Signals
New Ulm
Watertown
Growth
68 · Top 21%
vs89 · Top 1%
Climate
53 · Bottom 6%
vs51 · Bottom 4%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 10%
vs60 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs97 · Top 41%
Access
42 · Bottom 7%
vs34 · Bottom 4%
Economic stability
89 · Top 5%
vs89 · Top 4%
Measured values
| Metric | New Ulm | Watertown | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,800 | 28,767 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,378 | $72,727 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,653 | $39,825 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 42/sq mi | 42/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $191,200 | $237,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $890 | $938 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 69.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 21.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 8.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 149 | 287 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.8 | 10.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 413.8% | 96.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 6°F | 3°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 28.0" | 22.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 86 mi | 98 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 15.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
New Ulm
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Watertown
Elevated or high exposure: tornado, inland flooding.
Full profiles: New Ulm, MN Micro Area · Watertown, SD Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology