The Town FilesWaterford, Michigan
Charter township in Oakland County · population 70,565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,900
- Household income
- $77,101
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 42.9
Waterford is a charter township of 70,565 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $250,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns, hipper than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Waterford ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterford is worth $250,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $77,101, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,111 a month. 75.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,111 | $955 |
| Median household income | $77,101 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Waterford
| People | Waterford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Waterford
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 29.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterford since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 64 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Waterford itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Waterford
19 public schools with 8,402 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakside Prep Academy (charter) | K-11 | 1,362 | 22.3 |
| Waterford Mott High School | 9-12 | 1,076 | 18.6 |
| Waterford Kettering High School | 7-12 | 902 | 19.6 |
| Pierce Middle School | 6-8 | 742 | 19.5 |
| Mason Middle School | 6-8 | 729 | 16.6 |
| Grayson Elementary | K-5 | 459 | 18.4 |
| Schoolcraft Elementary School | PK-5 | 411 | 17.9 |
| Cooley Elementary School | K-5 | 371 | 16.1 |
| Haviland Elementary School | PK-5 | 351 | 16.7 |
| Donelson Hills Elementary School | K-5 | 350 | 17.5 |
| Riverside Elementary School | PK-5 | 306 | 14.6 |
| Beaumont Elementary School | PK-5 | 284 | 16.7 |
Towns near Waterford
- Keego Harbor, MI4.3 mi · 2,764 people · home $255,900
- Pontiac, MI5.2 mi · 61,606 people · home $121,700
- Independence, MI5.9 mi · 36,686 people · home $381,700
- White Lake, MI6.0 mi · 30,950 people · home $327,000
- West Bloomfield, MI6.6 mi · 65,888 people · home $426,200
- Auburn Hills, MI7.4 mi · 24,360 people · home $245,000
- Bloomfield, MI8.2 mi · 44,253 people · home $604,800
- Commerce, MI8.2 mi · 43,058 people · home $365,700
Waterford questions
Is Waterford, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterford scores better for retirees than 37% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Waterford?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterford is valued at $250,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,101, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,111 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterford?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.2 inches of precipitation a year and 62.3 inches of snow.
Does Waterford get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)