Waterville, Kansas Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Waterville, Kansas had a total population of 748, the 247th largest city in Kansas, with a median household income of $68,611, which is 8% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.3%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.5%.
Waterville Quick Facts
How Waterville 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 | 748 | 748 | +0.0% |
| Median household income | $70,625 | $68,611 | -2.9% |
| Median home value | $90,300 | $91,300 | +1.1% |
How Waterville 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 less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Waterville Rankings in Kansas
Explore Kansas Rankings
Other Cities in Marshall County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marysville | 3,422 | $55,386 | 11.9% | $119,200 |
| Blue Rapids | 870 | $53,214 | 5.3% | $68,300 |
| Frankfort | 726 | $70,000 | 3.2% | $89,100 |
| Axtell | 468 | $61,023 | 4.9% | $125,000 |
| Bremen | 192 | $250,000+ | 0.0% | $126,300 |
| Beattie | 185 | $58,750 | 23.8% | $68,300 |
| Summerfield | 128 | $45,313 | 21.9% | $58,300 |
| Oketo | 109 | $75,977 | 22.0% | $160,400 |
| Home | 92 | $70,179 | 0.0% | $271,400 |
| Vermillion | 52 | N/A | 19.2% | $100,000 |
Cities Similar to Waterville
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecompton | 736 | $68,977 | $203,800 | 19.5% | 7.9% |
| Frankfort | 726 | $70,000 | $89,100 | 23.1% | 3.2% |
| Downs | 749 | $62,333 | $102,700 | 27.8% | 5.8% |
| Lebo | 760 | $63,828 | $123,300 | 25.7% | 6.4% |
| Ashland | 738 | $62,596 | $70,300 | 30.6% | 5.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 748, Waterville's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Waterville is a small community located in Kansas, within Marshall County. The total population is 748. It ranks as the 247th most populous out of 721 Census-designated places in Kansas.
Age Demographics
The median age in Waterville is 44.2 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Waterville is $68,611. This is 8% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 15% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.3%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 0.5%. This is 86% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $91,300. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Waterville is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Waterville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.1%.
Education
14.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Waterville, Kansas 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 Kansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 721 Census-designated places in Kansas. 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 Waterville, Kansas?
Waterville, Kansas has a population of 748 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Waterville, KS?
The median household income in Waterville is $68,611, which is 15% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Waterville, KS?
The poverty rate in Waterville is 7.3%. This means approximately 55 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Waterville, Kansas?
Waterville's population is 83.6% White, 0.0% Black, 9.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Waterville, KS?
The median home value in Waterville is $91,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.3x.
How educated is Waterville, Kansas?
14.4% of adults (25+) in Waterville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.