Signals
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Beaver Dam
Growth
31 · Bottom 20%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Climate
57 · Bottom 16%
vs57 · Bottom 16%
Physical resilience
82 · Top 13%
vs95 · Top 1%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 42%
vs99 · Top 30%
Access
86 · Top 32%
vs81 · Top 42%
Economic stability
95 · Top 1%
vs85 · Top 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Watertown-Fort Atkinson | Beaver Dam | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 86,003 | 88,742 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $75,929 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $41,881 | $38,304 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 155/sq mi | 101/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $274,100 | $231,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,035 | $988 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.1% | 71.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 20.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 8.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 197 | 234 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.3 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -51.7% | -35.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 11°F | 11°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 38.7" | 28.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 30 mi | 38 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 25.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 43.0 | 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
Watertown-Fort Atkinson
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Beaver Dam
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
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Watertown-Fort Atkinson
74
Your Score
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Area Score
Beaver Dam
75
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Micro Area · Beaver Dam, WI Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology