States › Maine › Waterville

Is Waterville, ME expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 31 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,47616% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$57,786about $4,816/month · 34% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$184,60045% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 59% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 18 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $59,040 a year. That is $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Maine cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Maine. It is number 19 of 34 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Waterville
$1,476
Brunswick
$2,158
Augusta
$1,378
Westbrook
$1,772
Saco
$1,750
Sanford
$1,245
Biddeford
$2,037

How much do households earn in Waterville?

Under $25k
21.3%
$25k–50k
27.2%
$50k–100k
24.4%
$100k–150k
12.4%
$150k+
7.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 19.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Waterville

SizeWatervilleU.S. average
Studio$1,173$1,338
1 bedroom$918$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,152$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,421$1,698

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

How expensive is Waterville overall?

Everyday prices in Maine overall are 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
79
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
135
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 Waterville, so the Maine figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Waterville

🏛️ Property tax$2,755a year · 1.49% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$115a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Waterville

Commute to work18 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree30.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home48.8%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line20.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waterville?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $195 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,476
Owning
$1,281

Owning assumes a typical $184,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $18,460 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Waterville, ME?

Renting in Waterville costs a median of about $1,476 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Maine median is $1,452.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $59,040 a year, or $28 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Waterville cheap or expensive?

Waterville is rated Expensive: rent takes 30.7% of the typical household income of $57,786. It ranks 19th cheapest of 34 Maine cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Waterville?

The median homeowner in Waterville pays $2,755 a year in property taxes, about 1.49% of the median home value.

Is Waterville more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Maine are 3% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Waterville?

The median home value in Waterville is $184,600, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

17,077 people live in Waterville. Numbers are typical (middle) values.