The Town FilesWaterford, New York
Town in Saratoga County · population 8,208 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $269,900
- Household income
- $87,089
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 44.6
Waterford is a town of 8,208 people in Saratoga County, New York. The median home is worth $269,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 91% of New York towns, more walkable than 82% of New York towns, better for retirees than 81% of New York towns.
How Waterford 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 Waterford is worth $269,900, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $87,089, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,116 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterford | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,116 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $87,089 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Waterford
| People | Waterford | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 91.1% |
Weather in Waterford
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.9°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterford since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1998 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 29, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 25, 1972.
Severe weather in Saratoga County since 1996
Saratoga County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Saratoga County
Saratoga County had 92,800 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,685 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Waterford itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Waterford
2 public schools with 732 students, about 9.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WATERFORD-HALFMOON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 395 | 10.4 |
| WATERFORD-HALFMOON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 337 | 8.4 |
Towns near Waterford
- Cohoes, NY2.4 mi · 18,147 people · home $223,400
- Green Island, NY3.9 mi · 2,934 people · home $138,300
- Halfmoon, NY4.5 mi · 25,662 people · home $387,700
- Troy, NY4.8 mi · 51,401 people · home $206,500
- Latham, NY5.3 mi · 13,680 people · home $326,900
- Watervliet, NY5.6 mi · 10,375 people · home $179,700
- Clifton Gardens, NY5.7 mi · 2,729 people · home $316,300
- Brunswick, NY6.6 mi · 12,581 people · home $285,600
Waterford questions
Is Waterford, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterford scores better for retirees than 81% of New York towns and quieter than 30%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Waterford?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterford is valued at $269,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,089, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,116 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterford?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 59.2 inches of snow.
Does Waterford get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1998. 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)