City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Waterville, WA

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.

1,353
Residents
$75,854
Median income
$247,300
Median home
$1,500
Median rent (state)

Waterville - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Waterville lands in the 57th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

57th
percentile, household income
55th
percentile, home value
60th
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, WA

Washington's Waterville is a small town, with 1,353 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Waterville households earn a median of $75,854 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.5%. Waterville's housing stock carries a median value of $247,300, and the median resident age is 48.0 years. 11.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 3 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 45.2°F with 11.3 inches of precipitation per year.

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,500 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 74.1 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,353 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$75,854 /yr

Poverty 3.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Waterville compare to other US cities?

Here's how Waterville stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 55% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% 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 Washington only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Washington-relative analysis

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

Among the 599 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Waterville ranks #528 - the 12th 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
#331 of 565
41st percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#386 of 599
33rd percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#452 of 565
20th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#385 of 598
35th percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#528 of 599
12th percentile in Washington

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 Washington 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+)

$247,300 45th percentile more affordable than 45% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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, WA Waterville, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waterville, WA-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, WA median $75,854/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, WA'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, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.4%

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

Population
1,353
Median Income
$75,854
Median Home Value
$247,300
Median Age
48.0
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Labor force participation
63.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
45.2°F
Annual Precipitation
11.3"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

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 →
1,120 residents1,130 residents1,140 residents1,150 residents1,160 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,128 residents 1,156 residents ▲ +2.5%
Waterville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 2
2022 1
2023 2
2024 3

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.3%
Carpool
4.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
13.4%
Other
2.7%

Based on 714 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington 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 Washington 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
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,500/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

North Puyallup
1,363 people
Anderson Island
1,341 people
Clinton
1,367 people
Sumas
1,384 people
Darrington
1,397 people
McMillin
1,298 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterville's 1,353 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dutch Island, GA
1,353 people
Ortonville, MI
1,353 people
Snyder, OK
1,353 people
Stiles, PA
1,353 people
Sturgeon, PA
1,353 people
Dolan Springs, AZ
1,354 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterville's $75,854 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kouts, IN
$75,854 median income
Cimarron Hills, CO
$75,853 median income
Munich, ND
$75,855 median income
Felton, PA
$75,852 median income
Newport, NH
$75,849 median income
Falcon Mesa, TX
$75,848 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waterville, WA 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, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.7% 13.2% 10.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.7% White 73.7% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.4% American Indian 2.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 13.2% Two or more races 10.3% 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 Washington 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) 1,353 $75,854
North Puyallup 1,363 $81,063
Anderson Island 1,341 $72,074
Clinton 1,367 $72,135
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waterville, WA?

What is the population of Waterville, WA? +

The population of Waterville, WA stands at 1,353 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Waterville households earn a median of $75,854 annually, 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 Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

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

Homes in Waterville carry a median value of $247,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Waterville? +

Waterville has an average annual temperature of 45.2°F, 11.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.