Cedar Falls, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Black Hawk County County

4.7 /5.0
A+ Excellent
40,662 Population 1,381/sq mi density
$74,165 Median Income $41,639 per capita
$252,500 Home Value $269,111 Zillow
$1,177 Median Rent 34.7% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
A+
Overall
4.7 / 5.0
Strong
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$74,165 median income, 3.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$252,500 home value, $1,177/mo rent
A+
Education
4.9 / 5.0
49.2% bachelor's degree or higher

Cedar Falls, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$74,165
1% below
$41,639 per capita
Home Value
$252,500
10% below
Zillow: $269,111
Median Rent
$1,177/mo
1% above
34.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
49.2%
46% above
97.4% high school+
Unemployment
3.2%
11% below
5.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.6%
23% above
14.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Cedar Falls Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Cedar Falls's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
99%
Home Value
90%
Rent
101%
Poverty
46%
Bachelor's
146%
Unemployment
89%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Cedar Falls a Good Place to Live?

A+
4.7 / 5.0 - Excellent
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Cedar Falls residents earn a median household income of $74,165 , which is 1% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $41,639. The unemployment rate stands at 3.2% (11% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,947 business establishments, including 323 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Cedar Falls is $252,500 , 10% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $269,111. Median rent is $1,177/month, with 34.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1975.

Education

49.2% of adults in Cedar Falls hold a bachelor's degree or higher (46% above the national average). 97.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Cedar Falls has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 47.

Data Overview

People

Population40,662
Median Age29.8 yrs
Density1,381/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born4.1%
Veterans4.7%

Economy

A
Median Income$74,165
Per Capita$41,639
Unemployment3.2%
Poverty5.7%
County GDP$10,039M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,147

Housing

A+
Home Value$252,500
Rent$1,177
Ownership62.6%
Zillow$269,111
Housing Units16,587
Rent Burden34.7%

Health

Obesity39.6%
Diabetes9.3%
Smoking14.3%
Heart Disease5.1%
Premature Death7,993/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Rain36.3 in/yr
AQI47 (Good)
Elevation892 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+49.2%
High School+97.4%
Graduate+20.7%
School Score5.2/10

Community

2024 VoteR 49% / D 50%
Commute14 min
Broadband92.2%
Internet Speed121 Mbps
EV Stations6
Libraries6

Did You Know?

Cedar Falls was founded in 1845.
The median home in Cedar Falls was built in 1975.
The nearest airport is Waterloo Regional (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.464 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
10.9% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 121 Mbps.
There are 323 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.