Population 68,544 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waterford
Household size in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.63 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.58 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.57 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.07 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Waterford is a place of small households, averaging 2.35 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.38, in line with the national trend.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.1 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 40.9 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.6 | 41.0 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +2.1 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
Waterford skews older than the country: its median age is 43.6, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.7, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 12.1% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 12.3% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 11.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in Waterford, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Waterford
Renters in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.2% | 26.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 30.2% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.2% | 31.0% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.5% | 28.8% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Waterford is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About three in ten owners (30.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the north.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 11.3% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 10.0% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 8.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −3.1 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Waterford: just 5.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1969 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1969 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1970 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +2 | +3 | +6 |
Waterford is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $930 | $952 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $961 | $1,005 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,105 | $1,123 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,221 | $1,373 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$291 | +$421 | +$395 | +$606 |
The median renter in Waterford pays $1,221 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $291 a month since 2006–10, up 31%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.3% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Waterford
Bachelor's degrees in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.5% | 27.8% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 28.8% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 31.1% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.4% | 34.5% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Waterford than nationally: 29.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.5% | 87.7% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.2% | 88.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.7% | 89.8% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.5% | 90.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +3.2 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Waterford is above the national rate: 93.5% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Waterford
| Period | Waterford | Detroit area | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 12.8% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −5.9 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Waterford runs below the national rate: 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 5.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Waterford compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford | 2.35 | 43.6 | 7.4% | 24.5% | 5.6% | 1971 | $1,221 | 29.4% | 93.5% | 4.6% |
| Lake Angelus | 2.07 | 57.2 | 5.1% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1965 | $1,130 | 48.1% | 99.6% | 2.0% |
| Sylvan Lake | 1.98 | 49.1 | 9.3% | 23.8% | 7.6% | 1961 | $1,320 | 47.7% | 99.4% | 3.8% |
| Keego Harbor | 2.10 | 44.3 | 15.6% | 39.1% | 11.8% | 1977 | $1,263 | 44.5% | 96.7% | 5.2% |
| Pontiac | 2.52 | 37.6 | 20.6% | 53.3% | 11.5% | 1961 | $1,091 | 16.4% | 82.5% | 11.7% |
| Orchard Lake Village | 2.88 | 49.4 | 5.7% | 2.7% | 6.3% | 1981 | $1,025 | 65.9% | 93.4% | 3.8% |
| Village of Clarkston | 2.37 | 52.5 | 5.1% | 30.9% | 9.5% | 1965 | $1,719 | 50.6% | 97.5% | 2.1% |
| White Lake | 2.63 | 43.4 | 9.7% | 12.4% | 5.1% | 1983 | $1,538 | 35.2% | 93.8% | 4.0% |
| Clarkston | 2.69 | 43.5 | 8.2% | 19.4% | 6.1% | 1986 | $1,300 | 46.9% | 96.0% | 2.7% |
| West Bloomfield | 2.68 | 46.8 | 6.0% | 16.5% | 5.4% | 1980 | $2,037 | 59.9% | 95.0% | 5.5% |
| Commerce Township | 2.79 | 43.4 | 8.0% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 1984 | $1,655 | 49.4% | 96.9% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Great Falls, MT · Puyallup, WA · Trujillo Alto, PR · Kingsport, TN · Huntington, WV · Huntersville, NC · Fayetteville, GA · Ewa Beach, HI · Eastvale, CA · East Orange, NJ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Waterford. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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