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Main Street Commercial Historic District Watertown WisconsinPhoto: I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: · CC BY-SA 3.0
Housing in Watertown

297 homes sold in Watertown in the last year, at a typical $306K

Almost every sale is a house. Below: what each kind of home sells for, what your budget buys, the best months to buy, how hard you’ll have to bid, and a shortcut to every site where Watertown homes are listed.

Homes sold
297
June 2025 to May 2026
Typical sale price
$306K
houses $307K · condos $327K
Price per square foot
$185
Wisconsin $194
Paid vs. asking
100.1%
50% sold over asking
For sale now
59
May 2026 · 19 sold that month
What sold · last 12 months

6% of Watertown’s sales are condos, at $20K more than a house

255 houses and 19 condos sold in the year to May 2026. Houses sell faster and draw more bidding wars.

Houses$307K

typical sale · 255 sold in 12 months

Per square foot
$191WI $196
Days to sell
38
Sold over asking
54%
Listings with a price cut
16%
Condos$327K

typical sale · 19 sold in 12 months

Per square foot
$194WI $209
Days to sell
107
Sold over asking
21%
Listings with a price cut
9%
Fewer sales

Multi-family (2–4 units): 22 sold, typical $261K
Townhouses: 1 sold, typical $350K

Too few sales in 12 months for reliable figures.

14 years of sales

About as many homes sell as usual, at 2.2 times the 2016 price

297 sales in the last year, against 440 in 2021 and a low of 244 in 2024. The typical sale went from $136K in 2016 to $306K.

Homes soldTypical sale price
0112225337450$100K$200K$300K$400K2012: 248 sold, typical $109K’122013: 251 sold, typical $122K2014: 251 sold, typical $121K’142015: 367 sold, typical $131K2016: 337 sold, typical $136K’162017: 354 sold, typical $144K2018: 342 sold, typical $152K’182019: 341 sold, typical $161K2020: 360 sold, typical $189K’202021: 440 sold, typical $212K2022: 335 sold, typical $227K’222023: 251 sold, typical $256K2024: 244 sold, typical $284K’242025: 273 sold, typical $299KLast 12 months: 297 sold, typical $306KNow

Source: Redfin Data Center, MLS sales. Typical price and $/sq ft are the monthly medians, weighted by sales.

What your budget buys

What $300K buys in Watertown

Houseat $191 a sq ft
Condoat $194 a sq ft
The same money in Wisconsinat $196 a sq ft

Is this asking price fair?

Check a listing against what Watertown homes sold for

Against the town’s median price per square foot over the last 12 months. A rough check: condition, lot and location within town move a price more than this can see.

What the sales history says · 14 years of sales

Bidding wars in Watertown are more common than before the pandemic, but a third fewer homes come up for sale

We read every month of Watertown’s home sales since 2012 so you don’t have to. Each figure covers 12 months, because a single month in a town is too few sales to mean much. Latest: the year to May 2026, 297 sales.

If you’re buying in Watertown

  • Shop in March. It brings about 35 new listings a month, close to the busiest month, with fewer bidding wars (33% over asking).
  • Some room to negotiate. 13% of listings cut their price, about as many as before the pandemic.
  • Bid near asking. Buyers paid 100.1% of the list price on average; 50% paid over.
  • Move fast on good ones. 54% of homes are under contract within two weeks.
Best time to buy

Summer brings the homes; spring brings the bidding wars

June has the most new listings (about 41 a month), but May is the most competitive: 46% of May sales close over asking. March offers nearly as much choice with fewer homes bid up (33%). February has the least competition (29%) but only about 23 new listings.

New listings a monthShare sold over asking
011.322.533.84520%40%60%Sweet spotJan: 22 new listings a month, 33% sold over asking, 67 days to sellJFeb: 23 new listings a month, 29% sold over asking, 75 days to sellFMar: 35 new listings a month, 33% sold over asking, 68 days to sellMApr: 34 new listings a month, 41% sold over asking, 54 days to sellAMay: 39 new listings a month, 46% sold over asking, 55 days to sellMJun: 41 new listings a month, 45% sold over asking, 71 days to sellJJul: 35 new listings a month, 45% sold over asking, 55 days to sellJAug: 33 new listings a month, 44% sold over asking, 49 days to sellASep: 30 new listings a month, 40% sold over asking, 55 days to sellSOct: 29 new listings a month, 36% sold over asking, 60 days to sellONov: 22 new listings a month, 33% sold over asking, 55 days to sellNDec: 15 new listings a month, 36% sold over asking, 57 days to sellD

Averages for each calendar month, 2015 on.

How competitive is it now?

Nearly as heated as 2021, and hotter than Wisconsin

Watertown now2017–192021 peakWI now
Sold over askingShare of sales that closed above the list price50%31%55%38%
Gone within two weeksShare of homes under contract within 14 days54%41%55%46%
Listings with a price cutShare of homes for sale that cut their price13%16%11%18%
Price paid vs. askingAverage sale price ÷ list price100.1%98.6%102.5%99.6%
Days to sellMedian days from listing to contract37604851
Supply

59 homes for sale on a typical day

That’s 1.8 times the 2023 low (32), 33% fewer than in 2017–19 and well under 2015’s 166.

2012: 145 for sale’122013: 120 for sale2014: 163 for sale2015: 166 for sale’152016: 117 for sale2017: 94 for sale2018: 87 for sale’182019: 83 for sale2020: 80 for sale2021: 71 for sale’212022: 51 for sale2023: 32 for sale2024: 36 for sale’242025: 56 for saleLast 12 months: 59 for saleNow
Room to negotiate

1 in 7 listings has cut its price

13% in the last year, against 16% in 2017–19 and 18% across Wisconsin.

2015: 19%’152016: 19%2017: 16%2018: 15%’182019: 17%2020: 10%2021: 11%’212022: 13%2023: 15%2024: 18%’242025: 11%Last 12 months: 13%Now
Prices by type

Since 2019, houses are up 87%, condos 59%

A house typically sold for $307K in the last year (255 sales), a condo for $327K (19).

$175K$250K$325K$400K2013201520172019202120232025NowHouses 2013: $120K, 219 salesHouses 2014: $121K, 231 salesHouses 2015: $139K, 308 salesHouses 2016: $136K, 300 salesHouses 2017: $143K, 313 salesHouses 2018: $150K, 290 salesHouses 2019: $164K, 293 salesHouses 2020: $190K, 313 salesHouses 2021: $212K, 375 salesHouses 2022: $242K, 279 salesHouses 2023: $255K, 225 salesHouses 2024: $286K, 221 salesHouses 2025: $298K, 240 salesHouses last 12 months: $307K, 255 salesHouses $307KCondos 2013: $120K, 13 salesCondos 2014: $150K, 8 salesCondos 2015: $133K, 14 salesCondos 2016: $170K, 12 salesCondos 2017: $187K, 13 salesCondos 2018: $185K, 17 salesCondos 2019: $205K, 19 salesCondos 2020: $222K, 19 salesCondos 2021: $261K, 24 salesCondos 2022: $268K, 11 salesCondos 2023: $298K, 9 salesCondos 2024: $343K, 7 salesCondos 2025: $329K, 15 salesCondos last 12 months: $327K, 19 salesCondos $327K

Median sale price, weighted by sales each month. Years with fewer than 4 sales of a type are left out.

Across Wisconsin

Watertown ranks 34th of 158 busy Wisconsin markets for bidding wars

Share of sales over asking in the last year, among towns with 60 or more sales. Watertown is one of the state’s hottest markets.

Source: Redfin Data Center, city market tracker, January 2012 to May 2026 (MLS sales, not seasonally adjusted). Ratios are weighted by homes sold; price cuts by homes for sale.

Rent or buy?

Owning the typical Watertown home costs about $2,022 a month

Mortgage
Property tax
Insurance
Rent

Price: Watertown’s typical sale, last 12 months. Property tax at Watertown’s 1.7% (median bill ÷ median value, Census ACS); insurance at 0.35% of price a year. Before PMI, HOA dues, upkeep and the tax deduction. Whether Watertown is affordable on local pay is on Cost of living.

Before you buy in Watertown

Six things worth knowing

41

New listings in June

The month with the most choice. December has the fewest, about 15.

Best time to buy
1.7%

Property tax, a year

Of a home’s value: the median bill over the median home value. On a $306K home, about $5,100 a year.

Taxes vs. neighbors
C+

Schools

The schools grade for Watertown, from test results, graduation and how much students grow.

Schools in Watertown
25 min

Typical commute

The average one-way trip to work for people who live in Watertown.

Work & commute
Flood

Check the flood map

Flood insurance isn’t in a standard policy, and lenders require it in FEMA flood zones. Check the address before you make an offer.

Natural hazards
Records

Look up any property

Assessed value, lot size and every past sale of a home you’re eyeing are public, at the town or county assessor and the registry of deeds.

Nearby markets · last 12 months

Jefferson sells for less a square foot; Oconomowoc for far more

The busier markets within 25 miles of Watertown, by what sold. Prices, taxes and how far a paycheck goes next door are on Cost of living.

SoldTypical sale$/sq ftOver askingDays to sell
Oconomowoc359$547K$26838%55
Watertown297$306K$18550%37
Jefferson107$323K$17934%50
Lake Mills79$401K$22129%52
Johnson Creek48$413K$21531%71
Waterloo39$351K$18641%52
Ixonia32$449K$21134%42

Redfin Data Center, June 2025 to May 2026. Towns with fewer than 20 sales are left out, and Redfin doesn’t report every town separately.

Selling, or renting out?

Post your home to Watertown, free

Selling it yourself, renting out an apartment or looking for a roommate? Post it to Watertown. People who follow the town see it, and so do people comparing Watertown with their own town. No commission, no listing fee.

Questions about buying a home in Watertown

What do homes sell for in Watertown, WI?

297 homes sold in the year to May 2026 at a typical $306K, $185 a square foot. Houses sold for about $307K, condos for about $327K.

Is Watertown a buyer’s or seller’s market?

A seller’s market: 59 homes were for sale in May 2026 and 19 sold, about 3.1 months of supply. Buyers paid 100.1% of asking on average, and 13% of listings cut their price.

When is the best time to buy in Watertown?

June brings the most new listings. The sales history shows which months have fewer bidding wars.

How much are property taxes in Watertown?

About 1.7% of a home’s value a year. On a $306K home that’s near $5,100.

Where can I see homes for sale in Watertown?

Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com and Homes.com all carry Watertown’s MLS listings; the search links above open each one filtered to Watertown.

Sales, prices, days on market and listings: Redfin Data Center (MLS, monthly, not seasonally adjusted). Property tax rate: Census American Community Survey. Two-bedroom rent: HUD Fair Market Rent. Typical home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Schools grade: TownRatings (how grades work).