Waterville, ME · standard
ZIP Code 04901
Kennebec County, Maine - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 26,248
- 129/sq mi High-density area
- $57,403
- Median income Below-median income area
- $204,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Waterville pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 25th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 45th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 129
- people per sq mi
- 61%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 04901 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 04901 (Waterville, ME) rose +8.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 254.5 in 2023 to 275.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 04901 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, with 26,248 residents across 204.1 square miles, a density of 129 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 04901 reports a modest median household income of $57,403 (22% below the average Maine ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,107. The poverty rate is 16.3%, with unemployment at 3.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $204,700 (28% below the average Maine ZIP), and median rent is $990; owner occupancy is 60.7%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.2, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Kennebec County, so 04901 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 04901
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waterville, ME
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 04901.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
149 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
123 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
94 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
71 establishments
- Construction
Construction
69 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 04901, Waterville, ME · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
26,248
Population
204.1
Area (sq mi)
129
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 04901?
39.2
Median Age
50.0%
Male
50.0%
Female
3.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$57,403
Median Household Income
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$34,107
Per Capita Income
16.3%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
19.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 04901 ranks among Maine ZIPs
Waterville, ME household income vs. every Maine ZIP code
Median household income among 395 reporting Maine ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$57,403 26th percentile higher than 26% of 395 Maine ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Maine ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
12,296housing units
12,296
Total Housing Units
11,451
Occupied Units
845
Vacant Units
2.18
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$204,700
Median Home Value
-28% vs state ZIP avg
$990
Median Rent
1966
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.4%
YoY Change (2024)
276
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+176%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 04901 have increased 8.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +176% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.3% | 169 |
| 2021 | +19.3% | 202 |
| 2022 | +17.8% | 238 |
| 2023 | +7.0% | 254 |
| 2024 | +8.4% | 276 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 740 business establishments in ZIP 04901, employing approximately 15,133 people with a combined annual payroll of $685,212,000.
740
Businesses
15,133
Employees
$685.2M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 149 | 20.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 123 | 16.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 94 | 12.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 71 | 9.6% |
| Construction | 69 | 9.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 43 | 5.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 38 | 5.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 28 | 3.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 28 | 3.8% |
| Manufacturing | 20 | 2.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 2.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 16 | 2.2% |
| Information | 15 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 10 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 04901 vs 04975 →
ZIP 04901 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 04901
Waterville (04901)
26,248 residents
- 04937 6,645
Fairfield (04937)
6,645 residents
- 04358 4,276
South China (04358)
4,276 residents
- 04989 4,215
Vassalboro (04989)
4,215 residents
- 04927 3,486
Clinton (04927)
3,486 residents
- 04910 2,041
Albion (04910)
2,041 residents
- 04962 125
North Vassalboro (04962)
125 residents
- 04926 52
China Village (04926)
52 residents
- 04975 48
Shawmut (04975)
48 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 04901 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 04901 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 04358
South China (04358)
$96,309 median income
- 04989
Vassalboro (04989)
$72,300 median income
- 04927
Clinton (04927)
$71,458 median income
- 04937
Fairfield (04937)
$63,933 median income
- 04910
Albion (04910)
$62,361 median income
- 04901
Waterville (04901)
$57,403 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 04901 ranks #6 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04975 | Shawmut, ME | 48 | 5.0 mi |
| 04962 | North Vassalboro, ME | 125 | 5.3 mi |
| 04926 | China Village, ME | 52 | 5.7 mi |
| 04927 | Clinton, ME | 3,486 | 8.2 mi |
| 04910 | Albion, ME | 2,041 | 6.9 mi |
| 04358 | South China, ME | 4,276 | 9.6 mi |
| 04937 | Fairfield, ME | 6,645 | 7.7 mi |
| 04989 | Vassalboro, ME | 4,215 | 9.4 mi |
| 04944 | Hinckley, ME | 42 | 9.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 04901, both outside ME so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (26,248 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Kennebec County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 04901 in?
ZIP code 04901 (Waterville) is located in Kennebec County, Maine. Kennebec County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/kennebec-me.
What is the population of ZIP code 04901?
ZIP code 04901 in Waterville, ME has a population of 26,248 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 04901?
The median household income in ZIP 04901 is $57,403, which is 25% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 04901?
The median home value in ZIP 04901 is $204,700, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 04901?
The largest racial group in ZIP 04901 is White at 90.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 04901?
ZIP code 04901 has 740 business establishments employing approximately 15,133 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 04901?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 04901 are: Retail trade (149), Health care and social assistance (123), Accommodation and food services (94). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 04901?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 04901 increased by 8.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 176%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 04901?
In ZIP code 04901, 63.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 04901?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 04901 is 19.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 04901?
In ZIP code 04901, approximately 60.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 04901?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 04901 is 16.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 04901's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 04901 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Waterville, ME ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.