New York›Ulster County

WatchtowerNY

A town of 3,974.

Population

3,974

Census survey, 2020–24

Median age

37.4

years

Land area

1 sq mi

Is Watchtower a good place to live?

100% of residents live below the poverty line in Watchtower, against 9.5% in New York’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Of the 759 New York towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Watchtower. We don’t grade Watchtower yet; the figures below are still real.

A shrinking town

Watchtower has shrunk 28% from 2010 to 2020

2,381 counted in 2010 and 1,709 in 2020.

2,3812010

1,7092020

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts

Nearby attractions

United States Military Academy and 47 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Watchtower. Close and well known come first.

All 176 attractions →

Big draw23 mi MuseumUnited States Military Academy

19 mi National Historic SiteHome of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site102K visitors a year 6 mi Park & preserveMinnewaska State Park Preserve

20 mi National Historic SiteVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site295K visitors a year

23 mi Stadium & arenaMichie Stadium

18 mi Theme parkLegoland New York

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

United States Military Academy: USMA Public Affairs Office, Public domain · Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site: Crunch, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site: Daderot, Public domain · Michie Stadium: John Pellino, Public domain · Legoland New York: MattCC716, CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting set up

Moving to Watchtower: who provides what

Watchtower is unincorporated, so Ulster County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerNew York State Elec & Gas22.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterWatchtower Farms I water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4

Trash & county servicesUlster CountyUlster County provides services here

SchoolsPine Bush Central School District Wallkill Central School District2 districts serve Watchtower; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereUlster County Board of ElectionsUlster County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025

ZIP code1258912589 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Watchtower.

Work & commute

Most working residents commute out of Watchtower

Most working residents leave Watchtower for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are New York (21%), Shawangunk (10%) and Montgomery (5%). Half commute less than 24 miles.

0%work in town

Where working residents work

In Watchtower0%

New York21%

Shawangunk10%

Montgomery5%

Goshen5%

24 mi

median commute distance

jobs based in Watchtower

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

Full pageWatchtower’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here0 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work0% work in Watchtower Commute timesCommute times How far they goHalf commute less than 24 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Watchtower

Watchtower has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. At 84°F, Watchtower’s July high is where New York’s towns sit at 81°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.

59″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter20–37°

Spring37–59°

Summer60–82°

Fall42–63°

Oct 11

typical first frost

May 1

typical last frost

+1.9°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageWatchtower’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 17°Rain & snow59″ of snow a winter · 48 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Watchtower stands out in New York and nationally, with fewer of its adults who had a checkup this year

76% of adults had a checkup this year in Watchtower. Watchtower beats the New York average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 9.2% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Watchtower.

	Watchtower	New York towns	U.S. towns
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	7.9%	11%	12%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	18%	21%	23%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	19%	17%	16%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	41%	37%	36%

32 measures vs. New York

8 better20 too close to call4 worse

What stands out	Watchtower	NY
Fewer adults with heart disease	3.9%	6.1%
Fewer adults who have had a stroke	2.2%	3.4%
Fewer adults treating high blood pressure	65.9%	77.2%

Ellenville Regional Hospital

9 mi away · emergency room

1 of 3

care shortages: primary care

Full pageWatchtower’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore binge drinkers Hospitals & doctors nearby9 miles to an ER · Ellenville Regional Hospital How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than NY on 8 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazards

Watchtower faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 57% of U.S. communities.

43risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingTornadoesHurricanes

Full pageWatchtower’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters29 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready3.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Watchtower

13pages on Watchtower

The big questions

HealthBetter than NY on 8 of 32 CDC measures Work & commuteNatural hazardsFEMA risk higher than 43% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

PlacesAttractions176 nearby · Sam's Point Preserve 5 mi LibraryPine Bush Area Public Library District CollegesState University of New York at New Paltz is 11.8 mi away

The story

Climate84° summer highs · 59″ of snow

Day to day

NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Watchtower

State University of New York at New PaltzUniversity or college · Public · New Paltz11.8 mi$8,572 in-state tuition Yeshiva of OceanUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Greenfield Park14 mi$9,000 tuition

About 0 of every 100 Watchtower residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

100% of working residents leave Watchtower for work

Where Watchtower’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

0jobs based in Watchtower

0%of working residents work in town

24 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Watchtower

CDP in New York, United States

Watchtower is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,709 at the 2020 census. It is owned and operated by the Watchtower Society (a legal entity of Jehovah's Witnesses) and has been in operation since 1963.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)