CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 2010 ACS

Waterloo Metro

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · 3 counties · 167,819 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 $46,732. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $120,090.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 35.7
US median: 37.2
Average education
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
167,819
+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: 261
Median age
35.7
+1%since 2000
from 35.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
157K161K164K168K171K1990201020202024Waterloo
2024169K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,732
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,934 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,079
+27%since 2000
from $18,949 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
25.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
14.9%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.429
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade17.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 7%
Public administration5.2%
US avg: 4.9%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$120,090
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,129 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$605
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $454 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
46.1%
−24.9 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
29.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.6
+25%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic86.8%(145,617)
Black7%(11,705)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(5,268)
Asian1.1%(1,885)
Other1.8%(3,103)
Diversity Score29.8%(50,051)
Diversity Score
30
+46%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 22.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
89.6%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 86.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
7.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
+51%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
81.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
8.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
5.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
13.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
31.1%
−32.0 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.7%
−36.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+53%
Home value$200,200+67%
Population173,801+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
La Crosse
Income$73,555+57%
Home value$248,970+107%
Population171,182+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
Hanford
Income$70,995+52%
Home value$324,300+170%
Population154,327−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WATERLOO VS
Grand Junction
Income$73,658+58%
Home value$378,600+215%
Population162,845−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA has about 167,819 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA earns about $46,732 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 $120,090, and the typical rent is about $605 a month.

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

About 24.7% 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 14.9% 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 9,179 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

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