At $1,342/mo, rent takes about 30% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,342 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Waterville changed +6.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 Maine cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($53,580) is $1,340 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,288).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Waterville. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Waterville, ME is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 30.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Waterville, ME has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $41,245 to $53,580 between 2021 and 2024, a 29.9% shift. Census counts show Waterville, ME adding about 1,205 residents over the five-year window, up 7.6% on net. The renter share has eased from 53.8% to 51.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.
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Can you afford rent in Waterville on your salary?
At $1,342/mo, how Waterville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Waterville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Waterville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Waterville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Waterville is $1,342/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,063/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,044/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $832/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,288/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($53,580/yr), Waterville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Waterville?
Is rent going up or down in Waterville?
How does Waterville rent compare to other cities in Maine?
At $1,342/mo, rent takes ~30% of Waterville's median household income ($53,580/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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