WatsonMN
A town of 174, settled in 1879.
Is Watson a good place to live?
Watson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
174 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 Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Watson.
More of Watson’s residents live below the poverty line than in the typical Minnesota or U.S. town
Watson’s middle household income stands at $35,000, below both Minnesota’s towns ($90,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). The top destinations are Montevideo (29%), Willmar (21%) and Dawson (6%). Its average trip to work stands at 23 minutes.
| Watson | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 33% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $35,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Watson: snowy winters and pleasant summers
Watson’s peak summer temperature stands at 83°F, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 82°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Watson stands out in Minnesota and nationally, with more of its adults who have obesity
Watson: 17% of adults smoke cigarettes. Among adults in the town, 29% sleep under 7 hours.
| Watson | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 35% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 75% | 79% |
| What stands out | Watson | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 7.4% | 5.4% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.9% | 5.9% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 11.7% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Top of a moderate hazard risk in Watson: inland flooding
Of the losses FEMA expects in Watson, 45% come from inland flooding and 15% from cold waves. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 52% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Fagen Fighters WWII Museum and 3 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Watson. Close and well known come first.
14 mi MuseumSwensson Farm Museum
14 mi MuseumDawson Bank Museum
9 mi MuseumArv Hus MuseumPhoto credits
Swensson Farm Museum: Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dawson Bank Museum: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Arv Hus Museum: Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Everything we know about Watson
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Watson; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Watson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
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
City in Minnesota, United States
Watson is a city in Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, Watson had a population of 182. Lac qui Parle State Park is nearby.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,030 ft
- ZIP code
- 56295
Questions about Watson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Watson, MN a good place to live?
Watson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.