Waterloo, IA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Waterloo, Iowa Summary

Life in Waterloo research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Waterloo over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Waterloo:

  • The population in Waterloo is 66,947.

  • The median home value in Waterloo is $147,023.

  • The median income in Waterloo is $56,344.

  • The cost of living in Waterloo is 83 which is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Waterloo is $896.

  • The unemployment rate in Waterloo is 6.4%.

  • The poverty rate in Waterloo is 16.4%.

  • The average high in Waterloo is 57.5° and the average low is 37.1°.

Waterloo SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
9.5

Waterloo, IA Crime Report

Crime in Waterloo summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Waterloo. Key points include:

  • There were 1,939 total crimes in Waterloo in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Waterloo is 2,920.8 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Waterloo is 476.0 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Waterloo is 2,444.8 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Waterloo is 37.83% above the national average.

1,939
Total Crimes
37.83%
Above National Average

Crime In Waterloo Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Waterloo
/ 100k People
Iowa
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 1,939 2,920.8 1,540.0 2,119.2
Violent Crime 316 476.0 243.3 359.0
Murder 3 4.5 2.1 5.0
Robbery 23 34.6 18.7 61.0
Aggravated Assault 264 397.7 187.2 256.0
Property Crime 1,623 2,444.8 1,296.8 1,760.0
Burglary 389 586.0 199.1 229.0
Larceny 1,101 1,658.5 962.6 1,272.0
Car Theft 133 200.3 135.1 259.0

Waterloo, IA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Waterloo summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Waterloo. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Iowa. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Waterloo is 83 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Waterloo is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Waterloo is $147,023.

  • The median income in Waterloo is $56,344.

83
Waterloo's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Waterloo Comparison Table

Living Expense Waterloo Iowa National Average
Overall 83 90 100
Services 83 96 100
Groceries 93 97 100
Health 100 99 100
Housing 70 75 100
Transportation 97 99 100
Utilities 85 94 100

Waterloo, IA Weather

  • The average high in Waterloo is 57.5° and the average low is 37.1°.

  • There are 63.6 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 35.3 inches of precipitation each year with 34.4 inches of snow.

StatWaterloo
Average Annual High57.5
Average Annual Low37.1
Annual Precipitation Days63.6
Average Annual Precipitation35.3
Average Annual Snowfall34.4
57.5°
Average High
63.6
Days of Rain

Waterloo, IA Photos

Waterlooaisandbagsjunefemabig
Source: Public Domain
Grout Museum District Sign Waterloo Ia Pic
Source: Wikipedia User RifeIdeas | CC BY-SA 3.0
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum Watrtloo Ia Pic
Source: Wikipedia User RifeIdeas | CC BY-SA 3.0
Rensselaer Russell House
Source: Public Domain
Snowden House Front Pic
Source: Wikipedia User RifeIdeas | CC BY-SA 3.0

2 Reviews & Comments About Waterloo

Overall User Rating
2.5
/5

Flow - None

I live in a town next to Waterloo where the most you hear about us is the grand opening of some restaurant or something. But when we hear news about waterloo it's always things like someone was shot and killed or stabbed to death or something. And now people are coming to the town I live in and killing people around there. It's all people from Waterloo and the people there are genuinely nice and are just living in the wrong town with the wrong people. Anyways it's sad how they all kill each other in that town and everything is generally perfect in my town even though they are basically connected. What also s***s is people from Waterloo are coming to my town and shooting at innocent people it really just s***s.


HomeSnacks User - 2019-05-12 03:22:54.690236

Commenting on the review left by the Cedar Falls person. Your people- "Your" people must be into drugs,too, or my people wouldn't be bothering yours. My family lives in both communities and we have never been shot at or anything like that.

My favorite place is home.

Review Where You Live

Rankings for Waterloo in Iowa

Locations Around Waterloo

Map Of Waterloo, IA

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1

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2

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3

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4

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5

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6

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7

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8

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9

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10

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Population 27,491

Waterloo Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Waterloo

The current population in Waterloo is 66,947. The population has decreased -1.4% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 66,947 -0.5%
2022 67,256 -0.6%
2021 67,695 0.0%
2020 67,671 -0.4%
2019 67,912 -0.3%
2018 68,134 -0.0%
2017 68,146 -0.3%
2016 68,357 -0.1%
2015 68,432 0.1%
2014 68,392 0.1%
2013 68,327 0.1%
2012 68,248 0.2%
2011 68,106 0.3%
2010 67,893 -

Race / Ethnicity in Waterloo

White
67.1% (44,954)
African American
16.9% (11,343)
American Indian
0.1% (95)
Asian
2.6% (1,758)
Hawaiian
1.1% (706)
Other
0.1% (57)
Two Or More
4.4% (2,942)
Hispanic
7.6% (5,092)

Waterloo is:

  • 67.1% White with 44,954 White residents.

  • 16.9% African American with 11,343 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 95 American Indian residents.

  • 2.6% Asian with 1,758 Asian residents.

  • 1.1% Hawaiian with 706 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.1% Other with 57 Other residents.

  • 4.4% Two Or More with 2,942 Two Or More residents.

  • 7.6% Hispanic with 5,092 Hispanic residents.

Race Waterloo IA USA
White 67.1% 83.1% 58.2%
African American 16.9% 3.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.2% 0.5%
Asian 2.6% 2.4% 5.7%
Hawaiian 1.1% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.1% 0.2% 0.5%
Two Or More 4.4% 3.2% 3.9%
Hispanic 7.6% 7.0% 19.0%

Gender in Waterloo

Female
50.7% (33,971)
Male
49.3% (32,976)
  • Waterloo is 50.7% female with 33,971 female residents.

  • Waterloo is 49.3% male with 32,976 male residents.

Gender Waterloo IA USA
Female 50.7% 49.9% 50.5%
Male 49.3% 50.1% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Waterloo for adults over 25

  • 5.0% of adults in Waterloo completed < 9th grade.

  • 5.0% of adults in Waterloo completed 9-12th grade.

  • 35.0% of adults in Waterloo completed high school / ged.

  • 22.0% of adults in Waterloo completed some college.

  • 10.0% of adults in Waterloo completed associate's degree.

  • 16.0% of adults in Waterloo completed bachelor's degree.

  • 5.0% of adults in Waterloo completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Waterloo completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Waterloo completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
5.0% (3,347)
9-12th Grade
5.0% (3,347)
High School / GED
35.0% (23,431)
Some College
22.0% (14,728)
Associate's Degree
10.0% (6,694)
Bachelor's Degree
16.0% (10,711)
Master's Degree
5.0% (3,347)
Professional Degree
1.0% (669)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (669)
Education Waterloo IA USA
< 9th Grade 5.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 5.0% 4.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 35.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 22.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 10.0% 12.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 16.0% 21.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 5.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Waterloo, Iowa

  • 5.4% of households in Waterloo earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.5% of households in Waterloo earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 9.2% of households in Waterloo earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 8.5% of households in Waterloo earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 14.5% of households in Waterloo earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 21.6% of households in Waterloo earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 13.1% of households in Waterloo earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 13.5% of households in Waterloo earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 4.8% of households in Waterloo earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 4.0% of households in Waterloo earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
5.4% (363,794)
$10,000 to $14,999
5.5% (365,413)
$15,000 to $24,999
9.2% (613,339)
$25,000 to $34,999
8.5% (567,084)
$35,000 to $49,999
14.5% (969,964)
$50,000 to $74,999
21.6% (1,443,383)
$75,000 to $99,999
13.1% (880,230)
$100,000 to $149,999
13.5% (904,745)
$150,000 to $199,999
4.8% (322,165)
$200,000 or more
4.0% (264,577)
Income Waterloo IA USA
Less than $10,000 5.4% 4.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.5% 3.4% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 9.2% 7.0% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 8.5% 7.3% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 14.5% 11.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 21.6% 17.8% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 13.1% 14.1% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 13.5% 18.4% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 4.8% 8.4% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 4.0% 8.0% 12.6%

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