Waterbury, CT Local Data & Statistics

State: CT

Total population: 114,869 Household income: $51,886 Rent: $1,225

Overview

Total population

114,869

Rent

$1,225

Year built

1959

Household income

$51,886

Per capita income

$29,542

Poverty rate

24.7%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

53.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Connecticut

Total population

114,869

Adults over 25

77,847

Total households

45,663

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$51,886

Per capita income

$29,542

Poverty rate

24.7%

Unemployment rate

4.2%

Rent over 30% of income

53.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,225

Year built

1959

Households that rent

52.8%

Households that own

47.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

37.3%

Black

25.2%

Asian

2.5%

Two or more races

18.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

38.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

61.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.7%

Commute time to work

28 mins

Work from home

8.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

34.2%

High school graduate or GED

36.2%

Some college or associate degree

12.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

17.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Waterbury, CT with: Connecticut United States

Waterbury, CT

Total population114,869

Rent$1,225

Year built1959

Household income$51,886

Per capita income$29,542

Poverty rate24.7%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Connecticut State

Total population3,624,508

Rent$1,488

Year built1967

Household income$95,781

Per capita income$55,915

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate3.2%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityWaterbury, CT	StateConnecticut	CountryUnited States
Total population	114,869	3,624,508	334,922,499
Rent	$1,225	$1,488	$1,413
Year built	1959	1967	1980
Household income	$51,886	$95,781	$80,734
Per capita income	$29,542	$55,915	$44,673
Poverty rate	24.7%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	3.2%	4%

View the complete comparison of Waterbury, CT, Connecticut and United States →

Summary for Waterbury, CT

Waterbury is located in Connecticut.

Rent & Income

In Waterbury, the typical monthly rent is $1,225 and the typical household income is $51,886. Rent here is lower than in both Connecticut and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 24.7%, which is higher than in both Connecticut and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 52.8% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 53.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 17.3% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 4.2%, which is higher than Connecticut and similar to the national rate.

Waterbury, CT — Rent vs Household Income

Waterbury, CT — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Waterbury, CT compares in Connecticut (11 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,225	1 / 11	from lower rent	$1,225 – $2,276
Household income	$51,886	10 / 11	from higher income	$46,411 – $111,586
Poverty rate	24.7%	10 / 11	from lower poverty	9.1% – 26.3%
Unemployment rate	4.2%	10 / 11	from lower unemployment	2.3% – 4.3%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Connecticut with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Waterbury, CT

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Waterbury places 1st among 11 large places in Connecticut. Across the state, rents run from $1,225 in Waterbury, CT up to $2,276 in Stamford, CT.

Household income

Waterbury ranks 10th among 11 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $46,411 in Hartford, CT to $111,586 in Stamford, CT.

Poverty rate

Waterbury places 10th out of 11 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 9.1% in Norwalk, CT up to 26.3% in Hartford, CT.

Unemployment rate

Waterbury places 10th among 11 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.3% to 4.3%.

💰 Rent in Waterbury, CT (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,225 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Waterbury, CT

Annual Household Income: $51,886

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Waterbury, CT

Estimated Rate: 24.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Waterbury, CT

In Waterbury, CT, households that rent: 24,094 (52.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	24,094	52.8%
Owner-Occupied	21,569	47.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Waterbury, CT

In Waterbury, CT, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 12,966 (53.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	12,966	53.8%
Other renter households	11,128	46.2%
Total renter households	24,094	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Waterbury, CT

Less than High School: 26,621 people (34.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 28,218 people (36.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,541 people (12.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 13,467 people (17.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 77,847

📊 Unemployment Rate in Waterbury, CT

Estimated Rate: 4.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

League City, TX114,885 Lowell, MA114,799 Carlsbad, CA114,500 High Point, NC115,263 Richmond, CA115,396 Manchester, NH115,415 Provo, UT114,303 Westminster, CO115,546 Elgin, IL114,106 Odessa, TX114,080

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.