City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Waterford, WI

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

5,627
Residents
$80,380
Median income
$312,700
Median home
$1,338
Median rent (state)

Waterford - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Waterford lands in the 62nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

62nd
percentile, household income
67th
percentile, home value
49th
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: Waterford, WI

Waterford is a small town in Wisconsin, home to 5,627 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Waterford brings in $80,380 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.6%. Waterford's housing stock carries a median value of $312,700, and the median resident age is 43.5 years. About 29.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 69.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 67 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 131% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: the state registers 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,338 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Wisconsin's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 88.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

5,627 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$80,380 /yr

Poverty 3.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Waterford compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 62% higher than other cities
Home value 67% pricier than other cities
Median rent 49% 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 Waterford against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Waterford toward the top of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 754 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Waterford ranks #95 - the 87th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waterford only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#233 of 753
69th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#56 of 761
82nd percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#95 of 754
87th percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#476 of 761
37th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#216 of 761
71st percentile in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

62ndIncome percentile

62nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Waterford's home value compares nationally

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

$312,700 33rd percentile more affordable than 33% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Waterford $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 - Waterford, WI Waterford, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waterford, WI-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 Waterford, WI median $80,380/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%
Waterford, WI'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 Waterford, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.1%

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

Population
5,627
Median Income
$80,380
Median Home Value
$312,700
Median Age
43.5
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Labor force participation
69.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.3%

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,400 residents5,600 residents5,800 residents6,000 residents6,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,568 residents 6,025 residents ▲ +8.2%
Waterford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
67
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
60
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2022 29
2023 64
2024 67

Permit volume increased 131% from 2022 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.2%
Carpool
3.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.2%
Work from Home
10.7%
Other
2.8%

Based on 3,127 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Waterford sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,338/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Milton
5,685 people
Rothschild
5,532 people
Berlin
5,523 people
Columbus
5,493 people
Evansville
5,771 people
Prairie du Chien
5,471 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterford's 5,627 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Towaco, NJ
5,627 people
Anadarko, OK
5,627 people
Laurel Bay, SC
5,627 people
Hidden Valley, IN
5,625 people
Chisago City, MN
5,629 people
Calverton, NY
5,629 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waterford's $80,380 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Barbecue, NC
$80,380 median income
Staplehurst, NE
$80,379 median income
Knoxville, IL
$80,385 median income
North Eastham, MA
$80,375 median income
Glassboro, NJ
$80,388 median income
Holland, MN
$80,391 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waterford, WI 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 Waterford, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.2% 7.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.6% White 89.2% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.7% Two or more races 7.1% 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 Waterford compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Waterford (this city) 5,627 $80,380
Milton 5,685 $84,648
Rothschild 5,532 $87,250
Berlin 5,523 $55,216
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waterford, WI?

What is the population of Waterford, WI? +

Waterford, WI has a population of 5,627 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Waterford, WI? +

Median annual household income in Waterford runs $80,380, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waterford? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Waterford; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Waterford, WI? +

Homes in Waterford carry a median value of $312,700, 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.