Waterville, N.Y., 1885, 1885
Waterville’s story
204 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1885.
- 1822Waterville is settled
WatervilleNY
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
1,491
2025 Census estimate · −3.5% since 2020
Typical home
$229K
+7.4% in a year
Household income
$82K
median
Median age
44.9
years
Jobs based here
676
Balanced
Is Waterville a good place to live?
Waterville’s best subject grade is an A+ for history. 54% of households own their home in Waterville, against 75% in New York’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. Waterville is more walkable than 72% of U.S. towns. On history, just 106 of New York’s 1,216 towns do better. 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.
Small town
1,491 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Waterville grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Waterville is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 20% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7 of 20; 10.8% of households have no carB+Open →Cost of livingB+Open →HealthCommunity Memorial Hospital 11.5 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & income$82K median household income; 676 jobs based hereBOpen →SchoolsBehind 54% of New York districts on tests and graduationB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksCOpen →History7 notable people born hereA+Open →Civic life5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 44.9; 25% 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.
PowerNew York State Elec & Gas22.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWaterville VillageNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Waterville’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereOneida County Board of ElectionsOneida County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code1348013480 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Waterville.
HousingCost of living grade B+
Waterville’s typical home value is about $229K
The typical Waterville home is worth about $229,000, up 7.4% in a year, 56% below the New York typical home. At $820 a month, Waterville’s median rent is where New York’s towns sit at $1,101 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month.
$229KZillow home value
Typical home value
Waterville$229K
New York$525K
+7.4%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Waterville
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 80% of U.S. communities. Since 2005, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Waterville.
20risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
2
paid flood claims since 2005
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Residents of Waterville are healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
Waterville beats the New York average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 18% of adults binge drink in Waterville.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Waterville | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 21% | 23% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 4.9% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. New York
7 better21 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Waterville | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.6% | 17.2% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.7% | 7.7% |
Community Memorial Hospital
11.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Waterville, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Waterville has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Waterville is 79°F.
77″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–32°
Spring33–54°
Summer56–77°
Fall39–58°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About one in nine working residents works right in Waterville
Most working residents leave Waterville for work: only 11% work in town. Waterville’s average trip to work is 22 minutes. The top destinations are Utica (12%), Sangerfield (12%) and New Hartford (9%).
11%work in town
| Waterville | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 15% | 12% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Waterville11%
Utica12%
Sangerfield12%
New Hartford9%
Marshall4%
14 mi
median commute distance
676
jobs based in Waterville
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 72% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Nearby attractions
All 35 attractions →National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and 21 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Waterville. Close and well known come first.
Big draw28 mi MuseumNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum315K visitors a year
39 mi Stadium & arenaJMA Wireless Dome21 mi LandmarkFort Dayton
20 mi National MonumentFort Stanwix National Monument78K visitors a year
14 mi Stadium & arenaUtica Memorial Auditorium
31 mi State parkGreen Lakes State ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0 · JMA Wireless Dome: Jimhoward03, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fort Stanwix National Monument: NPS photo, Public domain · Utica Memorial Auditorium: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Green Lakes State Park: Ebedgert at English Wikipedia, Public domain
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waterville
18pages on Waterville
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Waterville
Hamilton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Clinton8.4 mi$68,960 tuitionMohawk Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Utica13 mi$6,218 in-state tuitionSUNY MorrisvilleUniversity or college · Public · Morrisville13.4 mi$8,825 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Waterville residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
Famous people from Waterville
7 notable people were born in Waterville.
C
Charlotte B. ComanAmerican painter · 1833–1925
L
Levi D. CarpenterAmerican politician · 1802–1856About Waterville
Village in New York, United States
Waterville (called Ska-na-wis, "long swamp" by the Haudenosaunee) is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 1,473.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,201 ft
- ZIP code
- 13480
Questions about Waterville
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waterville, NY expensive?
Not for the area. That is 3.3 years of the area's median household income ($69,779 across the Utica-Rome, NY 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 B+.
What is Waterville, NY known for?
7 notable people were born here, including George Eastman and Charlotte B. Coman.