City · Maine
Waterville, Maine
Waterville, city, in Kennebec County, Maine. Waterville had 17,579 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.4% from the Bureau's April 2020 estimates base of 16,673; the 2020 Census counted 15,828 on the place as it was defined then and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,077 (±29). GEOID 2380740.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,579
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 15,828 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,077 ±29
Median household income
$53,580
±$3,811 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733
Median home value
$184,600
±$20,944 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600
Median gross rent
$978
±$72 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139
Where is Waterville and what county is it in?
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine. It covers 13.5 square miles of land, 1,170 residents per square mile in 2020.
Waterville is in the Augusta-Waterville, ME micropolitan 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 Waterville, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 17,579 people lived in Waterville on July 1, 2025, up 5.4% since 2020, faster than Maine (+3.8%). The Census Bureau's yearly estimates start from its own April 2020 base for Waterville, 16,673, which differs from the 2020 Census count of 15,828: the estimates follow the place as the estimates program defines it today (its present boundaries, and for a consolidated city-county the area the program assigns it), so the change since 2020 is measured from that base. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,077 (±29).
| Measure | Waterville | Kennebec County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,077 ±29 | 126,808 | +500 |
| Households | 6,804 ±443 | 54,312 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.08 ±0.13 | 2.25 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,312 ±449 | 63,521 | no clear change |
Waterville's population since 2000
From 15,605 in 2000 to 17,579 in 2025: up 12.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Waterville 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 Waterville?
The median resident of Waterville is 35.5 years old; 14.4% are under 18 and 18.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.6%. 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Waterville | Kennebec County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 ±2.5 | 43.7 | −4.2 |
| Under 18 years | 14.4% ±2.4 pts | 18.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.3% ±2.5 pts | 21.1% | – |
| Male | 49.3% ±2.0 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0% ±0.9 pts | 2.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.2% ±2.1 pts | 91.8% | −4.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.6% ±2.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.0% ±1.4 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.3% ±2.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3% ±1.6 pts | 9.5% | – |
| With a disability | 18.6% ±3.0 pts | 16.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.7% ±2.0 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.6% ±2.7 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 30.8% ±4.1 pts | 31.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.3% ±3.3 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 78.3% ±4.1 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8% ±1.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
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 Waterville earn?
Half of Waterville's 6,804 households earn less than $53,580 a year (±$3,811), against $69,077 in Kennebec County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 it was $47,827 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Waterville | Kennebec County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,580 ±$3,811 | $69,077 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,229 ±$7,612 | $88,742 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,905 ±$2,854 | $38,597 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.6% ±4.8 pts | 11.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 24.9% ±10.2 pts | 15.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 24.2% ±5.4 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.0% ±4.5 pts | 95.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.5% ±4.5 pts | 91.1% | – |
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 Waterville?
Owners occupy 48.8% of Waterville's occupied homes and renters 51.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $184,600 by its owner (±$20,944). The median renter pays $978 a month including utilities, and 43.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Waterville | Kennebec County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $184,600 ±$20,944 | $238,200 | +$30,763 |
| Median gross rent | $978 ±$72 | $992 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.4% ±8.7 pts | 38.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,371 ±$141 | $1,499 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.8% ±4.9 pts | 73.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 51.2% ±4.9 pts | 26.3% | – |
| Housing units | 7,312 ±449 | 63,521 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.6% ±2.9 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 40.9% ±4.4 pts | 67.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.1% ±1.9 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 30.6% ±4.9 pts | 22.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 17.2% ±4.9 pts | 7.5% | – |
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 Waterville building?
Builders took permits for 74 new housing units in Waterville in 2025 (31 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 11 of 12 months), 4.2 per 1,000 residents against 4.9 across Maine.
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 Waterville work and get to work?
69.1% of Waterville's workers drive alone and 16.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 18.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.5%.
| Measure | Waterville | Kennebec County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.7% ±4.1 pts | 60.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% ±2.2 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.1% ±4.7 pts | 73.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.0% ±1.8 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 5.9% ±3.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.6% ±5.3 pts | 15.3% | +12.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.0 min ±2.1 | 25.4 min | no clear change |
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 Waterville?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Waterville (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $38,389 (Tract 241.02) to $92,917 (Tract 242.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 241.02Kennebec County | 5,072 | $38,389 |
| Tract 242.02Kennebec County | 4,645 | $61,625 |
| Tract 241.01Kennebec County | 4,303 | $55,605 |
| Tract 242.01Kennebec County | 3,057 | $92,917 |
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 Waterville) · Census block assignment files
How does Waterville compare with other places in Maine?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Waterville is the 2,148th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 11th-most populous of 23 in Maine.
Waterville ranks 306th of 349 places in Maine with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 11th | 23 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 65th | 273 |
| Residents per square mile | 13th | 353 |
| Median household income | 306th | 349 |
| Per capita income | 271st | 353 |
| Median home value | 260th | 352 |
| Median gross rent | 178th | 301 |
| Poverty rate | 30th | 277 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 164th | 352 |
| Median age | 339th | 353 |
| Owner-occupied share | 343rd | 353 |
| Work from home | 121st | 275 |
| Travel time to work | 298th | 352 |
Waterville's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)
Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Waterville 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 Waterville?
7 of the 57 figures for Waterville 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 Waterville 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' public schools in Waterville.