Census ACS · #118 MSA
Waterbury Metro Area
The Waterbury-Shelton, Ct Metropolitan Statistical Area has 452,303 residents. The median household income is $86,365 and the median home value is $290,800.
452,303
Population
1096
People / sq mi
$86,365
Median Income
$290,800
Median Home Value
The Waterbury CBSA covers 413 sq mi of land at 1095.7 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 67.0% |
| Black or African American | 11.2% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% |
Economy & Income
$86,365
Median Household Income
$46,063
Per Capita Income
7.4%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Waterbury metro's price level is 99.8 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 0.2% lower the US average. The local median income of $86,365 has the buying power of $86,557 in average-priced US metros.
99.8
Price Level (US = 100)
$86,557
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$86,365
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$290,800
Median Home Value
$1,288
Median Rent
67.6%
Homeownership
Education
90.3%
High School+
33.8%
Bachelor's+
Commute
1.5%
Drive Alone
11.4%
Work From Home
28.4 min
Avg Commute
20.3%
Foreign Born
Waterbury spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Connecticut
Largest counties in Connecticut
Part of Connecticut
Other metros
Metro areas in Connecticut
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Waterbury-Shelton, Ct Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 452,303 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #118 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Waterbury metro area is $86,365, with a per capita income of $46,063.
The Waterbury-Shelton, Ct CBSA spans the state of Connecticut.
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More from Connecticut
Data for the Waterbury-Shelton, Ct CBSA (47930) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
What distinguishes Waterbury is density: among the most densely settled of US metro areas, around 1,096 people per square mile. With 452,303 residents, Waterbury is a metro area in CT.
Earnings sit at the high end: a median household income of $86,365, above the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US metro areas at 7.4%, below the national 12.4%. Home values run above average at $290,800, with typical rent around $1,288.
College attainment is above the local norm at 33.8%, near the national 35.0%.
That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Waterbury: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.