What are the schools like in Watervliet, NY?

Watervliet is served primarily by WATERVLIET CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Watervliet?

The median household income in Watervliet, NY is $51,092 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.7%.

What is the weather like in Watervliet, NY?

Watervliet has an average high temperature of 34.2°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 42.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 59.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Watervliet, NY affordable or expensive?

Watervliet's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Watervliet is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $167,200 and the median rent is $1,024 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Watervliet, NY?

Watervliet has a violent crime rate of 356.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2127.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Watervliet, NY a Good Place to Live?

Watervliet is a small city of 10,325 in New York, with a median household income of $51,092 and a 4.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Watervliet stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Watervliet is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Watervliet 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: 97.6

Watervliet's overall cost of living index is 97.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Watervliet costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Watervliet, NY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$167,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,024	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	31.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,092	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Watervliet's violent crime rate is 356.2 per 100,000 residents — 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

356.2 /100k

Property Crime

2127.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Watervliet is served primarily by WATERVLIET CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Watervliet, NY	National Avg
School District	WATERVLIET CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watervliet sees average highs of 34.2°F in January and 85.6°F in July, with 42.1 inches of annual precipitation and 59.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Watervliet, NY
Average High — January	34.2°F
Average High — July	85.6°F
Annual Precipitation	42.1"
Annual Snowfall	59.2"

Demographics

Metric	Watervliet, NY	National Avg
Population	10,325	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.8%	18.9%
Asian	4.7%	6.3%
Under 18	19.8%	22.2%
65 and over	16.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Green Island, NY 2 mi Troy, NY 2 mi Siena College, NY 2 mi Latham, NY 3 mi Menands, NY 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Watervliet

Watervliet, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

12189

Watervliet vs Other Cities

Watervliet, NY vs Green Island, NY Watervliet, NY vs Troy, NY Watervliet, NY vs Siena College, NY Watervliet, NY vs Latham, NY Watervliet, NY vs Menands, NY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watervliet, NY affordable or expensive?

Watervliet's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Watervliet roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $167,200 and median rent is $1,024/month.

What is the crime rate in Watervliet, NY?

Watervliet's violent crime rate is 356.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2127.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Watervliet?

Public schools in Watervliet are operated by WATERVLIET CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 18.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Watervliet, NY a good place to live?

Watervliet, NY has a population of 10,325, a median household income of $51,092, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%. 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 Watervliet?

Watervliet averages 34.2°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.1 inches with about 59.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Watervliet?

Watervliet, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 12189.

What is the population of Watervliet?

The population of Watervliet, New York is 10,325 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Watervliet?

Key numbers for living in Watervliet: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $167,200, median household income $51,092, crime index 97 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Watervliet side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.