Population
Norton Shores
25,000
Watertown
22,873
Median Income
Norton Shores
$73,390
Watertown
$68,333
Home Value
Norton Shores
$214,000
Watertown
$211,500
Rent
Norton Shores
$1,286
Watertown
$1,061
Crime Rate
Norton Shores
1.92
Watertown
1.95
Cost of Living
Norton Shores
117.0
Watertown
109.8
Avg Temp
Norton Shores
N/A
Watertown
N/A
Unemployment
Norton Shores
5.5%
Watertown
5.5%
How Similar Are Norton Shores & Watertown?
Watertown is Norton Shores's #3 most similar city
7 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
Norton Shores
25,000
Watertown
22,873
Both cities have similar populations — Norton Shores at 25,000 and Watertown at 22,873.
Violent Crime
Norton Shores
1.92
Watertown
1.95
Both cities have similar violent crime — just a 1% difference.
Property Crime
Norton Shores
18.84
Watertown
10.48
Norton Shores has a 44% higher property crime than Watertown.
Political Leaning
Norton Shores
50.2%
Watertown
65.8%
Both cities lean Republican, but Watertown has a stronger Republican lean (24% difference).
Unemployment
Norton Shores
5.5%
Watertown
5.5%
Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 0% difference.
Median Income
Norton Shores
$73,390
Watertown
$68,333
Both cities have similar median income — just a 7% difference.
Home Values
Norton Shores
$214,000
Watertown
$211,500
Both cities have similar home values — just a 1% difference.
Education
Norton Shores
23.5%
Watertown
12.7%
Norton Shores has a 46% higher education than Watertown.
Demographics
Norton Shores
88.8%
Watertown
89.6%
Both cities have similar demographics — just a 1% difference.
Cost of Living
Norton Shores
117.0
Watertown
109.8
Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 6% difference.
7 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Norton Shores and Watertown are remarkably similar cities.
At a Glance
0
Norton Shores
0
Watertown
Norton Shores leads in 4 of 8 categories
Cost of Living & Affordability — Watertown leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDWatertown has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,080 vs $1,236 in Norton Shores (14% lower). Watertown scores 101.8 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 112.2 in Norton Shores. Watertown has a fair market rent (1br) of $873 vs $942 in Norton Shores (8% lower).
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Norton Shores leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSWatertown has a vacancy rate of 4.3% compared to 8.8% in Norton Shores. Norton Shores has a owner-occupied of 85.9% compared to 59.8% in Watertown. Norton Shores has a median property tax of $2,796 vs $3,849 in Watertown (27% lower).
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy — Norton Shores leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSNorton Shores has a work from home of 9.7% compared to 6.1% in Watertown. Norton Shores has a poverty rate of 5.8% compared to 9.9% in Watertown. Norton Shores has a per capita income of $35,856 vs $32,036 in Watertown (12% higher).
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Watertown leads
Source: FBI UCRWatertown has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.40 compared to 1.72 in Norton Shores. Watertown has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 10.48 compared to 18.84 in Norton Shores. Watertown has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 9.46 compared to 15.08 in Norton Shores.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education — Norton Shores leads
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauNorton Shores has a bachelor's degree or higher of 23.5% compared to 12.7% in Watertown. Norton Shores has a high school diploma or higher of 40.2% compared to 39.8% in Watertown.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSNorton Shores has a population of 25,000, about 1.1x the size of Watertown (22,873).
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Norton Shores
Watertown
Healthcare
Source: CMS Hospital CompareNorton Shores: 5 vs Watertown: 4 for with emergency services. Watertown: 4.3 vs Norton Shores: 3.7 for avg cms rating (out of 5).
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — Norton Shores leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSWatertown has a bicycle of 0.5% compared to 0.2% in Norton Shores. Norton Shores has a work from home of 9.7% compared to 6.1% in Watertown. Norton Shores has a drive alone of 81.0% compared to 76.9% in Watertown.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to Norton Shores, MI
Compare Norton Shores against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.
City Comparison
8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.