Population 5,693 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Watervliet: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Watervliet
Household size in Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.73 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.79 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
At 2.58 people per household, Watervliet sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.73 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
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 Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.3 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.1 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in Watervliet is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.3, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the north, the 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 Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.4% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Watervliet than nationally: 13.3%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Watervliet has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five Michigan cities.
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 Watervliet
Renters in Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Watervliet rent their homes (26.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Nearly half of owners (48.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the southeast.
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 Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.1% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.3% of the housing in Watervliet, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
Watervliet is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
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 Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $594 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $676 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $721 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $952 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$358 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Watervliet runs $952 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $358 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 32.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Watervliet
Bachelor's degrees in Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Watervliet: 18.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the south.
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 Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.8% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.8% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.1% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.7% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Watervliet never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 6.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 17 of the 331 Michigan cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Watervliet
| Period | Watervliet | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −9.1 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Watervliet has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 9.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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).
Watervliet 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watervliet | 2.58 | 40.4 | 13.3% | 26.0% | 21.3% | 1968 | $952 | 18.7% | 85.7% | 3.0% |
| Paw Paw Lake | 2.22 | 47.8 | 8.1% | 16.5% | 21.5% | 1968 | $1,008 | 18.9% | 82.3% | 6.0% |
| Coloma | 2.30 | 45.8 | 10.6% | 23.6% | 19.1% | 1967 | $973 | 21.1% | 90.5% | 4.0% |
| Hagar Shores | 2.06 | 54.4 | 6.8% | 9.2% | 8.5% | 1983 | $852 | 18.3% | 88.2% | 7.8% |
| Hartford | 2.78 | 37.3 | 14.4% | 24.0% | 8.7% | 1970 | $832 | 9.7% | 81.7% | 10.3% |
| Toquin | 2.63 | 37.5 | 15.9% | 25.4% | 27.1% | 1977 | $970 | 18.7% | 76.5% | 3.6% |
| Twelve Corners | 2.06 | 54.5 | 12.3% | 23.7% | 3.8% | 1970 | $470 | 10.6% | 87.5% | 4.5% |
| Spinks Corners | 2.05 | 57.1 | 4.4% | 3.9% | 8.6% | 1957 | $806 | 23.2% | 74.9% | 7.2% |
| Lake Michigan Beach | 2.47 | 41.7 | 25.8% | 25.8% | 41.2% | 1964 | $880 | 28.4% | 92.9% | 1.7% |
| Keeler | 2.91 | 41.8 | 5.7% | 6.3% | 27.6% | 1973 | $724 | 21.5% | 84.1% | 8.9% |
| Covert | 2.77 | 35.6 | 20.2% | 39.1% | 28.3% | 1977 | $951 | 13.5% | 74.2% | 3.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: White Hall, MD · Williamsburg, IA · Gang Mills, NY · Garden Ridge, TX · Williams, CA · Garfield, AR · Garnett, KS · Williams, AZ · Wildwood, NJ · Whittier, NC
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 Watervliet. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.