Living in Waterbury, CT
Waterbury is a New Haven County city on the Naugatuck River where Interstate 84 and Route 8 meet, with a downtown centered on the Green and a Metro-North branch station.
Waterbury at a glance
- Median sale price
- $305,000+7% vs last year 983 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 43.34 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$9,300 median-priced home
- Population
- 115,908 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 28.6 sq mi 4,058 per sq mi
What it is like in Waterbury
Waterbury lies along the Naugatuck River in New Haven County, with 115,908 residents on 28.56 square miles of land. It borders Wolcott, Naugatuck, Middlebury, Prospect, Watertown, Plymouth, Cheshire and Thomaston.
Settlers established the town in 1674, and it was admitted as a town in 1686 and incorporated as a city in 1853. In the 19th century it became a center of brass manufacturing and also made watches and clocks, including Ingersoll's one-dollar pocket watch. The city has about 25 neighborhoods, among them Downtown, Brooklyn, Bunker Hill, East End, East Mountain, North End, South End, Town Plot and Waterville.
Downtown holds the Green, the Mattatuck Museum on West Main Street, the Palace Theater on East Main Street and the Cass Gilbert National Register District around City Hall, as well as the 1909 Union Station building.
Waterbury's park list includes East Mountain Park, Waterville Park, Coe Park, Chase Park, Library Park and Hayden Park, along with playgrounds such as Huntington Avenue, Bunker Hill and Fairlawn. Golf is available at the Country Club of Waterbury, Western Hills Golf Course and East Mountain Golf Course.
The Mattatuck Museum shows Connecticut art and Naugatuck Valley history and presents more than 25 changing exhibitions a year. The Palace Theater, built in 1922, hosts a Broadway series, concerts and community events. For food and drink, downtown has Diorio Restaurant & Bar on Bank Street, Domenick & Pia Downtown Pizzeria on Brook Street and Spirit Cafe, and Brass Works Brewing Company runs a taproom on Thomaston Avenue.
Getting around from Waterbury
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 40 min | 29 |
| New Haven | 35 min | 23 |
| Stamford | 70 min | 52 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 124 min | 88 |
| Boston | 163 min | 131 |
| Providence | 137 min | 106 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 64 min | 45 |
Rail stations nearby
- Waterbury 0.6 mi Metro-North
- Naugatuck 4.6 mi Metro-North
Highways and routes
Interstate 84 and Route 8 cross in downtown on an elevated interchange known as the Mixmaster. From Waterbury it is 29 miles and about 40 minutes by car to Hartford, 23 miles and 35 minutes to New Haven, 52 miles and 70 minutes to Stamford, 88 miles and 124 minutes to Midtown Manhattan, and 45 miles and 64 minutes to Bradley Airport.
Metro-North's Waterbury Branch ends at the Waterbury station, 0.6 miles in a straight line from the city's center point in our data, and the Naugatuck station is 4.6 miles away. The city's website lists substitute bus service for trains on the Waterbury Branch from July 20, 2026 through May 31, 2027, so riders should check CTDOT for current service.
Schools in Waterbury
33 public schools in Waterbury School District, Brass City Charter School District, Area Cooperative Educational Services, Judicial Centers and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 22
- B. W. Tinker
- Brass City Charter
- Bucks Hill
- Bunker Hill
- Carrington
- Driggs
- Duggan
- F. J. Kingsbury
Show 14 more
- Gilmartin
- H. S. Chase
- Hopeville
- Maloney Interdistrict Magnet
- Margaret M. Generali
- Reed
- Regan
- Roberto Clemente International Dual Language
- Rotella Interdistrict Magnet
- Sprague
- Walsh
- Washington
- Wendell L. Cross
- Woodrow Wilson
Middle 4
- ACES at Chase
- Michael F. Wallace
- North End
- West Side
High school 7
- Crosby High School
- John F. Kennedy High School
- REGIONS staff secure Waterbury
- W. F. Kaynor Technical High School
- Waterbury Arts Magnet School
- Waterbury Career Academy
- Wilby High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Waterbury School District, Brass City Charter School District, Area Cooperative Educational Services, Judicial Centers and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Waterbury
Open Waterbury in Google Maps →Eat and drink 6
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Brewery taproom open Thursday through Sunday, pouring its own beers, with an in-house menu and visiting food trucks.
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Italian restaurant and bar on Bank Street, with a bar opening at 4 PM and dinner service from 5 PM Monday through Saturday.
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Pizza restaurant with an open kitchen, serving hand-made pies and a few salads; the first location opened in 1949.
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Downtown pizzeria selling whole pies, slices and hot grinders, with online ordering for pickup or delivery.
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Halal street-food restaurant in the former Sofra Turkish Grill space, open daily.
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Downtown coffee, pastry and internet cafe on Bank Street.
Things to do and see 2
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Art and history museum on West Main Street with Connecticut art, Naugatuck Valley history and rotating exhibitions.
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Historic downtown theater that hosts touring Broadway series, concerts and community events.
Parks, preserves and trails 37
Show 23 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Waterbury housing market
Over the last 12 months, 983 homes sold in Waterbury with a median sale price of $305,000 and a median of 19 days on market. There are 232 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $192 per square foot. The typical home sold for 100% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 7% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 2.8 months.
Waterbury's town-wide property tax rate is 43.34 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $9,300 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Waterbury
See all 232 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Waterbury.
Questions about Waterbury
What is the median home price in Waterbury, CT?
The median sale price in Waterbury is $305,000, based on 983 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Waterbury, CT?
Waterbury's town-wide property tax rate is 43.34 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $9,300 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Waterbury, CT from Hartford?
Waterbury is about 29 miles and a 40-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Waterbury, CT from New York City?
Waterbury is about 88 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 124-minute drive without traffic.
Is there a train station in Waterbury, CT?
The closest passenger rail station we have on record is Waterbury (Metro-North) about 0.6 miles from the center of Waterbury. Check the operator's schedule for current service.
What is the population of Waterbury, CT?
Waterbury has about 115,908 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 28.6 square miles.
How many public schools are in Waterbury, CT?
Waterbury has 33 public schools in Waterbury School District, Brass City Charter School District, Area Cooperative Educational Services, Judicial Centers and Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Waterbury, CT?
There are 232 homes for sale in Waterbury right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
Is there a train station in Waterbury?
Yes. The Waterbury station is the end of Metro-North's Waterbury Branch, which connects toward Bridgeport and Grand Central Terminal. The city website notes substitute bus service for the branch from July 20, 2026 through May 31, 2027.
How far is Waterbury from Hartford and New Haven?
Hartford is 29 miles and about 40 minutes by car, and New Haven is 23 miles and about 35 minutes.
Which highways serve Waterbury?
Interstate 84 and Route 8 both pass through the city and meet downtown.
What is there to do in downtown Waterbury?
Downtown has the Mattatuck Museum, the Palace Theater, the Green and the City Hall historic district, plus restaurants and cafes on Bank Street and nearby streets.
Which towns border Waterbury?
Wolcott, Naugatuck, Middlebury, Prospect, Watertown, Plymouth, Cheshire and Thomaston.
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