Waterville, New York Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Waterville, New York had a total population of 1,731, the 682nd largest village in New York, with a median household income of $82,273, which is 4% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.1%.
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 2.1x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 0.7%.
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 | 1,682 | 1,731 | +2.9% |
| Median household income | $76,125 | $82,273 | +8.1% |
| Median home value | $158,300 | $170,100 | +7.5% |
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: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Waterville Rankings in New York
Explore New York Rankings
Other Cities in Oneida County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utica | 64,217 | $52,484 | 27.5% | $151,300 |
| Rome | 31,795 | $59,925 | 18.1% | $154,400 |
| New York Mills | 3,856 | $57,578 | 34.4% | $207,700 |
| Whitesboro | 3,633 | $45,934 | 22.8% | $160,700 |
| Lake Delta | 3,202 | $100,094 | 1.8% | $239,400 |
| Sherrill | 3,028 | $88,947 | 5.7% | $227,500 |
| Camden | 2,695 | $78,375 | 7.5% | $177,600 |
| Yorkville | 2,613 | $72,969 | 4.2% | $156,300 |
| Washington Mills | 2,112 | $134,397 | 7.0% | $231,300 |
| Hamilton College | 2,058 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houghton | 1,728 | $83,571 | $163,200 | 71.0% | 20.4% |
| Youngstown | 1,758 | $81,369 | $216,100 | 42.0% | 5.3% |
| Cairo | 1,660 | $81,885 | $237,700 | 28.6% | 6.5% |
| Chatham | 1,669 | $79,886 | $323,100 | 48.2% | 10.7% |
| Kerhonkson | 1,677 | $78,459 | $236,000 | 19.4% | 16.8% |
Population Overview
Waterville is a small community located in New York, within Oneida County. The total population is 1,731. It ranks as the 682nd most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.
Age Demographics
The median age in Waterville is 44.9 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 39.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Waterville is $82,273. This is 4% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 2% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.1%. This is 42% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.7%. This is 88% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $170,100. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Waterville is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 54.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Waterville has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (92.5% vs 52.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.
Education
24.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Waterville, New York 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 New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. 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, New York?
Waterville, New York has a population of 1,731 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Waterville, NY?
The median household income in Waterville is $82,273, which is 2% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Waterville, NY?
The poverty rate in Waterville is 8.1%. This means approximately 133 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Waterville, New York?
Waterville's population is 92.5% White, 0.0% Black, 3.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Waterville, NY?
The median home value in Waterville is $170,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Waterville, New York?
24.7% of adults (25+) in Waterville hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.