Waterford, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Waterford, California had a total population of 9,204, the 512th largest city in California, with a median household income of $74,343, which is 25% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 13.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 9.8% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Waterford Quick Facts
How Waterford Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,177 | 9,204 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $73,092 | $74,343 | +1.7% |
| Median home value | $372,900 | $402,200 | +7.9% |
How Waterford Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Waterford Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Stanislaus County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | 219,215 | $79,891 | 13.3% | $442,700 |
| Turlock | 72,502 | $82,995 | 11.3% | $460,600 |
| Ceres | 49,342 | $79,025 | 15.9% | $424,800 |
| Riverbank | 25,166 | $87,966 | 12.8% | $463,200 |
| Patterson | 24,693 | $93,650 | 9.0% | $450,200 |
| Oakdale | 23,194 | $83,091 | 14.8% | $457,900 |
| Salida | 13,900 | $94,935 | 8.2% | $461,100 |
| Newman | 12,316 | $78,906 | 12.2% | $412,700 |
| Hughson | 7,648 | $91,557 | 13.9% | $511,200 |
| West Modesto | 5,978 | $61,440 | 12.4% | $304,700 |
Cities Similar to Waterford
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | 9,347 | $73,571 | $350,700 | 15.7% | 17.4% |
| Mentone | 9,514 | $74,708 | $436,700 | 23.9% | 12.5% |
| Spring Valley Lake | 9,483 | $82,625 | $463,000 | 29.4% | 7.3% |
| Crestline | 9,835 | $77,786 | $394,400 | 31.3% | 11.3% |
| Madera Acres | 9,846 | $78,457 | $346,800 | 11.7% | 16.2% |
Population Overview
Waterford is a small city located in California, within Stanislaus County. The total population is 9,204. It ranks as the 512th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Waterford is 31.7 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Waterford is $74,343. This is 25% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.9%. This is 16% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.9%. This is 19% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $402,200. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 55.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Waterford is Hispanic or Latino, making up 51.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 42.5%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
9.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 74% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 71.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Waterford, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Waterford, California?
Waterford, California has a population of 9,204 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Waterford, CA?
The median household income in Waterford is $74,343, which is 8% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Waterford, CA?
The poverty rate in Waterford is 13.9%. This means approximately 1,280 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Waterford, California?
Waterford's population is 42.5% White, 0.6% Black, 51.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Waterford, CA?
The median home value in Waterford is $402,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x.
How educated is Waterford, California?
9.8% of adults (25+) in Waterford hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.