Watson, PA housing market
Home prices around Watson have risen about 41% over the past 5 years. Builders were permitted 1 new home in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Watson compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 41% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP codes around Watson rose 41% over the past 5 years, slower than across Pennsylvania (48%). Last year prices fell 3.8%.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Pennsylvania since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −3.8% | +154% | +164% |
| 2024 | +31% | +164% | +152% |
| 2023 | −4.8% | +102% | +138% |
| 2022 | +8.7% | +112% | +122% |
| 2021 | +8% | +95% | +96% |
| 2020 | +4.7% | +80% | +79% |
| 2019 | −0.4% | +72% | +72% |
| 2018 | +8.3% | +73% | +66% |
| 2017 | −5% | +60% | +59% |
| 2016 | +11% | +68% | +53% |
| 2015 | −0.6% | +52% | +49% |
| 2014 | +1.3% | +53% | +46% |
| 2013 | +1.2% | +51% | +43% |
| 2012 | +1.5% | +49% | +42% |
| 2011 | +3.9% | +47% | +45% |
| 2010 | +2.8% | +42% | +48% |
| 2009 | −2% | +38% | +52% |
| 2008 | 0% | +40% | +57% |
| 2007 | +6.3% | +40% | +59% |
| 2006 | +3.3% | +32% | +55% |
| 2005 | +8.8% | +28% | +44% |
| 2004 | +5.4% | +18% | +29% |
| 2003 | +3.1% | +11% | +17% |
| 2002 | +3.3% | +8.2% | +12% |
| 2001 | +4.7% | +4.7% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP codes 17740, 17745, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost.
1 new home permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 1 new home in Watson in 2025. Over the past 10 years, Watson has permitted 4 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Watson's population fell by 3 even though 7 new homes were permitted. Homes are holding fewer people: households are getting smaller, or more homes are used part of the year. 16% of Watson's homes are seasonal or vacation homes, which adds housing without adding residents. Across Pennsylvania: 1.4 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $750,000 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $265,000 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $265,000 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $265,000 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $180,000 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $250,000 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $753,000 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $350,000 |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $486,000 |
| 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $125,000 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $470,000 |
| 2004 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $750,000 |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $145,000 |
| 2002 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $440,000 |
| 2001 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $116,000 |
| 2000 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $183,000 |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Watson and its neighbors
| Town | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watson | −3.8%† | $1,050 | 1 | $82,150 |
| Gallagher | +5.9%† | $1,020 | — | $66,406 |
| Cummings | — | $1,040 | 0 | $72,813 |
| Pine Creek | −1.1%† | $1,040 | 3 | $58,657 |
| Porter | −4.5%† | $1,050 | 0 | $73,920 |
| Mifflin | −4.4%† | $1,050 | 0 | $65,865 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 · figures for a place this size carry wide margins of error.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,050
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Watson is $1,050 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Watson pay a median of $1,094.
Studio $730 · 4 bedrooms $1,570
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (17740, 17745; Williamsport, PA MSA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.