The Town FilesWaterloo, Iowa
City in Black Hawk County · population 67,314 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,600
- Household income
- $57,480
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 36.7
Waterloo is a city of 67,314 people in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $152,600, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 95% of Iowa towns, better transit than 90% of Iowa towns.
How Waterloo ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterloo is worth $152,600, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $57,480, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $923 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterloo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $923 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,480 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Waterloo
| People | Waterloo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Waterloo
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 11, 2000 about 3.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 79 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 28, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 141 times; the largest was 4.75 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Black Hawk County since 1996
Black Hawk County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Black Hawk County
Black Hawk County had 70,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,631 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Waterloo itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Waterloo
16 public schools with 9,659 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High School | 9-12 | 1,713 | 17.3 |
| East High School | 9-12 | 1,013 | 19.5 |
| Hoover Middle School | 6-8 | 831 | 16.3 |
| Kittrell Elementary School | PK-5 | 613 | 13.9 |
| Expo Alternative Learning Center | 6-12 | 578 | 18.1 |
| Orange Elementary School | PK-5 | 507 | 14.1 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | PK-5 | 492 | 14.9 |
| Lowell Elementary School | PK-5 | 480 | 12.3 |
| Central Middle School | 6-8 | 466 | 14.1 |
| Highland Elementary School | PK-5 | 462 | 12.5 |
| Fred Becker Elementary School | PK-5 | 457 | 13.4 |
| Lou Henry Elementary School | K-5 | 456 | 13.4 |
Towns near Waterloo
- Evansdale, IA4.6 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- Cedar Falls, IA5.5 mi · 40,713 people · home $263,600
- Hudson, IA6.4 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
- Jesup, IA14.6 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Waverly, IA17.0 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
- Independence, IA23.0 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Grundy Center, IA23.3 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
- Oelwein, IA25.5 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
Waterloo questions
Is Waterloo, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterloo scores better for retirees than 4% of Iowa towns and quieter than 3%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Waterloo?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterloo is valued at $152,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,480, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $923 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterloo?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does Waterloo get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 11, 2000. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)