Waterford1, 2012
Waterford’s story
177 years in pictures
Census counts: 418 in 1860, 5,542 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 5 maps from 1891 on.
- 1849Waterford is settled
WaterfordWI
A town of 6,025, settled in 1849. Public schools that outperform most of Wisconsin.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0
Population
6,025
2025 Census estimate · +8.5% since 2020
Typical home
$449K
+5.5% in a year
Household income
$82K
median
Median age
46.3
years
Jobs based here
2,187
Balanced
TownGrade
B
#199 of 357 in WI
Is Waterford a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Waterford grades B overall, ranked 199th of 357 in Wisconsin. The median household earns $82K. Its public schools beat 85% of Wisconsin towns on state tests and graduation. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $449K, 5.7 years of the Racine metro’s $78K median household income. Waterford’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile, where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 0.4 and U.S. towns at 0.4. The biggest park or preserve is Fox Conservancy Park, at 35 acres.
What makes Waterford stand out
Where Waterford beats most towns.
How Waterford grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Waterford is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →Cost of livingDOpen →SchoolsAOpen →HealthAurora Memorial Hospital Burlington 7.2 miles awayB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.8 of 20; 1.3% of households have no car; 0.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 3% conserved landA−Open →History3 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life3.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
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.
PowerWe Energies20.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWaterford Waterworks1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Waterford’s trash rules yet
SchoolsWaterford Union High School DistrictWaterford Joint No. 1 School District2 districts serve Waterford; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereVillage of Waterford ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2026
ZIP code5318553185 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 Waterford.
Waterford pairs an A for schools with high home prices and has fewer 90° days than most of the country, though not than most of Wisconsin; it also carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Wisconsin (mostly inland flooding).
OutdoorsA−
Waterford has set aside 3.1% of its land for conservation
2.6 miles of trail in 9 parks and preserves.
#49for trails in WI
3.1%
conserved · 53 of 1,692 acres
2.6 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Waterford Schools Conservatory & Environmental Center | 0.9 mi | 32 |
| 2. Cornerstone Crossing Conservancy Park | 0.7 mi | 22 |
| 3. Kettle Glen Park | 0.6 mi | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA
Waterford’s grade for schools is an A
Its A for schools comes with a D for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $449K.
Its public schools are run by the Waterford Graded J1 School District. Three of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Waterford High, with 889 students.
85%of WI districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox River MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 510 | B+ |
| Waterford HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 889 | B |
| Woodfield ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 322 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade D
Waterford’s grade for cost of living is a D
Waterford’s median rent is $1,374 a month, above both the Wisconsin town median ($1,076 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Typical home values rose 5.5% in the year to September 2026.
$449KZillow home value
| Waterford | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,374 a month | $1,076 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Waterford$449K
Wisconsin$337K
Market temperature
70
days on market
99.1%
sale-to-list price
+5.5%
value change, 1 year
10
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthB+
Residents of Waterford are healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Waterford beats the Wisconsin average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 27% of Waterford adults feel lonely.
72%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Waterford | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 20% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
10 better21 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Waterford | WI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 3.9% | 5.5% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.6% | 12.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 8.6% |
Aurora Memorial Hospital Burlington
7.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
64th
percentile among WI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Waterford, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
The Burlington weather station, 8 miles away, records that about 7 days a year reach 90°: fewer than most of the country, but more than 77% of Wisconsin places with climate records. January nights average 13.3°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 96% of Wisconsin places with climate records; July afternoons average 82.6°.
Waterford has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Waterford’s January low is 13°F. About 38 inches of snow falls in a winter.
38″snow a winter
| Waterford | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 13°F | 11°F | 22°F |
| July high | 83°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–32°
Spring36–56°
Summer59–80°
Fall41–60°
Oct 10
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Waterford has 0.8 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Waterford for work: only 8% work in town. 3.8% of residents live below the poverty line in Waterford. Since 2013, Waterford has added 255 jobs, to 2,187 in 2023.
8%work in town
| Waterford | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Waterford8%
Milwaukee12%
Burlington6%
Racine4%
Waukesha4%
19 mi
median commute distance
2,187
jobs based in Waterford
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 40% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Waterford faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 92% of Wisconsin towns; that rating is what its C+ for hazard risk is built on.
The FEMA risk score in Waterford is 59 of 100. Since 2008, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Waterford.
59risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2008
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Wisconsin overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 18% of residents (22% statewide). Waterford has grown 8.5% since 2020, to 6,025 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 33% across Wisconsin.
46.3median age · WI 40.2
| Waterford | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 20% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 19% | 21% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 28% | 32% | 29% |
WaterfordWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school36%
Some college21%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s19%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.8 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Waterford | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.4% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.2% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.6% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.8% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.3% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.7% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.6% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.6% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 35.5% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 21% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.7% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.8% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.4% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Nearby attractions
All 60 attractions →Six Flags Great America and 33 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Waterford. Close and well known come first.
Big draw31 mi Theme parkSix Flags Great America3.0M visitors a year
25 mi Stadium & arenaFiserv Forum
25 mi MuseumMilwaukee Art Museum350K visitors a year
11 mi TheatreAlpine Valley Music Theatre
24 mi Stadium & arenaUW–Milwaukee Panther Arena
24 mi MuseumHarley-Davidson Museum300K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Six Flags Great America: Feather Better, CC BY 4.0 · Fiserv Forum: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Milwaukee Art Museum: Michael Hicks (Mulad), CC BY 2.0 · Alpine Valley Music Theatre: chad davis, CC BY-SA 2.0 · UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena: Shadowlink1014, Public domain · Harley-Davidson Museum: Dori, CC BY-SA 3.0 us
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waterford
19pages on Waterford
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Waterford
About 4 of every 100 Waterford residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
Famous people from Waterford
3 notable people were born in Waterford.
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About Waterford
Village in Wisconsin, United States
Waterford is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,542 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 827 ft
- ZIP code
- 53185
Waterford’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Waterford.
WaterfordTichiganRochesterWaterford
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford · Waterford | #199 | B | D | — | A | B+ |
| Tichigan | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rochester | #121 | A− | B− | — | B+ | B+ |
Waterford and Rochester report no FBI crime data of their own. Tichigan isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Waterford and Waterford are one community, graded once. Compare Waterford with a neighbor →
Questions about Waterford
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waterford, WI a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Waterford grades B overall, better than 64% of U.S. towns and #199 of 357 in Wisconsin. It grades B+ for health and A for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Waterford, WI expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Waterford, WI known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Rae Lin D'Alie and Sam Alvey.