What are the schools like in Waterbury, CT?

Waterbury is served primarily by Waterbury School District. The district operates 21 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Waterbury?

The median household income in Waterbury, CT is $51,451 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.8%.

What is the weather like in Waterbury, CT?

Waterbury has an average high temperature of 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.8 inches.

Waterbury, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Waterbury, CT affordable or expensive?

Waterbury's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waterbury is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $162,800 and the median rent is $1,140 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waterbury, CT?

Waterbury has a violent crime rate of 322.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2918.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waterbury, CT a Good Place to Live?

Waterbury is a mid-sized city of 114,480 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $51,451 and a 9.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Waterbury stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Waterbury is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waterbury city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.1

Waterbury's overall cost of living index is 95.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waterbury costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waterbury, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$162,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,140	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	43.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,451	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Waterbury's violent crime rate is 322.5 per 100,000 residents — 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

322.5 /100k

Property Crime

2918.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Waterbury is served primarily by Waterbury School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waterbury, CT	National Avg
School District	Waterbury School District	—
Elementary Schools	21	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waterbury sees average highs of 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 52.6 inches of annual precipitation and 46.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waterbury, CT
Average High — January	37.0°F
Average High — July	84.0°F
Annual Precipitation	52.6"
Annual Snowfall	46.8"

Demographics

Metric	Waterbury, CT	National Avg
Population	114,480	—
Median Age	36.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	44.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	28.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	20.3%	18.9%
Asian	2.9%	6.3%
Under 18	22.7%	22.2%
65 and over	13.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Oakville, CT 3 mi Naugatuck, CT 5 mi Watertown, CT 5 mi Plantsville, CT 8 mi Cheshire Village, CT 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Waterbury

Waterbury, CT is covered by 6 ZIP codes:

06708 06704 06705 06706 06710 06702

Waterbury vs Other Cities

Waterbury, CT vs Oakville, CT Waterbury, CT vs Naugatuck, CT Waterbury, CT vs Watertown, CT Waterbury, CT vs Plantsville, CT Waterbury, CT vs Cheshire Village, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waterbury, CT affordable or expensive?

Waterbury's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waterbury roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $162,800 and median rent is $1,140/month.

What is the crime rate in Waterbury, CT?

Waterbury's violent crime rate is 322.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2918.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waterbury?

Public schools in Waterbury are operated by Waterbury School District. The district has 21 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waterbury, CT a good place to live?

Waterbury, CT has a population of 114,480, a median household income of $51,451, and an unemployment rate of 9.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Waterbury?

Waterbury averages 37.0°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.6 inches with about 46.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waterbury?

Waterbury, CT is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 06708, 06704, 06705, 06706, 06710, 06702.

What is the population of Waterbury?

The population of Waterbury, Connecticut is 114,480 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waterbury?

Key numbers for living in Waterbury: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $162,800, median household income $51,451, crime index 107 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waterbury side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.