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All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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National/IA/Waterloo
C

Waterloo

IowaΒ·Rank #719 of 20 in IAΒ·Pop. 66,604
Composite Score47.2

Waterloo, Iowa scores 47.2/100 (C grade), ranking #719 of 20 cities in Iowa. Median income: $52,320. Crime rate: 576.9/100K.

πŸ’΅ Median Income
$52,320
β–Ό $20,109vs state ($72,429)
πŸ’Ό Unemployment
4.4%
β–Ό 1.4%vs state (3%)
πŸ”’ Violent Crime
576.9
β–Ό 281.9vs state (295)
πŸ“ˆ Pop. Growth
+0.9%
β–² 0.5%vs state (+0.4%)
πŸ›‘οΈViolent Crime Rate
576.9
per 100K Β· State avg: 295
🏚️Property Crime Rate
2126.5
per 100K Β· State avg: 1713
🏠Median Home Value
$150,200
Census ACS 2023
πŸ”‘Median Rent
$896/mo
Census ACS 2023
πŸ›’Cost of Living
88
100 = national avg
πŸ’ΈRent Burden
20.6%
Rent as % of income
πŸ“Price-to-Income
2.9x
Home value Γ· income
πŸ“ŠPoverty Rate
16.4%
Census ACS 2023
πŸŽ“Graduation Rate
86%
EDFacts ACGR 2021-22
πŸ‘©β€πŸ«Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
NCES CCD 2023-24
πŸ’΅Per-Pupil Spending
$14,490
NCES F-33 Finance 2022-23
πŸ“šTotal Enrollment
9,081
NCES CCD 2023-24
🏫Public Schools
15
Regular public schools
βš–οΈObesity Rate
44%
CDC PLACES 2023
🩺Diabetes Rate
13.6%
CDC PLACES 2023
🧠Poor Mental Health Days
17.4
per 30 days Β· CDC BRFSS
πŸš—Mean Commute
15.5 min
State avg: 17.8 min
πŸš‡Public Transit Use
0.4%
State avg: 0.8%
πŸ’»Work From Home
6.4%
State avg: 9.3%
🌑️Annual Avg
51.7Β°F
NOAA Climate Normals
β˜€οΈSummer Avg
73.4Β°F
Jun\u2013Aug average
❄️Winter Avg
29.2Β°F
Dec\u2013Feb average
🌧️Annual Precip
24.9"
inches per year

Waterloo vs Iowa

WaterlooIowa

Scores by Category

πŸ’° Economy40.5
β–Ό 15.6 vs state (state: 56.1)
πŸ›‘οΈ Safety54.9
β–Ό 12.4 vs state (state: 67.3)
πŸ₯ Health36
β–Ό 21.1 vs state (state: 57.1)
πŸŽ“ Education58.5
β–Ό 19.1 vs state (state: 77.6)
πŸ’Ό Fiscal Health32.7
β–Ό 33.3 vs state (state: 66)
πŸ“ˆ Growth48.8
β–² 7.3 vs state (state: 41.5)
🏠 Affordability82.9
β–Ό 2.1 vs state (state: 85)
🌿 Environment46.7
β€” same as state (state: 46.7)
🏞️ Outdoor Access22.4
β€” same as state (state: 22.4)
πŸš‡ Transportation42.2
β–Ό 4.9 vs state (state: 47.1)
🎭 Livability38.2
β–² 3.3 vs state (state: 34.9)

Waterloo vs Iowa

More Cities in Iowa

Waukee69.5Ankeny65.3Urbandale65.3West Des Moines61.7Marion61.3Bettendorf60.9Cedar Falls59.6Ames56.6Cedar Rapids54.0

Waterloo, Iowa Overview

Waterloo earns an overall grade of C with a composite score of 47.2 out of 100, ranking #719 of 20 cities in Iowa. The city's strongest category is Affordability (83/100) while its biggest challenge is Outdoor Access (22/100).

Income & Employment in Waterloo

The median household income in Waterloo is $52,320 according to Census ACS data. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. The city's population grew 0.9% recently, indicating strong demand.

Safety in Waterloo

Waterloo has a violent crime rate of 576.9 per 100,000 residents. This is above the national average, and safety is an important factor to consider. The property crime rate is 2126.5 per 100,000.

Cost of Living in Waterloo

Waterloo has a cost of living index of 88 (where 100 equals the national average), which is well below the national average. The median home value is $150,200. Median monthly rent is $896. Overall, Waterloo offers below-average costs relative to the rest of the country.

Health & Wellness in Waterloo

The adult obesity rate in Waterloo is 44% according to CDC PLACES data. The diabetes prevalence rate is 13.6%. Residents report an average of 17.4 poor mental health days per month. These health indicators are important for assessing overall quality of life in Waterloo, Iowa.

Education & Schools in Waterloo

Waterloo has 15 public schools serving 9,081 students. The high school graduation rate is 86%, a solid rate. The student-teacher ratio is 14.8:1, indicating smaller class sizes. The district spends $14,490 per student. School data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data and EDFacts.

Climate in Waterloo

Waterloo has an annual average temperature of 51.7Β°F. Summers average 73.4Β°F. Winters average 29.2Β°F. The city receives approximately 24.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall score for Waterloo, Iowa?

Waterloo has an overall score of 47.2 out of 100, earning a C grade and ranking #719 among 20 cities in Iowa.

What is the median income in Waterloo?

The median household income in Waterloo is $52,320, based on Census ACS data.

Is Waterloo safe?

Waterloo has a violent crime rate of 576.9 per 100,000 residents.

What is the cost of living in Waterloo?

Waterloo has a cost of living index of 88 (100 = national average). It is more affordable than the national average.

How are the public schools in Waterloo?

Waterloo has 15 public schools with a 86% graduation rate. The student-teacher ratio is 14.8:1.

← Back to Iowa

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022