Population 19,770 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waterville
Household size in Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.20 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.16 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Waterville are small: just 2.16 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.20 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.4 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Waterville is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 39.4, even as the national median rose. Of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people, only four are younger.
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 Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Waterville (13.9%), above the national share of 11.6%. Only three of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Waterville
Renters in Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.0% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 47.1% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.1% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 46.4% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Waterville than nationally: 46.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 50.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people, only five have a higher share of renters.
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 Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Waterville than nationally: 7.2%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 4.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Waterville has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Maine cities.
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 Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Waterville is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. 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 Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $656 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $649 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $795 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,058 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$402 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Waterville costs $1,058 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $402 a month from 2006–10, a 61% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 34.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Waterville
Bachelor's degrees in Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.4% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.0% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Waterville than nationally: 31.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.8 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
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 Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.5% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Waterville is a bit above the national rate: 91.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in Maine as a whole (94.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.3 points, mirroring the country.
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 Waterville
| Period | Waterville | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Waterville: 7.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Of the 56 Maine cities with 5,000+ people, only two have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.9 points, mirroring the country.
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).
Waterville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville | 2.16 | 38.4 | 13.9% | 46.4% | 7.2% | 1964 | $1,058 | 31.0% | 91.6% | 7.0% |
| Winslow | 2.33 | 45.8 | 14.4% | 23.9% | 7.4% | 1971 | $1,238 | 30.0% | 93.9% | 1.2% |
| Fairfield | 2.22 | 43.0 | 13.4% | 25.6% | 8.4% | 1965 | $1,005 | 14.5% | 92.8% | 3.4% |
| Fairfield Center | 2.35 | 48.6 | 5.0% | 11.9% | 11.0% | 1978 | $970 | 20.9% | 94.3% | 0.6% |
| Oakland | 2.41 | 42.4 | 18.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1981 | $963 | 25.3% | 96.3% | 1.9% |
| North Vassalboro | 2.60 | 38.4 | 21.7% | 26.7% | 11.3% | 1995 | $957 | 28.4% | 89.4% | 7.1% |
| Shawmut | 2.40 | 45.0 | 7.3% | 10.3% | 7.2% | 1979 | $1,123 | 20.5% | 90.8% | 7.1% |
| Weeks Mills | 2.67 | 38.7 | 8.0% | 8.3% | 12.7% | 1985 | $1,010 | 28.9% | 96.0% | 2.4% |
| North Belgrade | 2.24 | 56.2 | 8.6% | 5.9% | 42.6% | 1986 | $947 | 46.3% | 98.0% | 7.6% |
| Vassalboro | 2.42 | 43.3 | 20.9% | 17.0% | 12.7% | 1990 | $994 | 32.9% | 91.6% | 7.1% |
| Clinton | 2.55 | 48.7 | 6.2% | 4.1% | 8.8% | 1978 | $1,178 | 14.4% | 98.6% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Cortlandt Manor, NY · Taft, CA · Swansea, MA · Sulphur Springs, TX · Sudbury, MA · Streetsboro, OH · Stoughton, WI · Steamboat Springs, CO · St. Michael, MN · Southbury, CT
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 Waterville. 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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