The Town FilesWaterloo, Illinois
City in Monroe County · population 11,013 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,500
- Household income
- $98,711
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 41.5
Waterloo is a city of 11,013 people in Monroe County, Illinois. The median home is worth $249,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 78% of Illinois towns, better for families than 77% of Illinois towns.
How Waterloo ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterloo is worth $249,500, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $98,711, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $886 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterloo | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $886 | $960 |
| Median household income | $98,711 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Waterloo
| People | Waterloo | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Waterloo
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 22, 2011 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 14, 2024.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 8,442 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,706 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Waterloo itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Waterloo
5 public schools with 2,742 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo High School | 9-12 | 879 | 17.6 |
| Waterloo Junior High School | 6-8 | 574 | 16.4 |
| W J Zahnow Elem School | PK-1 | 473 | 14.3 |
| Rogers Elem School | 2-3 | 432 | 16.0 |
| Gardner Elementary School | 4-5 | 384 | 16.7 |
Towns near Waterloo
- Columbia, IL8.8 mi · 10,999 people · home $293,000
- Millstadt, IL8.8 mi · 4,071 people · home $230,500
- Smithton, IL10.2 mi · 4,006 people · home $256,300
- Oakville, MO11.7 mi · 36,301 people · home $318,600
- Red Bud, IL12.3 mi · 3,804 people · home $171,000
- Imperial, MO12.5 mi · 4,407 people · home $228,700
- Dupo, IL12.6 mi · 3,996 people · home $113,800
- Arnold, MO13.1 mi · 20,858 people · home $220,000
Waterloo questions
Is Waterloo, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterloo scores better for retirees than 81% of Illinois towns and quieter than 65%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Waterloo?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterloo is valued at $249,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,711, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $886 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterloo?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Waterloo get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 22, 2011. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)