What are the schools like in Waterford, WI?

Waterford is served primarily by Waterford Graded J1 School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Waterford?

The median household income in Waterford, WI is $81,575 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Waterford, WI?

Waterford has an average high temperature of 28.8°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Waterford, WI affordable or expensive?

Waterford's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waterford is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $295,100 and the median rent is $1,179 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waterford, WI?

Waterford has a violent crime rate of 198.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 857.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waterford, WI a Good Place to Live?

Waterford is a small town of 5,587 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $81,575 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Waterford stands out for solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

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

All Waterford 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: 97.8

Waterford's overall cost of living index is 97.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waterford costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waterford, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$295,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,179	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$81,575	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waterford's violent crime rate is 198.7 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

198.7 /100k

Property Crime

857.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waterford is served primarily by Waterford Graded J1 School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waterford, WI	National Avg
School District	Waterford Graded J1 School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waterford sees average highs of 28.8°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation and 37.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waterford, WI
Average High — January	28.8°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	36.4"
Annual Snowfall	37.7"

Demographics

Metric	Waterford, WI	National Avg
Population	5,587	—
Median Age	43.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	18.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rochester, WI 3 mi Tichigan, WI 3 mi Browns Lake, WI 5 mi Wind Lake, WI 5 mi Eagle Lake, WI 7 mi

Waterford vs Other Cities

Waterford, WI vs Rochester, WI Waterford, WI vs Tichigan, WI Waterford, WI vs Browns Lake, WI Waterford, WI vs Wind Lake, WI Waterford, WI vs Eagle Lake, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waterford, WI affordable or expensive?

Waterford's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waterford roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $295,100 and median rent is $1,179/month.

What is the crime rate in Waterford, WI?

Waterford's violent crime rate is 198.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 857.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waterford?

Public schools in Waterford are operated by Waterford Graded J1 School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 31.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waterford, WI a good place to live?

Waterford, WI has a population of 5,587, a median household income of $81,575, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. 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 Waterford?

Waterford averages 28.8°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches with about 37.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Waterford?

The population of Waterford, Wisconsin is 5,587 with a median age of 43.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waterford?

Key numbers for living in Waterford: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $295,100, median household income $81,575, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waterford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.