Waterbury, Connecticut Income Statistics
Waterbury Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Waterbury Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Waterbury | Connecticut Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,955 | $97,098 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,370 | $75,632 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.1% | 3.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 18.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.7% | 19.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Waterbury is about 46% lower than in Connecticut. Income has been growing slower in Waterbury (3.1%/yr) than in Connecticut (3.7%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Waterbury earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Connecticut average of 19%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Waterbury, Connecticut grew by 25.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,955 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.1% per year.
Waterbury has stayed well below the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024 and has never reached it. It came closest in 2011, at 18% lower. The gap has widened from 19% in 2009 to 35% in 2024.
Income Distribution in Waterbury
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 9,928 households (22.6% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 36.3% of households in Waterbury had an income under $35,000 and 9.6% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Waterbury has a larger share of households earning under $10,000 (10.3% vs 5.1%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (4.7% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 4,542 | 10.3% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 3,630 | 8.3% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4,420 | 10.1% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 3,369 | 7.7% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 5,302 | 12.1% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 7,634 | 17.4% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 5,099 | 11.6% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 5,695 | 13.0% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 2,173 | 4.9% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 2,060 | 4.7% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 43,924 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 5,152 residents (5.8% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 7.0% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 16.2% of Waterbury residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 34.2% had some income but less than $25,000, and 12.5% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Waterbury has a larger share of residents with no personal income (16.2% vs 12.8%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (5.8% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 14,313 | 16.2% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 10,204 | 11.6% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 8,271 | 9.4% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 11,737 | 13.3% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 9,033 | 10.2% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 11,849 | 13.4% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 11,797 | 13.4% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 5,921 | 6.7% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 5,152 | 5.8% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 88,277 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 16.2% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Waterbury
| Metric | Waterbury | Connecticut Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.556 | 0.536 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,849 | $85,321 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,034 | $70,012 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.7% | 17.9% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Waterbury, it is 0.556, higher than Connecticut's 0.536, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Waterbury, Connecticut. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $413,525 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waterbury, Connecticut has widened from about 18% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2023, and was narrowest at 8% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,955 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Waterbury widened by 2.1 points while Connecticut's narrowed by 6.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Waterbury | Connecticut Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6% | 5.5% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.0% | 16.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 4,257 people are unemployed in Waterbury, Connecticut.
The average commute time in Waterbury is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Connecticut.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Waterbury, Connecticut has fallen from 12.7% to 8.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 8.6% in 2021.
Waterbury has been far above the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024. Even at its closest, in 2021, its rate was 3.1 points higher. The gap has narrowed from 4.0 points in 2011 to 3.4 points in 2024.
Waterbury, CT Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Waterbury, CT compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CT | 110,409 | $51,955 #2/2 | 3.1%/yr #2/2 | 8.6% #2/2 | 0.556 #2/2 |
| Naugatuck, CT | 31,800 | $97,335 | 6.5%/yr | 5.1% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Waterbury, Connecticut has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Connecticut, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Waterbury, Connecticut.
How Rich Is Waterbury, Connecticut?
Waterbury has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $51,955, about 46% lower than the Connecticut average of $97,098.
How fast is household income rising in Waterbury, Connecticut?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Waterbury, Connecticut rose 26%, from $41,314 to $51,955. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Connecticut as a whole: +26% against +41%.
What was the median household income in Waterbury in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Waterbury, Connecticut was $51,777, about the same as in 2022. The Connecticut median that year was $95,197.
What was the median household income in Waterbury in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Waterbury, Connecticut was $51,506. By 2024 it had risen 1% to $51,955.
Is unemployment high in Waterbury, Connecticut?
Unemployment in Waterbury, Connecticut is 8.6%, well above the Connecticut rate of 5.5%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The Gini coefficient in Waterbury is 0.556. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Waterbury, Connecticut?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waterbury, Connecticut has widened from about 18% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2023, and was narrowest at 8% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,955 since 2009.
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