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Watkins, MN

City in Meeker County, Minnesota.

Population

765

Land area

0.7sq mi

People per sq mi

1,113

ZIP codes

0

Watkins and its ZIP codes

Full map

Watkins at a glance

  • Watkins is about 15 times as dense as Minnesota as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $64,896 a year, 27% less than the Minnesota figure of $89,062.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $149,100 (55% below Minnesota) and median rent is $808 a month.

Local data for Watkins, MN

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Watkins, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$64,896

Poverty rate

11.4%

Median home value

$149,100

Median rent

$808/mo

Homeownership

67.4%

Bachelor's or higher

8.5%

Median age

42.8

Average commute

26.0 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (393), Polish Americans (40), Norwegian Americans (34).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Meeker County. PPP loans are for Watkins.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Aug 2026, +0.6 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$54,178

7,838 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$59,767

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$165M

FY 2026, $7,064 per person

Meeker County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Watkins, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone80.1%
  • Carpooled9.6%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked4.2%
  • Bicycle0.2%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
  • Worked from home5.1%

Average one-way commute: 26.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Watkins, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: hail

Storm events since 1996

451

Countywide, mostly hail

Flood insurance policies

26

0.3% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

79° / 3°F

30.8 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Watkins, MN, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

35.5%

U.S. 33.3% +2.2 pts

Diabetes

10.7%

U.S. 12.1% -1.4 pts

Smoking

14.7%

U.S. 12.8% +1.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

7.9%

U.S. 11.1% -3.2 pts

Cities near Watkins

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
KimballCity5.6 mi1.5
Eden ValleyCity6.4 mi1.3
KingstonCity9.7 mi0.6
South HavenCity9.7 mi0.6
Cold SpringCity10 mi2.8
FairhavenCensus-designated place10 mi1.9
RichmondCity11 mi1.2
RockvilleCity12 mi28.7
RoscoeCity14 mi0.6
St. AugustaCity14 mi29.7
LitchfieldCity14 mi4.5
AnnandaleCity15 mi3.2
DarwinCity15 mi2
PaynesvilleCity16 mi2.3
Waite ParkCity16 mi12.6
DasselCity17 mi1.7

Frequently asked questions

What county is Watkins, MN in?
Watkins is in Meeker County, Minnesota.
What is the population of Watkins, MN?
About 765 people live in Watkins, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Watkins?
Nearby places include Kimball (5.6 mi), Eden Valley (6.4 mi), Kingston (9.7 mi), South Haven (9.7 mi), Cold Spring (10 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023