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Waterford, CA
Full City Profile · California · Merced County County
2.6
/5.0
C+
Fair
9,177
Population
3,889/sq mi density
$73,092
Median Income
$25,530 per capita
$372,900
Home Value
$423,739 Zillow
$1,567
Median Rent
27.0% income on rent
63°F
Avg Temperature
330 sunny days/yr
144
Violent Crime/100K
1,585 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$73,092 median income, 3.8% unemployment
B+
Affordability
3.8 / 5.0
$372,900 home value, $1,567/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
144 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.6 / 5.0
8.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Waterford enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 12.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 63.1°F |
| 17% above US avg | |
| January Average | 48°F (9°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 173 ft (53 m) |
| Area | 2.4 sq mi (6.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,889/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.6427°N, 120.7542°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Merced County County |
| Nearest Airport | Merced Yosemite Regional (MCE) 27 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0467 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 10.3 ppb |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 9.0 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 61.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 7.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Drought | Very High |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1868 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 4.5 m | 30 | 119 km |
| 1989 | N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 62 | 121 km |
| 1856 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 0.6 m | — | 137 km |
| 1865 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 113 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Nearby Volcanoes
3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Mammoth Mountain (152 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Mammoth Mountain | Lava dome(s) | 3,369 m (11,053 ft) | 1260 | 152 km |
| Mono-Inyo Craters | Lava dome(s) | 2,796 m (9,173 ft) | 1380 | 153 km |
| Mono Lake Volcanic Field | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 2,121 m (6,959 ft) | 1790 | 157 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48°F (9°C) | 2.4 in | Wettest |
| February | 51°F (10°C) | 2.3 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 60°F (15°C) | 1.2 in | |
| May | 66°F (19°C) | 0.2 in | |
| June | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 0.0 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 76°F (24°C) | 0.1 in | |
| September | 72°F (22°C) | 0.2 in | |
| October | 64°F (18°C) | 0.8 in | |
| November | 53°F (12°C) | 2.1 in | |
| December | 45°F (7°C) | 1.9 in | Coldest |
Waterford has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 45°F in December to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 13.6 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.4") and July the driest (0.0").