The Town FilesWaterloo, Wisconsin
City in Jefferson County · population 3,492 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,600
- Household income
- $87,776
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 37.8
Waterloo is a city of 3,492 people in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $230,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 83% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 83% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Wisconsin towns.
How Waterloo ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waterloo is worth $230,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $87,776, which is more affordable than 83% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,106 a month. 68.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterloo | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,106 | $951 |
| Median household income | $87,776 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 68.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waterloo
| People | Waterloo | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 89.1% |
Weather in Waterloo
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 4, 1975 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 19, 2008 | Snowstorm | EM-3285: Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 33,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,167 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Waterloo itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Waterloo
4 public schools with 746 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Elementary | PK-4 | 276 | 11.0 |
| Waterloo High | 9-12 | 260 | 14.4 |
| Waterloo Middle | 7-8 | 107 | 13.4 |
| Waterloo Intermediate | 5-6 | 103 | 11.4 |
Towns near Waterloo
- Marshall, WI3.8 mi · 3,787 people · home $238,900
- Lake Mills, WI8.4 mi · 6,211 people · home $317,100
- Deerfield, WI10.2 mi · 2,507 people · home $315,900
- Columbus, WI10.8 mi · 5,540 people · home $230,600
- Sun Prairie, WI12.5 mi · 35,967 people · home $365,700
- Cottage Grove, WI12.6 mi · 7,303 people · home $449,700
- Cottage Grove, WI12.7 mi · 3,791 people · home $398,500
- Watertown, WI13.2 mi · 22,926 people · home $222,100
Waterloo questions
Is Waterloo, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterloo scores better for retirees than 54% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 38%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Waterloo?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterloo is valued at $230,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,776, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,106 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterloo?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Waterloo get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 4, 1975. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)