Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
2 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Washington town.
The best of Waterville’s subject grades are an A− for walkability and schools and an A+ for civic life; the weakest is a D for hazard risk. Only 22 of Washington’s 395 towns score higher on cost of living. Only 4 of Washington’s 397 towns score higher on history. Waterville has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Waterville beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Douglas County CourthouseIn a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Waterville is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1903.
6 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waterville, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Waterville.
The typical Waterville home is worth about $308,000, up 6.9% in a year, 48% below the Washington typical home. 88% of households own their home in Waterville, above both Washington’s towns (71%) and U.S. towns (73%).
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Waterville School District. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 129 | – |
| Waterville High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 127 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 88% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Waterville has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. At 83°F, Waterville’s July high is above the Washington town median (77°F) but below the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Waterville for work: only 13% work in town. The average trip to work in Waterville is 33 minutes. Jobs based in Waterville fell to 378 in 2023, 160 fewer than in 2013.
| Waterville | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 4.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $79,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Waterville beats the Washington average on 2 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 28% of Waterville adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Waterville | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 33% | 36% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 73% | 71% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 31% | 35% |
| What stands out | Waterville | WA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 72% | 66.2% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 74.3% | 70.7% |
| More adults with COPD | 7.5% | 5.1% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pioneer Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Waterville; the nearest are
About 6 of every 100 Waterville residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington.
6 places in Waterville on the National Register of Historic Places.
Town in Washington, United States
Waterville is a town in and the county seat of Douglas County, Washington, United States. As a part of Douglas County, it is part of the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee metropolitan area. The population was 1,134 at the 2020 census. The town is near Badger Mountain and Badger Mountain Ski Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
2 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Washington town.
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
2 notable people were born here, including Arthur J. Burks and Jack Friel.
