Residences on College Hill
2109 College St,
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
$350 - $1,400
1-4 Beds
Waterloo
Waterloo, IA Area Guide
A scenic city in the heart of Cedar Valley
Riverside
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Scenic
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Lush
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Vibrant
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Diverse
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Affordable
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Located in the Cedar Valley region of northeastern Iowa, Waterloo is a charming mid-sized city spread across the banks of the Cedar River. Residents enjoy a broad range of affordable apartments and condos available for rent in a laidback locale engulfed in lush, natural beauty.
Waterloo touts a diverse, close-knit community, coming together for a bevy of annual events like My Waterloo Days, National Cattle Congress, Iowa’s Irish Fest, and Cedar Valley Pride Fest. Waterloo boasts plenty of excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation at George Wyth State Park, Hartman Reserve, Hope Martin Memorial Park, and numerous golf courses. Waterloo is also home to one of the best water parks in the country, Lost Island, which draws residents and visitors alike.
Entertainment options abound in Waterloo, especially in the extensive Museum District, which offers walkable access to a host of museums, galleries, and venues. The University of Northern Iowa sits just outside of city limits, making Waterloo a top choice for many students, faculty, and staff. Although residents love Waterloo’s down-home charm, the city is also within an hour’s driving distance of Cedar Rapids.
Explore the City
Cedar River locals flock to the George Wyth State Park lakes.
Gates Park Golf Course is a wonderful and well maintained 18 hole course.
Cedar River residents love their walks under the brightly lit walkway by Downtown Waterloo.
Rent Trends
As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Waterloo, IA is $829 for a studio, $809 for one bedroom, $936 for two bedrooms, and $1,076 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Waterloo has increased by 1.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$809/month
597 Sq Ft
House
$1,231/month
1,036 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,672/month
1,069 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Waterloo, IA is 10.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Waterloo is 12.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $809 - $1,076. You can expect to pay 3.2% less for groceries, 19.3% less for utilities, and 9.7% less for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Waterloo, IA is for everyday living.
Car-Dependent
47
/ 100
This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.
Some Transit
24
/ 100
You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.
Bikeable
53
/ 100
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
Scores provided by Walk Score
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
Public
Grades K-5
Public
Grades PK-5
Public
Grades PK-5
Public
Grades PK-5
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Phelps Youth Pavilion
- Bluedorn Science Imaginarium
- Grout Museum of History & Science
- Hartman Reserve Nature Center
- George Wyth State Park
Top Apartments in Waterloo
Houses for Rent in Waterloo
Property Management Companies in Waterloo, IA
Rent Cedar Valley
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18
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1,025
Units
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10
Cities
10 Communities in Waterloo
Cedar Valley Living
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10
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750
Units
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5
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7 Communities in Waterloo
High Properties
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11
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1,115
Units
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4
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2 Communities in Waterloo
The Annex Group
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21
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3,069
Units
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20
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1 Community in Waterloo
ARTISAN Capital Group
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23
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4,769
Units
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17
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1 Community in Waterloo
North Lakes Property Mgmt
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14
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1,438
Units
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10
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1 Community in Waterloo
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.