The Town FilesWaterville, New York
Village in Oneida County · population 1,473 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,100
- Household income
- $82,273
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 77 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 44.9
Waterville is a village of 1,473 people in Oneida County, New York. The median home is worth $170,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks easier by car than 90% of New York towns, better for retirees than 76% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of New York towns.
How Waterville ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterville is worth $170,100, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $82,273, which is more affordable than 80% of New York towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterville | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $820 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $82,273 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waterville
| People | Waterville | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 91.1% |
Weather in Waterville
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.1 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterville since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 22, 2025 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 26, 2008.
Severe weather in Oneida County since 1996
Oneida County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oneida County
Oneida County had 102,542 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,102 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Waterville itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Waterville
2 public schools with 706 students, about 10.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEMORIAL PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 383 | 10.9 |
| WATERVILLE JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 323 | 10.4 |
Towns near Waterville
- Marshall, NY2.5 mi · 1,966 people · home $212,400
- Sangerfield, NY2.7 mi · 2,327 people · home $169,500
- Oriskany Falls, NY4.3 mi · 658 people · home $115,000
- Bridgewater, NY6.1 mi · 1,507 people · home $89,900
- Paris, NY6.2 mi · 4,332 people · home $243,800
- Madison, NY6.6 mi · 2,766 people · home $196,900
- Augusta, NY7.0 mi · 2,021 people · home $147,200
- Kirkland, NY7.3 mi · 10,075 people · home $292,700
Waterville questions
Is Waterville, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterville scores better for retirees than 76% of New York towns and quieter than 65%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Waterville?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterville is valued at $170,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,273, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterville?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 77.1 inches of snow.
Does Waterville get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 22, 2025. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)