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METRO AREA

Waterloo Metro

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 3 counties · 169,189 residents (2025 est.) · 1,503.091 sq mi
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The short version

Waterloo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,988. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $194,215. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
168,637
+3%since 2000
from 163,706 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
112 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 109 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.6
+3%since 2000
from 35.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:169,189 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
157K161K164K168K171K1990201020202024Waterloo
2024169K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,988
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,934 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,690
+104%since 2000
from $18,949 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.0%
+22.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.442
+3%since 2010
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$194,215
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,129 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$963
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $454 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
30.4% rent
Vacancy rate
7.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.6%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+33%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
49
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waterloo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90%(147,256)
Black6.2%(10,228)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(2,561)
Asian0.9%(1,396)
Other0%
Diversity Score20.5%(33,492)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.4%(137,302)
Black7.3%(12,337)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(7,608)
Asian2.3%(3,801)
Other4.5%(7,589)
Diversity Score40.9%(68,968)
Segregation Score43.3%(73,063)
Diversity Score
41
+100%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
43
−7%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.0%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 22.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.1 min
+57%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.1%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.3%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.2%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 66.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.1%
−25.0 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
5.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2012
from 11.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.6%
−88.0 ptssince 2013
from 92.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+12.4 ptssince 2017
from 77.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 93.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

WaterlooCENTRAL66,919Cedar FallsCENTRAL41,240
What's inside

3 component counties

Black Hawk CountyCENTRAL131,532Bremer County25,296Grundy County12,361
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Waterloo

Odessa
Pop 173,801
La Crosse
Pop 171,182
Hanford
Pop 154,327
Grand Junction
Pop 162,845
Places similar to Waterloo
Head to head

Compare Waterloo side by side

WATERLOO VS
Odessa
Income$71,536+1%
Home value$200,200+3%
Population173,801+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
La Crosse
Income$73,555+4%
Home value$248,970+28%
Population171,182+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
Hanford
Income$70,995same
Home value$324,300+67%
Population154,327−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
Grand Junction
Income$73,658+4%
Home value$378,600+95%
Population162,845−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA has about 168,637 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

The typical household in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA earns about $70,988 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA expensive?

In Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, the median home is worth about $194,215, and the typical rent is about $963 a month.

How educated are people in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

About 31.0% of adults age 25 and over in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?

About 13.2% of people in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,997 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →