Waterbury is located in the Central Naugatuck Valley along the Naugatuck River in Connecticut. Waterbury and the surrounding area offers great diversity in recreation, culture, housing and education. The nearby communities of Litchfield and New Haven are filled with historical and cultural sites as well as fine shops and restaurants. There are multiple towns along the coast of the Long Island Sound which also supports sailing and other watersports. The Connecticut State Park system allows hiking, canoeing, camping and a variety of other activities in a beautiful undisturbed environment. New England resorts in the region are popular for skiing and other wintersports. Waterbury is within driving distance of Hartford, Cape Cod and Newport. Its proximity to New York and Boston allow easy access to urban excitement.

Besides the public school system, there are a number of renowned private preparatory schools in the Waterbury area. In addition, there are a number of colleges and universities located within Waterbury or within a 40 minute commute of the city. These include:

Yale University

University of Bridgeport School of Law

University of New Haven

University of Connecticut School of Law

University of Connecticut School of Medicine

University of Connecticut School of Social Work

Trinity College

University of Hartford

Wesleyan University

Fairfield University

Saint Joseph College

Sacred Heart University

Paier College of Art