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Living in
Watervliet.
About
Life in Watervliet
Watervliet is a community of 10,285 people in New York. The median household income is $57,919, median rent runs about $1,076 per month, and median home values are around $179,700. Unemployment is low at 3.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Watervliet at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.4%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Pakistan
Who lives in Watervliet: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Watervliet, the largest foreign-born group is from Pakistan (18.9%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.9%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
46.3%
of households
Married Couples
25.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.01
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 33% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Watervliet
In Watervliet, rent runs 33% below the NY average, and home values are 58% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,656
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
34.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Vacant Homes
10.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $319,865 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below NY average
Unemployment in Watervliet
Unemployment in Albany County, which includes Watervliet, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
Watervliet: Albany County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Albany County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Watervliet is about 3% of Albany County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Watervliet Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.9 min avg
How Watervliet residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Watervliet, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Albany International Airport (ALB)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 135 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 32% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Watervliet runs 32% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
224.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,825.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Watervliet Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 40 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Albany County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Albany County, which includes Watervliet, the most common type is winter weather, with 40 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40 | Strong Wind | $163,000 |
| 2024 | 33 | Winter Weather | $198,000 |
| 2023 | 24 | Winter Weather | $58,000 |
| 2022 | 41 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 37 | Winter Weather | $30,000 |
| 2020 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.5M |
| 2019 | 50 | Thunderstorm Wind | $444,000 |
| 2018 | 43 | Winter Weather | $19,000 |
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
Albany County, county-wide
Watervliet is about 3% of Albany County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Albany County, which includes Watervliet, is typically good — 250 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
250
per year
Moderate Days
110
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Albany County, county-wide
Watervliet is about 3% of Albany County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Watervliet has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.1"
Annual Snowfall
59.2"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
131
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 17°F | 2.65" |
| Feb | 37°F | 18°F | 2.43" |
| Mar | 46°F | 26°F | 2.91" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 3.09" |
| May | 73°F | 49°F | 3.79" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 4.61" |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.64" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.92" |
| Sep | 77°F | 54°F | 3.83" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 4.23" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 2.84" |
| Dec | 40°F | 25°F | 3.15" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Watervliet
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Watervliet's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Samaritan Hospital of Troy, New York
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · Troy
St Peter's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Albany
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Albany
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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Watervliet
Watervliet's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Watervliet (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 12,564 students · in-state tuition $10,881 · 67% graduate · median earnings $72,751 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,550 students · 60% graduate · median earnings $81,471 (10 yrs after entry)
Hudson Valley Community College
2.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 6,499 students · in-state tuition $6,796 · 37% graduate · median earnings $50,915 (10 yrs after entry)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
1.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,714 students · in-state tuition $66,032 · 85% graduate · median earnings $113,011 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,046 students · in-state tuition $71,676 · 85% graduate · median earnings $95,269 (10 yrs after entry)
Schenectady County Community College
13.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 1,507 students · in-state tuition $6,612 · 24% graduate · median earnings $44,042 (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: Saratoga National Historical Park, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Watervliet
Watervliet has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saratoga National Historical Park (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
31 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
National Historic Site
65 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
67 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
67 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Watervliet
Watervliet Public Library
1501 Broadway, Watervliet
Cities Near Watervliet
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Watervliet?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Watervliet FAQ
Is Watervliet, New York affordable?⌄
Watervliet's median rent is $1,083/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,919/year. Median home value is $179,700.
Is Watervliet, New York safe?⌄
Watervliet's violent crime rate was 225 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1825 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Watervliet, New York?⌄
Albany County, which includes Watervliet, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Watervliet, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Watervliet is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,083/month and median household income is $57,919/year. The median home value is $179,700. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Watervliet, New York?⌄
The average commute in Watervliet is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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