High school, 1913
Waterville’s story
170 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1913.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1856Waterville is settled
WatervilleMN
A town of 1,757, settled in 1856.
Population
1,757
2025 Census estimate · +0.5% since 2020
Typical home
$320K
+1.5% in a year
Household income
$76K
median
Median age
43.8
years
Jobs based here
432
A commuter town
Is Waterville a good place to live?
Waterville’s best subject grades are an A+ for safety and an A− for cost of living and civic life; its weakest is a C− for hazard risk. On safety, just 10 of Minnesota’s 212 towns do better. Only 55 of Minnesota’s 575 towns score lower on the outdoors. Waterville has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Arthur Dehn House and Union Hotel. Waterville has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Waterville stand out
Where Waterville beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Waterville0
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA+
No violent crime reported in 2025
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Waterville9.2
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical MN town4.2
Civic lifeA−
2.2 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical Minnesota town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Typical home value
Waterville$320K
Minnesota$349K
Cost of livingA−
3.2 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 78% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
A commuter town
90% of working residents leave Waterville for work
Where Waterville’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
432jobs based in Waterville
10%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Waterville grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Waterville is from typical.
SafetyA+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →Jobs & income$76K median household incomeCOpen →HealthMayo Clinic Health System - Waseca 10.6 miles awayB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.7 of 20; 4.4% of households have no car; 4.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0% conserved landDOpen →History2 places on the National Register; 1 notable person born hereB+Open →Civic life9.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market13 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.8; 19% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Waterville: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waterville, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWatervilleNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Waterville’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLe Sueur County CourthouseLe Sueur County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5609656096 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Waterville.
SafetyA+
Waterville reports less crime per resident than 98% of U.S. towns
At 0 per 1,000 residents, Waterville’s property crime rate is below both Minnesota’s towns (8.7) and U.S. towns (9.9).
98%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Waterville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 8.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Waterville0
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Waterville0
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
98th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
0
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB
On state tests, Waterville’s schools beat 58% of Minnesota districts
Its public schools are run by the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown school district. Its two schools are below.
58%of MN districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 264 | A |
| Waterville-Elysian-Morristown SR.Largest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 232 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Waterville has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Waterville for work: only 10% work in town. 12% of Waterville residents live below the poverty line, against 7% in Minnesota’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Since 2013, Waterville has added 34 jobs, to 432 in 2023.
10%work in town
| Waterville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $76,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Waterville10%
Mankato11%
Faribault10%
Waseca7%
Owatonna5%
20 mi
median commute distance
432
jobs based in Waterville
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 66% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Waterville faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities. Since 1983, 45 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Waterville.
72risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
45
paid flood claims since 1983
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Residents of Waterville are healthier than 69% of U.S. towns
Waterville beats the Minnesota average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 30% of adults feel lonely in Waterville.
69%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Waterville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 30% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
0 better29 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Waterville | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with heart disease | 7.1% | 5.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.2% | 8.5% |
| More adults with arthritis | 26.3% | 22.3% |
Mayo Clinic Health System - Waseca
10.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Waterville has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Waterville has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Waterville’s July high is 82°F.
52″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–26°
Spring35–55°
Summer59–80°
Fall37–57°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade A−
The typical home in Waterville is valued at about $320K
The typical Waterville home is worth about $320,000, up 1.5% in a year, 8% below the Minnesota typical home. The median rent in Waterville is $884 a month.
$320KZillow home value
| Waterville | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $884 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Waterville$320K
Minnesota$349K
Market temperature
13
days on market
101.6%
sale-to-list price
+1.5%
value change, 1 year
7
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsD
Conserved land covers 0.1% of Waterville
Among 273 Minnesota towns, just 8 have a lower share of conserved land than Waterville.
0.1%conserved
0.1%
conserved · 1 of 1,313 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sakatah Lake State Park | — | 1 |
| 2. Elam Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 73 attractions →Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Waterville. Close and well known come first.
19 mi MuseumMinnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children
19 mi Museum3R Landmark School Museum23 mi GardenSibley Park
11 mi MuseumWaseca County Historical Society Museum
40 mi GardenGaylord City ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0 · 3R Landmark School Museum: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Waseca County Historical Society Museum: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2 · Gaylord City Park: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waterville
20pages on Waterville
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 58% of MN districts · 2 schoolsSafetyA+0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than MN on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$320K typical home · up 1.5% in a yearWork & commuteC$76K median household income · 432 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 72% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Waterville; the nearest are
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Saint Peter21 mi$56,076 tuitionMinnesota State University-MankatoUniversity or college · Public · Mankato21.8 mi$9,572 in-state tuitionSouth Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · North Mankato23.8 mi$6,146 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Waterville residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
About Waterville
City in Minnesota, United States
Waterville is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,750 at the 2020 census. It is close to Sakatah Lake State Park on the Cannon River. Waterville has a yearly celebration called "Bullhead Days," and it is held in early June; the residents of the town get together for food, fun, a parade, a carnival, and fireworks.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,014 ft
- ZIP code
- 56096
- Area code
- 507
Questions about Waterville
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waterville, MN expensive?
Not for the area. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.