The Town FilesWatervliet, New York
City in Albany County · population 10,375 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,700
- Household income
- $57,919
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.8
Watervliet is a city of 10,375 people in Albany County, New York. The median home is worth $179,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more walkable than 99% of New York towns, hipper than 99% of New York towns, more vibrant than 97% of New York towns.
How Watervliet 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 Watervliet is worth $179,700, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $57,919, which is more affordable than 43% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,083 a month. 34.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watervliet | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,700 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,083 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $57,919 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 34.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Watervliet
| People | Watervliet | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Watervliet
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
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watervliet since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 24, 1960 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 119 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 16, 2009.
Severe weather in Albany County since 1996
Albany County has been included in 23 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 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Albany County
Albany County had 233,390 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,387 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Watervliet itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Watervliet
2 public schools with 1,393 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WATERVLIET JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-12 | 731 | 12.4 |
| WATERVLIET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 662 | 14.4 |
Towns near Watervliet
- Green Island, NY1.8 mi · 2,934 people · home $138,300
- Troy, NY1.8 mi · 51,401 people · home $206,500
- Latham, NY2.5 mi · 13,680 people · home $326,900
- Menands, NY2.5 mi · 4,554 people · home $271,300
- Loudonville, NY3.0 mi · 10,296 people · home $391,200
- Cohoes, NY3.3 mi · 18,147 people · home $223,400
- Wynantskill, NY4.0 mi · 4,050 people · home $293,400
- North Greenbush, NY4.1 mi · 13,292 people · home $339,800
Watervliet questions
Is Watervliet, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watervliet scores better for retirees than 1% of New York towns and quieter than 1%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Watervliet?
The median owner-occupied home in Watervliet is valued at $179,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,919, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,083 a month.
What is the weather like in Watervliet?
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 Watervliet get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watervliet since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 24, 1960. 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)