The Town FilesWaterville Valley, New Hampshire
Town in Grafton County · population 508 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $562,500
- Household income
- $105,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 79 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 61.6
Waterville Valley is a town of 508 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $562,500, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of New Hampshire towns, better for a vacation home than 77% of New Hampshire towns, quieter than 76% of New Hampshire towns.
How Waterville Valley ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterville Valley is worth $562,500, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $105,625, which is more affordable than 9% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,150 a month. 81.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterville Valley | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $562,500 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,150 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $105,625 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.5% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 86.2% | — |
Who lives in Waterville Valley
| People | Waterville Valley | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 43.1% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 8.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.6% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 13.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 92.5% |
Weather in Waterville Valley
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 5.7°F. About 53.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.3 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 188 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Waterville Valley since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 24, 1985.
Severe weather in Grafton County since 1996
Grafton County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grafton County
Grafton County had 54,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,105 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Waterville Valley itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Waterville Valley
1 public school with 43 students, about 6.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville Valley Elementary School | K-8 | 43 | 6.1 |
Towns near Waterville Valley
- Sandwich, NH7.2 mi · 1,466 people · home $437,700
- Albany, NH8.7 mi · 759 people · home $248,300
- Tamworth, NH9.3 mi · 2,812 people · home $366,800
- Thornton, NH9.3 mi · 2,708 people · home $351,900
- Campton, NH12.5 mi · 3,343 people · home $356,300
- Lincoln, NH13.7 mi · 969 people · home $326,700
- Woodstock, NH13.8 mi · 1,434 people · home $320,100
- Lincoln, NH13.9 mi · 1,631 people · home $342,000
Waterville Valley questions
Is Waterville Valley, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterville Valley scores better for retirees than 71% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 76%. 43.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.6).
How much does a house cost in Waterville Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterville Valley is valued at $562,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,625, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $1,150 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterville Valley?
July highs average 77.2°F and January lows 5.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.8 inches of precipitation a year and 79.3 inches of snow.
Does Waterville Valley get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Waterville Valley in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)