Town · Connecticut
Waterford, Connecticut
Waterford, town, in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. Waterford had 20,435 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 19,571 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 19,673 (±38). GEOID 0918080280.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
20,435
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 19,571 · ACS 2020-2024: 19,673 ±38
Median household income
$104,820
±$9,365 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$355,900
±$13,589 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,651
±$153 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Waterford and what county is it in?
Waterford is a town in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 32.9 square miles of land, 595 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Waterford: Waterford (CDP, 3,074 in 2020).
Waterford is in the Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Waterford, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 20,435 people lived in Waterford on July 1, 2025, up 4.4% since 2020, faster than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 19,571 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 19,673 (±38).
| Measure | Waterford | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 19,673±38 | 279,971 | – |
| Households | 8,106±304 | 115,768 | – |
| Average household size | 2.38±0.09 | 2.32 | – |
| Housing units | 8,990±326 | 126,425 | – |
Waterford's population since 2000
From 19,152 in 2000 to 20,435 in 2025: up 6.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Waterford as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Waterford?
The median resident of Waterford is 46.0 years old; 19.1% are under 18 and 22.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.0%. 6.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Waterford | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0±2.4 | 41.1 | – |
| Under 18 years | 19.1%±1.9 pts | 19.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.6%±2.2 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Male | 49.0%±1.9 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.0%±2.1 pts | 15.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.7%±3.2 pts | 70.6% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.5%±1.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.1%±1.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2%±1.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.5%±1.5 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.0%±1.7 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.2%±1.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 14.3%±2.7 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1%±1.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.1%±1.2 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.6%±3.7 pts | 35.8% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 17.1%±2.5 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.6%±1.9 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6%±0.7 pts | 3.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Waterford earn?
Half of Waterford's 8,106 households earn less than $104,820 a year (±$9,365), against $86,586 in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. 4.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Waterford | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $104,820±$9,365 | $86,586 | – |
| Mean household income | $128,896±$8,333 | $111,769 | – |
| Per capita income | $54,056±$3,699 | $47,133 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 4.6%±2.0 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.0%±5.9 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.7%±3.1 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.9%±2.4 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.8%±2.7 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Waterford?
Owners occupy 79.7% of Waterford's occupied homes and renters 20.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $355,900 by its owner (±$13,589). The median renter pays $1,651 a month including utilities, and 38.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Waterford | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $355,900±$13,589 | $323,400 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,651±$153 | $1,365 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.0%±11.5 pts | 40.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,206±$78 | $2,140 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79.7%±4.2 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 20.3%±4.2 pts | 34.9% | – |
| Housing units | 8,990±326 | 126,425 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.1%±5.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.5%±3.2 pts | 61.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.4%±1.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9%±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.7%±1.7 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.5%±3.0 pts | 23.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.8%±2.1 pts | 7.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Waterford building?
Builders took permits for 55 new housing units in Waterford in 2025 (55 in single-family houses), 2.7 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Waterford work and get to work?
84.1% of Waterford's workers drive alone and 10.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.
| Measure | Waterford | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.3%±2.5 pts | 64.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6%±2.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.1%±2.3 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.3%±1.7 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9%±0.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.2%±2.2 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.6 min±1.5 | 23.9 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Waterford?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Waterford (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $73,016 (Tract 6934) to $140,688 (Tract 6935).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6933Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 5,358 | $115,248 |
| Tract 6934Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 4,530 | $73,016 |
| Tract 6935Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 3,559 | $140,688 |
| Tract 6936Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 3,125 | $111,461 |
| Tract 6937Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 3,101 | $131,250 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Waterford) · Census block assignment files
How does Waterford compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Waterford is the 576th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 35th-most populous of 142 in Connecticut.
Waterford ranks 168th of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 35th | 142 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 22nd | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 189th | 303 |
| Median household income | 168th | 294 |
| Per capita income | 178th | 303 |
| Median home value | 169th | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 97th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 149th | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 182nd | 297 |
| Median age | 125th | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 153rd | 300 |
| Work from home | 236th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 265th | 302 |
Waterford's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Waterford with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Waterford?
8 of the 57 figures for Waterford on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Waterford are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.