City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Waterville, NY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Waterville - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,682
Residents
$76,125
Median income
$158,300
Median home
$1,392
Median rent (state)

Waterville - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Waterville places in the 57th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

57th
percentile, household income
29th
percentile, home value
54th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Waterville, NY

Waterville is a small town in New York, home to 1,682 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Waterville brings in $76,125 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.1%. Typical homes in Waterville are valued around $158,300, and the median resident age is 45.6 years. Educational attainment runs 18.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 66.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Waterville (No Permits), per Census BPS data.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,392 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New York run around $285, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 59.4 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

1,682 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$76,125 /yr

Poverty 4.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York average

How does Waterville compare to other US cities?

Where Waterville sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 29% pricier than other cities
Median rent 54% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Waterville against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New York only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New York-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Waterville toward the bottom of New York's cities

Among the 1,254 New York cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Waterville ranks #1,040 - the 17th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waterville only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#681 of 1,205
43rd percentile in New York
Median Gross Rent
#728 of 1,256
38th percentile in New York
Median Home Value
#833 of 1,202
31st percentile in New York
Poverty Rate
#659 of 1,246
47th percentile in New York
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,040 of 1,254
17th percentile in New York

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New York only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

57thIncome percentile

57th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Waterville's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$158,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 71% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Waterville $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Waterville, NY Waterville, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waterville, NY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Waterville, NY median $76,125/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Waterville, NY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Waterville, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,682
Median Income
$76,125
Median Home Value
$158,300
Median Age
45.6
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Labor force participation
66.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.6%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,480 residents1,500 residents1,520 residents1,540 residents1,560 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,544 residents 1,491 residents ▼ -3.4%
Waterville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.4%
Carpool
5.1%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
5.5%
Work from Home
10.7%

Based on 887 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New York state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Waterville sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,392/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
59.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Clintondale
1,682 people
Oakfield
1,683 people
Houghton
1,685 people
Morrisonville
1,688 people
Painted Post
1,691 people
Milton CDP (Ulster County)
1,692 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterville's 1,682 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Venice, IL
1,682 people
Forsyth, MT
1,682 people
Ashaway, RI
1,682 people
Akron, CO
1,681 people
Oberlin, LA
1,683 people
Howard City, MI
1,683 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterville's $76,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lake Belvedere Estates, FL
$76,125 median income
Lake City, MN
$76,125 median income
Gleed, WA
$76,125 median income
Gratis, OH
$76,131 median income
Fields Landing, CA
$76,116 median income
Weissport East, PA
$76,116 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waterville, NY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Waterville, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 95.4% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 2.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Waterville compares to nearby New York cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Waterville (this city) 1,682 $76,125
Clintondale 1,682 $58,627
Oakfield 1,683 $65,833
Houghton 1,685 $87,188
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waterville, NY?

What is the population of Waterville, NY? +

The population of Waterville, NY stands at 1,682 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Waterville, NY? +

Median annual household income in Waterville runs $76,125, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waterville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Waterville; the closest available measure is the New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Waterville, NY? +

The median home value in Waterville is $158,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.