Waterford, CA
Census place 0683612 · pop 9,204
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
9.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
6.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
38 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
53 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
14.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
30.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
55.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
96/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$402,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
13.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$74,343 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
181 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+3.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.78% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
895 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
95.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Not measured for Waterford: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Waterford, CA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Waterford scores 34/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is broadband access and its weakest is bachelor's degree or higher. California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Waterford, CA?
- Waterford reports 181 violent crimes per 100k and 895 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Waterford, CA expensive to live in?
- Waterford has a median home value of $402,200 — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Waterford, CA?
- Its weakest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (9.8%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Waterford, CA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is broadband access (95.9%) — 86/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.