Rents are 7% below what Waterbury's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,534 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Waterbury, CT is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 17.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Waterbury, CT has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Waterbury, CT has climbed by $478 per month, settling near $1,534 after starting the period at $1,056. Household income in the area moved from $48,787 to $51,886 across the same window, up 6.4% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 38.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 113,783 to 114,869 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.0% change. About 52.8% of households rent today, against 54.4% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Waterbury, CT look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Waterbury on your salary?
At $1,534/mo, how Waterbury rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Waterbury rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Waterbury. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Waterbury
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Waterbury is $1,534/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $978/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,405/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,155/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,827/mo.
At 35% of local median household income ($51,886/yr), Waterbury ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which Waterbury neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
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What percentage of Waterbury residents rent vs. own?
How does Waterbury rent compare to the national average?
At $1,534/mo, rent takes ~35% of Waterbury's median household income ($51,886/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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