local median household income is $51,753/yr, meaning the typical Watertown household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Watertown?

Rent in Watertown has increased 28.7% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Watertown rent compare to other cities in New York?

Watertown is one of the more affordable cities in New York for rent, ranking #92 out of 125 tracked cities at $1,578/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Watertown?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Watertown ($1,578/mo): Oswego ($1,282/mo), Rome ($1,500/mo).

What percentage of Watertown residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 59.1% of Watertown households are renters, while 40.9% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Watertown has a strong rental market.

How does Watertown rent compare to the national average?

Watertown's median rent of $1,578/mo is $384 (20%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New York, it ranks #92 out of 125 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

37%

MODERATE

At $1,578/mo, rent takes ~37% of Watertown's median household income ($51,753/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Watertown 37%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4–10.9%

Run the Watertown affordability calculator →

Nearby cities