CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Waterloo Metro

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 3 counties · 163,706 residents · 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 $37,934. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $78,129.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.4
US median: 35.2
Average education
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
163,706
+3%since 1990
from 158,640 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
109 / sq mi
+3%since 1990
from 106 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
35.4
+5%since 1990
from 33.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
157K161K164K168K171K1990201020202024Waterloo
2024169K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,934
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,967 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,949
+55%since 1990
from $12,265 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
11.3%
−2.6 ptssince 1990
from 13.9% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$78,129
+35%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $43,796 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$454
+9%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $316 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
71.1%
+2.1 ptssince 1990
from 69.0% in 1990
28.9% rent
Afford Score
2.1
+22%since 1990
from 1.7 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waterloo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic93.5%(148,312)
Black5.4%(8,606)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(936)
Asian0.7%(1,125)
Diversity Score16.6%(26,411)
2000
White, non-Hispanic90%(147,256)
Black6.2%(10,228)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(2,561)
Asian0.9%(1,396)
Diversity Score20.5%(33,492)
Diversity Score
20
+23%since 1990
from 17 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.3%
+5.7 ptssince 1990
from 16.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
86.6%
+6.6 ptssince 1990
from 80.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.0%
+2.7 ptssince 1990
from 5.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.9 min
−39%since 1990
from 17.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+89%
Home value$200,200+156%
Population173,801+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
La Crosse
Income$73,555+94%
Home value$248,970+219%
Population171,182+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
Hanford
Income$70,995+87%
Home value$324,300+315%
Population154,327−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
Grand Junction
Income$73,658+94%
Home value$378,600+385%
Population162,845−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA has about 163,706 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA earns about $37,934 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 $78,129, and the typical rent is about $454 a month.

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

About 22.3% 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 11.3% 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 5,066 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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

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