States › California › Waterford

Is Waterford, CA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 26 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7182% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$80,179about $6,682/month · 8% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$402,20021% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 53% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.0 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $68,720 a year. That is $33 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other California cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 134 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Waterford
$1,718
Rio del Mar
$3,667
Marina del Rey
$3,500+
Montecito
$3,500+
Oak Hills
$1,828
Tiburon
$3,500+
Plumas Lake
$2,441

How much do households earn in Waterford?

Under $25k
8.3%
$25k–50k
22.5%
$50k–100k
36.3%
$100k–150k
20.2%
$150k+
6.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 27.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Waterford

SizeWaterfordU.S. average
2 bedrooms$1,359$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,884$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,288$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Waterford overall?

Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).

Housing
154
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
159
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Waterford, so the California figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Waterford

🏛️ Property tax$3,142a year · 0.78% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$205a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Waterford

Commute to work27.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree9.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home55.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line13.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment7.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waterford?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,073 a month less.

Renting
$1,718
Owning
$2,791

Owning assumes a typical $402,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $40,220 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Waterford, CA?

Renting in Waterford costs a median of about $1,718 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.

How much do I need to make to live in Waterford?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $68,720 a year, or $33 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Waterford cheap or expensive?

Waterford is rated OK: rent takes 25.7% of the typical household income of $80,179. It ranks 134th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Waterford?

The median homeowner in Waterford pays $3,142 a year in property taxes, about 0.78% of the median home value.

Is Waterford more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Waterford?

The median home value in Waterford is $402,200, about 5.0 times the typical yearly household income.

9,204 people live in Waterford. Numbers are typical (middle) values.