Town · Washington
Waterville, Washington
Waterville, town, in Douglas County, Washington. Waterville had 1,156 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,134 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,250 (±323). GEOID 5376510.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,156
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,134 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,250 ±323
Median household income
$78,589
±$8,628 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$262,000
±$21,476 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$1,200
±$853 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
Where is Waterville and what county is it in?
Waterville is a town in Douglas County, Washington. It covers 0.9 square miles of land, 1,311 residents per square mile in 2020.
Waterville is in the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (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 1,156 people lived in Waterville on July 1, 2025, up 2.2% since 2020, slower than Washington (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 1,134 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,250 (±323).
| Measure | Waterville | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,250 ±323 | 44,366 | no clear change |
| Households | 462 ±116 | 15,923 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.67 ±0.43 | 2.73 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 536 ±131 | 17,960 | no clear change |
Waterville's population since 2000
From 1,163 in 2000 to 1,156 in 2025: down 0.6%. 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 47.3 years old; 12.9% are under 18 and 19.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.3%.
| Measure | Waterville | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 ±10.3 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 12.9% ±4.4 pts | 24.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.8% ±10.6 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Male | 55.2% ±6.9 pts | 51.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.3% ±11.0 pts | 35.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.9% ±10.7 pts | 57.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.0% ±3.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.8% ±7.4 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.3% ±11.7 pts | 27.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.4% ±2.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 21.3% ±9.5 pts | 16.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 15.1% ±9.3 pts | 13.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 82.1% ±13.1 pts | 82.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.9% ±5.0 pts | 21.5% | −14.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 0.0% ±4.1 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.6% ±5.7 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 1.6% | – |
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 462 households earn less than $78,589 a year (±$8,628), against $80,363 in Douglas County and $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $73,632 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Waterville | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,589 ±$8,628 | $80,363 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $91,782 ±$14,206 | $109,623 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,357 ±$6,078 | $39,767 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.8% ±6.0 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±21.8 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.0% ±6.8 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5% ±4.0 pts | 95.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.9% ±7.2 pts | 90.5% | – |
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 87.9% of Waterville's occupied homes and renters 12.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $262,000 by its owner (±$21,476).
| Measure | Waterville | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $262,000 ±$21,476 | $432,500 | +$47,859 |
| Median gross rent | $1,200 ±$853 | $1,305 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 64.3% ±35.6 pts | 34.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,342 ±$139 | $1,903 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 87.9% ±8.2 pts | 69.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 12.1% ±8.2 pts | 30.7% | – |
| Housing units | 536 ±131 | 17,960 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±9.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±44.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 87.7% ±8.5 pts | 67.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 11.9% ±8.3 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±7.2 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.8% ±4.2 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 47.0% ±12.9 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.8% ±3.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
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 2 new housing units in Waterville in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 1.7 per 1,000 residents against 4.4 across Washington.
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?
71.5% of Waterville's workers drive alone and 14.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.7 minutes.
| Measure | Waterville | Douglas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.4% ±9.5 pts | 63.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% ±2.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.5% ±10.7 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.0% ±8.6 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±5.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.9% ±3.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.0% ±7.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.7 min ±6.5 | 20.1 min | +12.9 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 Waterville?
No census tract lies mostly in Waterville; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9502Douglas County | 2,800 | $79,516 |
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 Washington?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Waterville is the 9,724th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 195th-most populous of 281 in Washington.
Waterville ranks 265th of 387 places in Washington with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 195th | 281 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 123rd | 203 |
| Residents per square mile | 209th | 394 |
| Median household income | 265th | 387 |
| Per capita income | 276th | 393 |
| Median home value | 351st | 384 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 369th | 382 |
| Median age | 71st | 394 |
| Owner-occupied share | 72nd | 388 |
| Work from home | 185th | 307 |
| Travel time to work | 82nd | 394 |
Waterville's figures with every place in Washington (CSV)
Every place in Washington, 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?
25 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.