Watertown, NY at a glance
Median household income
$51,753$4,313 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Watertown, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Watertown, NY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Watertown-Fort Drum, NY MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $969 | $11,628 | $38,760 | 22.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,071 | $12,852 | $42,840 | 24.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,405 | $16,860 | $56,200 | 32.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,907 | $22,884 | $76,280 | 44.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,340 | $28,080 | $93,600 | 54.3% |
What a typical income covers in Watertown, NY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $51,753 a year ($4,313 a month before tax).
What $51,753 leaves after New York taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New York tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New York
Living in Watertown, NY: common questions
What is the median household income in Watertown, NY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Watertown, NY is $51,753 per year (approximately $4,313 per month).
What is the average rent in Watertown, NY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $969 for a studio, $1,071 for one bedroom, $1,405 for two, $1,907 for three and $2,340 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Watertown, NY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 87.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Watertown, NY?
To keep a $1,405 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $56,200 a year, or $4,683 a month. That is 109% of what the typical household in Watertown, NY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Watertown, NY?
On the local median income of $51,753 ($4,313 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,156 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,294 for everything else and $863 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,405 takes 65% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Watertown, NY?
Homes in New York paid 29.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $265. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.