Watson, AR

City in Desha County, AR, US

By Neilsberg Research

Last updated May 1, 2026

Key Indicators

A quick look at key numbers

Population

214

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Median Age

57.8

years ∙ half population younger than 57.8, half older

Diversity Index

29.3%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nativity

foreign-born population

100%Native

0% Foreign-born

Geographic Context

Location, size, and surroundings

About

Watson is a city within Desha County, Arkansas, United States.

Location

City in Desha County, AR, US

Co-ordinates

DEC33.893750° N, 91.257061° W

DMS33° 53′ 37.50″ N, 91° 15′ 25.42″ W

Population Density & area

1,070/sq mi (413.1/km²)

Total Area

0.2 sq mi (0.518 km²)

Land Area

0.2 sq mi (0.518 km²) · 100%

Water Area

0 sq mi (0 km²) · 0%

Demographics & Living

Who lives here, how households are formed, and community composition

Population Composition

Key characteristics of the population

Sex Distribution

54.7% male

Male 54.7%

Female 45.3%

males per 100 females

Watson 120.6

Desha County 86.9

Arkansas 97.5

Nativity

foreign-born population

100%Native

0% Foreign-born

% Foreign-born

Watson 0%

Desha County 3.5%

Arkansas 5.4%

Age Distribution

How the population is spread across age groups

Median Age

57.8

years ∙ half population younger than 57.8, half older

Watson

57.8

Desha County

41.6

Arkansas

38.5

Dependency ratio

135.2

dependents per 100 working-age adults

Watson 135.2

Desha County 82

Arkansas 68.6

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Distribution of age group

Median age

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Age Group
Children (Under 18)	9.3%	24.9%	23.1%
Working age (18-64)	42.6%	55%	59.3%
Senior (65+)	48.1%	20.1%	17.6%
Dependency ratio
Total dependency ratio	135.2	82	68.6
Child dependency ratio	22	45.4	39
Old-age dependency ratio	113.2	36.6	29.6

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic makeup and how it compares

Race & Ethnicity

White

82.2%

Black

17.8%

Asian

Hispanic

Other

Note: White, Black, and Asian refer to individuals belonging to a single race and not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race.

Diversity Index

29.3%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Watson 29.3%

Desha County 57.4%

Arkansas 51.2%

Note: The Diversity Index (DI), based on the Blau Index, measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals differ in race and ethnicity. Values range from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (high diversity) and are shown as percentages.

RACIAL & ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Race & Ethnicity

Percentage of Watson population

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Hispanic or Latino	0%	7.2%	9%
Mexican	0%	7.2%	6.3%
Puerto Rican	0%	0%	0.3%
Cuban	0%	0%	0.1%
Other Hispanic / Latino	0%	0%	2.4%
Not Hispanic or Latino	100%	92.8%	91%
One race	100%	91.9%	84.7%
White	82.2%	42.5%	67.4%
Black or African American	17.8%	49%	14.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0%	0.2%	0.3%
Asian	0%	0%	1.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0%	0.1%	0.4%
Some Other Race	0%	0.1%	0.3%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	0%	0.9%	6.3%

Household & Families Composition

Household size, type, and family structure

Household structure

54.9% family

Family 54.9%

Non family 45.1%

% family households

Watson 54.9%

Desha County 63.9%

Arkansas 64.6%

Average household size

1.89

persons per household

Watson

1.89

Desha County

2.31

Arkansas

2.46

Household & Family COMPOSITION

Households

Percentage of Watson population

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Total households	113	4,610	1,205,987
Average houshold size	1.89	2.31	2.46
Family households	62	2,946	779,074
Average family size	2.6	2.92	3.06
Married couple family	45	1,678	566,646
Other families	17	1,268	212,428
Male householder	14	405	57,955
Female householder	3	863	154,473
Non-family households	51	1,664	426,913
One-person households	51	1,541	360,000
Male householder	13	560	165,673
Senior (65+) living alone	4	233	51,376
Female householder	38	981	194,327
Senior (65+) living alone	35	593	99,092
Other living arrangements	0	123	66,913

Housing Profile

Housing stock, ownership, rentals, and cost burdens

Total housing units

124

housing units

Watson 124

Desha County 5,799

Arkansas 1,394,673

Occupancy status

91.1% occupied

Occupied 91.1%

Vacant 8.9%

vacancy rate

Watson 8.9%

Desha County 20.5%

Arkansas 13.5%

Housing Characteristics

How the housing supply is structured and used

Types of Housing unit

94.3%

Single family houses

94.3%

Apartments in multi-unit structures

Mobile homes

5.6%

Boat, RV, van, etc

Median Year Built

1973

Half of houses were built before 1973, and half after.

Historic ∙ 1939 or earlier

2.4%

Postwar & mid-century ∙ 1940 - 1969

33%

Late 20th century ∙ 1970 - 1999

47.5%

Modern ∙ 2000 or later

16.9%

Note: Median year built reflects occupied units only; distribution includes all units.

Housing Characteristics

Units, rooms & bedrooms

Physical characteristics of housing units

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Rooms per unit
Median rooms	5.8	5.3	5.5
1–3 rooms	7.3%	8.5%	11.6%
4–6 rooms	68.5%	72.4%	58.6%
7+ rooms	24.3%	19.1%	29.8%
Bedrooms
No bedroom / studio	7.3%	1.1%	1.9%
1 bedroom	0%	6.3%	7.6%
2 bedrooms	21.8%	25.6%	24.5%
3 bedrooms	59.7%	57.7%	48.9%
4+ bedrooms	11.3%	9.3%	17.1%
At a glance
Median year built	1973	1977	1988
Total housing units	124	5,799	1,394,673

Occupancy Profile

Who is inside and how they use it

Homeownership

84.1% owners

Renter-occupied 15.9%

Owner-occupied 84.1%

homeownership rate

Watson 84.1%

Desha County 56.8%

Arkansas 66.4%

Average household size

1.74

Owner-occupied

2.72

Renter-occupied

owner-occupied average size

Watson 1.74

Desha County 2.22

Arkansas 2.54

Housing Characteristics

Occupied unit characteristics

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Total occupied units	113	4,610	1,205,987
Year moved in
2020 or later	4.4%	20.5%	26.4%
2010 to 2019	34.5%	37.9%	39.9%
2000 to 2009	12.4%	15.8%	16%
1999 or earlier	48.7%	25.8%	17.6%
Occupants per room
1.00 or fewer	99.1%	97.9%	97.3%
1.01 to 1.50	0.9%	2.1%	1.8%
1.51 or more	0%	0%	0.8%
Vehicles availability
No vehicles	0%	14.6%	5.9%
1 vehicle	54.9%	38.1%	33.2%
2 vehicles	21.2%	32.6%	37.8%
3 or more vehicles	23.9%	14.7%	23.2%
House heating fuel used
Gas	36.3%	38.4%	42.8%
Electricity	48.7%	60.6%	53.7%
Solar	0%	0.4%	0.2%
Fuel oil, kerosene etc	0%	0%	0.1%
All other fuels	14.2%	0.3%	2.9%
No fuel used	0.9%	0.2%	0.5%
Selected characteristics
Lacking complete plumbing	0%	0.4%	0.6%
Lacking complete kitchen	0%	0.2%	1%
No telephone service available	0%	2%	1%

Housing Value

What owner-occupied units are worth

Median home value

$48,600

owner-occupied units

Median value(USD)

Watson

$48,600

Desha County

$90,900

Arkansas

$188,000

Housing Cost Burden

40%

of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened

% Cost-Burdened Households

Owners with a mortgage

40%

Owners without a mortgage

15.6%

Renters

7.7%

Note: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened.

Financial characteristics

Property value and housing costs

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Property value
Median Value	$48,600	$90,900	$188,000
Under $100,000	80%	57.6%	24.4%
$100,000 - $200,000	20%	32.8%	28.6%
$200,000 - $300,000	0%	3.7%	21.7%
$300,000 - $500,000	0%	3.7%	17.2%
$500,000 - $1,000,000	0%	1.2%	6.7%
$1,000,000 and more	0%	1%	1.4%
Owner-occupied households
With a mortgage	5.3%	31.7%	52.8%
Without a mortgage	94.7%	68.3%	47.2%
Median monthly owner costs
With a mortgage	$—	$999	$1,345
Without a mortgage	$325	$399	$437
Gross rent
Median rent	$—	$718	$947

Education Profile

How educated is the community and how education pays off

Adults with a college degree

12.2%

of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

Watson 12.2%

Desha County 12.6%

Arkansas 25.7%

Adults without a high school diploma

21.6%

of adults (25+) without a high school diploma

Watson 21.6%

Desha County 22.1%

Arkansas 11.3%

School Enrollment

Who is enrolled in school and at what level

School enrollment

population (age 3+) enrolled in school

Nursery / Preschool

37.5%

K–12

21.9%

College / Undergraduate

3.1%

Graduate / Professional

37.5%

College-going rate (18-24 yr olds)

7.1%

of 18-24-year-olds in college or graduate school

Watson

7.1%

Desha County

24.8%

Arkansas

33.4%

Enrollment & school type

Enrollment levels, college-going rate, and public vs private school split

Population 3+ currently enrolled in a school

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Total enrolled (age 3+)	32	2,692	707,273
Nursery / preschool	37.5%	7.6%	6.1%
K–12	21.9%	76.8%	71.7%
Kindergarten	3.1%	4.6%	5.3%
Elementary: Grades 1–4	6.3%	26.6%	21.7%
Elementary: Grades 5–8	12.5%	20.2%	22.3%
High School: Grades 9–12	0%	25.4%	22.4%
College or graduate school	40.6%	15.6%	22.2%
College, undergraduate	3.1%	12.7%	17.9%
Graduate, professional school	37.5%	2.9%	4.2%
College-going rate · 18-24 yr olds	7.1%	24.8%	33.4%
School type
Public school	62.5%	92%	86.4%
Private school	37.5%	8%	13.6%

Education Attainment by Level & Gender

What is the highest level of education completed among adults

Education attainment

180

population 25 years and over

Total adults (25+)

Less than 9th grade

8.3%

9th-12th, no diploma

13.3%

HS graduate

37.8%

Some college no degree

27.2%

Associates degree

1.1%

Bachelors degree

4.4%

Graduate or professional degree

7.8%

Attainment by gender

Male vs Female

Adults (25+) · Share within each education level

% male · % female

Less than 9th grade

80% · 20%

9th-12th, no diploma

29.2% · 70.8%

HS graduate

29.4% · 70.6%

Some college no degree

91.8% · 8.2%

Associates degree

0% · 100%

Bachelors degree

0% · 100%

Graduate or professional degree

14.3% · 85.7%

Educational Attainment Overview

Distribution and key education attainment rates for adults (25+)

Highest credential completed · adults 25+

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Population (25+)	180	7,357	2,059,172
Less than 9th grade	8.3%	9.1%	4.3%
9th–12th, no diploma	13.3%	13%	7%
High school diploma or GED	37.8%	41.1%	34.1%
Some college, no degree	27.2%	18.8%	20.7%
Associate's degree	1.1%	5.4%	8.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	12.2%	12.6%	25.7%
Bachelor's degree	4.4%	7.2%	16.3%
Graduate or professional	7.8%	5.4%	9.5%
High School or higher	78.3%	77.9%	88.7%

Earnings by education level

percentage as applicable

Median Earnings

$27,500

Median earnings for adults 25+, by level

Less than HS graduate

$—

HS graduate

$20,625

Some college or associates

$60,461

Bachelors degree

$—

Graduate or professional degree

$—

Poverty Rate

for ages 25+, with bachelors degree or higher

Less than HS graduate

15.4%

HS graduate

48.5%

Some college or associates

Bachelors degree or higher

Outcomes by Education Level

Earnings and poverty rates across education levels (25+)

Adults 25+

	Watson	Desha County	Arkansas
Median earnings
Population 25+, with earnings	$27,500	$39,051	$44,499
Less than high school graduate	$—	$25,100	$31,882
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	$20,625	$35,029	$36,880
Some college or associate's degree	$60,461	$37,557	$41,256
Bachelor's degree	$—	$49,858	$57,697
Graduate or professional degree	$—	$51,684	$74,020
Poverty rates
Less than high school graduate	15.4%	32.2%	26.8%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	48.5%	24.8%	17.1%
Some college or associate's degree	0%	23.6%	11.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher	0%	7.8%	4.7%

Insights for Watson, by topic

Income By year By race By age By gender

Population By year By race By age By gender

About Neilsberg Research

Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

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