Moving to Waterford, Connecticut

Waterford, Connecticut is situated in the southeastern corner of New London County with a population of 19,517 according to the 2010 census. It is bordered by East Lyme and Montville to the west, Groton to the south and Long Island Sound to the east. The terrain consists of rolling hills and lowlands with a total area of 25.4 square miles. The climate is humid continental with cold winters and hot summers.

Waterford was established in 1657 as part of New London County and has played an integral role in American history ever since. In 1781, it served as a launching point for American troops during the Battle of Groton Heights during the Revolutionary War. In World War II, Waterford was home to Camp Niantic, a major training center for U.S. soldiers going overseas.

Politically, Waterford leans heavily towards Democratic candidates at both local and national levels with registered democrats outnumbering republicans nearly 2:1 in 2019 according to Ballotpedia data. The economy is largely driven by the tourism industry thanks largely to its proximity to Long Island Sound and its many beaches which attract thousands of visitors each summer season.

The town is served by three public schools: Oswegatchie Elementary School (K-5), Clark Lane Middle School (6-8) and Waterford High School (9-12). There are also several private schools including St Mary’s Catholic School for grades K-8 as well as several charter schools like Great Neck Academy which serves grades 6-12 from surrounding towns in New London County.

Waterford also has several landmarks worth mentioning such as Harkness Memorial State Park which provides stunning views of Long Island Sound from its promenade along with picnic areas, swimming pools and boat launches; Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park which commemorates a Revolutionary War battle that took place there; Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve which offers hiking trails through lush forests; Fort Trumbull State Park where visitors can explore historic fortifications; Eugene O’Neill Theater Center which hosts annual summer theater festivals; and children’s museum Mystic Seaport Museum located on nearby Mystic River just across from downtown Mystic village where visitors can explore tall ships from around the world or take part in educational programs about maritime history among many other attractions available in this charming town!

Population: 19,152. Estimated population in July 2024: 18,940 (-1.1% change)
Males: 9,181 (47.9%), Females: 9,971 (52.1%)

Demographics

Median resident age: 41.7 years
Median household income: $56,047
Median house value: $153,000

Population by Race

Races in Waterford:

• White Non-Hispanic (91.0%)
• Hispanic (2.4%)
• Black (2.2%)
• Two or more races (1.6%)
• American Indian (1.0%)
• Chinese (1.0%)
• Other race (0.7%)

Ancestries: Irish (23.4%), Italian (20.9%), English (16.6%), German (10.2%), Polish (7.8%), French (7.4%).

Population by Education

Waterford, Connecticut is a small town located on the Long Island Sound in New London County. As of 2019, the population of Waterford was 19,522 people. The racial makeup of Waterford is 94.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.8% Asian, and 0.3% Native American or Alaskan Native. The median age for residents of Waterford is 46 years old, with a median household income of $90,958. The median home value in Waterford is $288,100 and the average rent price is $1,600 per month. Education opportunities in Waterford are plentiful with three public elementary schools and one public high school for students to attend. Additionally, there are several private schools and a branch campus of Three Rivers Community College located within the town limits as well. The town also has numerous parks and recreational activities to offer its residents such as biking trails, swimming areas at McCook’s Point Beach and Saybrook Point Park as well as boating on the Long Island Sound or enjoying a round of golf at Shennecossett Golf Course or Great Neck Country Club.

For population 25 years and over in Waterford

• High school or higher: 86.8%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.1%
• Graduate or professional degree: 12.5%
• Unemployed: 3.6%
• Mean travel time to work: 19.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Waterford town

• Never married: 22.4%
• Now married: 58.2%
• Separated: 1.3%
• Widowed: 8.8%
• Divorced: 9.5%

6.3% Foreign born (2.7% Europe, 1.7% Asia, 0.9% Latin America, 0.7% North America).

Private high school in Waterford:

• BAPTIST BIBLE ACADEMY (Students: 98; Location: 1144 HARTFORD ROAD; Grades: KG – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Waterford:

• WATERFORD HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 962; Location: 20 ROPE FERRY RD.; Grades: KG – 12)
• CLARK LANE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 766; Location: 105 CLARK LN.; Grades: 06 – 08)
• COHANZIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 287; Location: 48 DAYTON RD.; Grades: PK – 05)
• SOUTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 279; Location: 51 DANIELS AVE.; Grades: KG – 05)
• OSWEGATCHIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 270; Location: 470 BOSTON POST RD.; Grades: KG – 05)
• GREAT NECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 255; Location: 165 GREAT NECK RD.; Grades: KG – 05)
• PARENT RESOURCE & EXCEPTIONAL PRESCHOOL (Students: 54; Location: 15 ROPE FERRY RD.; Grades: PK – PK)
• HOMEBOUND (Students: 2; Location: 15 ROPE FERRY ROAD; Grades: 09 – 10)

Private primary/middle school in Waterford:

• CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CTR-WATER (Students: 36; Location: 114 DAYTON ROAD; Grades: PK – 1)

Libraries

Library in Waterford:

• WATERFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $1,004,737; Location: 49 ROPE FERRY RD.; 103,578 books; 2,219 audio materials; 1,269 video materials; 260 serial subscriptions)