Cost to Own
United States › Connecticut › Naugatuck Valley Planning Region › Waterbury Population 114,356 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $909 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Naugatuck Valley Planning Region picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Waterbury, Connecticut

A $185,000 home here costs

$1,917

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $82,000 a year.

P&I 53%Tax 23%Insurance 4%Utilities 12%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,009. The real number is $909 higher every month, 90% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Naugatuck Valley Planning Region with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Waterbury median: $185,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
CT average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $148,000 borrowed $1,009
Property tax2.902% effective rate for Waterbury itself $447
Homeowners insuranceConnecticut averages $1,651/yr (NAIC), or 0.446% of home value $69
Electricity24.51ยข/kWh, Connecticut residential average, EIA $170
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $154
Total monthly $1,917

Waterbury against Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut

MeasureWaterburyNaugatuck Valley Planning Region
Median home value$185,400$290,800
Median property tax$5,380$5,926
Effective tax rate2.902%2.038%
Median gross rent$1,180$1,288
Population114,356452,303

The weather behind that power bill

Waterbury sits in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, which averages a high of 84.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.7°F in its coldest, with 44.86" of precipitation a year and 27% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 718 cooling and 5,892 heating degree days, which is what sets the $170 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Naugatuck Valley Planning Region , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region

Full Naugatuck Valley Planning Region cost breakdown · Every county in Connecticut

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Waterbury averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Waterbury every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Waterbury I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Waterbury?

A $185,000 home in Waterbury, Connecticut costs approximately $1,917 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,009 principal and interest, $447 property tax, $69 homeowners insurance, $238 utilities and $154 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Waterbury?

Waterbury has an effective property tax rate of 2.902%, based on a median home value of $185,400 and median real estate taxes of $5,380. That is higher than the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region average of 2.038%.

What is the average home price in Waterbury?

The median owner-occupied home value in Waterbury, Connecticut is $185,400, against $290,800 across Naugatuck Valley Planning Region.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Waterbury?

Median gross rent in Waterbury is $1,180 a month, against $1,917 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Waterbury?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Waterbury, Connecticut at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $82,000 a year. That covers the full $1,917 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Waterbury, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Connecticut.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology