Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
18%
Waterloo
Waterloo, IA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$792
Population
67,382
Renter Mix
41% Rent
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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$51,868
Average: $67,140
Education
13,756
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
33,381
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Waterloo has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
41%
Non-Renters
59%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
15%
Other Education
85%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Waterloo, IA is $723 for a studio, $792 for one bedroom, $919 for two bedrooms, and $1,096 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Waterloo has increased by 0.9% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$792/month
594 Sq Ft
House
$1,268/month
1,075 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,806/month
1,150 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 $723 - $1,096. 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.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Very Drivable
Drivability
80
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
521 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
473 Students
Public
Grades K-5
343 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
477 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
614 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
883 Students
George Washington Carver Academy
Public
Grades 6-8
442 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
471 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,652 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,022 Students
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
Communities
-
1,049
Units
-
10
Cities
11 Communities in Waterloo
Cedar Valley Living
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10
Communities
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802
Units
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5
Cities
7 Communities in Waterloo
High Properties
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11
Communities
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1,115
Units
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4
Cities
2 Communities in Waterloo
Prairie Lakes Management
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29
Communities
-
3,622
Units
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28
Cities
1 Community in Waterloo
The Annex Group
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22
Communities
-
3,319
Units
-
21
Cities
1 Community in Waterloo
ARTISAN Capital Group
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23
Communities
-
4,769
Units
-
17
Cities
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.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.