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2026 Edition · Prices 2024 · Rents FY2026 · Wages May 2025 · Federal pay 2026

City entry · CT

Waterbury, CT

Waterbury-Shelton, CT metropolitan statistical area

At a glance

Population1
463,349
Size rank among U.S. metros
119 of 387
Price level, U.S. = 1002
99.8
$100,000 here, at U.S.-average prices2
$100,222
Typical 1-bedroom rent3
$1,445/mo
Take-home on $100,000 (estimate)14,15,8
$75,255
Rent burden on $100,000
23%
Median pay, all jobs4
$51,440
Federal locality pay area7
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA
GS-13 step 15
$125,431

Rent area: Waterbury-Shelton, CT MSA. Census lists this metro by Connecticut planning region, but OPM defines pay areas by the old counties. Waterbury is in New Haven County (FIPS 09009), which OPM places in this pay area.

What costs more or less

Price level (U.S. = 100)
Housing (rent)89.1
Goods97.3
Utilities147.6
Other services102.7
Overall99.8
BEA Regional Price Parities2. Housing covers rents.

On the map

Waterbury
Price level (U.S. = 100):Under 9292–9898–102102–108Over 108
  • Waterbury, CT: price level 99.8 (about average)

Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.

Where money goes further

  1. Shreveport, LA prices 15.0% lower
  2. McAllen, TX prices 13.9% lower
  3. Brownsville, TX prices 13.8% lower
  4. Kingsport, TN prices 13.4% lower
  5. Lafayette, LA prices 12.6% lower

Where it goes less far

  1. San Francisco, CA prices 15.9% higher
  2. Miami, FL prices 14.4% higher
  3. Los Angeles, CA prices 13.8% higher
  4. New York, NY prices 12.8% higher
  5. San Diego, CA prices 12.1% higher

Compare Waterbury, CT with

Notes & Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, Metropolitan Statistical Area population estimates (Vintage 2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (MARPP), all items (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents, 1-bedroom (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan areas (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  5. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule (GS) pay rates with locality pay, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  6. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Locality codes used in the 2026 GS pay spreadsheet (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  7. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 Locality Pay Area Definitions (counties in each pay area) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  8. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  9. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file: states, 1:20,000,000 (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau, Gazetteer file: core based statistical areas (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table C24010 (occupation of employed residents) by ZIP code area (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  12. U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Tabulation Area relationship files (2020; Connecticut 2022) and Gazetteer locations (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary files (ZIP code areas 2020; counties and states 2024) and TIGER/Line primary roads (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  14. Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 tax brackets and standard deduction) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  15. Internal Revenue Service, Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide for 2026 (Social Security and Medicare) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.