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Watchtower, NY
Census-designated place in Ulster County, New York.
Population
3,974
Land area
0.7sq mi
People per sq mi
5,591
ZIP codes
0
Watchtower and its ZIP codes
Watchtower at a glance
- Watchtower is about 13 times as dense as New York as a whole.
Housing and community stats
Watchtower, NY, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Poverty rate
100.0%
Bachelor's or higher
1.7%
Median age
37.4
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (315), Puerto Ricans (159), Cuban Americans (81).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Ulster County. PPP loans are for Watchtower.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
Aug 2026, +0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$63,421
60,554 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$69,090
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.16B
FY 2026, $6,379 per person
Environment and hazard risk
Watchtower, NY, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
1,690
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
897
1.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 16°F
45.4 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Watchtower, NY, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.7%
U.S. 33.3% -1.6 pts
Diabetes
7.9%
U.S. 12.1% -4.2 pts
Smoking
12.2%
U.S. 12.8% -0.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.2%
U.S. 11.1% -1.9 pts
Cities near Watchtower
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Pine BushCensus-designated place | 2.4 mi | 2.1 |
| WallkillCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 3.1 |
| EllenvilleVillage | 6 mi | 8.7 |
| Walker ValleyCensus-designated place | 6 mi | 3.2 |
| WaldenVillage | 6.6 mi | 2 |
| GardinerCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 3.9 |
| CragsmoorCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 4.4 |
| MontgomeryVillage | 8.1 mi | 1.4 |
| KerhonksonCensus-designated place | 9.3 mi | 5.7 |
| NapanochCensus-designated place | 9.8 mi | 1.4 |
| PlattekillCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 2.8 |
| Orange LakeCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 8.7 |
| MaybrookVillage | 11 mi | 1.5 |
| AccordCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 3.4 |
| BloomingburgVillage | 11 mi | 0.7 |
| ClintondaleCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 6.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Watchtower, NY in?
- Watchtower is in Ulster County, New York.
- What is the population of Watchtower, NY?
- About 3,974 people live in Watchtower, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Watchtower?
- Nearby places include Pine Bush (2.4 mi), Wallkill (5.4 mi), Ellenville (6 mi), Walker Valley (6 mi), Walden (6.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023