Lee Farm · National Register of Historic Places
Waterford’s story
246 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1860.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1780Waterford is settled
Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY 4.0
Population
1,288
2025 Census estimate · +1% since 2020
Typical home
$360K
−1.5% in a year
Household income
$109K
median
Median age
45.4
years
Jobs based here
125
A commuter town
Is Waterford a good place to live?
The best of Waterford’s subject grades are a B+ for schools and history; the weakest is a C for walkability. No town among the 72 in Vermont we compare has a higher share of households owning their home than Waterford. On the outdoors, just 1 of Vermont’s 172 towns do worse. Waterford's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 92% of U.S. towns. Waterford has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Lee Farm and West View Farm. Waterford has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
WeakestCWalkability
What makes Waterford stand out
Where Waterford beats most towns.
How Waterford grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Vermont), ordered by how far Waterford is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.3 of 20; 3.6% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →HealthLittleton Regional Healthcare 6.2 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6 miles of trails; 12% conserved landC−Open →History3 places on the National Register; 6 notable people born hereB+Open →Civic life0.6 library visits per resident; 0.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 80° summer afternoons, 68″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 45.4–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Waterford: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waterford, and how to reach them.
PowerGreen Mountain Power23.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSt Johnsbury Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet10 providers95% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWaterford Transfer Station & RecyclingDrop-offTown site
SchoolsCaledonia Cooperative Unified School DistrictCaledonia Central Supervisory Union2 districts serve Waterford; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Vermont you can register online up to and including Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received by Election Day).vote.govWho runs elections hereWaterford Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code0581905819 99%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 Waterford.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Compared with most of Vermont and the rest of the country, fewer of Waterford’s working residents work locally
3.2% of working residents work locally in Waterford, below both the Vermont town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Jobs based in Waterford grew to 125 in 2023, 23 more than in 2013. The median household income in Waterford is $109,000.
3%work in town
| Waterford | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.2% | 16% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Waterford3%
St. Johnsbury28%
Littleton8%
Danville6%
Lyndon5%
12 mi
median commute distance
125
jobs based in Waterford
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 28% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB+
Waterford’s schools rank ahead of 71% of Vermont districts
Its public schools are run by the Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78. Its one school is below.
71%of VT districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 140 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VT on state tests and graduation
Climate
Waterford has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Waterford has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 80°F, Waterford’s July high is close to Vermont’s towns (80°F) and below U.S. towns (85°F).
68″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–30°
Spring29–53°
Summer53–78°
Fall36–57°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 10
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsC−
11.7% of Waterford is conserved land
6.2 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. Among 72 Vermont towns, just 2 have a lower trail density than Waterford.
11.7%conserved
11.7%
conserved · 2,949 of 25,232 acres
6.2 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Low risk in Waterford, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesHurricanes
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB
Waterford is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns
Waterford beats the Vermont average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 34% of Waterford adults sleep under 7 hours. Only 3 of the 72 Vermont towns we compare have a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Waterford.
61%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Waterford | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 30% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 27% | 23% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 19% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 13% | 14% |
31 measures vs. Vermont
0 better16 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Waterford | VT |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 12.5% | 9.2% |
| More adults who get no exercise | 25.1% | 18.9% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.4% | 5.7% |
Littleton Regional Healthcare
6.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C
Homes in Waterford are worth about $360K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Waterford home is worth about $360,000, down 1.5% in a year, 8% below the Vermont typical home.
$360KZillow home value
Typical home value
Waterford$360K
Vermont$392K
−1.5%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
An age mix much like Vermont’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Vermont average. 17% of residents are under 18 in Waterford. 41% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 44% across Vermont.
45.4median age · VT 43.1
| Waterford | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 17% | 19% | 22% |
| Median age | 45.4 years | 43.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 41% | 40% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 22% | 18% |
WaterfordVermontUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school31%
Some college17%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s23%
Graduate18%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
About 114 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3 points). Across Vermont, 50.4% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 67% are men (VT 50%).
| Waterford | VT | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.2% | 9.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.6% | 8.8% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.2% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.3% | 11.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.4% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.2% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.8% | 14.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.2% | 13% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.2% | 8.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.6% | 5.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.9% | 26.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.8% | 15.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.6% | 25.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 18.4% | 18.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,300, single groups can be off by several points
Nearby attractions
All 49 attractions →Mount Washington and 20 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Waterford. Close and well known come first.
Big draw32 mi MountainMount Washington
28 mi LakeLake Willoughby
17 mi Ski areaCannon Mountain104 runs · 2,201 ft vertical
32 mi National forestWhite Mountain National Forest
20 mi State parkFranconia Notch State Park
22 mi WaterfallFlume GorgeSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mount Washington: wwoods, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Willoughby: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cannon Mountain: Mikespenard at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · White Mountain National Forest: Ken Gallager at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Franconia Notch State Park: Stephen Sokolowski, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Flume Gorge: MyCatIsAChonk, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waterford
19pages on Waterford
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Waterford; the nearest are
Sterling CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Craftsbury Common29.8 mi$40,760 tuitionCommunity College of VermontCommunity college · Public · Montpelier32.1 mi$6,920 in-state tuitionPlymouth State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Plymouth, NH43.4 mi$14,626 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Waterford residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Vermont.
Small town
1,288 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
LittletonConcordBarnetSt. JohnsburyWaterford
Landmarks
3 places in Waterford on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous people from Waterford
6 notable people were born in Waterford.
About Waterford
Town in Vermont, United States
Waterford is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,268 at the 2020 census. Located on the Connecticut River, the town has historic interest for its vanished village of Upper Waterford, removed during the construction of power dams on the river between 1928 and 1957. The extensive reservoir formed by Moore Dam in 1956 offers a boat launch, sport fishing, and when the water level is lowered, views of where the road to Upper Waterford existed. Waterford businesses include farming, construction, and quarries, It has its own "grade school" (grades K-8), one active church and one historic church structure, and a prestigious lodging, the Rabbit Hill Inn, located …
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1780
- Area
- 40 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,306 ft
- Area code
- 802
Questions about Waterford
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waterford, VT a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Vermont.
Is Waterford, VT expensive?
That is 5.1 years of the area's median household income ($69,970 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
What is Waterford, VT known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Jonathan Ross and Jacob Benton.