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Watson, IL
Village in Effingham County, Illinois.
Population
620
Land area
1.1sq mi
People per sq mi
568
ZIP codes
0
Watson and its ZIP codes
Watson at a glance
- Watson is about 2.5 times as dense as Illinois as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $74,167 a year, 11% less than the Illinois figure of $83,390.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $100,000 (62% below Illinois) and median rent is $742 a month.
Local data for Watson, IL
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Watson, IL, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$74,167
Poverty rate
14.8%
Median home value
$100,000
Median rent
$742/mo
Homeownership
84.0%
Bachelor's or higher
14.1%
Median age
41.4
Average commute
18.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (206), Irish Americans (95), Italian Americans (36).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Effingham County. PPP loans are for Watson.
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,283
23,401 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$72,180
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$231M
FY 2026, $6,667 per person
How people get to work
Watson, IL, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone74.0%
- Carpooled16.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home9.1%
Average one-way commute: 18.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Watson, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
423
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
11
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 20°F
44.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Watson, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.1%
U.S. 33.3% +2.8 pts
Diabetes
10.7%
U.S. 12.1% -1.4 pts
Smoking
17.2%
U.S. 12.8% +4.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.0%
U.S. 11.1% -3.1 pts
Cities near Watson
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MasonTown | 5.9 mi | 1.3 |
| EffinghamCity | 6.5 mi | 10.8 |
| TeutopolisVillage | 8.5 mi | 2 |
| EdgewoodVillage | 8.8 mi | 1 |
| AltamontCity | 9.8 mi | 1.5 |
| DieterichVillage | 10 mi | 1.4 |
| ShumwayVillage | 12 mi | 0.3 |
| La CledeCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| WheelerVillage | 14 mi | 0.6 |
| IolaVillage | 14 mi | 1 |
| MontroseVillage | 14 mi | 0.6 |
| SigelTown | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| St. ElmoCity | 15 mi | 1.5 |
| Beecher CityVillage | 16 mi | 0.9 |
| StewardsonVillage | 17 mi | 0.6 |
| LouisvilleVillage | 18 mi | 0.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Watson, IL in?
- Watson is in Effingham County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Watson, IL?
- About 620 people live in Watson, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Watson?
- Nearby places include Mason (5.9 mi), Effingham (6.5 mi), Teutopolis (8.5 mi), Edgewood (8.8 mi), Altamont (9.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023