Waterville, ME

Census Place

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2023 Population

16,704

5.82% 1-year growth

US Senator

Susan Collins

Republican Party

US Senator

Angus King

Independent Party

2023 Median Age

34.5

1.99% 1-year decrease

2023 Poverty Rate

25.4%

10% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$47,489

5.05% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$173,700

12.5% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

7,532

8.81% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Waterville, ME had a population of 16.7k people with a median age of 34.5 and a median household income of $47,489. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Waterville, ME grew from 15,785 to 16,704, a 5.82% increase and its median household income grew from $45,208 to $47,489, a 5.05% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Waterville, ME are White (Non-Hispanic) (89%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.53%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.98%), White (Hispanic) (1.19%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (1.09%).

None of the households in Waterville, ME reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.4% of the residents in Waterville, ME are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Waterville, ME are Colby College (734 degrees awarded in 2022) and Thomas College (276 degrees).

In 2023, the median property value in Waterville, ME was $173,700, and the homeownership rate was 45.8%.

Most people in Waterville, ME drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 16.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Waterville, ME was 2 cars per household.

United States Maine Kennebec County, ME Augusta-Waterville, ME Northwest Maine--Oxford, Somerset, Franklin & Somerset Counties PUMA, ME Kennebec County PUMA, ME

Population & Diversity

Waterville, ME is home to a population of 16.7k people, from which 97.4% are citizens. As of 2023, 4.01% of Waterville, ME residents were born outside of the country (670 people).

In 2023, there were 19.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (14.9k people) in Waterville, ME than any other race or ethnicity. There were 757 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 331 Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.4%

2023 Citizenship

97.3%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 97.4% of Waterville, ME residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Waterville, ME was 97.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Waterville, ME compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Waterville, ME

White (Non-Hispanic)
14.9k ± 334
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
757 ± 302
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
331 ± 184

2.62%

Hispanic Population

438 people

2.62% of the people in Waterville, ME are hispanic (438 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Waterville, ME as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Maine.

Most Common Origin

Canada
9,723 ± 2,412 people
China
2,585 ± 1,247 people
Germany
2,409 ± 1,204 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Maine was Canada, the natal country of 9,723 Maine residents, followed by China with 2,585 and Germany with 2,409.

Foreign-Born Population

4.01%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

670 people

4.61%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

728 people

As of 2023, 4.01% of Waterville, ME residents (670 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Waterville, ME was 4.61%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Waterville, ME compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
234 ± 132
Gulf War (2001-)
149 ± 80
Gulf War (1990s)
124 ± 92

Waterville, ME has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.57 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Waterville, ME employs 7.53k people. The largest industries in Waterville, ME are Educational Services (1,805 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,229 people), and Retail Trade (1,130 people), and the highest paying industries are Public Administration ($79,464), Finance & Insurance ($76,077), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($66,435).

Males in Maine have an average income that is 1.23 times higher than the average income of females, which is $58,509. The income inequality in Maine (measured using the Gini index) is 0.437, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

7.53k

2023 Value

± 849

8.81%

1 Year growth

± 13.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Waterville, ME grew at a rate of 8.81%, from 6.92k employees to 7.53k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Waterville, ME, are Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (1,185 people), Sales & Related Occupations (925 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (578 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Waterville, ME.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Maine (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

7.53k

2023 Value

± 849

8.81%

1 Year growth

± 13.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Waterville, ME grew at a rate of 8.81%, from 6.92k employees to 7.53k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Waterville, ME, are Educational Services (1,805 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,229 people), and Retail Trade (1,130 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Waterville, ME, though some of these residents may live in Waterville, ME and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$40,667

Median earning men ± $9,611

$31,473

Median earning women ± $4,204

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($72,984), Public Administration ($69,500), and Construction ($58,188).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Public Administration ($80,054), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($76,808), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($42,188).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Maine.

Y-Axis

1.54%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 627k people employed in Maine. This represents a 1.54% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Maine.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Maine went to Kamala Harris with 52.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (45.5%), followed by Jill Stein (1.08%).

Susan Collins and Angus King are the senators currently representing the state of Maine. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Maine is currently represented by 2 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Waterville, ME. Showing the available data for Maine.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (52.4%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (45.5%)
Republican Party
Jill Stein (1.08%)
Green Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Maine went to Kamala Harris with 52.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (45.5%), followed by Jill Stein (1.08%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Maine for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Maine

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Maine.

Susan Collins

Senator from Maine

Assumed office on January 3, 1997

Angus King

Senator from Maine

Assumed office on January 3, 2013
Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont join meetings of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Susan Collins and Angus King are the senators currently representing Maine.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Maine over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Maine

Maine is currently represented by 2 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Maine have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Waterville, ME awarded 1,010 degrees. The student population of Waterville, ME in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 1,869 male students and 2,167 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Waterville, ME are White (657 and 71.6%), followed by Asian (70 and 7.63%), Hispanic or Latino (61 and 6.64%), and Two or More Races (56 and 6.1%).

The largest universities in Waterville, ME by number of degrees awarded are Colby College (734 and 72.7%) and Thomas College (276 and 27.3%).

The most popular majors in Waterville, ME are Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (89 and 8.81%), General Political Science & Government (76 and 7.52%), and General Business Administration & Management (60 and 5.94%).

The median tuition cost in Waterville, ME for private four year colleges is $44,897.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in Waterville, ME, the percentage of applicants admitted was 12%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 42.6%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 4,036 (46.3% men and 53.7% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 4,036 students enrolled in Waterville, ME, 46.3% men and 53.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 2,741 records, of which 54.2% were women and 45.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
89 degrees awarded
General Political Science & Government
76 degrees awarded
General Psychology
59 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Waterville, ME was Econometrics & Quantitative Economics with 89 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Waterville, ME according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Colby College
734 degrees awarded
Thomas College
276 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Colby College with 734 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 446 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Waterville, ME, which is 0.791 times less than the 564 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 657 degrees mean that there were 9.39 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Asian, with 70 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($44,897) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,861) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($825) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Maine.

Measure

In 2022, 0.538% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.438% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Maine.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (355k), Some college (229k), and Bachelors Degree (225k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Waterville, ME was $173,700 in 2023, which is 0.573 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $154,400 to $173,700, a 12.5% increase. The homeownership rate in Waterville, ME is 45.8%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Waterville, ME have an average commute time of 16.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Waterville, ME is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$173,700

Median Property Value 2023

±$20,400

$3,027

Median Property Taxes

±$407

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Waterville, ME the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Waterville, ME compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

45.8%

Homeownership

2023

58.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 45.8% of the housing units in Waterville, ME were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 46.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Waterville, ME compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 241.01
Census Tract 241.02

The following map shows all of the places in Waterville, ME colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$47,489

Median Household Income

± $5,764

6.6k

Number of Households

± 735

In 2023, the median household income of the 6.6k households in Waterville, ME grew to $47,489 from the previous year's value of $45,208.

The following chart displays the households in Waterville, ME distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Waterville, ME is from Maine.

0.437

2022 Wage GINI in Maine

0.436

2021 Wage GINI in Maine

In 2022, the income inequality in Maine was 0.437 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.204% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Maine was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Maine in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Maine across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (67.4%)
Worked At Home (15.7%)
Walked (8.72%)

In 2023, 67.4% of workers in Waterville, ME drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (15.7%) and those who walked to work (8.72%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

16.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Waterville, ME have a shorter commute time (16.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 0.436% of the workforce in Waterville, ME have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Waterville, ME compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Waterville, ME distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Waterville, ME have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

25.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Waterville, ME (3.59k out of 14.2k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Waterville, ME is White, followed by Two Or More and Asian.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

91.9% of the population of Waterville, ME has health coverage, with 37% on employee plans, 28.2% on Medicaid, 9.88% on Medicare, 16.1% on non-group plans, and 0.779% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Kennebec County, ME see 848 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.92% increase from the previous year (832 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1186 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 185 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Kennebec County, ME.

848 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Kennebec County, ME

Primary care physicians in Kennebec County, ME see an average of 848 patients per year. This represents a 1.92% increase from the previous year (832 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Kennebec County, ME in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.2% under 18 years, 28.7% between 18 and 34 years, 33% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.1% were men and 52.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

8.11%

Uninsured

37%

Employer Coverage

28.2%

Medicaid

9.88%

Medicare

16.1%

Non-Group

0.779%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Waterville, ME declined by 6.56% from 8.68% to 8.11%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Waterville, ME changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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