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Moving Guides/Waterloo-Cedar Falls

Moving to Waterloo-Cedar Falls

What you need to know before relocating to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Waterloo-Cedar Falls a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Waterloo-Cedar Falls compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($929/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($190,200) are well below the us median; low unemployment rate (3.0%) signals a strong job market.

Waterloo-Cedar Falls at a Glance

Population
168K
Median Income
$62,381
Median Rent
$929/mo
Median Home Price
$190,200
Unemployment
3.0%
Avg Commute
77739 min

Cost of Living in Waterloo-Cedar Falls

The median rent in Waterloo-Cedar Falls is $929/month, while the median home value is $190,200. With a median household income of $62,381, residents spend roughly 18% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
34% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
38% below

Job Market

Waterloo-Cedar Falls has a median household income of $62,381, which is 16% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Waterloo-Cedar Falls

The violent crime rate in Waterloo-Cedar Falls is 280 per 100,000 residents, which is 26% below the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1441 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Iowa

Iowa has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $16,021/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

35% of Iowa adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Iowa has 224 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.3% uninsured rate, and 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Iowa is 78.0 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Waterloo-Cedar Falls

+Pros

  • Rent ($929/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($190,200) are well below the US median
  • Low unemployment rate (3.0%) signals a strong job market
  • Violent crime rate (280/100k) is well below the national average
  • High school graduation rate of 92%
  • Low uninsured rate (5.3%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Median household income ($62,381) trails the national median
  • Longer-than-average commute (77739 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waterloo-Cedar Falls a good place to live?

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($929/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($190,200) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?

The median rent in Waterloo-Cedar Falls is $929/month and the median home value is $190,200. The median household income is $62,381. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Waterloo-Cedar Falls safe?

Waterloo-Cedar Falls has a violent crime rate of 280 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?

Waterloo-Cedar Falls has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $62,381.

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