City Comparison
Watertown vs Aberdeen
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Watertown scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Watertown
Aberdeen
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Watertown is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
26% lower than in Aberdeen.
Housing costs are a major driver: Watertown's average rent is
32% lower than Aberdeen's.
| Metric | Watertown | Aberdeen | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $1,250 | -32% |
| Groceries | $380 | $388 | -2% |
| Utilities | $160 | $288 | -44% |
| Transport | $100 | $80 | +25% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $305 | -31% |
| Monthly Total | $1,700 | $2,311 | -26% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 82 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Watertown offers 39% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Watertown delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Watertown is estimated at
$45,000 vs $50,000 in Aberdeen.
| Metric | Watertown | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $54,000 | $38,861 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,364 idx | 47,391 idx |
| Household Income | $63,500 | $64,405 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Watertown runs warmer on average — a 45.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Watertown comes out ahead with 268 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Watertown sees 33.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Watertown | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 45.70°F | °F |
| Summer High | 77.40°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 6.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 32.00 in | in |
| Snowfall | 33.20 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 268 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Aberdeen has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Watertown.
Watertown scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Watertown leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Watertown | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 15 min | 11 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 20.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 39.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 28.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Aberdeen is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Watertown.
From a growth perspective, Aberdeen is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Aberdeen has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Watertown | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,655 | 28,376 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.97% |
| Median Age | 38.5 | 36.4 |
| Unemployment | 3.10% | 1.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Watertown
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly below the US national average per Census Bureau data.
Abundant outdoor recreation opportunities centered around Lake Kampeska and Lake Pelican.
Strong local economy driven by stable manufacturing and healthcare employers like Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.
Highly regarded technical education and workforce training via Lake Area Technical College.
Low crime rates and safe, family-friendly neighborhoods across the community.
Drawbacks
Winter weather brings harsh sub-freezing temperatures and notable snowfall totals.
Limited public transportation options necessitate car ownership for daily commuting.
Geographic isolation from major metropolitan hubs and large international airports.
Limited nightlife and entertainment options compared to larger urban areas.
Colder months can lead to seasonal constraints on outdoor recreational activities.
Aberdeen
Advantages
Aberdeen boasts a significantly low unemployment rate of 1.7% in 2026, well below the national average, indicating a robust job market.
The cost of living in Aberdeen is 18% less expensive than the national average, particularly in housing, making it highly affordable.
Residents enjoy a remarkably short average commute time of 11 minutes, significantly reducing daily travel stress.
Aberdeen serves as a regional healthcare hub with three hospitals and a wide range of medical specialties, ensuring quality healthcare access.
The city has a high livability score of 80 out of 100, reflecting a good quality of life with ample amenities and a strong community feel.
Drawbacks
Crime data for Aberdeen is conflicting, with some sources indicating a higher violent crime rate than the average U.S. city and a lower safety percentile.
Public transportation options are limited to a demand-response bus service, with very low utilization among workers, leading to high car dependency.
Aberdeen experiences very cold, snowy, and windy winters with average low temperatures reaching 6°F in January.
Despite some positive projections, population growth rates are inconsistent across sources, with some indicating stagnation or decline in recent years.
The average rent in Aberdeen has seen a significant increase of 52.9% in the past year, potentially impacting affordability for new renters.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Watertown
#71South Dakota, USA
69.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$54,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
268/yr
Avg Temp
45.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.10%
Livability
76
Business
72
Aberdeen
#355South Dakota, USA
59.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$38,861
Cost Index
82
Commute
11 min
Transit Score
20.0/100
Walkability
39.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.97%
Unemployment
1.70%
Livability
80
Business
65
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Watertown and Aberdeen.
Open Cost Calculator