WatsonIL
A town of 658, settled in 1868.
Is Watson a good place to live?
Watson’s average trip to work is 19 minutes, where Illinois’ towns sit at 26 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Watson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
658 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Watson: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Watson, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Watson.
With 0.0 jobs for every working resident, most of Watson’s workers commute out
15% of residents live below the poverty line in Watson, above both the Illinois town median (8.4%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). The top destinations are Effingham (42%), Teutopolis (7%) and Altamont (6%). Half commute less than 8 miles.
| Watson | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Watson
Watson has chilly winters and warm summers. Watson’s July high is 87°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
More of Watson’s adults have been diagnosed with depression than in the typical Illinois or U.S. town
24% of Watson adults have been diagnosed with depression. Watson beats the Illinois average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 33% of Watson adults have high blood pressure.
| Watson | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 78% | 79% |
| What stands out | Watson | IL |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 17.2% | 12.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 8% | 6.3% |
| More adults with depression | 24.4% | 19.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Moderate risk in Watson, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
A home in Watson sells for about $119K at the median
The median rent in Watson is $742 a month.
| Watson | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $742 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 84% | 75% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Willow Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Watson
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Watson; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Watson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
100% of working residents leave Watson for work
Where Watson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Watson
Village in Illinois, United States
Watson is a village in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 668 at the 2020 census. Watson is part of the Effingham, Illinois Micropolitan Statistical Area. The village was named after George Watson, a railroad official.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 561 ft
- ZIP code
- 62473
Questions about Watson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Watson, IL a good place to live?
Watson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.