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METRO AREA

Waterbury Metro

Waterbury-Shelton, CT · 1 counties · 463,349 residents (2025 est.) · 412.784 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#14Most densely populatedof 9251,122
The short version

Waterbury has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $86,191. Population has held roughly steady since 2023. Median home value is $317,700. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
454,969
+1%since 2023
from 452,303 in 2023
2022 – 2025
Population density
1,102 / sq mi
+1%since 2023
from 1,096 / sq mi in 2023
US average: 281
Median age
41.8
Unchangedsince 2023
from 41.9 in 2023
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:463,349 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 2022 – 2024
452K453K453K454K455K20222024Waterbury
2024455K
20222024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,191
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $86,365 in 2023
US average: $82,259
2022 – 2024
Per capita income
$46,363
+1%since 2023
from $46,063 in 2023
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
56.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2023
from 55.8% in 2023
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2023
from 10.3% in 2023
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.464
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.462 in 2023
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$317,700
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $290,800 in 2023
US average: $376,019
2022 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,330
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2023
from $1,288 in 2023
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2023
from 67.6% in 2023
31.4% rent
Vacancy rate
6.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2023
from 7.1% in 2023
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
28.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2023
from 26.7% in 2023
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2023
from 48.8% in 2023
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+9%since 2023
from 3.4 in 2023
2022 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waterbury on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2023
White, non-Hispanic61.1%(276,403)
Black10.3%(46,541)
Hispanic / Latino19.2%(86,804)
Asian4%(17,989)
Other5.4%(24,566)
Diversity Score71.8%(324,869)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic59.8%(272,125)
Black10.6%(48,021)
Hispanic / Latino19.9%(90,672)
Asian3.8%(17,214)
Other5.9%(26,937)
Diversity Score73.3%(333,527)
Segregation Score37.9%(172,586)
Diversity Score
73
+2%since 2023
from 72 in 2023
2022 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.8%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 33.8% in 2023
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2023
from 90.3% in 2023
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2023
from 14.9% in 2023
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.3 min
Unchangedsince 2023
from 28.4 min in 2023
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2023
from 75.4% in 2023
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2023
from 8.9% in 2023
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2023
from 1.5% in 2023
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2023
from 11.4% in 2023
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2023
from 1.6% in 2023
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.1% in 2023
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2023
from 9.0% in 2023
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2023
from 6.1% in 2023
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2023
from 65.6% in 2023
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2023
from 13.8% in 2023
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2023
from 42.2% in 2023
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 48.9% in 2023
Female
51.1%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 51.1% in 2023
Foreign born
14.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2023
from 13.4% in 2023
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2023
from 5.1% in 2023
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2023
from 14.0% in 2023
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2023
from 4.5% in 2023
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2023
from 89.0% in 2023
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
76.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2023
from 77.4% in 2023
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
12.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2023
from 12.7% in 2023
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

WaterburyCENTRAL115,771SheltonCENTRAL42,880
What's inside

1 component county

Naugatuck Valley Planning RegionCENTRAL463,349
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Waterbury

York
Pop 473,197
Huntsville
Pop 556,444
Naples
Pop 417,131
Reading
Pop 440,072
Places similar to Waterbury
Head to head

Compare Waterbury side by side

WATERBURY VS
York
Income$84,829−2%
Home value$248,600−22%
Population473,197+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERBURY VS
Huntsville
Income$85,881same
Home value$295,284−7%
Population556,444+20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERBURY VS
Naples
Income$90,045+4%
Home value$540,700+70%
Population417,131−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERBURY VS
Reading
Income$79,777−7%
Home value$257,300−19%
Population440,072−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Waterbury-Shelton, CT?

Waterbury-Shelton, CT has about 454,969 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waterbury-Shelton, CT?

The typical household in Waterbury-Shelton, CT earns about $86,191 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waterbury-Shelton, CT expensive?

In Waterbury-Shelton, CT, the median home is worth about $317,700, and the typical rent is about $1,330 a month.

How educated are people in Waterbury-Shelton, CT?

About 33.8% of adults age 25 and over in Waterbury-Shelton, CT hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waterbury-Shelton, CT?

About 11.2% of people in Waterbury-Shelton, CT live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →