Waterloo, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Black Hawk County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
66,947 Population 1,087/sq mi density
$56,344 Median Income $33,372 per capita
$150,200 Home Value $147,780 Zillow
$896 Median Rent 27.4% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
484 Violent Crime/100K 2,484 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.2 / 5.0
$56,344 median income, 6.4% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$150,200 home value, $896/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
484 violent crimes/100K (27% above avg)
C+
Education
2.8 / 5.0
22.6% bachelor's degree or higher

Waterloo, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$56,344
25% below
$33,372 per capita
Home Value
$150,200
47% below
Zillow: $147,780
Median Rent
$896/mo
23% below
27.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
484/100K
27% above
2,484/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.6%
33% below
90.6% high school+
Unemployment
6.4%
78% above
11.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
44.2%
38% above
19.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Waterloo Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
75%
Home Value
53%
Rent
77%
Poverty
93%
Bachelor's
67%
Unemployment
178%
Crime
127%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Waterloo a Good Place to Live?

B
3.0 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Waterloo residents earn a median household income of $56,344 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $33,372. The unemployment rate stands at 6.4% (78% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 11.5% 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 Waterloo is $150,200 , 47% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $147,780. Median rent is $896/month, with 27.4% 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 1961.

Safety & Crime

Waterloo reports 484 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 27% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 2,484/100K. The murder rate is 4.5/100K.

Education

22.6% of adults in Waterloo hold a bachelor's degree or higher (33% below the national average). 90.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Waterloo 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

Population66,947
Median Age36.6 yrs
Density1,087/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born9.5%
Veterans6.2%

Economy

B
Median Income$56,344
Per Capita$33,372
Unemployment6.4%
Poverty11.5%
County GDP$10,039M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,147

Housing

A+
Home Value$150,200
Rent$896
Ownership61.1%
Zillow$147,780
Housing Units31,988
Rent Burden27.4%

Crime

F
Violent484/100K
Property2,484/100K
Murder4.5/100K
Assault399/100K
Burglary590/100K

Health

Obesity44.2%
Diabetes12.2%
Smoking19.3%
Heart Disease6.1%
Premature Death7,993/100K

Climate

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

Education

C+
Bachelor's+22.6%
High School+90.6%
Graduate+7.1%
School Score5.2/10

Community

2024 VoteR 49% / D 50%
Commute16 min
Broadband85.7%
Internet Speed121 Mbps
EV Stations7
Libraries6

Did You Know?

The median home in Waterloo was built in 1961.
The nearest airport is Waterloo Regional (5 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.464 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
15.7% 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.