How much does it cost to rent in Waterbury, CT?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Waterbury, CT is $1,554. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Waterbury cheaper than other Connecticut cities?

Waterbury is among the more affordable cities in Connecticut, ranking #53 out of 56 cities at $1,554/mo.

When was Waterbury rent data last updated?

Waterbury rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CT

Waterbury

Name: Average Rent Prices in Waterbury, CT
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 114,869·53rd most expensive in Connecticut·Rental market data updated monthly for Waterbury, CT

Median rent (all units)

$1,554/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.6%

Month-over-Month

-1.8%

vs US Median

-$411

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Waterbury · $1,554

More affordable than 72% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

61/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Waterbury's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,554/mo

Expected by trend

$1,643/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Waterbury's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$978

1 BR

$1,155

2 BR

$1,405

3 BR

$1,827

4 BR+

$2,220

Research median

$1,405/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,648/yr

At $1,554/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.6% YoY, -1.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

114,869

Median income

$51,886

Median age

37.8

Renters

52.8%

Age distribution

23.2%

23.3%

25.6%

12.6%

15.3%

Under 1823.2%

18–3423.3%

35–5425.6%

55–6412.6%

65+15.3%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

37.3%

25.2%

38.5%

White37.3%

Black25.2%

Hispanic38.5%

Asian2.5%

Education (25+)

19.2%

36.2%

27.2%

17.3%

No HS diploma19.2%

HS diploma36.2%

Some college27.2%

Bachelor's+17.3%

Housing tenure

47.2%

52.8%

Owner47.2%

Renter52.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Waterbury, CT has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,056 → $1,554

up 47.2%

Income

$48,787 → $51,886

up 6.4%

Population

113,783 → 114,869

up 1.0%

Renter share

54.4% → 52.8%

-1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

17.6% → 17.3%

-0.3 pts

Median age

37.3 → 37.8

+0.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Waterbury, CT has climbed by $498 per month, settling near $1,554 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 40.8 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.

Community

Discussions about Waterbury

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View Waterbury rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Waterbury on your salary?

At $1,554/mo, how Waterbury rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $103,928/yr · Rent = 17.9% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $73,788/yr · Rent = 25.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $84,997/yr · Rent = 21.9% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $151,921/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $194,117/yr · Rent = 9.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $69,091/yr · Rent = 27% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $62,381/yr · Rent = 29.9% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $76,890/yr · Rent = 24.3% income

affordable

By apartment size

Waterbury rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Waterbury. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Waterbury

About renting in Waterbury, CT

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Waterbury is $1,554/mo as of July 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 36% of local median household income ($51,886/yr), Waterbury ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Waterbury an affordable city for renters?

Waterbury is considered moderate for renters. At $1,554/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($51,886/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Waterbury slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Waterbury?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,554/mo in Waterbury. The local median household income is $51,886/yr, meaning the typical Waterbury household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Waterbury?

Rent in Waterbury has increased 3.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Waterbury neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Waterbury are 06702 ($1,225/mo), 06706 ($1,377/mo), and 06710 ($1,415/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Waterbury is $1,554/mo.

How does Waterbury rent compare to other cities in Connecticut?

Waterbury is one of the more affordable cities in Connecticut for rent, ranking #53 out of 56 tracked cities at $1,554/mo.

What percentage of Waterbury residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 52.8% of Waterbury households are renters, while 47.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Waterbury has a strong rental market.

How does Waterbury rent compare to the national average?

Waterbury's median rent of $1,554/mo is $411 (21%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Connecticut, it ranks #53 out of 56 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

36%

MODERATE

At $1,554/mo, rent takes ~36% of Waterbury's median household income ($51,886/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Waterbury 36%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3–6.99%

Run the Waterbury affordability calculator →

Nearby cities