The Town FilesWaverly, Iowa
City in Bremer County · population 10,394 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $223,300
- Household income
- $80,284
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 32.8
Waverly is a city of 10,394 people in Bremer County, Iowa. The median home is worth $223,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 89% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Waverly 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 Waverly is worth $223,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $80,284, which is more affordable than 20% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,057 a month. 69.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waverly | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,057 | $820 |
| Median household income | $80,284 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waverly
| People | Waverly | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Waverly
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 37.0 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
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waverly since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 14, 2021 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 14, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 16, 2007.
Severe weather in Bremer County since 1996
Bremer County has been included in 17 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bremer County
Bremer County had 9,685 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,555 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Waverly itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Waverly
6 public schools with 2,109 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High School | 9-12 | 746 | 15.9 |
| Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School | 5-8 | 696 | 13.1 |
| Margaretta Carey Elementary School | K-4 | 238 | 17.0 |
| West Cedar Elementary School | K-4 | 225 | 17.3 |
| Southeast Elementary School | K-4 | 167 | 13.9 |
| Greenview Alternative School | 9-12 | 37 | 37.0 |
Towns near Waverly
- Cedar Falls, IA14.0 mi · 40,713 people · home $263,600
- Waterloo, IA17.0 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
- Hudson, IA19.9 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
- Evansdale, IA20.4 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- New Hampton, IA24.4 mi · 3,494 people · home $167,700
- Charles City, IA25.9 mi · 7,396 people · home $115,400
- Jesup, IA26.7 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Oelwein, IA28.5 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
Waverly questions
Is Waverly, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waverly scores better for retirees than 33% of Iowa towns and quieter than 14%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Waverly?
The median owner-occupied home in Waverly is valued at $223,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,284, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,057 a month.
What is the weather like in Waverly?
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 37.0 inches of snow.
Does Waverly get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waverly since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 14, 2021. 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)