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Living in
Waterbury.
About
Life in Waterbury
The cost of living is noticeably lower than Connecticut and New England averages, with median home values around $208,500 and median rent sitting at $1,225 monthly, which matters if you're stretching a budget while working nearby or commuting to Hartford (33 miles away) or even New York City (77 miles via Metro-North from Union Station). The job market here centers around education and healthcare—Post University, University of Connecticut's regional campus, Naugatuck Valley Community College, and the hospital system are major employers—so your opportunities depend a lot on what field you're in, and you might find yourself looking beyond the city for career growth. What actually makes Waterbury distinctive is its deeply rooted ethnic neighborhoods: you'll find Italian-American strongholds in the Town Plot and North End, a thriving Orthodox Jewish community that's grown significantly since 2000, Cape Verdean, Brazilian, Portuguese, and Lithuanian communities, plus a large Latino population and Irish culture centered around Washington Hill's famous St.
Waterbury at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.7%
Foreign-Born
20.1%
Broadband Internet
85.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.1% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Waterbury: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waterbury, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (19.3%), and 28.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.2%
of residents
65 and Older
15.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.2%
of households
Married Couples
30.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% below CT average
Rent, home values, and income in Waterbury
In Waterbury, rent runs 18% below the CT average, and home values are 43% below the CT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,449
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
47.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $284,914 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.2 pts above CT average
Unemployment in Waterbury
Unemployment in Waterbury is 2.2 percentage points higher than the CT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Waterbury Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28 min avg
How Waterbury residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waterbury, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN)
Small hub738k passengers boarded in 2025
- 32 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 69 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 11% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Waterbury runs 11% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
294.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,354.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Waterbury Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
In New Haven County, which includes Waterbury, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $80,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $469,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Flash Flood | $19,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Winter Weather | $36,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Flash Flood | $309,000 |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21.1M |
| 2019 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $176,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Winter Weather | $588,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
New Haven County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in New Haven County, which includes Waterbury, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
107
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
New Haven County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waterbury has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.7"
Annual Snowfall
46.8"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
129
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
124
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 19°F | 3.05" |
| Feb | 39°F | 20°F | 2.93" |
| Mar | 48°F | 28°F | 4.05" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 4.13" |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 3.48" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.05" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.38" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 4.28" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.49" |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 3.36" |
| Dec | 42°F | 25°F | 4.12" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waterbury
Waterbury has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
8.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Saint Mary's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Waterbury Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Bristol Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.7 mi away · Bristol
Midstate Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12 mi away · Meriden
Masonicare Health Center
Psychiatric · 12.3 mi away · Wallingford
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waterbury
Waterbury's student/teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
33
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Waterbury
Private for-profit · 4-year · 13,603 students · in-state tuition $16,499 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,639 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Public · 4-year · 733 students · in-state tuition $18,250 · 62% graduate · median earnings $82,098 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Weir Farm National Historical Park, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waterbury
Waterbury has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Weir Farm National Historical Park (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Weir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
45 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
47 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
48 mi awayVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awaySagamore Hill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
52 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
57 mi awayFire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
60 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waterbury
Silas Bronson Library
267 Grand St., Waterbury
Bunker Hill Branch Library
192 Bunker Hill Avenue, Waterbury
Cities Near Waterbury
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waterbury?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waterbury FAQ
Is Waterbury, Connecticut affordable?⌄
Waterbury's median rent is $1,225/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,886/year. Median home value is $208,500.
Is Waterbury, Connecticut safe?⌄
Waterbury's violent crime rate was 295 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2354 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waterbury, Connecticut?⌄
Waterbury has an unemployment rate of 6.2%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waterbury, Connecticut?⌄
The cost of living in Waterbury is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,225/month and median household income is $51,886/year. The median home value is $208,500. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waterbury, Connecticut?⌄
The average commute in Waterbury is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from